Species composition, abundance and seasonal recruitment patterns of freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.) to Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, in the western South Pacific
C. A. Hewavitharane A E , T. D. Pickering B , R. Ciro C D and N. Mochioka A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Laboratory of Fisheries Biology, Division of Marine Bioresources, Department of Animal and Marine Bioresource Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.
B Fisheries Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems FAME Division of the Pacific Community, 3 Luke Street, Nabua, Suva, Fiji.
C School of Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.
D Department of Wetland, Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.
E Corresponding author. Email: hewavitharane.anushka.chinthaka.341@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Marine and Freshwater Research 69(11) 1704-1711 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18105
Submitted: 19 March 2018 Accepted: 27 May 2018 Published: 21 August 2018
Abstract
To understand the inshore recruitment mechanisms of tropical eels (Anguilla spp.), we collected 1368 glass eels at the mouth of a small river at Namelimeli, ~2 km east of Navua Town, Fiji Islands, between April 2015 and June 2016. Specimens were identified using both morphological characters and DNA barcoding to only three species: one short-finned Anguilla obscura and two long-finned eels A. marmorata and A. megastoma. Anguilla obscura was the most abundant species (55% of glass eels collected) with peak recruitment periods from February to April. Anguilla marmorata was the second most abundant species (41.4% of glass eels collected) with peak recruitment periods in April 2015 and September–October 2015. Anguilla megastoma only comprised 3.9% of glass eels collected, with peak recruitment periods in April 2015 and October 2015. Anguilla obscura and A. marmorata were present in samples almost throughout the year, suggesting that tropical eels recruit to some degree throughout the year. Results suggest that peak recruitment occurs during seasons of heavy rain, from September to October and from February to April commencing 1 h after sunset on the day following a new moon.
Additional keywords: glass eels, morphological, new moon, sunset.
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