The importance of estuaries in life histories of flatfish species on the Southern Coast of Africa

Abstract

This paper reviews the ecology of flatfish species associated with estuaries in southern Africa. Information from estuarine and coastal studies carried out in this region over the past 25 years indicates that only 4 of the 56 flatfish species occurring in the region utilize estuaries during part of their life histories. The suitability of estuaries and their role as nursery grounds for juvenile flatfish is assessed in terms of the proportion of the life cycle that each species spends within estuarine systems. Biological data on Pseudorhombus arsius, Bothus pantherinus, Heteromycteris capensis and Solea bleekeri extracted from broad based estuarine studies in the warm temperate and subtropical regions of southern Africa are presented in support of the thesis that in the absence of calm, shallow, turbid, marine shelf areas, juveniles of these species utilize estuaries as nursery grounds.