Larval Fish Assemblages in Coastal Waters of Bangladesh: Spatial and Seasonal Dynamics
Sk. Ahmad Al Nahid,
Saifuddin Rana,
Nargis Sultana,
Jannatul Mawa,
Sazeed Mehrab Souhardya,
Ilias Ebne Kabir,
Shahida Arfine Shimul,
Md Masum Billah,
Md Khurshid Alam Bhuiyan,
Afsana Kabir Dipty,
Sk Istiaque Ahmed,
Md Jalilur Rahman,
Md Mehedi Iqbal
Affiliations
Sk. Ahmad Al Nahid
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
Saifuddin Rana
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
Nargis Sultana
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
Jannatul Mawa
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
Sazeed Mehrab Souhardya
Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH II Activity), WorldFish Bangladesh & South Asia Office, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Ilias Ebne Kabir
Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH II Activity), WorldFish Bangladesh & South Asia Office, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Shahida Arfine Shimul
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
Md Masum Billah
Inter-Departmental Research Centre for Environmental Science-CIRSA, University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus, Via S. Alberto 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
Md Khurshid Alam Bhuiyan
Institute of Marine Research (INMAR), Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Science, University of Cádiz, Puerto Real Campus, Avda. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Afsana Kabir Dipty
Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
Sk Istiaque Ahmed
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh
Md Jalilur Rahman
Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH II Activity), WorldFish Bangladesh & South Asia Office, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh
Md Mehedi Iqbal
Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8564, Chiba, Japan
The distribution of fish larvae in estuaries is crucial for comprehending the functioning of these ecosystems and their role as nursery grounds for marine fish species. Data regarding larval fish assemblages in the coastal waters of Bangladesh are currently scarce. This study examines the spatial and seasonal dynamics of larval fish communities in these waters using a two-year sampling effort with a bongo net. This study investigates the diversity, abundance, and distribution of larval fishes at four sites (Bakkhali River Estuary, Moheshkhalipara, Naf River Estuary, and Rezu Khal Estuary) on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh. A total of 10,387 fish larvae representing 25 families were identified. Clupeidae (42.9%), Engraulidae (35.5%), Ambassidae (10.1%), Myctophidae (2.1%), and Gobiidae (1.9%) were the five most dominant families based on the larval catch composition. Marked seasonal differences in the larval fish abundance were observed. However, these differences were not observed when comparing the four sampled sites. Additionally, the correlation between environmental variables and the larval abundance indicated that salinity negatively influences (p < 0.001) the larval fish abundance. This is the first comprehensive investigation of larval fish assemblages in the coastal waters of Bangladesh. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the nursery habitat requirements for the early development stages of both migratory and resident species in subtropical coastal waters, providing valuable information for potential applications in management and conservation efforts.
