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Not AvailableThis 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 estuariesNot Availabl

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Not AvailableThis study analyses 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 nine 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.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe dynamics of fauna in coastal ecosystems are influenced by seasonal patterns in the oceanographic environment. It is well known that the monsoon along south-west coast of India influences the movement and spawning of fishes. Thus, they have direct effect on the richness, abundance and evenness of fish diversity in the ecosystem. This study investigates how the monsoon affects the commercial gillnet fishery along the coast of Goa. Fishing experiments were conducted in popular gillnet fishing grounds and the temporal pattern in diversity indices between October 2013 and September 2014 was assessed. A total of 124 fish species (40 families), 16 crustacean species (4 families) and 9 molluscan species (8 families) were recorded. The species diversity was found to be significantly different during the monsoon season and the species abundance distribution followed a geometric series during this period indicating signs of ecosystem perturbations. The economic and biological aspects of gillnet fishing in relation to the monsoon season in Goa are also discussedIndian Council of Agricultural Researc