J. Fish Biol. (1987) 31,343-352 Fishes of the Lough Hyne marine reserve D. MINCHIN Fisheries Research Centre, Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry, Abbotstown. Dublin 1.5. Republic of Ireland (Received24 October 1986, Accepted I2 January 1987) Lough Hynemarine reserve is a sea inlet, ofarea c. 60 ha, on the south-west Irish coast. Conditions vary from the exposed outer harbour of Barloge Creek to a sheltered marine basin, with depths to 47 m. A shallow, narrow connection, the Rapids, between the two parts causes a reduced tidal range within the marine basin. The status of 72 fish species is given, 38 of them being recorded for the first time from this locality. Eleven goby species are present, including well established but isolated populations of Gohius cruenfulus and G. couch;. The listing comprises museum material, previous records and direct observations from 1976 to 1985 inclusive. This reserve is recognized by the Council of Europe as part of an international biogenetic network of reserves. I. INTRODUCTION The Lough Hyne (Ine) marine reserve, on the south-west Irish coast, was estab- lished in 1981 (Anon, 1981a) and its regulations impose restrictions on the collec- tion of fauna and flora (Anon, 19816). Lough Hyne is one of a small number of marine reserves considered by the Council of Europe to be of sufficient importance to be included in an international biogenetic network of reserves. Its international position is also well known on account of the large amount of work conducted there and reported in international journals. The reserve consists of a deep (47 m) and sheltered marine basin connected to the sea via a narrow and shallow gap, known as the Rapids, and a long inlet, Barloge Creek (Fig. 1). Very little fresh water enters the Lough which is therefore almost entirely marine. It is unique on the Irish coast and has been under study at various times since 1886 (Haddon & Greene, 1888). Wilson (1984) has provided a bibliography containing 194 references. Species lists of various crustacean groups have been published by Holmes (1980, 1981, 1985) and of opisthobranch molluscs by Wilson & Picton (1983). The reserve has a number of widely varying substrata. Coarse sediments are found where there is an influence of current or wave action. On the steep slopes there are prominent rock outcrops, boulders and stones. Elsewhere there are muds and silts, which are covered with an algal mat in shallow water. The main facies about the Lough have been described by Kitching er al. (1976) who also record the formation of a hypolimnion during summer and early autumn. Water circulation is insufficient to prevent gradual deoxygenation, to levels of 5% saturation, as a result of which the distribution of fish during this time is limited to the epilimnion which varies in depth annually between about 20 m and 30 m. An area such as this, protected by its reserve status, will serve as a useful reference for zoogeographic distributions and baseline studies for various marine species. This paper lists the present status of the 72 species of fishes recorded up to the end of 1985. 0022- I I 12/87/090343 + 10 %03.00/0 343 0 1987 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Transcript
J . Fish Biol. (1987) 31,343-352
Fishes of the Lough Hyne marine reserve
D. MINCHIN Fisheries Research Centre, Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry, Abbotstown.
Dublin 1.5. Republic of Ireland
(Received24 October 1986, Accepted I2 January 1987)
Lough Hynemarine reserve is a sea inlet, ofarea c. 60 ha, on the south-west Irish coast. Conditions vary from the exposed outer harbour of Barloge Creek to a sheltered marine basin, with depths to 47 m. A shallow, narrow connection, the Rapids, between the two parts causes a reduced tidal range within the marine basin. The status of 72 fish species is given, 38 of them being recorded for the first time from this locality. Eleven goby species are present, including well established but isolated populations of Gohius cruenfulus and G. couch;. The listing comprises museum material, previous records and direct observations from 1976 to 1985 inclusive. This reserve is recognized by the Council of Europe as part of an international biogenetic network of reserves.
I. INTRODUCTION
The Lough Hyne (Ine) marine reserve, on the south-west Irish coast, was estab- lished in 1981 (Anon, 1981a) and its regulations impose restrictions on the collec- tion of fauna and flora (Anon, 19816). Lough Hyne is one of a small number of marine reserves considered by the Council of Europe to be of sufficient importance to be included in an international biogenetic network of reserves. Its international position is also well known on account of the large amount of work conducted there and reported in international journals. The reserve consists of a deep (47 m) and sheltered marine basin connected to the sea via a narrow and shallow gap, known as the Rapids, and a long inlet, Barloge Creek (Fig. 1). Very little fresh water enters the Lough which is therefore almost entirely marine. It is unique on the Irish coast and has been under study at various times since 1886 (Haddon & Greene, 1888). Wilson (1984) has provided a bibliography containing 194 references. Species lists of various crustacean groups have been published by Holmes (1980, 1981, 1985) and of opisthobranch molluscs by Wilson & Picton (1983).
The reserve has a number of widely varying substrata. Coarse sediments are found where there is an influence of current or wave action. On the steep slopes there are prominent rock outcrops, boulders and stones. Elsewhere there are muds and silts, which are covered with an algal mat in shallow water. The main facies about the Lough have been described by Kitching er al. (1976) who also record the formation of a hypolimnion during summer and early autumn. Water circulation is insufficient to prevent gradual deoxygenation, to levels of 5% saturation, as a result of which the distribution of fish during this time is limited to the epilimnion which varies in depth annually between about 20 m and 30 m. An area such as this, protected by its reserve status, will serve as a useful reference for zoogeographic distributions and baseline studies for various marine species. This paper lists the present status of the 72 species of fishes recorded up to the end of 1985.
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0 1987 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
344 D. MINCHIN
FIG. I . Lough Hyne marine reserve, showing depths in metres and hectare reference grid. Stippled areas indicate beaches. Theouter limit ofthe reserveisdefined from themosteasterlypointofCarrigathorna NE to the most southern part of the island (Bullock Island).
11. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fish were recorded by direct observation, either by snorkelling or using standard
SCUBA equipment. Capture methods comprised anaesthetics (MS 222), baited shrimp traps, dip nets, hook and line, beach seine, gill net and direct capture using plastic bags or pinning to the substrate. Most fish were returned alive. Some were preserved in ethanol and deposited in the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) or the British Museum (Natural History) (BMNH). Most of the new observations reported were in the North Basin to 22 m, the area near the Rapids and Whirlpool Cliff, and about Bullock Island (Fig. I ) . Direct observations were made annually from 1976 to 1985 for periods ranging from 15 to 140 h in each year, mainly over the months June to October. In addition, occasional visits were made at all seasons and to depths of 32 m.
Nomenclature of the fishes is based on that of Hureau & Monod (1968) and common names are those of Went & Kennedy (1976). Fish identification is based on Wheeler (1969. 1970, 1978), Miller & El-Tawil (1974) and Miller (1974) and, for post-larval fishes, on Russell (1976). The four levels of abundance used here, based on the numbers seen or, in cases where there were many fish, on an estimate of their numbers seen in any year. are: rare, 1-9 individuals observed; occasional, 1G99; common, 100-999; abundant, > 1000. Figure I shows theextent ofthemarinereserve, its bathymetry(theresu1t ofa surveycommissioned by the Department of Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry in 1985) and the 100-m grid (refer- ences used in the text). Depths (m) are from low water neap tides within the Lough and low
FISHES I N LOUGH H Y N E 345
water spring tides in Barloge Creek. Depths of observations made while diving were measured using a helium SOS depth guage.
111. OBSERVATIONS SCY LIORHINI DAE
Scyliorhinus stellaris (L.), greater spotted dogfish. Rare; North Basin, two only seen at 4m, August and October 1978. Egg capsules found at 1 m (D2) North Basin.
Scyliorhinus canicula (L.), lesser spotted dogfish. Common; shallow water to 20 m, less frequent in North Basin than in South Basin. Groups sometimes seen in hollows between rocks during daytime. Egg cases attached to marine algae at 1-5 m. Males to 706 mm; females to 702 mm TL.
SQUATINIDAE
Lough . Squatina syuatina (L.), monkfish. No recent record. Walton (1969), one from
RAJIDAE
or Goleen. One male, 7 10 mm TL. Raja clavata L., thornback ray. Occasional in Lough; not seen in Barloge Creek
CLUPEIDAE
schools; attains 94 mm SL.
August.
1978, one 208 mm SL.
Sprattus sprattus (L.), sprat. Abundant during August and September; forms
Clupea harengus L., herring. Adults common in winter, postlarvae July and
Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum), pilchard. Rare; two at Whirlpool Cliff, July
SALMON I D A E
in the North Basin. Salmon trutta L., sea trout. Occasional in Rapids or near the sea surface at night
ANGUILLIDAE Anguillu anguilla (L.), freshwater eel. Common under stones intertidally to 10 m
depth in NW region of North Basin. In wet years in ditch beside Western Trough road. Preyed upon by cormorants and herons. One eel 370 mm TL had eaten a small crab, Liocarcinus depurator (L.). Largest captured 424 mm TL. Recorded in NMI ledger for 1931 but not located. Renouf (1931), South Basin.
Conger conger L., conger eel. Common to 18 m among boulders; seldom seen in North Basin. Smallest captured 108 mm and 130 mm TL, August and September, respectively, Barloge Creek. Renouf (1931).
BELONIDAE Belone belone (L.), garfish. Common 1979, 1982 and 1984. On sunny summer
days adults group in shallow water (B2) but disperse at night. May be heard at surface on calm nights. Gut contents include Hymenoptera. Post-larvae 9-16 mm
346 D. MINCHIN
TL in drift lines July/August 1976, 1981. One, 354 mm SL. captured at surface by hand at night, August 1980. Minchin (1984), postlarvae from Goleen.
SYNGNATHIDAE Entelurus aequoreus (L.), ocean pipefish. Rare; associated with floating
materials within Lough. Three: 280 mm TL, July 1976; 308 mm TL (NMI (1) 18.1980) September 1980; one, March 1979.
Nerophis lumbriciformis (Jenyns), worm pipefish. Rare; gravid male 134 mm TL (NMI (1) 34.1977), July 1976. Other material NMI (1) 222.1980. Renouf (1931), Barloge Creek; Kitching & Thain (1983), South Basin.
Syngnathus acus L., greater pipefish. Common to 18 m; associated with marine algae or boulders. Size range 88-480 mm TL, August and September. Material NMI (1) 275.1980. Renouf (1 93 l), Barloge Creek.
Syngnathus rostellatus Nilsson. Rare; one 45 mm SL, July 198 1 .
GASTEROSTEIDAE Spinachia spinachia (L.), fifteen-spined stickleback. Common; at Lough edge or
close to surface near drifting materials. Attains 112 mm TL. One (NMI 83.1982) from 20 m, July 1982 (57).
GADIDAE Gadus morhua L., cod. Rare; 3-8 m near Bullock Island. Merlangius merlangus (L.), whiting. Common 1979, 1980 and 1982, ranging
over 2-8 m; otherwise rarely seen. Individuals, 1 8 4 7 mm SL, occasionally seen associated with Cyanea lamarkii Peron and Lesueur, Aurelia aurita (L.) and Chrysaora hyoscella (L.).
Pollachius pollachius (L.), pollack. Locally common in Lough. Juveniles to 94 mm SL about the Lough edge. Adults school near cliff faces and mid-water. Walton (1969).
Pollachius virens (L.), coalfish. Rare; two 145 and 159 mm SL, shallow water, North Basin.
Trisopterus luscus (L.), pouting. Rare; beneath boulders at 15 m, Whirlpool Cliff. Kitching et al. (1976) from 40 m, May 1968.
Trisopterus minutus (L.), poor-cod. Locally common; small groups in spaces under rocks in Lough.
Molva molva (L.), ling. Rare; two, 20 m near cliff west of Labhra Island (E7), August 1980. Unconfirmed reports of rod and line captures.
Ciliata mustela (L.), five-bearded rockling. Common to 5 m in Barloge Creek. Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (L.), shore rockling. Rare; one, from 1 m near
stones and shell, North Basin, July 198 1 , 17 1 mm SL (NMI 3 1.198 1).
ZEIDAE
One, 145 mm SL, October 1978.
CARANGIDAE Trachurus trachurus (L.), scad. Common October 1976, otherwise occasional;
only juveniles seen in late summer and autumn associated with floating or suspended materials in Lough.
Zeus faber L., John Dory. Rare; solitary, and ranges 1-17m within Lough.
FISHES IN LOUGH HYNE 347
MULLIDAE
August 1982; juvenile, 44mm SL (NMI 19.1980), Goleen (E12), August 1979. Mullus surmuletus L., red mullet. Rare; one 8m, north of the Rapids (J8),
LABRIDAE Labrus bergylta Ascanius, ballan wrasse. Locally common, 1-1 8 m, where
boulders provide cracks and spaces for shelter throughout reserve. Many colour forms present. Juveniles often found among marine algae in shallow water.
Labrus bimaculatus L., cuckoo wrasse. Seen only in 1978 and 1980; locally common 10-16 m, near rock crevices at base of boulders,, Whirlpool Cliff (J7,J8), and about the cliff base west of Labhra Island (E7).
Symphodus melops (L.), corkwing wrasse. Locally common in shallow water near marine algae and rock rubble to 16m. Nests constructed during July. Postlarvae appear in August. Attains 12 1 mm SL.
Ctenolabrus rupestris (L.), goldsinny. Common from low water near marine algae and rock rubble to 16 m in Lough. Attains 108 mm SL. Material NMI (1) 91.1981 and BMNH 1972.6.8.43-46.
Centrolabrus exoletus (L.), rock cook. Locally common; in small groups at Rapids, Whirlpool Cliff and Barloge Creek (17,J7,J8,51O,L16), at 4-14m. Usually close to marine algae. Attains 109 mm SL. Minchin & Molloy (19786).
AMMODYTIDAE Seasonally abundant, sometimes forming large schools. Ammodytes tobianus L., sand eel. Rare but may be common. Only record,
36 mm SL. Hyperoplus lanceolatus (le Sauvage), greater sand eel. Rare; two in coarse sand
patch, Whirlpool Cliff (J7), 15 m, 224 mm and 225 mm SL, August 1979 (B2). Hyperoplus immaculatus (Corbin), Corbin’s sand eel. Probably common; taken
only in light traps, &20 m, in South Basin (18) and south of the Rapids (JIO), July 1983; two, 32 mm and 39 mm SL, August 1979. Material NMI (67) 133.1983.
SCOMBRIDAE Sconiber scombrus L., mackerel. Seasonally common; small schools appear in
late summer and autumn of most years. Fish attain 1 kg; former Irish angling record, 1.22 kg, June 1956, caught by Prof F. J. O’Rourke in the Lough (Anon, 1957).
GOBIIDAE Gobius niger L., black goby. Common, throughout reserve to 20 m, but more
frequent in shallow water on mud and shell substrata near stones. Eggs laid within excavated hollows beneath stones or shell or within paired shells in July and August. Attains 150 mm S.L. Material NMI (1) 278.1980, NMI (3) 124.1977 and BMNH 1976.6.2.1. Kitchingetal. (1976); Kitching&Thain (1983).
Gobius cruentatus Gmelin, red-mouthed goby. Common; locally resident population found only in Lough, 0-20 m. Always associated with rocks. Usually solitary. Attains 156 mm SL. Other material NMI 124.1977, NMI 278.1980, NMI (1) 277.1980, NMI 91.1981 and material not yet presented to BMNH. Previous records are based on four fish [three recorded by Wheeler (1970) which include
348 D. MINCHIN
material BMNH 1930.11.10.1, BMNH 1969.5.16.1 andBMNH 1980.10.6.5,anda further fish recorded by Kitching & Thain (1983)l.
Gobius paganellus L., rock goby. Locally common to 16 m; usually associated with rock and stone rubble throughout the reserve. Attains 100 mm SL. Material NMI 32.1977, NMI (1) 125.1977, NMI (1) 225.1980, NMI (2) 279.1980 and BMNH 1980.10.6.6-7. Kitching & Thain (1983).
Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe), leopard-spotted goby. Occasional; normally solitary, 2-14 m, usually associated with overhanging rock spaces. More frequently seen at night.
Gobiusculus JIavescens (Fabricius), two-spotted goby. Locally abundant in shallow water and associated with marine algae. Attains 61 mm SL, largest fish near Rapids. Postlarvae, July. Renouf (1931); Kitching & Thain (1983). O’Riordan (1965) refers to two taken by R. Southern, November 1916, now in NMI collection.
Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas), freckled goby. Common to 22 m on mud or mud and shell. Attains 51 mm SL. Taken in light traps (NMI (1) 133.1983). Renouf (1931); Kitching et a f . (1976) from 30 m.
Pomatoschistus pictus (Malm), painted goby. Abundant in shallow water and locally common to 16 m. Often found near high water on a full tide, and has been observed during spring tides over the public roadway (D2). Attains 40 mm SL. Material NMI (1) 127.1977 and BMNH 1980.10.6.8. Kitching & Thain (1983).
Gobius couchi Miller and El-Tawil, Couch’s goby. Common to 3 m; usually associated with rocks and stones, also on shell and mud substrata to 16m. Attains 72mm SL. Material NMI (1) 223.1980, NMI (1) 224.1980, NMI (2) 276.1980, BMNH 1980.10.6.14 and BMNH 1980.8.18.7, Miller & El-Tawil (1974); Kitching & Thain (1983).
Aphia minuta (Risso), transparent goby. Occasional; 2-20 m, solitary or in small groups near sea floor. Taken in light traps in E7 and El0 to depths of 15 m during July 1983.
Lesueurigobius friesii (Malm), Fries’s goby. Rare but probably more common than records suggest. Fish seen entering mud burrows at 18-21 m (also reported by Kitching et af . , 1976) may be this species. Taken in light traps over mud burrow zone at 20m, July 1983. Material NMI 126.1977.
Crystalfogobius linearis (von Duben), crystal goby. Rare; one 30 mm SL taken inlight trap, 15m(E10), July 1983, NMI (1) 133.1983. CALLIONYMIDAE
Callionymus fyra L., common dragonet. Locally common in South Basin and Barloge Creek, 6 2 1 m on substrates of shell and gravel; also seen on mud. Only immature fish seen. One specimen, undated, in NMI collection (O’Riordan, 1965); Renouf (1931). BLENNIDAE
Lipophrys phofis L., shanny. Rare; seen at low water to 1 m, associated with stones near the north wall (C2,D2). Renouf (1931), South Basin.
Bfenniusgattorugine Briinnich, tompot blenny. Common to 14 m among rocks and stones within Lough. Postlarvae, August, associated with floating materials during warm summers. Attains 180 mm SL. Material NMI (3) 27.1977, NMI ( 5 ) 128.1977 and NMI (1) 36.1983. Minchin (1984).
FISHES IN L O U G H H Y N E 349
Coryphoblennius galerita (L.), Montagu’s blenny. Rare; rock pools at Carrigathorna. Renouf (1934), South Basin.
PHOLIDAE Pholis gunnellus (L.), butterfish. Occasional; to 32 m within Lough. Attains
134mm SL. Renouf (1931), Barloge Creek; Kitching et a1.(1976); Kitching & Thain (1983).
MUGILIDAE Chelon labrosus (Risso). thick-lipped grey mullet. Common throughout reserve;
usually in shallow water, adults often solitary. Juveniles normally appear in July and August in small groups and form schools at Lough edge. Found with I-group fish in pond on Labhra Island, late summer and autumn. Adult fish present during winter. Adults seen to feed on releases of bivalve and echinoid gametes in shallow water (C2,D2). Material juvenile NMI (6) 28.1977, NMI (32) 209.1978, NMI (54) 20.1980, juvenile NMI 31.1977, NMI 226.1980 and NMI (2) 226.1980. Minchin (1984); Minchin & Molloy (1976); Goss-Custard et al. (1979); Kitching & Thain (1983).
ATHERINIDAE Atherina presbyter Cuvier, sand-smelt. Common; schools in shallow bays
during daylight, during summer nights found solitary and motionless over deep water throughout Lough. Attains 141 mm SL. Material, adults BMNH 1983.12.20.(1-15). Bamber & Henderson (1985a,b).
TRIGLIDAE
Basin (F4).
COTTIDAE Taurulus bubulis (Euphrasen), longspined sea-scorpion. Common throughout
Lough to 4 m near marine algae or stones; occasionally seen over open ground. Ventures intertidally. Attains 175 mm SL. Material NMI 91.1981. Renouf (193 1); Goss-Custard et al. (1979), Carrigathorna Pools (L18,M18).
Myoxocephalus scorpius (L), shortspined sea-scorpion. Occasional to 6 m near rocks and stones throughout Lough, common in Barloge Creek. Material, two young in NMI collection from 193 1. Renouf (193 1); O’Riordan (1965).
CYCLOPTERIDAE Cyclopterus lumpus L., lumpsucker. Seasonal and occasional; postlarvae and
juveniles only seen. Associated with floating materials or surface drift lines during summer and autumn of 1975, 1976, 1981 and 1984. Material NMI (1) 33.1977. Minchin (1984).
LI PARIDAE
beneath stones in 0.5 m western Lough shore (B7), August 1976. Renouf (193 1).
BOTHIDAE Psetta maxima (L.), turbot. Seasonal and occasional; only juveniles found
within Lough near the sea surface during July and August 1977, 1981 and 1984,
Eutrigla gurnardus (L.), grey gurnard. Rare; one, 180 mm TL. 18 m, North
Liparis niontagui (Donovan), Montagu’s sea snail. Rare; three Liparis sp. seen
350 D. MINCHIN
usually associated with surface drift lines. Largest 28 mm SL. Material NMI (2) 29.1977. Minchin (1984).
Scophthalmus rhombus (L.), brill. Seasonal and occasional; only found in neuston during July and August of 1977, 1981 and 1984, often associated with surface drift lines. Juveniles attain 19 mm SL. Material NMI (13) 29.1977. Minchin (1 984).
Zeugopterus punctatus (Bloch), common topknot. Rare; one, 14 m, on ledge beneath rock overhang, north of Rapids (J8). Renouf (193 l), Barloge Creek.
Phrynorhombus norvegicus (Gunther), Norway topknot. Rare; three, 1 1-1 5 m, coarse shell sand and stones (1 7), August 198 1.
Arnoglossus sp. Rare; identified from a 350-pm diameter egg, July 1978.
Limanda limandu (L.), dab. Common in Goleen to 3 m, elsewhere occasional.
Pleuronectes platessa L., plaice. Common in Goleen during summer. Juveniles
PlatichthysJIesus (L.), flounder. Common to 13 m; solitary about Lough edge.
Microsfomus kitt (Walbaum), lemon sole. Rare; 4-14 m on mud and shell slope
PLEURONECTIDAE
Only juveniles seen.
only seen.
Largest with head length of 84 mm. Ventures intertidally.
to the north of Rapids and on mud near Goleen.
SOLIDAE
Rapids, July 1980.
BALISTIDAE Balistes carolinensis Gmelin, trigger fish. Occasional; usually in small groups
near surface to 6m, appearing late July or August 1975, 1976 (seen up to 2 October), 1977, 1981 and 1984. Often taking up residence among rocks, when disturbed hides within rock spaces. Many had localized damage to the head and caudal peduncle. Van Gelderen (pers. comm.), August 1975; Minchin & Molloy (1 976, 1978a); Quigley (1 985).
GOBIESOCIDAE Lepadogaster candollei Risso, Connemara sucker. Common locally to 2 m,
occasional at 16 m (17,J7). Associated with rocks and stones. Attains 84mm TL. Postlarvae, July 1976. Material NMI (1) 123.1977, NMI (1) 280.1980 and NMI (1) 35.1983. Kitching & Thain (1983). Renouf (1931) may have confused this species with L. lepadogaster; he records L. gouani (LacCpede) from the South Basin, which may also be this species.
Solea solea (L.), sole. Rare; one postlarva 11 rnm SL, sea-surface north of the
IV. DISCUSSION Seventy two species of fish are documented. Four additional species recalled as
sightings or captures but whose identity could not be verified are the basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus), salmon, Salmo salar L., red sea-bream, Pagellus bogaraveo (Brunnich), and a young sea-horse, Hippocampus sp. A further species, the spur dogfish, Squalus acanthias L., was presented to the National Museum in 1931, but it is not clear if it was captured within the reserve area. Wheeler (1970)
FISHES IN LOUGH H Y N E 35 1
records part of a letter from L. Renouf to J. R. Norman which refers to a Yarrell's blenny, Chirolophis ascanii Walbaum,: ' During this year I have come across speci- mens of Yarrell's and of the Gattorine (sic) blenny, the former during April and the latter during September '. However, it is not certain that the C. ascanii was taken within the reserve area because its exact location is not referred to in the letter. This record, however, represents the southern extreme of its range in Europe.
0-group representatives of some of the recorded species were seen only in some years. These include Crenimugil labrosus. Cyclopterus lumpus, Scophthalmus rhombus, Psetta maxima and Belone belone. The first four would appear to enter the Lough from outside, since they were often associated with neritic drifting (Minchin, 1984). Belone belone may reproduce within the Lough, since recently hatched larvae were seen; adults do appear within the Lough in some years, but searches for their eggs among the shallow water marine algae were unsuccessful. C. labrosus, according to the evidence collected by Kennedy & Fitzmaurice (1 969) and Hickling (1970), would seem to spawn in the open sea, possibly in April; the smallest individuals in Lough Hyne were 13 mm SL, taken on 25 July 1980, which suggests that spawning within the Lough was unlikely in spite of an adult population being present throughout the year.
The triggerfish, B. carolinensis, appears in Lough Hyne during the late summer of certain years. It is almost certain that they perish over the winter at these Atlantic latitudes. Luther & Fiedler (1976) state that death occurs at sea tempera- tures below 12" C . Observations of trigger fish within Lough Hyne were made up to October in 1976, when temperatures were a little above 15" C .
It is intended to publish records of any additional fish species found in the reserve area in the Irish Naturalists' Journal.
I would like to thank Messrs T. Buckley, P. Connolly and R. Taylor as well as divers M e w s D. Baird, M. Kilroy and A. McIntyre for their assistance, and my wife Barbara for drawing the figure. Mr J. M. C. Holmes kindly provided me with records of fish taken in light traps. I am grateful to Mr Alwyne Wheeler and Dr Christopher Moriarty for reading the manuscript and making useful suggestions.
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N o . 207 of 1981. Stationary Ofice, Dublin, 5 pp. Bamber, R. N. & Henderson, P. A. ( 1 9 8 5 ~ ) . Morphological variation in British atherinids
and the status of Atherinapresbyter Cuvier (Pisces: Atherinidae). Biol. J. Linn. SOC.
Bamber, R. N. & Henderson, P. A. (19856). Diplostomiasis in sand smelt, Atherina presbyter Cuvier, from the Fleet, Dorset and its use as a population indicator. J . Fish Biol. 26,223-229.
Goss-Custard, S., Jones, J., Kitching, J . A. & Norton, T. A. (1979). Tide pools of Carrigathorna and Barloge Creek. Phil. Trans. R. SOC. B 287, 1-44.
Haddon, A. C. & Greene, W. S . (1888). Second report on the marine fauna of the south- west of Ireland. Proc. R. Ir. Acad. Ser III,1,29-56.
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Holmes, J . M. C. (1980). Some crustacean records from Lough Ine, Co. Cork. Bull. Ir. biogeog. Soc. 4,33-40.
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Hureau, J. C. & Monod, Th. (1973). Check-list of the Fishes of the North Eastern Atlantic und of the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO.
Kennedy, M. & Fitzmaurice, P. (1969). Age and growth of thick lipped grey mullet, Crenimugillubrosus, in Irish waters. J . mar. biol. Ass. U . K . 49,683-699.
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