Patterns in Larval Fish Diversity, Abundance, and Distribution in Temperate South African Estuaries

Estuaries are important nursery areas for fishes worldwide but large-scale studies of spatial patterns of use are lacking. This study presents data on larval fish diversity, abundance and distribution within and among a range of temperate estuary types, spanning 25 systems sampled from 1998 to 2008 in South Africa. A standardized boat-based plankton towing technique was used. Estuary type and physico-chemical conditions played a defining role in the trends observed. Estuary resident Clupeidae and Gobiidae dominated the mid-channel larval catch, particularly the preflexion stages in permanently and intermittently open estuaries and in estuarine lakes. Permanently open estuaries were also characterized by high numbers of larvae and early juveniles of marine migrant fishes. Density was higher in warmer months (spring and summer), which coincides with peak spawning in coastal habitats coupled with zooplankton maxima in the warm-temperate region. A strong seasonal component was also evident in larval fish catches in cool-temperate systems, but this peak coincided with late winter rainfall. River inflow provides a strong influence on food availability and larval survival. Species richness and diversity was higher in estuaries with either extensive habitat variability and/or a strong, natural good supply of river flow. This was particularly evident in the higher numbers of marine migrant larvae in these systems. Freshwater deprived estuaries also displayed high species diversity due to the higher incidence of marine straggler species. Characterization of salinity into zones provided a valuable means to understand distribution and abundance dynamics. Mesohaline zones had the highest density of larval fishes, providing ideal food patches. A select suite of species dominate the larval fish assemblages in the various estuary types studied. These patterns persist but species abundance and rank may vary interannually based on productivity and larval fish survival.