DO EEL GRASS BEDS AND SALT-MARSH BORDERS ACT AS PREFERENTIAL NURSERIES AND SPAWNING GROUNDS FOR FISH - AN EXAMPLE OF THE MIRA ESTUARY IN PORTUGAL

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1994

Authors

COSTA, MJ (Author) Other; COSTA, JL (Author) Other; Pedro Almeida (Author) Other; ASSIS, CA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Ecological Engineering

Vol. 3

Pages: 187-195

ISSN: 0925-8574

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 39 Citations

Scopus - 46 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-JZV

DOI: 10.1016/0925-8574(94)90045-0

Abstract (EN): The fish communities of the Mira estuary (Portugal) have been studied as a whole since 1986. It was possible to identify two different types of habitat that act as nursery areas and spawning grounds for a large number of fish species - the eel grass beds and the salt-marsh-bordered zone. The importance of these habitats is due, not only to the number of species present, but also to their abundance. However, as the eel grass beds only extend over a small surface in the Mira estuary, the salt marshes become of vital importance for the marine fish, especially those with economical value. As several major modifications are planned for the Mira estuarine bed and valley in the near future, suggestions are given in order to preserve the estuarine ecosystem equilibrium.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9