High levels of spatial and temporal recruitment variability in the temperate sparid Pagrus auratus

Abstract

Knowledge of spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of early life stages is important to developing an understanding of juvenile recruitment processes and, ultimately, the dynamics and demographics of fish populations. In Victoria, south-eastern Australia, snapper, Pagrus auratus, supports an important fishery characterised by high variability in year-class strength. We investigated spatial and temporal variation in the recruitment of small juvenile (0+) snapper by monitoring their abundance in four bay and inlet nursery areas during four consecutive summer/autumn recruitment periods (2000-2003). We found considerable spatial variability in the abundance of recruits, both within and..