Patterns in the Distribution and Ecology of Juvenile Fishes in a Macrotidal Tropical Ecosystem

This thesis investigates patterns in the recruitment and early ontogeny of juvenile fishes across a range of shallow-water habitats in the extreme macrotidal Kimberley region of Western Australia. Using remote underwater stereo-video it describes the distribution and abundance of juvenile fish across six distinct macrotidal benthic habitats and documents year-round and seasonal recruitment pulses in a number of common fish species. It provides evidence of ontogenetic microhabitat use in fish and identifies ecomorphological relationships between juvenile Lutjanus carponotatus and different nursery habitats. The information presented will help inform the future management of this unique and relatively pristine marine ecosystem.