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Faunce CH, Serafy JE
Mangroves as fish habitat: 50 years of field studies
The role of mangroves as fish habitats is receiving increased attention from the scientific and conservation communities. Faunce & Serafy review 111 field studies conducted from 1955 to 2005 in tropical and subtropical mangrove habitats around the world. They analyze objectives of the studies; sampling design, methodology, frequency and duration; and the types of fish and habitat data reported. The review reveals a dearth of information for the Asian and African continents. Most studies have addressed spatio-temporal patterns in fish assemblage structure, rather than dynamics of individual fish species. Adequate appraisal of the importance of mangroves as fish habitat, as well as their broader contribution to ecosystem diversity and fisheries, still requires species-specific estimates of fish mortality, growth and secondary production.
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