engleski

Seasonality of a fish assemblage in shallow waters of Duće-Glava, eastern middle Adriatic

A shallow-water fish assemblage associated with macroalgae, rocks and seagrasses with a sandy substratum at Duce-Glava beach, eastern middle Adriatic, was sampled monthly with a beach seine. Sampling was at 4-h intervals over 24 h each month between April 2000 and March 2001. A total of 61 species were recorded ; the assemblage was dominated by five species: Pomatochistus marmoratus, Lithognathus mormyrus, Sardina pilchardus, Atherina boyeri and Atherina hepsetus. The number of fish caught per season was highest in spring and lowest in winter, and the biomass followed a similar trend with a greater decline between spring and summer. There was significant seasonal difference in the species assemblage. Species diversity (H') and evenness (F) were highest between April and July, decreased in August, and remained low until March. Twenty-seven species were residents in soft-sediment areas, while others are seasonal transients and probably use the area as a shelter or nursery ground.

fish assemblage; eastern Adriatric Sea; shallow water; seasonal changes; inshore Mediterranean

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