Fish community and fish diets of the replanted mangroves of Sungai Haji Dorani, Selangor, Malaysia / Mustaqim Kamarul Ariffin

This study was conducted at the replanted mangroves of Sungai Haji Dorani, located in the state of Selangor, on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The aim of the study was to determine the species composition, diversity, morphometrics and diets of the fishes of the replanted mangroves. A total of 570 fishes from 9 families comprising 9 fish species were sampled by utilising a barrier net. The abundant and commercially important fish taxa were Nibea soldado, Chelon subviridis and Plotosus canius. The diversity indices recorded were of low measure (H’ = 1.24, D = 2.90 and J = 0.56). The total fish density and biomass of the fishes was 0.52 no/m2/hr (mean=0.17±0.11) and 28.48 g/m2/hr (mean= 9.49±7.18) respectively. A majority of the fishes sampled were juveniles except for Strongylura strongylura. Levin’s niche breadth showed that all fish species were specialist feeders. Stomach fullness analysis showed low fullness while the Index of Relative Importance (IRI) showed that the diet consisted mainly of crustaceans, bivalves and gastropods. The Length-Weight Relationship assessment of the fishes followed negative allometric growth where, b<3. The replanted mangrove habitat of Sungai Haji Dorani functions as nursery and feeding grounds for coastal fish.