The nursery role of a sheltered surf-zone in warm-temperate southern Africa

Rishworth, Gavin M; Strydom, Nadine A; Potts, Warren M

Title: The nursery role of a sheltered surf-zone in warm-temperate southern Africa
Creator: Rishworth, Gavin M
Creator: Strydom, Nadine A
Creator: Potts, Warren M
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2015
Date: 2015
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/443651
Identifier: vital:74141
Identifier: https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC177697
Description: Marine fish nurseries such as surf-zones have usually been classified as nurseries based solely on the density of pre-adult fish, yet the full suite of developmental stages are seldom assessed because of difficulties associated with sampling these habitats. The larval and early juvenile fish assemblage was studied in a sheltered surf-zone (King's Beach, South Africa), where high densities of older juveniles are known to occur. Fishes were collected fortnightly over six months using two modified seine nets. Although the surf composition included typical species for this habitat type, Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae and Haemulidae dominated the larval assemblage, which suggested that the nearby rocky structure and estuaries have an influence on the assemblage. Three species, Liza richardsonii (Mugilidae), Pomadasys olivaceus (Haemulidae) and Diplodus capensis (Sparidae), showed evidence of growth and recruitment into the surf-zone from the late larval stage. The high density of larval and juvenile fishes, the presence of more than one early life history stage and the observed growth of fishes suggests that King's Beach provides a suitable nursery habitat for several fishes.
Format: 6 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: African Zoology
Relation: Rishworth, G.M., Strydom, N.A. and Potts, W.M., 2015. The nursery role of a sheltered surf-zone in warm-temperate southern Africa. African Zoology, 50(1), pp.11-16
Relation: African Zoology volume 50 number 1 11 16 2015 2224-073X
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Sabinet Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.sabinet.co.za/terms-conditions)

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