4fd4f4c2-1565-4b77-b953-3d8d4bc88d28 urn:uuid eng UTF-8 nonGeographicDataset nonGeographicDataset 2025-06-23T16:14:18 creation ISO 19115 2016 Assemblages of fish along a mangrove-mudflat gradient in temperate Australia 4fd4f4c2-1565-4b77-b953-3d8d4bc88d28 Mangroves are considered to support rich assemblages of fish and invertebrates. Fishes inhabiting mangrove habitats and at various distances from mangroves across mudflats were sampled to: (1) compare fish assemblages between habitats; and (2) determine the influence of mangrove proximity on fish abundance and diversity in three southern Australian estuaries between November 2005 and January 2006. Based on their distribution, fish species were classified as mangrove residents, mudflat residents, generalists or rare species. The assemblage structure of fish in mangroves differed from assemblages 500m away; however, neither total abundance nor species richness differed significantly between mangroves and mudflats. Mangrove residents and Aldrichetta forsteri (yellow-eyed mullet) displayed strong associations with mangrove habitats, whereas mudflat residents were associated with mudflat habitats. No other fish groups or individual species occurred in higher abundances in either habitat. Total fish abundance, mangrove residents and A. forsteri were positively correlated with pneumatophore density, indicating that the structural complexity of the mangroves might influence the distributions of certain fish species. The current study demonstrated that mangrove habitats in temperate Australia support no greater abundance or diversity of fish than adjacent mudflat habitats and that mangrove proximity does not influence fish distribution at a habitat scale. {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[136.0, -35.0], [138.0, -35.0], [138.0, -32.0], [136.0, -32.0], [136.0, -35.0]]]} 136.0 138.0 -35.0 -32.0 Aldrichetta forsteri Atherinosoma microstoma Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Estuarine Habitat Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Feeding Habitat Fish Nursery Global/Oceans | Southern Ocean/ Australia extension King George whiting Marine Features (Australia) | Gulf St. Vincent, SA Marine Features (Australia) | Port Broughton, SA Marine Features (Australia) | Port Pirie, SA Marine Features (Australia) | Port Wakefield, SA Marine Features (Australia) | Spencer Gulf, SA Marine Features (Australia) | Yorke Peninsula, SA Mudflats Nets Nets | Fyke nets Oceans | Coastal Processes | Estuaries Oceans | Coastal Processes | Intertidal Zone Oceans | Coastal Processes | Mangroves Oceans | Marine Biology | Fish Pelates octolineatus Sillaginodes punctata Smallmouth hardyhead Striped perch Yellow-eyed mullet count height taxonomic_group_count taxonomic_name Unnamed resource documentDigital HTML Unnamed resource documentDigital HTML Unnamed resource documentDigital HTML Unnamed resource documentDigital License Graphic PNG Unnamed resource documentDigital HTML