Abstract:
This study is based on 1811 fish larvae collected in 181 zooplankton hauls. 106 hauls were positive. 1653 larvae were identified to 24 fish families. 15 genera and 4 species could be recognized. The percentage contribution of fish families (all months and years combined) has been studied. A group of major fish families Clupeidae (40.3%), Scombridae (6.7%) Gobiidae (5.5%), Sillaginidae (3.9%), Carangidae (3.8%), Platycephalidae (3.1%) and Sciaenidae (3.0%) together contributed 79.4% to the total number of larvae. The group of five common fish families together constituted 7.3% of the total, whereas a group of 11 rare fish families occasionally caught in small numbers together contributed 4.4% to the total. Annual fluctuations in the relative abundance of various taxa belonging to major, common and rare fish families have been described in some detail. Seasonal fluctuation in the taxa of major familes in individual years has been noted. Larval fish species of Clupeids, Bothids and Scombrids seem to be numerically important. Sardinella sindensis larvae dominated. S. sindensis and other two species of Sardinella, gobids, carangids and bothids, were found more abundant in summer. Winter seems to be more important for scombrid and silaginid larvae.
Page(s):
127-142
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Biologia, Volume: 27, Issue: 2, Year: 1981