The Open Marine Biology Journal

2009, 3 : 16-20
Published online 2009 January 21. DOI: 10.2174/1874450800903010016
Publisher ID: TOMBJ-3-16

Habitat Usage of the Thumbprint Emporer Lethrinus harak (Forsskål, 1775) in an Indo-Pacific Coastal Seascape

Richard K.F. Unsworth , Pelayo Salinas De Leónb , Samantha L. Garrardc , David J. Smithd and James J. Bell
Northern Fisheries Centre, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, P.O. Box 5396, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia.

ABSTRACT

Age dependent habitat usage of the abundant Indo-Pacific Thumbprint Emporer Lethrinus harak was assessed using field visual observations throughout the mangrove, seagrass, coral reef continuum. Juveniles were most abundant within seagrass habitats, whilst large adults only utilised the reef environment, indicating a movement towards the reef with increasing age. No evidence was found to suggest L. harak spends a specific section of its life-cycle within mangrove however it remains an important habitat, presumably for tidally dependent feeding.

Keywords:

Connectivity, juvenile fishes, mangrove.