Brief description
Mangroves are considered to support rich assemblages of fish and invertebrates. Fishes inhabiting mangrove habitats and at various distances from mangroves across mudflats were sampled to: (1) compare fish assemblages between habitats; and (2) determine the influence of mangrove proximity on fish abundance and diversity in three southern Australian estuaries between November 2005 and January 2006. Based on their distribution, fish species were classified as mangrove residents, mudflat residents, generalists or rare species. The assemblage structure of fish in mangroves differed from assemblages 500m away; however, neither total abundance nor species richness differed significantly between mangroves and mudflats. Mangrove residents and Aldrichetta forsteri (yellow-eyed mullet) displayed strong associations with mangrove habitats, whereas mudflat residents were associated with mudflat habitats. No other fish groups or individual species occurred in higher abundances in either habitat. Total fish abundance, mangrove residents and A. forsteri were positively correlated with pneumatophore density, indicating that the structural complexity of the mangroves might influence the distributions of certain fish species. The current study demonstrated that mangrove habitats in temperate Australia support no greater abundance or diversity of fish than adjacent mudflat habitats and that mangrove proximity does not influence fish distribution at a habitat scale.Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: unknown
Statement: Study sites
Fish were collected from the intertidal region of three estuaries: Port Wakefield (138.144◦E, 34.189◦S), Port Broughton (137.926◦E, 33.598◦S) and Port Pirie (138.016◦E, 33.149◦S), South Australia .These estuaries are tide-dominated habitats characterised by extensive mangrove forests composed of Avicennia marina and large areas of intertidal mudflats. These mudflats consist of patches of Zostera muelleri seagrass interspersed with non-vegetated sand and mud substrate. Avicennia marina covers 12.8 km2 at Port Pirie, which is a significantly greater area than that at Port Wakefield and Port Broughton (1.4 km2 and 1.2 km2 respectively).
Collection of fish
Sampling was undertaken during the austral summer of 2005/2006. Fish were sampled at each estuary using eight fyke nets (the maximum number available).The nets consisted of four 0.7m×0.7m frames, around which 6-mm mesh was attached .A mesh wing of 0.7m×6m was fixed to each side of the net opening. Floats and lead weights were attached to the top and bottom of the wings, respectively. The nets were aligned with the wings parallel to the mangrove fringe with the net opening facing the shoreline. Wooden garden stakes were used to secure the flaps and ends of the nets to the sediment. Samples were taken from six distance classes, ranging
from within the mangroves to ∼500m seaward of the mangrove fringe. During low tides, water retracted completely from each distance class such that fish could not enter the nets.
Study design
All eight nets were set at an estuary within 1 h of low tide and samples were collected 24 h later, thus exposing the nets to two tidal cycles. Sampling days were randomly dispersed among the three estuaries. The eight nets were randomly assigned to the six distance classes of an estuary simultaneously on each sampling
day until a total of five replicates were taken at each distance class within each estuary. Fish were quantified and identified to species in the field where possible.
For further information please refer to:
Payne, N. L., and Gillanders, B. M. (2009). Assemblages of fish along a mangrove–mudflat gradient in temperate Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1–13.
Fish were collected from the intertidal region of three estuaries: Port Wakefield (138.144◦E, 34.189◦S), Port Broughton (137.926◦E, 33.598◦S) and Port Pirie (138.016◦E, 33.149◦S), South Australia .These estuaries are tide-dominated habitats characterised by extensive mangrove forests composed of Avicennia marina and large areas of intertidal mudflats. These mudflats consist of patches of Zostera muelleri seagrass interspersed with non-vegetated sand and mud substrate. Avicennia marina covers 12.8 km2 at Port Pirie, which is a significantly greater area than that at Port Wakefield and Port Broughton (1.4 km2 and 1.2 km2 respectively).
Collection of fish
Sampling was undertaken during the austral summer of 2005/2006. Fish were sampled at each estuary using eight fyke nets (the maximum number available).The nets consisted of four 0.7m×0.7m frames, around which 6-mm mesh was attached .A mesh wing of 0.7m×6m was fixed to each side of the net opening. Floats and lead weights were attached to the top and bottom of the wings, respectively. The nets were aligned with the wings parallel to the mangrove fringe with the net opening facing the shoreline. Wooden garden stakes were used to secure the flaps and ends of the nets to the sediment. Samples were taken from six distance classes, ranging
from within the mangroves to ∼500m seaward of the mangrove fringe. During low tides, water retracted completely from each distance class such that fish could not enter the nets.
Study design
All eight nets were set at an estuary within 1 h of low tide and samples were collected 24 h later, thus exposing the nets to two tidal cycles. Sampling days were randomly dispersed among the three estuaries. The eight nets were randomly assigned to the six distance classes of an estuary simultaneously on each sampling
day until a total of five replicates were taken at each distance class within each estuary. Fish were quantified and identified to species in the field where possible.
For further information please refer to:
Payne, N. L., and Gillanders, B. M. (2009). Assemblages of fish along a mangrove–mudflat gradient in temperate Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 60, 1–13.
Notes
CreditSouthern Seas Ecology Laboratories
Credit
University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
Credit
Nicholas Leslie Payne
Nicholas Leslie Payne
Created: 17 05 2013
Data time period: 01 11 2005 to 31 01 2006
text: westlimit=136; southlimit=-35.00; eastlimit=138; northlimit=-32.00
text: westlimit=137; southlimit=-35.00; eastlimit=139; northlimit=-34.00
Subjects
ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES |
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS |
Aldrichetta forsteri |
Atherinosoma microstoma |
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION |
BIOSPHERE |
Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Feeding Habitat |
COASTAL PROCESSES |
EARTH SCIENCE |
Estuaries |
Estuarine Habitat |
Fish |
Fish Nursery |
Global/Oceans | Southern Ocean/ Australia extension |
Intertidal Zone |
King George whiting |
Mangroves |
Marine Features (Australia) | Gulf St. Vincent, SA |
Marine Features (Australia) | Port Broughton, SA |
Marine Features (Australia) | Port Pirie, SA |
Marine Features (Australia) | Port Wakefield, SA |
Marine Features (Australia) | Spencer Gulf, SA |
Marine Features (Australia) | Yorke Peninsula, SA |
Mudflats |
Nets |
Nets | Fyke nets |
OCEANS |
Pelates octolineatus |
Sillaginodes punctata |
Smallmouth hardyhead |
Striped perch |
Yellow-eyed mullet |
biota |
count |
environment |
height |
oceans |
taxonomic_group_count |
taxonomic_name |
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Identifiers
- global : 1c988eca-6b6c-4b80-8525-052a17a94b1d
