Seasonal abundance of penaeid postlarvae in the Kali estuary, Karwar

Abstract

Postlarvae of five species of penaeid prawns, viz. Penaeus merguiensis, Penaeus canaliculatus, Monoceros debsoni, Monoceros monoceros and Monoceros affinis were encountered in the seed samples collected from the Kali estuary. The occurrence of P. merguiensis was discontinuous with the peaks in April and October-November. Postlarvae of M.dobsoni appeared in samples throughout the year with two peaks of abundance, one in April and the other in July-September. Occurrence of M. monoceros was continuous whereas that of postlarvae of M.affinis was discontinuous with a peak in May.