| Early (post)larval fish constitute a significant part of the temporary hyperbenthos, i.e. of the fauna living in the lower reaches of the water column close to the substratum. Information on the densities and spatial and temporal variations of these stages, as well as on their lengths at the moment of occurrence, can be an important contribution to the knowledge of their dispersion, migrations and to the identification of possible bottlenecks in their recruitment. Therefore the hyperbenthos of the Voordelta, a shallow coastal zone in front of the Dutch Delta, as well as that of the subtidal channels and the intertidal brackish marsh creeks of the Westerschelde Estuary, was sampled monthly during one year by means of a sledge and a stow net. A total of 37... |
