The Composition of Continental Shelf and Slope Demersal Fish: The Effects of Depth and Latitude
Access Status
Open access
Date
2019Supervisor
Euan Harvey
Type
Thesis
Award
MPhil
Metadata
Show full item recordFaculty
Science and Engineering
School
School of Molecular and Life Sciences
Collection
Abstract
The distribution and relative abundance of Western Australian shelf and upper slope (<570 m) fish assemblages were assessed over a 16° latitudinal range using Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video Systems. I observed distinctive fish assemblages with covariates such as latitude, depth, salinity, current direction and speed, consolidated or unconsolidated bottom and the presence or absence of sponge best explaining the differences. At a smaller spatial scale benthic biota, depth and seabed relief were important covariates.