Ichthyofauna in the Intertidal Zone of Avacha Bay (Southeastern Kamchatka)

Abstract

The composition of ichthyofauna in the intertidal zone of Avacha Bay (southeastern Kamchatka) is characterized. Over the entire period of studies since the 1930s, 27 fish species from 12 families have been recorded in the intertidal zone; Cottidae and Liparidae constitute more than 44% of them. Fishes recorded in the intertidal zone are components of seven ichthyocenes, but the nucleus (81.5%) is formed by representatives of only three of them: littoral, sublittoral, and elittoral ichthyocenes. Most species are rare (85.2%), and only stone cockscomb Alectrias alectrolophus is a numerous species that constantly occurs in biotopes formed by pebble-boulder grounds. Juveniles constitute a prevailing proportion of fish species (63%) recorded in the intertidal zone of Avacha Bay.