Demand for tropical eel seed has been increased and many tropical eel populations are under pressure. To conserve eel biodiversity and manage eel populations sustainably, it is necessary to identify eel species and their recruitment patterns at regional and watershed scales. The research objective was to determine the species composition and temporal recruit-ment patterns of glass eels recruiting to Palu River in Central Sulawesi. Glass eels sampling were conducted in January-April 2009, May-November 2010 and April-December 2011. Identification under anaesthetic (15-17.5 ppm clove oil solution) was based mainly on the number of ano-dorsal vertebrae (ADV). Species composition was dominated by two commercially species, Anguilla marmorata and A. bicolor pacifica with substantial variation and no clear temporal patterns. Specimens of other species that important from conservation and biodiversity aspects were present at each month but cannot be accurately identified using the ADV method. DNA analysis method is required to identify these specimens.
Species composition of glass eels (Anguilla spp.) recruiting to the Palu River, Central Sulawesi
