Community structure of penaeid prawns along the coastal waters of southwest Taiwan

Abstract

The community structure of penaeid prawns along the coastal waters of Southweswest Taiwan were studied based on surveys conducted from October 1984 to December 1987. A total of 20 species of penaeid prawns were collected. Of these species, Metapenaeopsis barbata, Metapenaeus ensis, Penaeus semisulcatus, Penaeus monodon and Parapenaeopsis cornuta accounted for 83.97% of the total catch in weight. Analysis of species diversity of penaeid community was gruoped into assemblages of 10, 20, 30-40, 60 and 100 m zones, according to water depths. Metapenaeus ensis and Penaeus japonicus were the dominant species in the estuary of Kaoping River; their seasons of occurrence were different. Metapenaews ensis and Penaeus monodon were the main species found in the estuary of Tungkang River and and their seasons of distribution overlapped. Metapenaeus ensis was the only dominant species in the estuary of Linpien River. On the other hand, more species dominated Dapong Bay, and these included Metapenaeus ensis, Penaeus monodon, Penaeus penicillatus and Penaeus semisulcatus. The peak seasons of the occurrence of the four species overlapped.