Variation with depth in temperate seagrass-associated fish assemblages in Southern Victoria, Australia
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Variability in the abundance and distribution of seagrass-associated fish assemblages was examined at different depths in a temperate bay in southern Australia. Depth differences in seagrass-associated fish assemblages are poorly known but this information is critical given that seagrass loss can occur at specific depths depending on the cause. Overall, 69 species of fish from 26 families were recorded, with higher species richness in shallow than deep beds, with 12 species found only in deep beds and 22 species found only in shallow beds. While the total fish abundance (i.e. abundance of all species recorded) varied between years and seasons, and to some extent between sites, it was significantly higher in shallow than deep seagrass beds in the majority of cases. Although there was some variation between sites, seagrass tended to be longer and have a higher biomass in shallow than deep beds during both spring and autumn throughout the study. A positive relationship between seagrass biomass/length and total fish abundance/species richness was apparent. Assemblage structure tended to be distinct at each depth, with the largest species recorded in shallow seagrass. Large numbers of small schooling fish, such as atherinids, dominated in shallow seagrass but were not found in deep seagrass. Loss of seagrass could therefore have varying implications for distinct assemblages found at different depths.
Journal
Estuaries and Coasts
Publication Name
N/A
Volume
37
ISBN/ISSN
1559-2731
Edition
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Issue
4
Pages Count
14
Location
N/A
Publisher
Springer
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Publisher Location
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Publish Date
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Url
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Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1007/s12237-013-9742-9