Larval and Juvenile Fish Communities and Morphodynamic Habitat Conditions in an Open Sandy Shore at Fukiagehama, Southern Kyushu Island, Japan

開放的な砂浜海岸である鹿児島県吹上浜のサーフゾーンの仔稚魚群集と地形動態的な生息環境条件

Larval and Juvenile Fish Communities and Morphodynamic Habitat Conditions in an Open Sandy Shore at Fukiagehama, Southern Kyushu Island, Japan

Creators Kato Meiko

Creators Suda Yusuke

Creators Nanjo Kusuto

The community structures of larval and juvenile surf zone fishes collected from three research sites with different morphodynamic beach types (Kaminokawa: reflective type, Kyoden: intermediate type, Beach park: dissipative type) were investigated at Fukiagehama Beach, Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Kyushu Island from May 2013 to July 2014. Fishes were collected by small experimental beach seine made of 1× 1 mm-meshed knotless net (5.5 m width, 1.5 m deep, 3 m-long fish bag) in the surf zone. Environmental conditions such as beach profile, water quality, sand particle size and surf zone water movement were observed concurrently with fish sampling. A total of 1,343 individuals from 28 families and more than 38 species were captured. Slightly larger number of species and abundance were observed at interrmediate and dissipative sites compared with reflective site. Bottom fishes such as Matsubaraea fusiformis, Paralichthys olivaceus and Tarphops oligolepis dominated intermediate and dissipative sites with smaller wave actions, whereas the reef fishes such as Pempheris schwenkii and Girella sp. dominated reflective site with harsh sea water movement. The results of the study suggests the geomorphological diversities due to morphodynamics affects the surf zone fish communities. Much consideration should be paid to geomorphological habitat diversities at coastal protection and conservation projects as construction of artifical structures and beach nourishment.

[ISSN]0370-9361