Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisorGriffiths, Charles Len_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorBennett, Bruceen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorClark, Barry Malcolmen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-11-10T09:08:06Z
dc.date.available2014-11-10T09:08:06Z
dc.date.issued1997en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 188-216.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe main objectives of this study were to examine, by means of beach seine netting, the composition, abundance and size structure of fish assemblages frequenting surf-zone habitats in the south-western Cape, South Africa, to investigate temporal and spatial variations in these assemblages in relation to physical environmental parameters, and to assess the importance of this habitat as a nursery and feeding ground for littoral fish. In all, 54 fish species from 29 families were recorded, with three species (Atherina breviceps, Liza richardsonii and Rhabdosargus globiceps) dominating numerically. Two separate surveys were designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the factors influencing spatial variability in the composition abundance and community structure of the surf fish assemblages in this region. In the first, surf ichthyofaunal assemblages at 11 localities, selected to encompass as wide a range of physical parameters as possible, were sampled at monthly intervals for a period of two years. Results of this study indicated that the degree of wave exposure, the presence of emergent rock on the shore and turbidity were responsible for most of the spatial variability in abundance and community structure observed. In the second survey, samples were collected at eight localities spanning an exposure gradient from highly exposed, open ocean beaches to extremely sheltered marine sandy beaches, in order to isolate and carefully examine the influences of wave exposure on surf fish assemblages. Two important trends were evident in the abundance and community structure of teleost catches in this study. Overall abundance increased markedly as wave exposure decreased, while highest species richness and diversity, and lowest dominance were recorded at intermediate levels of exposure.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationClark, B. M. (1997). <i>Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9513en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationClark, Barry Malcolm. <i>"Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9513en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationClark, B. 1997. Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Clark, Barry Malcolm AB - The main objectives of this study were to examine, by means of beach seine netting, the composition, abundance and size structure of fish assemblages frequenting surf-zone habitats in the south-western Cape, South Africa, to investigate temporal and spatial variations in these assemblages in relation to physical environmental parameters, and to assess the importance of this habitat as a nursery and feeding ground for littoral fish. In all, 54 fish species from 29 families were recorded, with three species (Atherina breviceps, Liza richardsonii and Rhabdosargus globiceps) dominating numerically. Two separate surveys were designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the factors influencing spatial variability in the composition abundance and community structure of the surf fish assemblages in this region. In the first, surf ichthyofaunal assemblages at 11 localities, selected to encompass as wide a range of physical parameters as possible, were sampled at monthly intervals for a period of two years. Results of this study indicated that the degree of wave exposure, the presence of emergent rock on the shore and turbidity were responsible for most of the spatial variability in abundance and community structure observed. In the second survey, samples were collected at eight localities spanning an exposure gradient from highly exposed, open ocean beaches to extremely sheltered marine sandy beaches, in order to isolate and carefully examine the influences of wave exposure on surf fish assemblages. Two important trends were evident in the abundance and community structure of teleost catches in this study. Overall abundance increased markedly as wave exposure decreased, while highest species richness and diversity, and lowest dominance were recorded at intermediate levels of exposure. DA - 1997 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1997 T1 - Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa TI - Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9513 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/9513
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationClark BM. Dynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africa. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 1997 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9513en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherZoologyen_ZA
dc.titleDynamics and utilization of surf zone habitats by fish in the South-Western Cape, South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeDoctoral Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationnamePhDen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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