Journal article
Impact of cyclones and aquatic macrophytes on recruitment and landings of tiger prawns Penaeus esculentus in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol.127, pp.46-58
2013
Abstract
The cover of seagrasses and macroalgae, landings and fishery-independent measures of spawning stock and recruitment for brown tiger prawns, were monitored immediately following a major cyclone in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia in March 1999. Anecdotal evidence on the extent of seagrass from 1990 to 1998 suggests that the cyclone caused a major, immediate disruption and loss of the seagrass/macroalgal beds (to ≤2% cover), the critical prawn nursery habitat, and mangroves in the shallow inshore waters of the system. Prawn landings and recruitment to the fishery were not affected in the year of the cyclone, but were markedly lower in the two years immediately afterwards and then increased as the cover of macrophytes increased to over 40% in 2003. Tiger prawn landings and catch rates were not affected in Shark Bay, a system 500 km south of Exmouth Gulf that did not experience cyclonic disturbance. Seagrasses in Exmouth Gulf showed a succession of species from small colonising species (Halophila ovalis and Halodule uninervis) to larger, broad-leaved species (Cymodocea serrulata, Syringodium isoetifolium) only two years after the cyclone. The recruitment and landings of tiger prawns were correlated significantly with the total cover of macroalgae and seagrass. The large loss of seagrass and macroalgae reduced the settling habitat for postlarvae and the nursery habitat for juvenile tiger prawns, probably leading to the lower recruitment to the fishery. These findings suggest that the extent of seagrass and macroalgae are some of the factors defining the productivity of the tiger prawn fishery in Exmouth Gulf.
Details
- Title
- Impact of cyclones and aquatic macrophytes on recruitment and landings of tiger prawns Penaeus esculentus in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
- Authors/Creators
- N.R. Loneragan (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityM. Kangas (Author/Creator) - Government of Western AustraliaM.D.E. Haywood (Author/Creator) - CSIRO Oceans and AtmosphereR.A. Kenyon (Author/Creator) - CSIRO Oceans and AtmosphereN. Caputi (Author/Creator) - Government of Western AustraliaE. Sporer (Author/Creator) - Government of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol.127, pp.46-58
- Publisher
- Academic Press
- Identifiers
- 991005541595807891
- Copyright
- © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 3.2 Marine Biology
- 3.2.1182 Coastal Vegetation
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- Oceanography
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