Larval fish assemblages of selected estuarine and coastal systems in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
type: CreativeWork
description: This study focuses describing assemblages of fish larvae occurring in potential nursery habitats and elucidating the recruitment processes of fishes in the KwaZulu-Natal region. The composition, the degree of estuarine-association of all taxa, temporal and spatial abundance patterns, developmental stages and were examined in three large estuarine systems, a surf zone habitat and in the nearshore marine environment. In addition, two 24-h inlet studies were undertaken to ascertain diel patterns. Relationships between larval densities with environmental variables were also examined to gain insight into the possible causal mechanisms for the observed abundance patterns. Larval fish samples from Durban Harbour and Richards Bay Harbour were collected at top, mid and bottom depths in the dredged channel 100 to 200 m from the harbour entrance, over 13 and 12 month study periods, respectively. Larval fish from the St Lucia Estuary were collected over 12 months at a foxed station 4 km from the mouth. A total of 8 797 fish larvae, representing 64 families and 144 taxa, was collected in Durban Harbour. From Richards Bay Harbour, 105 taxa representing 53 families were collected from a total of 7 163 larvae. Larvae of the thorny anchovy, Stolephorus holodon, were very abundant in both harbours (32% and 10% of the total catch, respectively), with the blueline herring Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (30%) and an unidentified goby Gobiid 12 (9%) being dominant in Durban Harbour and in Richards Bay Harbour, respectively. Conversely, in the St Lucia Estuary, 51 590 larvae in total were collected represented by 85 taxa from 44 families. The river goby Glossogobius callidus (67%) and the estuarine roundherring Gilchristella aestuaria (19%) were the most dominant species. Larval fish in the surf zone were collected monthly, using a pushnet, at six stations up to 3 km north of the St Lucia Estuary mouth. To determine any diel patterns a 24-h study was also undertaken in the surf zone when…
abstract: This study focuses describing assemblages of fish larvae occurring in potential nursery habitats and elucidating the recruitment processes of fishes in the KwaZulu-Natal region. The composition, the degree of estuarine-association of all taxa, temporal and spatial abundance patterns, developmental stages and were examined in three large estuarine systems, a surf zone habitat and in the nearshore marine environment. In addition, two 24-h inlet studies were undertaken to ascertain diel patterns. Relationships between larval densities with environmental variables were also examined to gain insight into the possible causal mechanisms for the observed abundance patterns. Larval fish samples from Durban Harbour and Richards Bay Harbour were collected at top, mid and bottom depths in the dredged channel 100 to 200 m from the harbour entrance, over 13 and 12 month study periods, respectively. Larval fish from the St Lucia Estuary were collected over 12 months at a foxed station 4 km from the mouth. A total of 8 797 fish larvae, representing 64 families and 144 taxa, was collected in Durban Harbour. From Richards Bay Harbour, 105 taxa representing 53 families were collected from a total of 7 163 larvae. Larvae of the thorny anchovy, Stolephorus holodon, were very abundant in both harbours (32% and 10% of the total catch, respectively), with the blueline herring Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus (30%) and an unidentified goby Gobiid 12 (9%) being dominant in Durban Harbour and in Richards Bay Harbour, respectively. Conversely, in the St Lucia Estuary, 51 590 larvae in total were collected represented by 85 taxa from 44 families. The river goby Glossogobius callidus (67%) and the estuarine roundherring Gilchristella aestuaria (19%) were the most dominant species. Larval fish in the surf zone were collected monthly, using a pushnet, at six stations up to 3 km north of the St Lucia Estuary mouth. To determine any diel patterns a 24-h study was also undertaken in the surf zone when…
author: Harris, Shael Anne
keywords: Fishes--Larvae., Fishes--South Africa-- KwaZulu-Natal, Estuarine system
license: https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/b1a40c0b-f5d1-4db8-9b88-de8ecb4aa220/download
date published: 1996
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:16:58Z
provider: University of Zululand
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zululand