Coastal reed belts as fish reproduction habitats

In this study, we investigated the temporal and spatial occurrence of early life stages of fish within shores covered by reeds (Phragmites australis) in two coastal areas of the northern Baltic Sea in spring and summer. Fish larvae of ten species were found, with cyprinids being the most common family comprising five species. The first occurring early life stages of fish in early May were the larvae of burbot (Lota lota) and pike (Esox lucius), which mainly utilized the previous year's old and flattened reeds, whereas larvae hatching later in June, such as some cyprinids, utilized the new reed growth. The reed belts in the inner bay areas with a low salinity, high water temperature and dense vegetation were especially productive fish reproduction habitats, since 74% of all captured larvae were found there. Therefore, according to the results of this study, reed belts particularly in the inner bay areas can be described as regionally significant key fish reproduction habitats in the northern Baltic Sea.