The population ecology and juvenile development of the spotted seaorse Hippocampus kuda Bleeker

Abstract

The first part of this study focused on the population ecology of the Spotted Seahorse, Hippocampus kuda in the Pulai River Estuary, Johor. A total of 102 females and 103 males were tagged from April 2002 to March 2004, with no significant bias in the sex ratio. The average sightings of seahorses were lower in the wet season (July-August and November-December). The population size of H. kuda in the study area was estimated at 438 individuals using the Jolly-Seber method. The mean total length in males and females were similar. Length frequency distribution exhibit a normal, unimodal curve and the modal length for males and females was 15.0 cm. Sexual maturity was reached at 14 0 cm in both sexes. Weight-length relationship was exponential (W=0.0038L297) and characterized by an isometric growth type