Tropical intertidal seagrass beds: An overlooked foraging habitat for fishes revealed by underwater videos

摘要: Abstract Intertidal seagrass beds occur throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region and several studies have shown that small fishes inhabit them when inundated during tidal regime. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding trophic importance these habitats to different fish populations at such times. In this study, we examined feeding behavior juvenile communities an incoming tide two intertidal bed sites in northern Mindanao, Philippines, both wet dry seasons, by deploying remote underwater video cameras. The footages (3 h) revealed nearly half all species arrived within 30 min from start recording (ca. 30–40 cm water depth, 10–20 cm above canopy), richness gradually increased with rising tide, reaching 80% recorded 120 min seasons. Small ( 10 cm total length) latter three families were first invade tides, whereas those Labridae more abundant later stages cycle. fishery target Labridae, Lethrinidae, Siganidae, Lutjanidae foraged pointing as foraging habitat for least 17 species. Because are disappearing due expanding coastal developments human use, results highlight ecological area multiple which it may help support developing conservation management policies zones.