The trophic basis of fish assemblages in temperate estuarine and coastal ecosystems

More than half of the fish biomass coastal rocky reefs depends on zooplankton; however, trophic basis estuarine assemblages remains unknown. We quantified (i.e. basal energy sources) community inhabiting three habitat types (seagrass, natural reef and artificial reef) in two estuaries, compared with sites. Fish were surveyed Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUVs) species abundance, richness classified into nine functional feeding groups (6 teleost 3 elasmobranch). Comparable metrics for obtained from published surveys using BRUVs. Using group group-specific diet composition, breakdown sources was calculated a food web analysis. Estuarine habitats had different composition seagrass habitat. The majority supported by detritus (51% Botany Bay) or macrophytes (58% Lake Macquarie). In contrast, zooplankton most (45–59%) at locations, one estuary (35–43%), but not other (33–34%). Trophic pathways which support assemblages, are key identifying mitigation measures can help conserve these populations growing urbanisation estuaries coasts.