Macrozooplankton studies in Kuwait Bay (Arabian Gulf). I: Distribution and composition of the ichthyoplankton

Fifty taxa of fish larvae were identified during a 12 monthstudy in Kuwait Bay. Dominants included ‘Sparidae-type’larvae, clupeids and gobies. Peak numbers and types of larvaeoccurred during late spring/early summer with the minimum duringwinter. The bay could be divided into three subareas based uponfaunal, sedimentary and hydrographic characteristics. Low larvalconcentrations were generally found in the vicinity of the Khoral Sabiya—an area of below average salinities. Westernbay stations had either the highest mean temperatures and/orsalinities and low larval densities. During spring and summer,only goby and clupeid larvae were more abundant here than inthe outer bay. Most of the dominants, particularly gobies, Bregmacerosand pomadasyids, occurred at above average concentrations atthe northeastern and outer bay stations.