Biomass and production estimates of a fish community in a small South African estuary |
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Authors: | P. D. Cowley A. K. Whitfield |
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Affiliation: | South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa |
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Abstract: | The fish community of the small (17·5 ha) intermittently open East Kleinemonde estuary was sampled between 1994 and 1997 to estimate population size, standing stock, growth and productivity. The estuarine-spawning species were numerically more abundant ( n c . 750 000) but due to their small size contributed only 11·7% to the total biomass. The total annual productivity of all fishes in the estuary ( n c . 890 000), with a standing stock of 28·44 g m −2, was calculated at 55·89 g m−2 year−1. The small sparid Rhabdosargus holubi with a production estimate of 41·35 g m−2 year−1 accounted for <74% of the total fish production in this estuary. |
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Keywords: | South Africa estuarine fish biomass production |
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