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Fishes of a shallow tropical mangrove estuary, Gazi, Kenya
Kimani, E.N.; Mwatha, G.K.; Wakwabi, E.O.; Ntiba, J.M.; Okoth, B.K. (1996). Fishes of a shallow tropical mangrove estuary, Gazi, Kenya. Mar. Fish. Inf. Serv. Tech. Ext. Ser. 47: 857-868
In: Marine Fisheries Information Service Technical and Extension Series. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute: Cochin. ISSN 0254-380X
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Non-open access 243969 [ request ]
Keywords
    Abundance
    Composition
    Atherinidae Risso, 1827 [WoRMS]; Clupeidae Cuvier, 1816 [WoRMS]; Gerreidae Bleeker, 1859 [WoRMS]; Teleostei [WoRMS]
    ISW, Kenya, Gazi Bay [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    mangrove fish, seagrass fish, coral reef fish, commercial fish
Authors  Top 
  • Kimani, E.N.
  • Mwatha, G.K.
  • Wakwabi, E.O.
  • Ntiba, J.M.
  • Okoth, B.K.
Abstract
    The composition and abundance of teleosts in an estuarine mangrove bay, sampled with a beach seine-net, are described. Site 1, at the mouth of a small river, was fringed by mangroves and had a silty substratum; Site 2 was also mangrove fringed but had a sandy substratum and seagrass patches; Site 3 had a muddy sand substratum and also supported seagrasses. in total, 128 teleost species belonging to 50 families were identified in samples collected over 12 months. Gerreidae, Atherinidae and Clupeidae accounted for 78.5% of the total number of fish. Juveniles were found for 63% of the species. Of the fish species found, 44% were species associated with coral reefs. The mean numbers of species were similar at all sites, despite the differences in substratum type. Ecological diversity indices were higher, and fish density and biomass were lower, in the mangrove-fringed silt site than in the seagrass sites. Mean number of species was highest in February and June. Most families of commercial fish sought by fishers in the area were represented in the samples.
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