Seasonal structure of the fish and crustacean community of the Zeeschelde estuary
Maes, J. (2000). Seasonal structure of the fish and crustacean community of the Zeeschelde estuary, in: Maes, J. De structuur van de visgemeenschap van het Zeeschelde-estuarium = The structure of the fish community of the Zeeschelde estuary. pp. 51-64
In: Maes, J. (2000). De structuur van de visgemeenschap van het Zeeschelde-estuarium = The structure of the fish community of the Zeeschelde estuary. PhD Thesis. KUL: Leuven. 143 pp., more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities
Fauna > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic animals > Fish
Fauna > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic animals > Shellfish
Water bodies > Coastal waters > Coastal landforms > Coastal inlets > Estuaries
ANE, Belgium [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal; Brackish water |
| Abstract |
Fish and crustaceans were sampled for 1 year in the upper reaches of a temperate estuary characterized by high turbidity and a tidal range of up to 5 m. Samples were taken in the cooling-water circuit of the Doel Nuclear Power station (Zeeschelde, Belgium). Between July 1994 and June 1995, 55 fish species, two shrimp species and four crab species were recorded. The fish community was composed of 36 marine species, 16 freshwater species and three diadromous species. Shrimps, Gobiidae and Clupeidae dominated the samples both in numbers and biomass. An exceptionally clear seasonal succession was observed in the species composition. It is argued that young fish and crustaceans use the highly turbid Zeeschelde Estuary as a refuge from predators.See also: Maes, J.; Taillieu, A.; Van Damme, P.A.; Cottenie, K.; Ollevier, F. (1998). Seasonal patterns in the fish and crustacean community of a turbid temperate estuary (Zeeschelde Estuary, Belgium). Est., coast. and shelf sci. 47: 143-151. |
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