Ontogenetic shifts in fishes between vegetated and unvegetated tidepools: assessing the effect of physical structure on fish habitat selection.
The aim of this study of tidepool fishes was analyse variation in their use of intertidal habitats (rocky shore, mangrove and salt marsh). Specimens were collected during wet and dry periods from 18 tidepools in the three habitats. A total of 7690 specimens, belonging to 19 families and 30 species, was captured. The fish assemblage in rocky shore pools was clearly distinct from that of vegetated habitats (mangrove and salt marshes). The rocky shore fauna was dominated by permanent resident species, whereas pools in mangrove and salt marsh habitats were inhabited primarily by opportunistic and transient species. Habitat segregation by ontogenetic stage (e.g. smaller individuals in mangroves, intermediate size classes in salt marsh and sub-adults/adults on rocky shores) indicates age-related migration in response to the physical structure of these habitats and to the natural history of each fish species. These findings are important for the development of effective conservation and management plans for intertidal fishes.
Laboratório de Biologia Pesqueira e Manejo dos Recursos Aquáticos, Grupo de Ecologia Aquática (GEA-UFPA), Av. Perimetral, 2651, Terra Firme, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
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Oliveira
Laboratório de Biologia Pesqueira e Manejo dos Recursos Aquáticos, Grupo de Ecologia Aquática (GEA-UFPA), Av. Perimetral, 2651, Terra Firme, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
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Macieira
Laboratório de Biologia Pesqueira e Manejo dos Recursos Aquáticos, Grupo de Ecologia Aquática (GEA-UFPA), Av. Perimetral, 2651, Terra Firme, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
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Giarrizzo
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D053833:Wetlands
intertidal; mangroves; northern Brazil; rocky shore; salt marshes; tropical macrotidal estuary