Tropical intertidal seagrass beds as fish habitat: Similarities between fish assemblages of intertidal and subtidal seagrass beds in the Philippines

Tropical intertidal seagrass beds have recently been identified as foraging grounds for multiple fish species, although the possible drivers of migration to such remain unknown. Investigations fishes occurring in and subtidal beds, comparison food resources dominant trophic groups surrounding bare-sand areas, were conducted at two sites northern Mindanao, Philippines. Fish species collected overlapped by 65%, with richness abundance both residents visitors between habitats not differing substantially (although significantly higher than areas), many site-attached appeared during low tide. Benthic-invertebrate feeders, including juveniles commercially important dominated comprising >70% abundance. Four them (Halichoeres argus, H. papilionaceous, Lethrinus harak, Parupeneus barberinus) fed primarily on small crustaceans, harpacticoid copepods amphipods, densities being areas. The results demonstrated that function visiting fishes, addition providing a permanent habitat resident species. Recognition importance tropical has significant implications management protection coastal biodiversity fishery resources.