Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of environment on spatio-temporal structuring of fish assemblages in a monsoon-influenced tropical estuary

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study analyzes the trophic structure of fish assemblages in a well-mixed tropical estuary, Zuari, located in southwest coast of India. A total of 224 fish species were collected between September 2013 and August 2016 from 324 sampling events from 9 sampling stations using surface and bottom set gillnets. The sampling events were designed to cover three major seasons such as the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon. For each sampling event, abiotic variables such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and transparency of the water were recorded. The data obtained for abundance of fish species was subjected to cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling. The results defined six spatio-temporally varying groups (clusters) within Zuari estuary. Canonical correspondence analysis demonstrated that temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and transparency were important in determining the fish assemblages in Zuari. The estuarine resident species were abundant in the inner zone (riverine side) of the estuary, where the salinity and temperature recorded lower dimensions compared to middle and outer zones (marine side). However, the inner shallow zone of the estuary was not a preferred habitat for the migrating marine species. Majority of the fish species preferred middle and outer zones and post-monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons for inhabiting the estuary. The present study furnishes a reference data for the spatio-temporal dynamics of fish assemblages in tropical monsoonal estuaries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Able, K. W. (2005). A re-examination of fish estuarine dependence: evidence for connectivity between estuarine and ocean habitats. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 64(1), 5–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akin, S., Buhan, E., Winemiller, K. O., & Yilmaz, H. (2005). Fish assemblage structure of Koycegiz Lagoon–Estuary, Turkey: spatial and temporal distribution patterns in relation to environmental variation. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 64(4), 671–684.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amara, R., Lagardere, F., Desaunay, Y., & Marchand, J. (2000). Metamorphosis and estuarine colonisation in the common sole Solea solea (L.): implications for recruitment regulation. Oceanologica Acta, 23, 469–483.

  • Amara, R., Laffargue, P., Dewarumez, J. M., Maryniak, C., & Lagardere, F., & Luczac, C. (2001). Feeding ecology and growth of 0-group flatfish (sole, dab and plaice) on a nursery ground (southern Bight of the North Sea). Journal of Fish Biology, 25, 788–803.

  • Ansari, Z. A., Chatterji, A., Ingole, B. S., Sreepada, R. A., Rivonkar, C. U., & Parulekar, A. H. (1995). Community structure and seasonal variation of an inshore demersal fish community at Goa, west coast of India. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 41, 593–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA. (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater—21st edition. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asha, C. V., Cleetus, R. I., Suson, P. S., & Nandan, S. B. (2015). Environmental factors structuring the fish assemblage distribution and production potential in Vembanad estuarine system, India. International Journal of Marine Science, 5(23), 1–13.

  • Atasoy, M., Anderson, J. C., & Atasoy, F. G. (2018). Evaluating the distribution of invasive woody vegetation around riparian corridors in relation to land use. Urban Ecosystems, 21(3), 459–466.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barksdale, F. W., & Anderson, J. C. (2014). The influence of land use on forest structure, species composition, and soil conditions in headwater-slope wetlands of coastal Alabama, USA. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 11(1), 61–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, M. W., Heck, K., Able, K., Childers, D., & Egglestone, D. (2001). The identification, conservation and management of estuarine and marine nurseries for fish and invertebrates. Bioscience, 51, 633–641.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beger, M., Grantham, H. S., Pressey, R. L., Wilson, K. A., Peterson, E. L., Dorfman, D., Mumby, P. J., Lourival, R., Brumbaugh, D. R., & Possingham, H. P. (2010). Conservation planning for connectivity across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms. Biological Conservation, 143(3), 565–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhakta, D., Anand Meetei, W., Vaisakh, G., Kamble, S., Das, S. K., & Das, B. K. (2018). Finfish Diversity of Narmada Estuary in Gujarat of India. Proceedings of the Zoological Society. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12595-018-0263-1.

  • Bhat, M. (2012). Impact of Hydroelectric Dams on Fisheries in the Sharavathi Estuary of Uttara Kannada District, South-West India. In: National Conference on Conservation and Management of Wetland Ecosystems. Kottayam, Kerala: School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University.

  • Bijukumar, A., & Sushama, S. (2000). Ichthyofauna of Ponnani estuary, Kerala. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 42(1-2), 182–189.

  • Blaber, S. J. M., & Blaber, T. G. (1980). Factors affecting the distribution of juvenile estuarine and inshore fish. Journal of Fish Biology, 17, 143–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaber, S. J. M., Milton, D. A., Pang, J., Wong, P., Boon-Teck, O., Nyigo, L., & Lubim, D. (1996). The life history of the tropical shad Tenualosa toli from Sarawak: first evidence of protandry in the Clupeiformes? Environmental Biology of Fishes, 46(3), 225–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabral, H. N., Vasconcelos, R., Vinagre, C., França, S., Fonseca, V., Maia, A., Reis-Santos, P., Lopes, M., Ruano, M., Campos, J., & Freitas, V. (2007). Relative importance of estuarine flatfish nurseries along the Portuguese coast. Journal of Sea Research, 57(2–3), 209–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardona, L. (2000). Effects of salinity on the habitat selection and growth performance of Mediterranean flathead grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (Osteichthyes, Mugilidae). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 50, 727–737.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardoso, I., França, S., Pais, M. P., Henriques, S., Da Fonseca, L. C., & Cabral, H. N. (2011). Fish assemblages of small estuaries of the Portuguese coast: a functional approach. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 93(1), 40–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrassón, M., & Cartes, J. E. (2002). Trophic relationships in a Mediterranean deep-sea fish community: partition of food resources, dietary overlap and connections within the benthic boundary layer. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 241, 41–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Claridge, I. N., Potter, I. C., & Hardisty, M. W. (1986). Seasonal changes in movements, abundance, size composition and diversity of the fish fauna of the Sevem estuary. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 66, 229–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R. (1993). Non-parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community structure. Australian Journal of Ecology, 18, 117–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costanza, R., D’Arge, R., De Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O’Neill, R. V., Parucio, J., Raskin, R. G., Sutton, P., & Vandenbelt, M. (1997). The value of world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, 387, 253–260.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deepashree, B. I., Somasekhara, S. R., Gagan Decaiah, K., Gowda, P. M., Sahana, K., Adarsh, K., Puneeth Rai, M., & Kumar, J. (2017). Ichthyofaunal diversity In Netravati-Gurupura estuarine system of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. Journal of Experimental Zoology India, 20(1), 1537–1547.

  • Delpech, C., Courrat, A., Pasquaud, S., Lobry, J., Le Pape, O., Nicolas, D., Boët, P., Girardin, M., & Lepage, M. (2010). Development of a fish-based index to assess the ecological quality of transitional waters: the case of French estuaries. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60(6), 908–918.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhawan, R. M., Dwivedi, S. N., & Rajamanickam, G. V. (1976). Ecology of the blue crab Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus) and its potential fishery in Zuari estuary. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 23(1 & 2), 57–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhulkhed, M. H., & Ramamurthy, S. (1973). Occurrence of small-sized oil sardine in the Chandragiri estuary, south-west coast of India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 20(2), 653–654.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M., & Dewailly, F. (1995). The structure and components of European estuarine fish assemblages. Netherland Journal of Aquatic Ecology, 29(3–4), 397–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M., & Quintino, V. (2007). The estuarine quality paradox, environmental homeostasis and the difficulty of detecting anthropogenic stress in naturally stressed areas. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(6), 640–645.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M., O’Reilly, M. G., & Taylor, C. J. L. (1990). The Forth estuary: a nursery and overwintering area for North Sea fishes. Hydrobiologia, 195, 89–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, M., Whitfield, A. K., Potter, I. C., Blaber, S. J., Cyrus, D. P., Nordlie, F. G., & Harrison, T. D. (2007). The guild approach to categorizing estuarine fish assemblages: a global review. Fish and Fisheries, 8(3), 241–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franco, A., Elliott, M., Franzoi, P., & Torricelli, P. (2008). Life strategies of fishes in European estuaries: the functional guild approach. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 354, 219–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Froese, R., & Pauly, D. (2016). Fishbase world wide web electronic publication. http://www.fishbase.org. Accessed 12 Dec 2016.

  • Garrison, L. P., & Link, J. S. (2000). Dietary guild structure of the fish community in the Northeast United States continental shelf ecosystem. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 202, 231–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaughan, D. J., & Potter, I. C. (1994). Relative abundance and seasonal changes in the macro zooplankton of the lower Swan Estuary in south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, 16(4), 461–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, G., Desai, D. V., Gaonkar, C. A., Aboobacker, V. M., Vethamony, P., & Anil, A. C. (2013). Barnacle larval transport in the Mandovi- Zuari estuarine system, central west coast of India. Journal of Oceanography, 69(4), 451–466.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillanders, B. M., Elsdon, T. S., Halliday, I. A., Jenkins, G. P., Robins, J. B., & Valesini, F. J. (2011). Potential effects of climate change on Australian estuaries and fish utilising estuaries: a review. Marine and Freshwater Research, 62(9), 1115–1131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glamore, W. C., Rayner, D. S., & Rahman, P. F. (2016). Estuaries and climate change. Technical Monograph prepared for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. Water Research Laboratory of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW.

  • Guelinckx, J., Maes, J., De Brabandere, L., Dehairs, F., & Ollevier, F. (2006). Migration dynamics of clupeids in the Schelde estuary: a stable isotope approach. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 66, 612–623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haedrich, R. L. (1983). Estuarine fishes. In B. H. Ketchum (Ed.), Ecosystems of the world, Vol. 26; Estuaries & enclosed sea (pp. 183–207). Oxford: Elsevier Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hajisamae, S., Chou, L. M., & Ibrahim, S. (2003). Feeding habits and trophic organization of the fish community in shallow waters of an impacted tropical habitat. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 58(1), 89–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, O., Harper, D. A. T., & Ryan, P. D. (2001). PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica, 4(1), 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hampel, H., Cattrijsse, A., & Elliott, M. (2005). Feeding habits of young predatory fishes in marsh creeks situated along the salinity gradient of the Schelde estuary, Belgium and the Netherlands. Helgoland Marine Research, 59(2), 151–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harikrishnan, M., & Kurup, B. M. (2002). Ashtamudi estuary as a nursery ground for Sardinella longiceps (Val.). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 44, 136–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. D., & Whitfield, A. K. (2006). Temperature and salinity as primary determinants influencing the biogeography of fishes in South African estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 66(1–2), 335–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herre, A. W. (1953). Checklist of Philippine fishes. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Research Report No. 20.

  • Hyndes, G. A., Platell, M. E., Potter, I. C., & Lenanton, R. C. J. (1999). Does the composition of the demersal fish assemblages in temperate coastal waters change with depth and undergo consistent seasonal changes? Marine Biology, 134, 335–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, P. S. B. R., & Badrudeen, M. (1975). Biology and fishery of Leiognathus brevirostris (Valenciennes) from the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 4(1), 50–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaureguizar, A. J., Menni, R., Guerrero, R., & Lasta, C. (2004). Environmental factors structuring fish communities of the Rio de la Plata estuary. Fisheries Research, 66, 195–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johny, S. (2016). Variations in fish assemblage with reference to fluctuations in physiochemical parameters in Chettuva Estuary, Thrissur, Kerala. International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies, 3(6), 4–10.

  • Krishna Kumari, L., Bhattathiri, P. M. A., Matondkar, S. G. P., & John, J. (2002). Primary productivity in Mandovi-Zuari estuaries in Goa. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 44(1&2), 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobry, J., David, V., Pasquaud, S., Lepage, M., Sautour, B., & Rochard, E. (2008). Diversity and stability of an estuarine trophic network. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 358, 13–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhupratap, M., Nair, K. N. V., Gopalakrishnan, T. C., Haridas, P., Nair, K. K. C., Venugopal, P., & Mangesh, G. (2001). Arabian Sea oceanography and fisheries of the west coast of India. Current Science, 81, 355–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 47, 143–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maes, J., Van Damme, S., Meire, P., & Ollevier, F. (2004). Statistical modelling of seasonal and environmental influences on the population dynamics of an estuarine fish community. Marine Biology, 145, 1033–1042.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maes, J., Stevens, M., & Ollevier, F. (2005). The composition and community structure of the ichthyofauna of the upper Scheldt estuary: synthesis of a 10-year data collection (1991–2001). Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 21, 86–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahendrasinh, G. N., & Pradeep, M. C. (2013). Diversity of Fish Fauna from Downstream Zone of River Mahisagar, Gujarat State, India. Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences, 1(3), 14–15.

  • Marais, J. F. K. (1982). The effects of river flooding on the fish populations of two eastern Cape estuaries. South African Journal of Zoology, 17, 96–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S., & Elliott, M. (1998). Environmental influences on the fish assemblage of the Humber estuary, UK. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 46(2), 175–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHugh, J. L. (1967). Estuarine nekton. In G. H. Lauff (Ed.), Estuaries (Vol. 83, pp. 581–620). Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, M. S., & Ross, S. T. (1991). Dynamics of littoral fishes and decapods along a coastal river-estuarine gradient. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 33, 467–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pethiyagoda, R. (1991). Freshwater fishes of Sri Lanka. Colombo: The Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka 362 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinkas, T., Oliphant, M. S., & Iverson, I. L. (1971). Food habits of albacore, bluefin tuna, and bonito in California waters. California Fish and Game Fish Bulletin, 152, 1–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pombo, L., Elliott, M., & Rebelo, J. E. (2005). Environmental influences on fish assemblage distribution of an estuarine coastal lagoon, Ria de Aveiro (Portugal). Scientia Marina, 69(1), 143–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qasim, S. Z. (1973). Productivity of backwaters and estuaries. IBP Ecological Studies, 3, 143–154.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qasim, S. Z., & Sen Gupta, R. (1981). Environmental characteristics of the Mandovi-Zuari estuarine system in Goa. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 13, 557–578.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raja, B. T. A. (1973). Oil sardine in the estuaries of North Kanara. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 20(2), 651–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall, J. E. (1995). Coastal fishes of Oman. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reghu, R. (1973). Migration of the juvenile oil sardine, Sardinella longiceps (Val) into the backwaters of Cochin. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 20(2), 655–658.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojo-Vazquez, J. A., Quinonez-Velazquez, C., Echavarria-Heras, H. A., Lucano-Ramirez, G., Godinez-Dominguez, E., Ruiz-Ramirez, S., Galvan-Pina, V. H., & Sosa-Nishizaki, O. (2008). The fish species composition and variation of catch from the small scale gillnet fishery before, during and after the 1997-1998 ENSO event, central Mexican Pacific. Revista de Biología Tropical, 56(1), 133–152.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosa, H. Jr., & Laevastu, T. (1960). Comparison of biological and ecological characteristics of sardines and related species—a preliminary study. In H. Rosa Jr., & G. Murphy (Ed.), Proceedings of the world scientific meeting on the biology of sardines and related species (pp. 523–552). Rome, Italy.

  • Roshith, C. M., Sharma, A. P., Manna, R. K., Satpathy, B. B., & Bhaumik, U. (2013). Ichthyofaunal diversity, assemblage structure and seasonal dynamics in the freshwater tidal stretch of Hooghly estuary along the Gangetic delta. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management, 16(4), 445–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sankaranarayanan, V. N., & Qasim, S. Z. (1969). The influence of some hydrographic factors on the fisheries of the Cochin area. Bulletin of National Institute of Science of India, 38, 846–853.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selleslagh, J., & Amara, R. (2008). Environmental factors structuring fish composition and assemblages in a small macrotidal estuary (eastern English Channel). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 79(3), 507–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selleslagh, J., Amara, R., Laffargue, P., Lesourd, S., & Lepage, M. (2009). Fish composition and assemblage structure in three Eastern English Channel macrotidal estuaries: a comparison with other French estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 81(2), 149–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shamsan, E. F. S. (2008). Ecobiology and fisheries of an economically important estuarine fish, Sillago sihama (Forsskal). PhD Thesis, Goa University, Goa.

  • Sheaves, M., Baker, R., Nagelkerken, I., & Connolly, R. M. (2015). True value of estuarine and coastal nurseries for fish: incorporating complexity and dynamics. Estuaries and Coasts, 38(2), 401–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shetye, S. R. (2011). Indian estuaries: dynamics, ecosystems, and threats. National Academy Science Letters, 34(7& 8), 229–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shetye, S. R., Dileep Kumar, M., & Shankar, D. (2007). Mandovi and Zuari estuaries. India: Goa, India, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shirodkar, P. V., Deepthi, M., Vethamony, P., Mesquita, A. M., & Pradhan, U. K. (2012). Tide dependent seasonal changes in water quality and assimilative capacity of anthropogenically influenced Mormugao harbour water. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences, 41(4), 314–330.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silva-Júnior, C. A. B., Mérigot, B., Lucena-Frédou, F., Ferreira, B. P., Coxey, M. S., Rezende, S. M., & Frédou, T. (2017). Functional diversity of fish in tropical estuaries: a traits-based approach of communities in Pernambuco, Brazil. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 198, 413–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivadas, S., Ingole, B., & Nanajkar, M. (2011). Temporal variability of macrofauna from a disturbed habitat in Zuari estuary, west coast of India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 173(1), 65–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreekanth, G. B., Manju Lekshmi, N., & Singh, N. P. (2017). Temporal patterns in fish community structure; environmental perturbations in a well-mixed tropical estuary. PNAS India Sec-B: Biological Sciences, 87(1), 135–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreekanth, G. B., Chakraborty, S. K., Jaiswar, A. K., Zacharia, P. U., Mohamed, K. S., & Francour, P. (2018). Trophic network and food web characteristics in a small tropical monsoonal estuary: a comparison with other estuarine systems. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences (MS- 4192, Accepted for publication).

  • Sreekanth, G. B., Chakraborty, S. K., Jaiswar, A. K., Das, B., & Chakurkar, E. B. (2019). Application of deterministic and stochastic geo-statistical tools for analysing spatial patterns of fish density in a tropical monsoonal estuary. Aquatic Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/2Fs10452-019-09672-w.

  • Ter Braak, C. J. F. (1986). Canonical correspondence analysis: a new eigenvector technique for multivariate direct gradient analysis. Ecology, 67, 1167–1179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, R., Sepulveda, A., Kafemann, R., & Nellen, W. (1995). Environmental factors as forces structuring the fish community of the Elbe Estuary. Journal of Fish Biology, 46, 47–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, R., Cabral, H., & Costa, M. J. (2003). Composition, temporal changes and ecological guild classification of the ichthyofauna of large European estuaries—a comparison between the Tagus (Portugal) and the Elbe (Germany). Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 19(5), 330–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tremain, D. M., & Adams, D. H. (1995). Seasonal variations in species diversity, abundance and composition of fish communities in the northern Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Bulletin of Marine Science, 57(1), 171–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • VishnuRadhan, R., Sagayadoss, J., Seelan, E., Vethamony, P., Shirodkar, P., Zainudin, Z., & Shirodkar, S. (2015). Southwest monsoon influences the water quality and waste assimilative capacity in the Mandovi estuary (Goa state, India). Chemistry and Ecology, 31, 217–234.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitfield, A. K. (1999). Ichthyofaunal assemblages in estuaries: a South African case study. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 9(2), 151–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitfield, A. K., & Elliott, M. (2002). Fishes as indicators of environmental and ecological changes within estuaries: a review of progress and some suggestions for the future. Journal of Fish Biology, 61, 229–250.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors thank the anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions have significantly improved the manuscript. The authors are grateful to Director, ICAR-CCARI, Director, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai, Dr. Bappa Das, Scientist, ICAR-CCARI, and the staff of the Fisheries Department, for their support and guidance in this study. We express our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Vishwajeet Prajapati, KVK, North Goa, and research scholars (Department of Fisheries and Goa University) and fishermen along the Zuari estuary for their kind cooperation, technical help with the fishing experiments, sample collections, and digital aids, in particular, Mr. Sanjay Pereira, (Head of Shree Shantadurga Fishermen Association, Tiswadi, North Goa) who provided assistance in site selection and sampling.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Old Goa, Goa, India

    G. B. Sreekanth

  2. ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    A. K. Jaiswar & S. K. Chakraborty

  3. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala, India

    P. U. Zacharia

  4. Bakewell, Australia

    D. G. Pazhayamadom

Authors
  1. G. B. Sreekanth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. K. Jaiswar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. U. Zacharia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. G. Pazhayamadom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. K. Chakraborty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. B. Sreekanth.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(XLSX 41 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sreekanth, G.B., Jaiswar, A.K., Zacharia, P.U. et al. Effect of environment on spatio-temporal structuring of fish assemblages in a monsoon-influenced tropical estuary. Environ Monit Assess 191, 305 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7436-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7436-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation