Presettlement phase of Parika scaber (Pisces: Monacanthidae): a temperate reef fish

Duration of presettlement phase was examined for the temperate reef fish Parika scaber. Information was also collected on seasonality, growth, development, and diet before settlement. Presettlement P. scaber associated with drift algae offshore of rocky reefs were of sizes 7 to 35 mm standard length (SL); highest abundances were found between November and January. Fish just prior to settlement were collected from algae tethered seaward of reefs. Fish associated with drift algae and fish captured around tethered algae had similar size-frequency relationships. Fish that associated with drift and tethered algae and settled on reefs were between 22 and 66 d old. Despite this wide range of ages and sizes, at any one time a large proportion of P. scaber around drift and tethered algae were of a similar size and age. However, among sampling times the mean value for these relations vaned.