High complexity of aquatic irradiance may have driven the evolution of four-dimensional colour vision in shallow-water fish

The present study considered the influence of the tide on shallow water fish assemblages within the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia. Timed underwater visual observations were made across a gradient of intertidal to subtidal habitats from near-shore to reef crest at different tidal heights. Transient fish were found to dominate shallow water fish assemblages and the assemblage composition varied with tidal state. Fish assemblages were more diverse and abundant at higher tides in both coral and sea grass habitats, however, this was more pronounced within sea grass habitats. A tidal reduction from ≈2.0m to ≈0.8m (above chart datum) corresponded to a 30% reduction in fish abundance, while species richness also significantly decreased from 13.5 to 10.8 species per standardized timed observation. Fifty fish groups were reported from sea grass habitats with the most abundant being from the Engraulidae family and Lethrinus harak, which form important local subsistence fisheries. This research confirms the importance of tidal changes in structuring the fish fauna of Indonesian sea grass habitats and underlines the connectivity that exists between these habitats and nearby coral reefs.

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Comparison of 1982–1983 and 1997–1998 El Niño effects on the shallow-water fish assemblage of the Patos Lagoon estuary (Brazil)

Estuaries ◽

10.1007/bf02803417 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 905-914 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

A. M. Garcia ◽

J. P. Vieira ◽

K. O. Winemiller ◽

A. M. Grimm

Keyword(s):

Shallow Water ◽

El Niño ◽

Fish Assemblage ◽

El Nino ◽

Patos Lagoon ◽

Water Fish ◽

Patos Lagoon Estuary

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The effects of disturbance and severe seasonal fluctuations in environmental conditions on north temperate shallow-water fish assemblages

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science ◽

10.1016/0272-7714(88)90046-7 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 123-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Richard D.M. Nash

Keyword(s):

Shallow Water ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Seasonal Fluctuations ◽

Water Fish

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Diel catch variations in a shallow-water fish assemblage at Duće Glava, eastern Adriatic (Croatian Coast)

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315404009701h ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 84 (3) ◽

pp. 659-664 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jakov Dulčić ◽

Megan Fencil ◽

Sanja Matić-Skoko ◽

Miro Kraljević ◽

Branko Glamuzina

Keyword(s):

Shallow Water ◽

Sandy Beach ◽

Similarity Index ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Water Fish ◽

Mullus Surmuletus ◽

Sarpa Salpa ◽

The Stability ◽

Lithognathus Mormyrus ◽

Number Of Individuals

An assemblage of shallow-water fish was sampled with a small beach seine over monthly 24-h periods between April 2000 and March 2001 at the sandy beach Duće Glava in the eastern Adriatic. Monthly sets of samples were divided into day and night catches to examine the stability of diel differences in assemblage structure over a 1-y period. A total of 61 species was caught, of which six were exclusively diurnal and 12 were nocturnal. According to abundance and biomass of individuals during day and night, the most abundant species were categorized into several groups. Ophidion rochei was exclusively nocturnal, while Nerophis ophidion and Echiichthys vipera were mostly nocturnal. Diplodus annularis and Mullus surmuletus were slightly nocturnal. Diplodus vulgaris, Pomatoschistus marmoratus and Atherina boyeri lacked a diel pattern. Sardina pilchardus, Lithognathus mormyrus, Atherina hepsetus, Sarpa salpa and Mullus surmuletus abundance peaked for a few months, probably related to timing of spawning and recruitment. At the assemblage level, the diel per cent similarity index indicates that there were major differences between the day and night assemblages in April, September, March, and August with respect to number of individuals and September, October, May and March with respect to biomass.

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