Importance of Mangroves, Seagrass Beds and the Shallow Coral Reef as a Nursery for Important Coral Reef Fishes, Using a Visual Census Technique

摘要: Abstract The nursery function of various biotopes for coral reef fishes was investigated on Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Length and abundance 16 commercially important fish species were determined by means visual censuses during the day in six different biotopes: mangrove prop-roots ( Rhizophora mangle ) seagrass beds Thalassia testudinum Lac Bay, four depth zones (0 to 3 m, 3 5 m, 10 15 m 15 20 m). mangroves, shallow 3 m) appeared be main juveniles selected species. Mutual comparison between showed that most biotope juvenile Haemulon flavolineatum , H. sciurus Ocyurus chrysurus Acanthurus chirurgus Sparisoma viride mangroves Lutjanus apodus L. griseus Sphyraena barracuda Chaetodon capistratus chrysargyreum mahogoni A. bahianus Abudefduf saxatilis . Juvenile coeruleus utilized all biotopes, while carbonarium Anisotremus surinamensis not observed any biotopes. Although a clear preference specific biotope, multiple simultaneously. almost complete absence deeper indicates high dependence water as nursery. For an (partial) ontogenetic shift at particular life stage from their (shallow) (deeper) reef. Cluster analyses closely related within families Haemulidae, Lutjanidae Acanthuridae, size classes cases had spatial separation utilization.