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Spatial–temporal variation of Achirus larvae (Actinopterygii: Achiridae) in mangrove, beach and reef habitats in north-eastern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2012

Elisabeth Cabral Silva-Falcão ,
William Severi  and
Maria Elisabeth De Araújo
Elisabeth Cabral Silva-Falcão*
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Necton, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50730-540, Avenida da Arquitetura – s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil
William Severi
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ictiologia, Departamento de Pesca e Aqüicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, 52171-900 Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros – s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, Brazil
Maria Elisabeth De Araújo
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Necton, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50730-540, Avenida da Arquitetura – s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: E.C. Silva-Falcão, Laboratório de Necton, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50730-540, Avenida da Arquitetura – s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil email: elisabeth_cabral@hotmail.com
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Abstract

The genus Achirus is made up of demersal fish that have a close relationship with the substrate and exhibit peculiar aspects during their larval stage. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the abundance of Achirus larvae differed among a set of habitats in the estuary of the Formoso River in the State of Pernambuco (north-eastern Brazil). Sampling was performed monthly between April 2009 and March 2010, and comprised horizontal hauls with plankton net during the day and night in mangrove, beach and reef habitats. Fish larvae were sorted, identified, measured and larval stage recorded. Density and body length values were used in a non-parametric analysis of variance for the determination of variations between seasons, habitats and diel periods. A total of 204 larvae were collected, with an average density of 2.1 larvae.100 m−3. Density was greater in the nocturnal samplings, with no differences found between habitats. The larvae occurred in the yolk-sac to post-flexion stage, with pre-flexion the most abundant stage (78%). Size segregation was observed. Larger larvae were captured at night and in the mangrove. The smallest larvae were caught on the reef, with length increasing toward the mangrove. The results indicate that Achirus larvae come from deeper regions near reefs, where spawning probably occurs, and perform ontogenetic migration towards the shallow waters of mangrove, where they settle.

Keywords

coastal habitatslarvaeflatfishtropical
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 93 , Special Issue 2: Fish and Fisheries , March 2013 , pp. 381 - 388
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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