Zum Inhalt springen

Large scale distribution of fish larvae in the continental shelf waters off North-East Brazil

  • Werner Ekau
  • Petra Westhaus-Ekau
  • Carmen Medeiros

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the ichthyoplankton community in the continental shelf waters off North-East Brazil for the first rime and to determine possible relationships between community composition and the abiotic conditions, produced by the water masses of the South Equatorial Current (SEC). Bongo samples from 23 stations off the Brazilian State Pernambuco and 13 stations off Ceará were examined. Larvae were identified up to the family level. A total of 7 4 families was distinguished, 4 7 of these were found in the northern sector off Ceará, while 5 8 were found off Pernambuco. 31 families were found off both areas, Ceará and Pernambuco. Abundances were lower in the North (up to 40 larvae per 50 m3), showing a maximum near the shelf edge and a decrease towards offshore. The dominant groups from Pernambuco and Ceará differed significantly. Carangids, monacanthids and gobiids were the main taxa off Ceará. The samples from Pernambuco consisted mainly of Scaridae, Labridae, Labrisomidae, Clupeidae and Myctophidae (offshore). Four communities were separated by cluster analysis, indicating an inshore/offshore transition in taxonomic composition. The paper has shown the overwhelming dominance of the oligotrophic SECW on the ichthyoplankton community. The mangroves of North-East Brazil do not have a significant impact on the ichthyoplankton community of the shelf waters. Differences in biomass and larval assemblages were evident only between inshore waters, up to 10 km distance from the coast and the shelf waters beyond.

Zitiere diese Aktivität

Ekau W., Westhaus-Ekau P. and Medeiros C. (1999) Large scale distribution of fish larvae in the continental shelf waters off North-East Brazil. Archive of fishery and marine research 47(2/3): 183-200.

Details

Datum 01.01.1999
Journal Archive of fishery and marine research
Issue 2/3
Volume 47
Seiten 183-200
Open Access Closed Access
Open Access Status Closed Access
Eprints_link https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5724
Peer-Reviewed

Die Inhalte auf dieser Seite werden von den Autor:innen selbst gepflegt.