Biology of Leiognathus decorus (Leiognathidae) in Sulaibikhat Bay, Kuwait

Abstract

During a survey between September 1986 and August 1988 of the fish assemblage in Sulaibikhat Bay, Kuwait, large numbers of Leiognathus decorus were captured in depths between 0.6 and 8.0 m with an otter trawl. Catch size of L. decorus differed markedly between years, a characteristic of seasonal tropical environments that are dominated by small, fast-growing species. L. decorus was not caught in the cold winter months of December and January. Large fish congregated for spawning in the subtidal zone (4 to 8 m depth) in spring (March-April). Young of the year recruited to the intertidal zone (0.6 to 2 m depth) in May and remained until November, returning in February and March as the spawning stock. Smaller fish (< 69 mm) consumed a large proportion of calenoid copepods as well as benthic invertebrates, whereas larger fish consumed almost exclusively benthic invertebrates. Both size groups ate chlorophytes, particularly during a spring bloom.