| Abstract: | A survey was carried out along the shore and adjacent mangrove swamp in the northeast margin of Maputo Bay in Mozambique, east Africa. The study area contained several habitats within close proximity. These were shallow pools in the intertidal muddy sand flats, areas of submerged macrophytes, the swash zone on sandy beaches, primary mangrove channels, secondary mangrove channels, shallow mangrove creeks and a shallow creek with strong freshwater influence at the landward fringe of the swamp. Each station was sampled by means of a small handnet. Data suggest that Penaeus japonicus prefers sandy substrata, while P. semisulcatus chooses areas rich in submerged macrophytes. P. indicus and P. monodon both appear to favour muddy mangrove channels, although P. monodon may require marginal or floating vegetation as nurseries. Metapenaeus stebbingi seems to prefer the swash zone in quiet areas with minimal wave action, while M. monoceros is more widespread and is able to cope with very low salinities. Managers of coastal systems should, therefore, attempt to maintain a diversity of biotopes within larger systems because, even if postlarvae do enter an estuary, juvenile populations with not develop if their specific habitat has been destroyed. |
