Temporal distribution of ichthyoplankton near Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina

Abstract

Three main seasonal assemblages were observed: winter/early spring, late spring, and summer. Peak abundance occurred in late spring; few fishes were caught in November. Cold-water (<20°C) species were primarily late post-flexion and transforming larvae, whereas many of the warm-water species were pre-flexion stage larvae (indicating near-by, possibly estuarine, spawning). Families with the most species were Bothidae, Gobiidae, and Sciaenidae. A total of 74 species or species groups were collected. Engraulidae made up 70% of the total catch out of the 34 families collected. One-third of the species collected invade adjacent saltmarsh habitat as juveniles. -from Authors