3. Results
A total of 88,345 fish, representing 29 families and 69 species,
were captured in the mangrove dominated intertidal zone of
Rookery Bay between December 1998 and November 2000
(Appendix A). Total fish density and biomass in the mangrove
understory averaged 4.56 + 0.52 fishm−2 (17.61 + 2.33 fishm−3)
and 6.61 + 0.4 gm−2 (25.22 + 1.89 gm−3) over the study period. This
catch was numerically dominated by three families (Engraulidae,
Gerreidae, and Clupeidae) which represented over 75% of the total
density. The total two year fish catch was composed primarily of
benthic foraging fishes, in terms of both density (45%) and biomass
(48%). Water column forage fishes were nearly as abundant as
benthic feeders (∼=
45%) while contributing much less to the total
biomass (10%). Conversely, roving piscivores represented just 6%
of the fish abundance yet 38% of the total biomass.