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1.
Stephen E. Swearer Graham E. Forrester Mark A. Steele Andrew J. Brooks David W. Lea 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2003,56(5-6):1111-1123
We tested whether estuarine fishes have site-specific differences in the concentrations of trace elements in their otoliths that can be used as ‘fingerprints’ to identify them to their estuary of origin. To evaluate the robustness of this approach, we tested whether elemental fingerprints were consistent among individuals of five species that were collected in 1996 from three temperate estuaries in southern California. We also tested whether elemental fingerprints were consistent between spring and autumn 1996 for three species in one of the sites, Carpinteria Marsh. The species evaluated comprised a mid-water-dwelling smelt (Atherinops affinis), two benthic gobies (Clevelandia ios and Ilypnus gilberti), and two flatfish (Paralichthys californicus and Hypsopsetta guttulata). The concentrations of six elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were determined in the otoliths using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Within estuaries, the five species exhibited strong variation in elemental concentration, indicating substantial interspecific differences in otolith environmental history. When the five fish species were considered separately, multivariate (MANOVA) and univariate (ANOVA) analyses of variance indicated that the elemental composition of otoliths differed significantly among the estuaries in four of the five species. Based on linear discriminant function analyses (DFA), differences were strong enough that trace element composition could be used to accurately assign fish to their site of origin [mean (range): 93.5% (74–100%)]. However, elemental signatures within Carpinteria Marsh were not consistent between spring and autumn 1996, and this was reflected in a substantial reduction in the accuracy of assigning fish to their true site of origin. When we compared site differences between fish species (site×species interactions), the elemental fingerprints were most similar between closely related species (e.g. the two gobies and the two flatfish) and most dissimilar between distantly related species, both phylogenetically and ecologically. Among the six elements analyzed, Sr and Ba exhibited the most inconsistent pattern among species, with significant differences in 80 and 70% of the pairwise species comparisons, respectively. The remaining four elements showed ≥70% consistency in the pattern of variation among sites for the different species. Thus, while otolith elemental fingerprinting can be a useful tool for inferring estuarine residency, such fingerprints may be temporally variable and species specific. 相似文献
2.
Paul A. Hamer Gregory P. Jenkins Patrick Coutin 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2006,68(3-4):686
Chronological variation in otolith chemistry can be used to reconstruct migration histories of fish. The use of otolith chemistry to study migration, however, requires knowledge of relationships between the chemical properties of the water and elemental incorporation into otoliths, and how water chemistry varies in space and time. We explored the potential for otolith chemistry of snapper, Pagrus auratus, to provide information on movement history between a large semi-enclosed bay, Port Phillip, and coastal waters in south-eastern Australia. Comparisons of water chemistry across two years demonstrated that ambient barium (Ba) levels in Port Phillip Bay were approximately double those in coastal waters (11 μg L−1 versus 6 μg L−1). Ba levels in otolith margins of wild juvenile snapper were highly positively correlated with ambient levels across 17 sampling locations, and levels in otolith margins of adult snapper collected from Port Phillip Bay were approximately double those of snapper collected in coastal waters. Mean partition coefficients for Ba (DBa) were similar for juvenile (0.43) and adult (0.46) otoliths, suggesting that otolith Ba incorporation relative to ambient levels was similar across life-stages. Low Ba variation across otoliths from adult snapper maintained in tanks for three years indicated that annual temperature and/or growth cycles did not strongly influence otolith Ba variation. We concluded that chronological Ba variation in snapper otoliths would be a reliable proxy for life-history exposure to variable ambient Ba. We used water chemistry data and Ba levels across otoliths of ocean resident snapper to estimate otolith Ba levels indicative of residence in Port Phillip Bay (>10 μg g−1) or coastal waters (<6 μg g−1). Peaks in Ba exceeding 10 μg g−1 were common across otoliths of snapper collected in Port Phillip Bay and a nearby coastal region. The location of strong Ba peaks within otoliths was consistent with residence in Port Phillip Bay during the spring/summer when snapper move into the Bay from coastal waters to spawn. Our results for snapper support the use of otolith Ba as a proxy for ambient levels throughout the life-history, however, confident interpretation of migration history from otolith Ba chronologies will most likely require matching time series of ambient Ba in the water bodies of interest. 相似文献
3.
Rita P. Vasconcelos Patrick Reis-Santos Susanne Tanner Anabela Maia Christopher Latkoczy Detlef Günther Maria José Costa Henrique Cabral 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2008
Connectivity is a critical property of marine populations, particularly for species with segregated juvenile and adult habitats. Knowledge of this link is fundamental in understanding population structure and dynamics. Young adults of commercially important fish species Solea solea, Solea senegalensis, Platichthys flesus, Diplodus vulgaris and Dicentrarchus labrax were sampled off the Portuguese coast in order to establish preliminary evidence of estuarine nursery origins through otolith elemental fingerprints. Concentrations of Li, Na, Mg, K, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba and Pb in the otolith section corresponding to juvenile's nursery life period were determined through laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Element: Ca ratios in coastal fish differed significantly amongst collection areas, except for Platichthys flesus, and were compared with the elemental fingerprints previously defined for age 0 juveniles in the main estuarine nurseries of the Portuguese coast. Identification of nursery estuaries was achieved for four of the species. Assigned nursery origins varied amongst species and differences in the spatial scale of fish dispersal were also found. Diplodus vulgaris was not reliably assigned to any of the defined nurseries. Overall, results give evidence of the applicability of estuarine habitat tags in future assessments of estuarine nursery role. Research developments on the links between juvenile and adult habitats should contribute for the integrated management and conservation of nurseries and coastal stocks. 相似文献
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5.
基于几何形态测量学的4种金线鱼矢耳石识别研究 总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4
利用2007年9月至2010年9月采自北部湾海域的24尾红棘金线鱼(Nemipterus nemurus)、32尾金线鱼(N.virgatus)、36尾深水金线鱼(N.bathybius)和35尾日本金线鱼(N.japonicus)性成熟后的矢耳石样本,运用几何形态测量学方法研究了4种鱼类矢耳石形态识别问题。耳石经图像处理后提取地标点坐标值,进行相对扭曲主成分分析,通过判别分析区分4种金线鱼的耳石,利用薄板样条分析和网格变形分析耳石形态变异。结果表明:在相对扭曲主成分分析中,第1、2、3主成分分别解释了总变异的30.78%、28.44%和11.75%,可以将四种金线鱼耳石区分开来。其中Ⅰ型地标点6、10、11,Ⅱ型地标点2,Ⅲ型地标点7,贡献作用较大,解释了主要形态变异。相对扭曲主成分的逐步判别分析中,四种鱼的平均判别成功率达91.3%;交互验证结果显示,四种鱼的平均判别成功率达89.8%,表明几何形态测量学分析可以作为鱼种耳石识别的有效方法之一,在耳石形态学与鱼种判别研究中具有重要应用价值。 相似文献
6.
黄、渤海小黄鱼耳石元素指纹分析及其在种群补充群体识别中的应用 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
利用电感耦合等离子质谱ICP-MS元素分析方法,测定了黄、渤海125尾小黄鱼的耳石元素指纹图谱,共检测到Mg、Al、Mn、Cu、Zn、Sr、Ba、Ca等8种指纹元素。不同采样站位小黄鱼耳石元素含量均存在显著性差异,线性判别分析可以有效识别不同站位的小黄鱼群体,判别成功率为65%~96%,整体判别成功率为86%。基于耳石元素指纹图谱特征进行聚类分析,可以将黄、渤海小黄鱼早期补充群体划分为渤海种群、黄海中部种群和南黄海种群,其中黄海中部种群站位交叉明显。 相似文献
7.
Estuaries are regarded as valuable nursery habitats for many commercially important marine fishes, potentially providing a thermal resource, refuge from predators and a source of abundant prey. To assess the extent of estuarine use by juvenile (0+) common sole (Solea solea), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) we: (1) developed techniques to distinguish between estuarine and coastally-caught juveniles using otolith chemistry; and (2) examined the accuracy with which multi-elemental signatures could re-classify juveniles to their region of collection.High-resolution solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HB-SB-ICPMS) was used to quantify 32 elements within the juvenile otoliths; 14 elements occurred above detection limits for all samples. Some elemental distributions demonstrated clear differences between estuarine and coastally-caught fish. Multivariate analysis of the otolith chemistry data resulted in 95–100% re-classification accuracy to the region of collection. Estuarine and coastal signatures were most clearly defined for sole which, compared to bass and whiting, have low mobility and are less likely to move from estuarine to coastal habitats between larval settlement and later migration to adult stocks. Sole were the only species to reveal an energetic benefit associated with an estuarine juvenile phase. The physiological ability of bass to access upper estuarine regions was consistent with some elemental data, while the high mobility and restricted range of whiting resulted in less distinct otolith chemistries. 相似文献
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《Journal of Sea Research》2007,57(2-3):209-217
The relative importance of nursery areas and their relationships with several environmental variables were evaluated in nine estuarine systems along the Portuguese coast based on trawl surveys. Historical data were used to outline changes and trends in the nursery function of some of these estuaries over the past decades. The dominant flatfish species in Portuguese estuaries were Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758), Solea solea (Linnaeus, 1758), Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858 and Monochirus hispidus Rafinesque, 1814, but their occurrence differed among the estuaries. P. flesus only occurred in estuaries north of the Tejo estuary (39°N), S. solea was quite rare along the southern Portuguese coast (south of 37°30′N), S. senegalensis occurred in estuaries throughout the coast, but its abundance varied considerably, and the occurrence of M. hispidus was limited to the Sado estuary and Ria Formosa. A Correspondence Analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between flatfish species abundance and geomorphologic and hydrologic characteristics of estuaries (latitude, freshwater flow, estuarine area, intertidal area, mean depth and residence time). Abiotic characteristics (depth, temperature, salinity, sediment type) of nursery grounds of each flatfish species were also evaluated. Results showed that some estuaries along the Portuguese coast have nursery grounds used by several flatfish species (e.g. Ria de Aveiro, Sado estuary), while in other systems a segregation was noticed, with juveniles of different species occurring in distinct estuarine areas (e.g. Minho and Mondego estuaries). This emphasizes the relevance of niche overlap, but the potential for competition may be considerably minimized by differences in resource use patterns and by an extremely high abundance of resources. Peak densities of flatfishes recorded in nurseries areas along the Portuguese coast were within the range of values reported for other geographical areas. Inter-annual abundance variability of all the species in the Tejo and Sado estuaries was extremely high, with a drastic decrease in P. flesus in the Tejo estuary, probably related to higher water temperature in recent years due to global climate change. 相似文献
10.
北部湾金线鱼、深水金线鱼与日本金线鱼矢耳石形态识别的初步研究 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
采用2010年1～9月采自北部湾及邻近海域流刺网渔获的54尾金线鱼(Nemipterus virgatus( Houttuyn,1782))、71尾深水金线鱼(Nemi pterus bath ybius Snyder,1911)和65尾日本金线鱼(Nemi pterus ja ponicus (Bloch,1791))耳石样本,进行了椭圆傅立叶分析.耳石轮廓经图像处理后进行灰阶转换和二值化处理,消除噪点,然后解析为椭圆傅立叶标码( EFDs).采用77个EFD系数进行主成分分析和判别分析来区分3种金线鱼的耳石.结果表明,日本金线鱼幼鱼和成鱼耳石在性成熟前后存在显著的体长效应(P＜0.05),金线鱼和深水金线鱼则体长效应不显著(P＞0.05).因此在耳石椭圆傅立叶分析中,日本金线鱼采用性成熟个体样本,金线鱼和深水金线鱼采用全部样本.主成分分析中,第1、第2和第3主成分,分别解释了总变异的65.1％,15.3％和5.3％,可以将3种金线鱼耳石区分开来.EFD系数的逐步判别分析中,3种鱼的平均正判率达98.6％;交互验证结果显示,3种鱼的平均正判率达97.9％,这表明耳石椭圆傅立叶分析可以作为鱼种识别的有效工具. 相似文献
11.
为探究中国近海大泷六线鱼(Hexagrammosotakii)耳石微化学成分特征及群体分化状况,采集了连云港、青岛、威海、烟台、秦皇岛、大连、丹东7个野生群体和1个威海养殖群体的大泷六线鱼样本。利用LA-ICPMS技术测定耳石中的微量元素,以微量元素与钙的比值进行了分析,结果显示大泷六线鱼耳石中, Na/Ca、Sr/Ca、Fe/Ca、Mg/Ca较高,而Mn/Ca、Ba/Ca、Zn/Ca、Li/Ca较低。耳石1龄前元素比值的组间比较(S-N-K检验)结果显示:Na/Ca、Sr/Ca、Fe/Ca在群体间具显著性差异(P<0.05)。耳石边缘区元素与环境中元素比较发现,Li、Mn元素在耳石中富集程度较大,Sr在耳石的中元素含量远远大于水环境中的浓度,说明耳石中的元素沉积与海水中元素并不是简单的线性关系。判别分析结果显示:耳石1龄前元素指纹的判别分析结果表明,大泷六线鱼群体的判别成功率为63.0%,判别正确范围为30.0%～80.0%,耳石边缘区元素的判别正确率为57.1%,判别正确范围20.0%～80.0%,秦皇岛群体有高的判别成功率80.0%。耳石元素指纹可以用于不同大泷六线鱼群体的... 相似文献
12.
Several flatfishes spawn in oceanic waters and pelagic larvae are transported inshore to settle in the nursery areas, usually estuaries, where they remain during their juvenile life. Nursery areas appear as extremely important habitats, not only for juveniles but also for the earlier planktonic larval fish. Yet, the majority of nursery studies tend to focus only on one development stage, missing an integrative approach of the entire early life that fishes spent within a nursery ground. Thus, the present study assessed the influence of environmental parameters on the dynamics of the larval and juvenile flatfishes, throughout their nursery life in the Lima Estuary. Between April 2002 and April 2004, fortnightly subsurface ichthyoplankton samples were collected and juveniles were collected from October 2003 until September 2005. Larval assemblages comprised nine flatfish species, while only six were observed among the juvenile assemblages. Solea senegalensis and Platichthys flesus were the most abundant species of both fractions of the Lima Estuary flatfishes. Larval flatfish assemblages varied seasonally, without relevant differences between lower and middle estuary. Platichthys flesus dominated the spring samples and summer and autumn periods were characterized by an increase of overall abundance and diversity of larval flatfishes, mainly S. senegalensis, associated with temperature increase and reduced river flow. On the contrary, during the winter abundance sharply decreased, as a consequence of higher river run-off that might compromised the immigration of incompetent marine larvae. Juvenile flatfishes were more abundant in the middle and upper areas of the estuary, but the species richness was higher near the river mouth. Sediment type, distance from the river mouth, salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen were identified as the main environmental factors structuring the juvenile flatfish assemblages. Juveniles were spatially discrete, with the most abundant species S. senegalensis and P. flesus associated with the middle and upper estuary, while the remaining species were associated with the lower estuarine areas. The larval fraction exhibited distinct dynamics from the juvenile estuarine flatfish community. Larval flatfishes showed a strong seasonal structure mainly regulated by biological features as the spawning season and also by seasonal variations of water characteristics. On the other hand, juvenile flatfishes were markedly controlled by site specific characteristics such as sediments structure, distance from the river mouth and salinity regime. The present study emphasized the idea that the environmental control varies throughout the ontogenetic development, stressing the importance of integrating all the early life of a species in flatfish nursery studies. 相似文献
13.
Classification of juvenile flatfishes to estuarine and coastal habitats based on the elemental composition of otoliths 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
The elemental composition of otoliths from juvenile English sole Pleuronectes vetulus and speckled sanddab Citharichthys stigmaeus living in estuaries and sandy coastal habitats were compared to determine if a chemical habitat tag existed that could be used to differentiate fish living in the alternative juvenile habitats. Juveniles of both species were collected from seven estuaries and 11 coastal sites along 500 km of the central California coast. Collections occurred in three years: 1998, 1999 and 2000. The chemical composition of the otoliths was analyzed using solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The multi-elemental composition (Sr, Li, Ba, Mn) of otoliths from estuarine and coastal fish differed significantly for all models (global, region and years models) examined in this study. For each species, discriminant function analysis (DFA) for the global model, which pooled juveniles collected from three regions over multiple years, classified fish into estuarine and coastal groups with close to 80% accuracy. The two main elements in the discriminant models, Sr and Li, differed consistently between habitats; Sr was higher and Li was lower in estuarine fish. Classification success was modestly improved by generating separate discriminant functions for each region (regions model) because of some regional differences in Sr and Li concentrations. Classification success also was improved in some cases by generating separate discriminant functions for each year (years model) because Ba and Mn differed between habitats in only some years. Despite this variability in the concentration of elements in some regions and years, a chemical habitat tag was present in each species that could be used to discriminate coastal and estuarine juveniles over a large geographic area and over three years with very different oceanographic conditions (e.g., El Niño, La Niña). In addition, I found that English sole and speckled sanddab had striking similarities in their chemical habitat tags and that, in some cases, one species could be used as a proxy to classify juveniles of the other species without compromising the accuracy of the habitat tag. The ability to use a proxy classification model would significantly reduce the number of juvenile fish that would need to be collected and analyzed in order to classify members of an ecologically similar species. The chemical habitat tags found in this study appears to be promising tools for identifying fish that have lived in alternative juvenile habitats and, ultimately, the proportional contribution of estuarine and coastal habitats to the central California populations of English sole and speckled sanddab. 相似文献
14.
Recruitment of early life stages into estuaries is an integral part of the life cycle of many marine fish species. Although estuaries are naturally environmentally dynamic, they also are subject to anthropogenic disturbances, including land use and climate change, which may affect recruitment. Rhabdosargus holubi is an endemic marine-spawning species predominantly associated with freshwater-rich estuaries which serve as nursery areas for postflexion larvae and juveniles. This study assessed the effect of environmental variables on the dynamics of recruitment of R. holubi larvae and juveniles into the Swartkops and Sundays estuaries, South Africa. Over a period of two years, fyke nets were set at each estuary mouth to monitor movement into the estuaries at each tidal phase over a 24 h cycle during two sampling sessions per season. Rhabdosargus holubi larvae recruited into estuaries primarily in summer and autumn and during the ebb tide at night, while juvenile movements showed no pattern. Salinity, turbidity and temperature were significantly important factors affecting R. holubi recruitment, with pH having no significant effect. Turbidity and salinity are affected by rainfall and freshwater abstraction which may thus influence recruitment. Rhabdosargus holubi is dependent on estuaries, so a combination of future changes in turbidity, salinity and temperature due to predicted climate change may place populations at risk. 相似文献
15.
The Senegal sole, Solea senegalensis, is a flatfish species distributed from the Bay of Biscay to the coast of South Africa. Although it is a species of high commercial value its spawning period remains poorly known. In the Tagus estuary, Portugal, two juvenile cohorts of this species colonize two independent nursery areas within the estuarine system. Left lapilli otoliths of these 0-group juveniles were used to estimate age and back-calculate hatch dates, thus allowing the estimation of S. senegalensis spawning period in the Portuguese coast. The two cohorts of S. senegalensis completed the colonization of the two nurseries in July. The ages of juveniles were estimated to range between 46 and 111 days in nursery A, and between 33 and 61 days in nursery B. Hatch dates ranged from April to early June for juveniles colonizing nursery A, and from May to early June for juveniles colonizing nursery B. The mean hatch date in nursery A was the 7th of May, while in nursery B it was the 25th of May. It was concluded that the spawning period for this species off the Portuguese coast was from April to June. 相似文献
16.
We documented the temporal occurrence patterns and habitat use of fish in the Mangyeong River estuary on the western coast
of Korea from February to December 2003 based on monthly samples collected with a stow net. A total of 46 fish species were
collected during the study period. Chelon haematocheilus, Konosirus punctatus, Neosalanx jordani, Sardinella zunasi, Synechogobius hasta, and Thryssa kammalensis were the predominate species, accounting for 84.4% of the collected fish. We classified the fish as brackish water (BF),
coastal migratory (CMF), diadromous (DF), or freshwater (FF) fish. BF such as C. haematocheilus, S. hasta, and Coilia nasus were the most abundant and were collected almost year-round. As water temperatures increased in spring, adult CMF, such as
K. punctatus, S. zunasi, T. kammalensis, T. adelae, Johnius grypotus, Miichthys miiuy, and Larimichthys polyactis, entered the estuary. In summer, large numbers of their juvenile offspring were caught, indicating a peak in fish abundance.
The juveniles grew in the estuary before moving out to deeper waters for overwintering. Diadromous juveniles, such as those
of Anguilla japonica (commonly known as glass eel), were collected in the spring during their upstream migration. FF, such as Carassius cuvieri and Acheilognathus rhombeus, were collected during the rainy season. In terms of the number of species, the number of individuals, and the biomass, the
ratio of BF to all other fish type classifications in the Mangyeong Estuary (without a dam) was higher than that in the Geum
River estuary (with a dam). The fish assemblage in the Mangyeong Estuary still maintained estuarine characteristics before
dike enclosure, providing habitats for BF, nursery grounds for CMF, and migratory pathways for DF. 相似文献
17.
Many fish species rely on estuarine nursery habitats as they transition to adult life stages. Quantifying nursery value, however, requires identification of the life stages (often small and short-lived) that utilise nursery habitats, and survey methods that provide comparable estimates across habitats. We focused our surveys on post-settlement snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) using video camera deployments across habitats within a northeastern New Zealand harbour. Post-settlement snapper abundance was higher among structured habitat types relative to bare sediments, with the type of structured habitat not influential. The exception appeared to be for reef habitat (although sampling was limited). Reef sites were structurally complex, but largely inhabited by older life stages (snapper and other fish species). Overall, nursery value for snapper appears to be connected to structure, rather than structure type. This result emphasises the importance of a broadened scope to coastal fishery management, one that incorporates not just fish extraction, but also habitat maintenance or restoration. 相似文献
18.
P.M. Chittaro P. Usseglio B.J. Fryer P.F. Sale 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》2006,67(4):673-680
Lutjanus apodus (Schoolmaster) were collected from several mangroves and coral reefs at Turneffe Atoll, Belize, in order to investigate whether elemental concentrations from the otolith edge could be used as a means to identify the habitat (mangrove or coral reef) and site (9 mangrove sites and 6 reef sites) from which they were collected. Results of a two factor nested MANOVA (sites nested within habitat) indicated significant differences in elemental concentrations between habitats (i.e., mangrove versus reef) as well as among sites. When separate Linear Discriminant Function Analyses (LDFA) were used to assess whether the spatial variability in otolith chemistry was sufficient to differentiate individuals to their respective habitats or sites, the results indicated that fish were classified (jackknife procedure) with a moderate to poor degree of accuracy (i.e., on average, 67% and 40% of the individuals were correctly classified to the habitat and site from which they were collected, respectively). Using a partial Mantel test we did not find a significant correlation between the differences in otolith elemental concentrations between sites and the distance between sites, while controlling the effect of habitat type (mangrove or reef). This suggests that for mangrove and reef sites at Turneffe Atoll, Belize, the overlap in terms of L. apodus otolith elemental concentrations is too high for investigations of fish movement. Finally, by comparing previously published Haemulon flavolineatum otolith chemistry to that of L. apodus we assessed whether these species showed similar habitat and/or site specific patterns in their otolith chemistry. Although both species were collected from the same sites our results indicated little similarity in their elemental concentrations, thus suggesting that habitat and site elemental signatures are species specific. 相似文献
19.
Do the shallow‐water habitats of a hypersaline tropical estuary act as nursery grounds for fishes? 
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下载免费PDF全文 Natalice dos Santos Sales Alexandra Sofia Baptista Vicente Baeta Lidiane Gomes de Lima André Luiz Machado Pessanha 《Marine Ecology》2018,39(1)
Fish assemblages were studied in a hypersaline tropical estuary in Northeastern Brazil. A total of 104 species were collected by beach seine during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012. Two families, Atherinopsidae and Gerreidae, were numerically dominant in all zones of the estuary; juveniles of Atherinella brasiliensis, Eucinostomus argenteus, Lile piquitinga, Ulaema lefroyi, Lutjanus analis and Sphoeroides greeleyi contributed 77% of the total catch. The factors that best explained the fish abundance pattern were salinity and depth, which were related to spatial segregation. Species richness was lowest in the upper zone, an area with high salinity and shallow depth. The distinct roles of structurally different habitats (submerged macrophyte beds and mangrove prop‐roots) and the influence of physicochemical conditions in the middle zone of the estuary may influence taxonomic diversity. The middle zone of the estuary is the one most attractive to juveniles of reef species (Lutjanidae and Serranidae). The fish assemblages are clearly dominated by marine estuarine dependent species, highlighting the importance of the ecosystem as a nursery ground for marine species of the Brazilian coast. 相似文献