Species composition, abundance and seasonal recruitment patterns of freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.) to Viti Levu, Fiji Islands, in the western South Pacific

To understand the inshore recruitment mechanisms of tropical eels (Anguilla spp.), we collected 1368 glass eels at the mouth of a small river at Namelimeli, ∼2 km east of Navua Town, Fiji Islands, between April 2015 and June 2016. Specimens were identified using both morphological characters and DNA barcoding to only three species: one short-finned Anguilla obscura and two long-finned eels A. marmorata and A. megastoma. Anguilla obscura was the most abundant species (55% of glass eels collected) with peak recruitment periods from February to April. Anguilla marmorata was the second most abundant species (41.4% of glass eels collected) with peak recruitment periods in April 2015 and September-October 2015. Anguilla megastoma only comprised 3.9% of glass eels collected, with peak recruitment periods in April 2015 and October 2015. Anguilla obscura and A. marmorata were present in samples almost throughout the year, suggesting that tropical eels recruit to some degree throughout the year. Results suggest that peak recruitment occurs during seasons of heavy rain, from September to October and from February to April commencing 1 h after sunset on the day following a new moon.