Recruitment patterns of freshwater amphidromous fishes (Pisces: Gobiidae, Eleotridae) to the Cimaja estuary, Palabuhanratu Bay

Abstract

The sustainability of amphidromous fishes is determined by the success of the larval recruitment process from marine to freshwaters habitats. This study aimed to determine the recruitment pattern of freshwater amphidromous fish to the Cimaja River estuary, Palabuhanratu Bay in terms of season and daily. Amphidromous fish were caught monthly on the 25th of Hijri or waning crescent from December 2020 to August 2021. Sampling in one whole day with observation intervals every 4 hours was carried out in June 2021 to reveal the time of larvae and juveniles of the amphidromous fish recruit to the Cimaja River estuary. A total of 13 species of amphidromous fishes representing five genera and two families was captured. The recruitment of amphidromous fishes into the Cimaja River occurs between the peak of the rainy season to dry season. Generally, amphidromous recruit into the estuary waters of the Cimaja River is at the juvenile stage (11.9-21.8 mm body length). However, the recruitment of some amphidromous fish species appears at the postflexion stage (6.9-11.9 mm BL). Based on diel observations, larvae and juveniles of amphidromous fish are generally preferred to recruit to the Cimaja River estuary in the early morning (03:00 am) and afternoon (03:00 pm). Recruitment of amphidromous fish larvae to the Cimaja River follows a semi-diurnal tidal cycle which is a tidal type in Palabuhanratu Bay. Amphidromous fishes use tidal flux to recruit and migrate upstream of the Cimaja River through estuaries.