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Fish Communities in a Tropical Bay (Gazi Bay, Kenya): Seagrass Beds Vs. Unvegetated Areas

1995; Brill; Volume: 46; Issue: 3-4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/156854295x00195

1568-542X

Jan Mees, Enock O Wakwabi, Marleen De Troch, Isabelle Papadopoulos,

Fish Biology and Ecology Studies

The fish fauna of seagrass beds and unvegetated areas in Gazi Bay (Kenya) was sampled in 9 stations with a beach seine.A total of 3601 fishes (> 95 % juveniles) was caught, comprising 75 species (40 families).The spatial patterns in the fish communities were investigated with multivariate statistical techniques.A first community occurred in the downstream part of a major river-fed creek and was characterised by a low density and diversity.These were sandy bottom stations with sparse seagrass vegetation.The dominant species of this community were Leiognathus elongatus and Bothus myriaster.A second community occurred in the upstream part of the same creek, and was characterised by a high density and diversity.Gerres acinaces and Atherinomorus duodecimalicv were the dominant species.A third community occurred in the stations of the shallow part of the bay and was characterised by a high diversity but a lower density.The dominant species were Apogon thermalis and G. acinaces.Both latter communities occurred in stations with dense seagrass beds.