Occurrence and abundance of young mullet Mugil liza (Teleostei: Mugilidae) in the surf zone along the southern coast of Brazil

The southern population of Mugil liza is distributed from Argentina (47°S) to the state São Paulo, Brazil (23°S). Young mullets use estuaries as nursery grounds, and prior recruitment into they surf zone a temporary habitat. Based on 12 consecutive months sampling, this study used generalized linear models (GLM) analyse relationships between environmental variables presence relative abundance young in adjacent six major (between 29°S 33°S). were present all seasons over sampling period, but probability occurrence was higher winter associated with low temperatures. water temperature alone explained more than half total deviance GLM for (23%) (21%) zone. Site 2 (Rio Grande) had lower temperatures colder months, highest collection sites greatest (n=3402) M. liza, which represented 52% individuals (n=6493) caught among sampled.