Abstract
Changes in fish assemblages were tracked in representative eelgrass ( Zostera marina L.) beds within two estuaries on the urbanised coast of southern California, USA , San Diego Bay and Mission Bay, from 1987 to 2010. Assemblages were sampled twice yearly (spring and summer) at day and night using beach seines. Assemblage stability was examined over time along with changes in assemblage structure across time of day and season, including the influence of temporally variable abiotic variables. Only the occasionally occurring fish, those present in