Species composition and recruitment of tidal pool fishes in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Fishes occurring in a lower shore tidal pool near Durban, South Africa, were collected using rotenone at monthly intervals for a year. Eighteen teleost families and 50 lower taxa of fishes were recorded. Cryptic Tripterygiidae, Blenniidae and Gobiidae were particularly abundant while Pomacentridae, Acanthuridae, Serranidae, Sparidae and Labridae were recorded in lower numbers. Resident intertidal fishes recolonized the pool between monthly visits, with tripterygiids and gobies showing evidence for year–round recruitment of juveniles. Juveniles of more transient Indo-Pacific species recruited primarily during the summer months.

Keywords: low shore pool, species abundance, seasonal abundance, seasonal recruitment, teleosts