A Comparison of Fish Communities in Unmodified and Modified Inshore Habitats of Raby Bay, Queensland

A comparison was made of fish species found in natural (mangrove-mudflat) and modified (sandy beach) sections of shoreline in Raby Bay, Queensland. Samples were collected monthly by beach seines during the period January 1990 to January 1991. Overall, 20 577 fish comprising 44 species from 28 families were collected. However, 22 species were caught infrequently and in low numbers. Although 19 of the 22 common species were found in both the modified and unmodified areas, seven species were more abundant in the mangroves and three species were more abundant in the beach zone. The former were mainly benthic feeders, whereas the latter fed mainly from the water column. A comparison between habitats of sizes of individuals indicated that the mangrove area was generally used by smaller individuals of a species.