Estuarine use by spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii in a South African estuary, as determined by acoustic telemetry

Childs, Amber-Robyn; Cowley, Paul D; Næsje, T F; Booth, Anthony J; Potts, Warren M; Thorstad, Eva B; Økland, F

Title: Estuarine use by spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii in a South African estuary, as determined by acoustic telemetry
Creator: Childs, Amber-Robyn
Creator: Cowley, Paul D
Creator: Næsje, T F
Creator: Booth, Anthony J
Creator: Potts, Warren M
Creator: Thorstad, Eva B
Creator: Økland, F
Date Issued: 2010
Date: 2010
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124428
Identifier: vital:35612
Identifier: https://doi.org/10.2989/A JMS.2008.30.1.12.462
Description: Estuaries are important in the life history and the maintenance of the diversity of coastal fish species because of their function as nursery areas for juveniles as well as feeding grounds for adults (Cyrus 1991). The dependence of many fish species on estuaries is well documented (e.g. Wallace et al. 1984, Lenanton and Potter 1987, Blaber et al. 1989, Whitfield 1990, Hoss and Thayer 1993). Spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii (Haemulidae) (Lacepède 1801) is an estuarine-dependent species which spawns in the KwaZulu-Natal inshore coastal waters, between August and December (Wallace 1975b, Wallace and van der Elst 1975, Harris and Cyrus 1997, 1999). The eggs and larvae are transported southwards by the Agulhas Current, and juveniles between 20 mm and 50 mm TL recruit into the KwaZulu-Natal and south-eastern Cape estuaries (Wallace and van der Elst 1975, Whitfield 1990). Juvenile spotted grunter make use of the abundant food resources in estuaries, where they grow rapidly and remain for a period of 1–3 years (Wallace and Schleyer 1979, Day et al. 1981). Upon attaining sexual maturity (at between 300 mm and 400 mm TL), they return to the marine environment (Wallace 1975b). Some adults, however, return to estuaries to feed and to regain condition after spawning (Wallace 1975b, Whitfield 1994). The return of post-spawning fish coincides with increased catches by fishers in estuaries between July and January. These events are known as ‘grunter runs’ (Wallace 1975a, Marais and Baird 1980, Marais 1988, Pradervand and Baird 2002). It is suggested that adults spend up to several months in estuaries, before moving back to sea where they undergo gonadal development and ultimately spawn (Wallace 1975b, Wallace and van der Elst 1975). It is believed that adult fish also enter estuaries in a prespawning state to gain condition en route to their spawning grounds in KwaZulu-Natal (Webb 2002).
Format: 11 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: African Journal of Marine Science
Relation: Childs, A.R., Cowley, P.D., Næsje, T.F., Booth, A.J., Potts, W.M., Thorstad, E.B. and Økland, F., 2008. Estuarine use by spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii in a South African estuary, as determined by acoustic telemetry. African Journal of Marine Science, 30(1), pp.123-132
Relation: African Journal of Marine Science volume 40 number 1 123 132 2010 1814-232X
Rights: African Journal of Marine Science
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Taylor & Francis Online Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.tandfonline.com/terms-and-conditions)

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Childs, Amber-Robyn (Associate Prof)

Potts, Warren M (Prof)

Booth, Anthony John (Prof)

RU South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)

Cowley, Paul Denfer (Prof)

RU Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science

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