USP Electronic Research Repository

Species composition, abundance and seasonal inshore recruitment patterns of the tropical eels Anguilla spp. to Viti Levu, Fiji Islands in the western South Pacific

Hewavitharane, Chinthaka and Mochioka, Noritaka and Rico, Ciro and Pickering, Timothy (2018) Species composition, abundance and seasonal inshore recruitment patterns of the tropical eels Anguilla spp. to Viti Levu, Fiji Islands in the western South Pacific. Marine and Freshwater Research, online . NA. ISSN 1323-1650

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

To understand the inshore recruitment mechanisms of tropical eels, Anguilla spp., we collected 1368 glass eels at the mouth of a small river at Namelimeli, approximately 2km East of Navua Town, Fiji Islands between April 2015 and June 2016. Specimens were identified using both morphological characters and DNA barcoding to only 3 species; one short-finned Anguilla obscura and two long-finned eels A. marmorata and A. megastoma. A. obscura was the most abundant species (55% of collected glass eels) with peak recruitment periods from February to April. A. marmorata was the second most abundant species (41.4% of collected glass eels) with peak recruitment periods in April 2015 and September to October 2015. A. megastoma only comprised of 3.9% of collected glass eels with peak recruitment periods in April 2015 and October 2015. A. obscura and A. marmorata were present in samples almost throughout the year suggesting that tropical eels recruit to some degree throughout the year. Results suggest that peak recruitment occurs during seasons of heavy rain, from September to October and February to April commencing one hour after sunset on the day following new moon

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Marine Studies
Depositing User: Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata
Date Deposited: 31 May 2018 01:57
Last Modified: 21 Sep 2018 06:04
URI: https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/10781

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item