The Influence of Selected Environmental Variables on Fish Assemblage Structure in a Range of Southeast African Estuaries |
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| Authors: | Paul D Vorwerk Alan K Whitfield Paul D Cowley Angus W Paterson |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Ichthyology & Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa;(2) South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa;(3) Coastal and Environmental Services, P.O. Box 934, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | This study compared the ichthyofaunal assemblages in 10 Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, estuaries to identify whether there were any structural variations between the assemblages and to determine the environmental and physical factors linked to these variations. Species belonging to both the marine migrant and estuarine resident groups, by consistent representation within each estuary grouping, were responsible for the separation of fish assemblage structures between the different types of systems. The data further revealed that fish assemblages in the three main types of estuaries investigated were distinct, linked primarily to estuary mouth status and estuary size. |
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| Keywords: | estuary fish assemblage environmental variables South Africa |
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