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JPR Advance Access published online on August 21, 2006
Journal of Plankton Research, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbl035
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received March 30, 2006
Accepted August 10, 2006

Article

Depth distribution of nearshore temperate fish larval assemblages near rocky substrates

Ricardo Beldade 1, Rita Borges 1, and Emanuel J. Gonçalves 1 *

1 Eco-Ethology Research Unit, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, R. Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Emanuel J. Gonçalves, E-mail: emanuel{at}ispa.pt


  Abstract

In this study we compare the composition, abundance and structure of a temperate fish larval assemblage at different depth intervals ([0-4] m, [4-8] m and [8-12] m) in the extreme nearshore environment. We used a plankton net attached to an underwater scooter to sample in close proximity to the rocky substrate (< 50 cm). A total of 868 larvae from 27 taxa in 13 families were caught. The majority of larvae belonged to benthic reef-associated species (Blenniidae, Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae, Tripterygiidae), the 4 most abundant comprising 76% of the total larvae caught. A non-metric MDS analysis showed that there was a single multispecific larval patch near the substrate in the extreme nearshore up to 12 m depth. Nonetheless, distinct larval abundances were found in this relatively small depth range, with the majority of species being more abundant at the deepest interval, particularly Pomatoschistus pictus and Gobius xanthocephalus. Tripterygion delaisi was an exception being more abundant at the shallowest depth as young larvae. The density of pre-flexion larvae was not significantly different across depth intervals, but post-flexion larval density increased with depth. The full size range (from hatching to settlement) of P. pictus was present at the extreme nearshore. The innovative sampling technique used here revealed high densities of larvae close to the bottom and depth was found to be an important factor influencing the distribution of several taxa and ontogenetic stages. The nearshore component of coastal fish larval assemblages near rocky substrates has been poorly studied and our results suggest that the high densities of larvae found to aggregate in these environments must be taken into account when studying distribution and functional aspects of these assemblages.

Communicating Editor: KJ Flynn


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