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Factors affecting the distribution, abundance and diversity of fishes of small, soft-substrata tidal pools within Moreton Bay, Australia

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Abstract

A survey of fishes in small, soft-substrata tidepools was undertaken between May and September 1996 at two sites in south-east Queensland, Australia. Pools sampled varied in size (0.005–2.8 m2 surface area), location within the intertidal zone, and habitat structure. A total of 680 fish representing 18 species from eight families were caught. Gobiidae was the dominant family and Favonigobius exquisites, Arenigobius frenatus and Favonigobius lateralis were the most abundant species. Most fish caught were juveniles, and only F. lateralis was represented by all life-history stages (from late larval). The mean density of fish was 4.7 m−2 and mean species richness was 2.3 m−2. Both abundance and species richness increased with pool size and decreased with distance up the intertidal zone. The distribution patterns of fish in these soft-substrata tidepools were similar to patterns noted for fish in rocky tidepools.

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  1. J. J. Meager

    Present address: Department of Biology, Queensland university of Technology, P.O. Box 7800, Bergen, 5020, Norway

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resource Sciences, Queensland university of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, 4001

    J. J. Meager, I. Williamson & C. R. King

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  1. J. J. Meager
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  2. I. Williamson
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  3. C. R. King
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Correspondence to J. J. Meager.

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Meager, J.J., Williamson, I. & King, C.R. Factors affecting the distribution, abundance and diversity of fishes of small, soft-substrata tidal pools within Moreton Bay, Australia. Hydrobiologia 537, 71–80 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-2308-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-2308-x

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