Evaluation of artificial
nursery reef materials for juvenile red spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara
under reared condition
S.
Okumura, S. Tsumura, K. Maruyama-2002
Nipon
Suisan Gakkaishi, 68(2) : 186-191 (from
Current Contents)
Abstract :
Suitable materials and structures with application to
artificial nursery reefs for releasing artificially reared juveniles of the
red spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara were studied experimentally.
Experiments using four kinds of miniature reefs were conducted to study
their ability to attract the juveniles and to protect them from predators.
The juveniles preferred the miniature reefs with smaller space to those with
larger space under reared conditions. This corresponded to the behavior of
wild juveniles which might avoid predators by hiding in small holes or
crevices. The miniature reefs with smaller space effectively hindered the
scorpion fish Sebastiscus marmoratus from taking the juveniles. Artificial
nursery reefs for juvenile red spotted grouper should have proper smaller
spaces to attract the juveniles and to avoid predation.
(Japan Sea Farming Assoc; Tamano Stn; Tamano; Okayama
7060002; Japan, e-mail: shigenobu-okumura@jasfa.or.jp)