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Mangroves as Nurseries: Shrimp Populations in Mangrove and Non-mangrove Habitats

1998; Elsevier BV; Volume: 46; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1006/ecss.1997.0275

1096-0015

Jurgenne H. Primavera,

Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

A total of 4845 penaeids belonging to nine species—Metapenaeus anchistus,M. ensis,M. moyebi,M. philippinensis,Penaeus merguiensis,P. monodon,P. semisulcatus,P. latisulcatusandMetapenaeopsis palmensis—were collected by pocket seine monthly over 13 months from mangrove and non-mangrove sites in Guimaras, Philippines. The restricted distribution of the three dominant species—M. ensisandP. merguiensisto the brackish water riverine mangrove, andM. anchistusto the high-salinity island mangrove and tidal flat—is probably related to different salinity and substrate preferences. Abundance and size composition of the major species suggest a strong nursery role for the riverine mangrove (high juvenile densities, relatively small sizes year-round), limited nursery use of the island mangrove (fewer shrimps, larger size ranges, presence of maturing females) and a non-nursery use (e.g. foraging) in the tidal flat. Penaeid recruitment to the river had two peaks in November and May when the average salinity was ∼20 (Practical Salinity Scale) and water temperatures were high (30–31 °C). The spatio-temporal pattern of penaeid species in Guimaras shows partitioning across habitats and seasonal recruitment influenced by physical and biological factors.