Distribution of Fishes in the Mhlanga Estuary in Relation to Food Resources

Abstract

Food resources play an important role in determining the distribution offish species in the Mhlanga estuary. Standing crops of detritus and associated micro-organisms, zoobenthos, zooplankton, epiphytic flora and fauna were measured in the upper, middle and lower reaches of the estuary, and the distribution of 20 fish species related to these resources. The distribution of the majority of species correlated with the abundance of preferred food items, except for the Mugilidae where substrate particle sizes influenced the composition offish in an area.