Seagrass and algal beds as nursery habitats for tiger prawns (Penaeus semisulcatus and P. esculentus) in a tropical Australian estuary

摘要: We evaluated the importance of seagrass and algae to two species tiger prawns (Penaeus semisulcatus P. esculentus) by detailed sampling at four sites (two seagrass, algae) in Embley River estuary, through 26 7 adjacent estuaries one time year. Samples were collected estuary with a small beam trawl night every 2 wk from September May for yr (1990 1992). The sites, which 11 13 km river mouth, showed less seasonal variation salinity than algal 15 20 mouth. beds upstream almost disappeared during wet season, but biomass did not change significantly between dry seasons. grooved prawn (P. semisulcatus), main all comprised 88% total catch over years. They found pre-wet after onset they along algae, sites. brown was exclusively (97% catch) on downstream. In study several estuaries, juvenile caught esculentus much smaller numbers, 16 Approximately equal numbers season. Very few individuals >10 mm carapace length either species, caught. results this highlight season as nursery areas semisulcatus).