Distribution and community structure of ichthyoplankton in Laguna Madre Seagrass meadows: Potential impact of seagrass species change

Seasonal ichthyoplankton surveys were made in the lower Laguna Madre, Texas, to compare the relative utilization of various nursery habitats (shoal grass,Halodule wrightii; manatee grass,Syringodium filiforme; and unvegetated sand bottom) for both estuarine and offshore-spawned larvae. The species composition and abundance of fish larvae were determined for each habitat type at six locations in the bay. Pushnet ichthyoplankton sampling resulted in 296 total collections, yielding 107,463 fishes representing 55 species in 24 families. A broad spectrum of both the biotic and physical habitat parameters were examined to link the dispersion and distribution of both pre-settlement and postsettlement larvae to the utilization of shallow seagrass habitats. Sample sites were grouped by cluster analysis (Ward’s minimum variance method) according to the similarity of their fish assemblages and subsequently examined with a multiple discriminant function analysis to identify important environmental variables. Abiotic environmental factors were most influential in defining groups for samples dominated by early larvae, whereas measures of seagrass complexity defined groups dominated by older larvae and juveniles. Juvenile-stage individuals showed clear habitat preference, with the more shallowHalodule wrightii being the habitat of choice, whereas early larvae of most species were widely distributed over all habitats. As a result of the recent shift of dominance fromHalodule wrightii toSyringodium filiforme, overall reductions in the quality of nursery habitat for fishes in the lower Laguna Madre are projected.     

Eggs and early larvae of the bay anchovy,Anchoa mitchilli,and the weakfish,Cynoscion regalis,in lower Chesapeake Bay with notes on associated ichthyoplankton

The seasonal abundance and spatial distribution of eggs and early larvae of the bay anchovy,Anchoa mitchilli, and the weakfish,Cynoscion regalis, were determined from plankton collections taken during 1971–1976 in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Eggs and larvae of the bay anchovy,Anchoa mitchilli, dominated the ichthyoplankton, making up 96% of the total eggs and 88% of all larvae taken. A comparison of egg and larval densities from the lower Chesapeake Bay to existing data from other East Coast estuaries suggested that Chesapeake Bay is a major center of spawning activity for this species.Anchoa mitchilli spawning commenced in May when mean water column temperatures approached 17°C and abruptly ceased after August. Eggs and early larvae presented a continuous distribution throughout the study area during these months. Eggs and larvae of several sciaenid species, especiallyC. regalis, ranked second in numerical abundance. Larval weakfish were consistently taken in late summer of each sampling year but peak abundance and distribution was observed in August 1971. Sciaenid eggs exhibited a distinct polyhaline distribution with greatest concentrations observed at the Chesapeake Bay entrance or along the Bay eastern margin. Analysis of sciaenid egg morphometry and larval occurrence suggested spawning activity of at least four species. Additional important species represented by eggs and/or larvae in the lower Chesapeake Bay wereHypsoblennius hentzi, Gobiosoma ginsburgi, Trinectes maculatus, Symphurus plagiusa andParalichthys dentatus with the remaining species occurring infrequently.     

Response of juvenile fish assemblages in tidal salt marsh creeks treated forPhragmites removal

We examined fish assemblages in tidal salt marsh creeks in Delaware Bay in order to evaluate their response to treatment forPhragmites removal following initial treatment in 1996. In Alloway Crrek, a tributary to Delaware Bay, reference creeks draining marsh of untreatedPhragmites or naturally occurringSpartina were compared with creeks in marshes treated forPhragmites removal. These reference and treated creeks occur in close proximity and share many characteristics including salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, although creeks inPhragmites sites differed slightly in bathymetry. We analyzed a time series of otter trawl collections (22 monthly sample periods from 1999 to 2001) for differences in juvenile fish assemblage among creeks with different vegetation history. Periodically, young-of-the-year (YOY) and age 1+ white perch (Morone americana), YOY spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), YOY Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), and other species were relatively more abundant atPhragmites sites, but other dominant species were preiodically abundant at all sites. Among-treatment differences based on principal response curves analysis accounted for about 19% of the total species variation, but differences varied widely among sample periods and there is little or no indication of a trend over the 3-yr period. Larger collections were often associated with subtidal structure, which was more common atPhragmites sites and potentially represents a sampling artifact. Assemblages of creeks with differing vegetation history differ weakly but recognizably, suggesting slow or little response to treatment, at least based on otter trawl collections in subtidal marsh creeks.

     

Early use by fish of a mitigation salt marsh,Humboldt Bay,California

Fish numbers and biomass in a mitigation salt marsh, Humboldt Bay, California, were examined from July 1981 to October 1982 and were compared with a nearby established marsh to determine whether the restored marsh provided adequate mitigation for habitat lost due to construction of a nearby marina. The use by fish of channels adjacent to the two marshes and the channel at the Woodley Island Marina construction site, for which mitigation was required, were also compared. The mitigation marsh, adjacent to Freshwater Slough channel, was 5.2 km from the marina site. Fishes were sampled by otter trawl, ichthyoplankton net, fixed channel nets, drop traps, and beach seines. Thirty-one fish species and two crab species were collected. Wide ranges in seasonal salinities and water temperatures, and differences in marsh elevation influenced fish use of the mitigation marsh area. The intertidal area of the mitigation marsh, dominated by euryhaline sticklebacks and topsmelts, did not replace intertidal and subtidal habitat lost by marina construction, which had more stable salinities and water temperatures and was used extensively by juvenile English sole.     

Response of Lake Pontchartrain Fish Assemblages to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

To assess possible impacts on Lake Pontchartrain fishes from the 2005 hurricanes, we compared trawl, beach seine, and gillnet collections taken before (2000–2003, 2005) and after (2006–2009) to determine if significant assemblage changes occurred. We also compared basic environmental variables to test for hurricane-related changes. Significant post-hurricane changes in fish assemblages occurred in trawl (analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), R?<?0.090, p?<?0.05) and beach seine (ANOSIM, R?<?0.120, p?<?0.05) collections across all seasons. Gillnet assemblages exhibited changes in only one season (ANOSIM, R?=?0.045, p?<?0.05). These consistently low global R values (all R?<?0.120) across all gears suggest only minor compositional changes in species. When peak abundance periods were compared for individual species, Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) declined in trawl collections after the hurricanes (Friedman's test, χ ²?=?6.00, p?=?0.014) but increased in gillnet collections (Friedman's test, χ ²?=?5.00, p?=?0.025). Hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis) increased in trawl collections, but Gulf pipefish (Syngnathus scovelli), naked gobies (Gobiosoma bosc), and rough silverside (Membras martinica) all declined in beach seine samples and Atlantic croakers (Micropogonias undulatus), Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), and sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) all declined in gillnet samples. In general, salinity increased and water clarity and dissolved oxygen decreased after the hurricanes. While the overall composition of Lake Pontchartrain fish assemblages remains stable, the significant decline of some species and changes in certain environmental variables are cause for concern. Future monitoring should determine if all elements of this estuary will recover from these impacts.     

Abundance and distribution of ichthyoplankton in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, 1989–1990

An ichthyoplankton survey (18 stations in seven sampling sectors) was conducted in Narragansett Bay in 1990 to provide information on abundance, distribution, and seasonal occurrence of eggs and larvae of estuarine fishes, including seasonal migrants. An additional goal was to examine changes in species composition, abundance, and distribution occurring since the last baywide survey in 1972–73. The taxonomic composition of eggs and larvae in 1990 (41 species in 25 families from 684 plankton samples) and in 1972–73 (43 species in 28 families from 6900 samples) was similar. Maximum abundance of fish eggs occurred in June and larvae in July, minimum abundance in September to February. Species diversity was greatest in May–July and lowest during January in both surveys. However, egg and larval densities in 1990 were considerably lower than in 1972–73. Bay anchovy, tautog, and cunner accounted for 86% of the eggs and 87% of the larvae in the bay in 1990. These three species accounted for only 55% of the eggs and 51% of the larvae in 1972–73, with menhaden accounting for another 18% of the eggs and 34% of the larvae. Searobins, scup, and butterfish eggs were common in 1973 (19%) but rare in 1990 (2%). Ichthyoplankton abundance for several of the most abundant species was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the Providence River, upper bay, and Greenwich Bay in 1990 than in 1972–73. Density of fish eggs and larvae in the lower portions of the bay was lower in 1990 for some species but not others. Distribution data suggested a general down-bay shift in density in 1990. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY085 00015     

Seasonality and abundance of ichthyoplankton in great South Bay,New York

The seasonality and abundance patterns of ichthyoplankton were investigated during 1985–1986 in Great South Bay, New York, USA. Eggs representing 17 species and larvae representing 23 species of fish were identified. Bay anchovy, Anchoa mitchilli, was the most abundant ichthyoplankter, comprising >96% of the eggs and >69% of the larvae collected. Bay anchovy spawned throughout the bay from late May through August, with peak baywide densities of >200 eggs and 6 larvae m^?3. Eggs of windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus) ranked second in abundance and were present in both spring and fall. Other dominant larvae were winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) and American sand lance (Ammodytes americanus). Their combined density reached 8 m^?3 and accounted for the winter peak in larvae. The seasonality of abundance of larval fish was strongly correlated with reported densities of copepod nauplii prey.     

Structural components of eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in the lower Chesapeake Bay—Fishes

The structure of the fish community associated with eelgrass beds in the lower Chesapeake Bay was studied over a 14 month period. A total of 24,182 individuals in 48 species was collected by otter trawl with Leiostomus xanthurus (spot) comprising 63% of the collection, Syngnathus fuscus (northern pipefish) 14%, Anchoa mitchilli (bay anchovy) 9%, and Bairdiella chrysoura (silver perch) 5%. The density and diversity of fishes were higher in vegetated areas compared to unvegetated areas; fishes were more abundant in night collections Fish abundance and species number increased in the spring and early summer as both water temperature and eelgrass biomass increased and decreased in the fall and winter as temperature and eelgrass biomass decreased. Gill netting revealed some of the top predators in the system, especially the sandbar shark, Carcharhinus milberti. The fish community in the Chesapeake Bay was quite different from North Carolina eelgrass fish communities. Most notable was the rarity of the pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, which may be a very important predator in the structuring of the epifaunal communities.     

Nekton use of subtidal oyster shell habitat in a Southeastern U.S. estuary

Subtidal accumulations of oyster shell have been largely overlooked as essential habitat for estuarine nekton. In southeastern U.S. estuaries, where oyster reef development is mostly confined to the intertidal zone, eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) shell covered bottoms are often the only significant source of hard subtidal structure. We characterized and quantified nekton use of submerged shell rubble bottoms, and compared it to use of intertidal reefs and other subtidal bottoms in the North Inlet estuary, South Carolina. Replicate trays (0.8 m²) filled with shell rubble were deployed in shallow salt marsh creeks, and were retrieved after soak times of 1 to 25 days from May 1998 to March 2000. Thirty six species of fishes, representing 21 families, were identified from the 455 tray collections. Water temperature, salinity, soak time and the presence of a shell substrate all affected the catch of fishes in the trays. Catches during the warmer months were two to five times greater than those during the winter. Fishes were present in 98% of the trays with an overall average of 5.7 fish m^?2. The assemblage was numerically dominated by small resident species including naked goby (Gobiosoma bose), oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau), and crested blenny (Hypleurochilus geminatus). Transient species accounted for 23% of all individuals and 62% of the total biomass due to the presence of relatively large sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) and black sea bass (Centropristis striata). Both the transient and resident species displayed distinct periods of recruitment and rapid growth from April to October. Lower abundances of juvenile gobies and blennies during 1998 were attributed to long periods of depressed salinity caused by high rainfall associated with El Niño conditions in spring. Crabs and shrimps, which were often more abundant than the fishes, accounted for comparable biomass in the tray collections. In comparisons of subtidal tray and trawl catches, trays yielded 10 to 1,000 fold higher densities of some demersal fish groups. Comparisons of intertidal and subtidal gear catches indicated that many species remain in the subtidal shell bottom at all stages of the tide. This study suggests that subtidal shell bottom may be essential fish habitat for juvenile seabass, groupers, and snappers and that it may be the primary habitat for a diverse assemblage of ecologically important resident fishes and crustaceans. Given the high levels of nekton use and the areal extent of oyster shell bottoms in eastern U.S. and Gulf estuaries, increased attention to protection and restoration of these areas appears justified.     

Abundance and size of larval fishes outside the entrance to Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina

Synoptic ichthyoplankton sampling was conducted on two transects, one on either side of Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, during the winter immigration season of seven ocean-spawned, estuarine-dependent fishes;Brevoortia tyrannus (Atlantic menhaden),Leiostomus xanthurus (spot),Micropogonias undulatus (Atlantic croaker),Lagodon rhomboides (pinfish),Paralichthys albigutta (Gulf flounder),P. dentatus (summer flounder), andP. lethostigma (southern flounder). Densities and lengths of larvae were significantly different among sampling dates, with distance offshore, and between sides of the inlet. Flood-tide stage had minimal effect on larval densities and lengths except forP. albigutta andP. lethostigma. Changes in larval densities with distance offshore were not coherent among species; densities ofB. tyrammus increased offshore whereas densities of the other species decreased offshore. Average larval densities on a sampling date were coherent among species. Patterns in larval lengths were also coherent among the four non-flounder species. Larval densities outside of Beaufort Inlet were correlated with larval densities inside of Beaufort Inlet. Larval densities outside of Beaufort Inlet were also correlated with the north component of the wind, nearshore water temperature, and distance to the mid-shelf front. Differences in larval density across the inlet were significantly correlated with the east component of the wind. The patterns in larval densities outside of Beaufort Inlet were complex and apparently influenced by both the physical processes that supply larvae to the nearshore region and nearshore physical dynamics.     

Food habits of two larval flies (Dolichopodidae: Diptera) in two gulf coast oligohaline tidal marshes

Food habits of two species of dolichopodid fly larvae, from two Gulf Coast oligohaline tidal marshes, were analyzed from monthly collections taken between June 1979 and May 1980. Larvae ofPelastoneurus abbreviatus Loew andThinophilus frontalis Van Duzee, taken from aJuncus roemerianus Scheele dominated marsh, fed predominantly on oligochaetes and nematodes.Pelastoneurus abbreviatus, collected in a nearbySpartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth marsh, also fed on oligochaetes but consumed more polychaetes than nematodes. By being predators and prey in turn, these larvae serve in the transfer of energy between benthic, aquatic, and terrestrial components of the marsh, system.     

Structural components of eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows in the lower Chesapeake Bay—Decapod crustacea

Otter trawl collections of eelgrass habitats in the lower Chesapeake Bay during 1976–1977 produced 14 species of decapod crustaceans. These collections were dominated by palaemonid shrimp (Palaemonetes spp.), blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), and sand shrimp (Crangon septemspinosa), each of which exhibited unimodal seasonal abundance curves with large summer peaks. Decapod abundance was positively correlated with plant biomass throughout the year. Decapod densities on vegetated bottoms were greater than on unvegetated bottoms, and nighttime abundance on each bottom type was greater than corresponding daytime abundance. Total decapod abundances in Chesapeake Bay eelgrass meadows appear to be much greater than those reported in North Carolina eelgrass or Gulf of Mexico turtlegrass habitats.     

Epibenthic fishes and decapod crustaceans in northern estuaries: A comparison of vegetated and unvegetated habitats in maine

Species richness and abundance of epibenthic fishes and decapod crustaceans were quantified with day-time beam trawl tows and throw traps to provide information on nekton assemblages inZostera marina and unvegetated sandy habitats in northern latitudes. Sampling at randomly selected stations with a 1.0-m beam trawl occurred in eelgrass (Zostera marina) and unvegetated sandy substrates of two mid-coastal Maine estuaries: Casco Bay and Weskeag River. Random 1.0-m throw trap samples were collected inZostera and adjacent unvegetated sandy substrates in Casco Bay and Weskeag River as well. Species richness and faunal abundances were positively associated with the occurrence ofZostera within Weskeag River and Casco Bay estuaries using both gear types. A total of 17 species of fishes and 6 species of decapods were collected in the two estuaries using both gears. Populations of most species were dominated by young-of-the-year and juvenile life history stages. Number and densities of fishes were higher inZostera, due primarily to the abundances of eelgrass residents such as threespine,Gasterosteus aculeatus, and fourspine sticklebacks,Apeltes quadracus, grubby,Myoxocephalus aenaeus, and cunner,Tautogolabrus adspersus. Crangon septemspinosa dominated decapod catch per unit effort and density in both estuaries and habitats.     

Temporal variation in the utilization of an intertidal creek by the bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli)

A brackish-water, intertidal creek was sampled 19 times during the summer of 1976. Samples were analyzed to determine occurrence, abundance, and diversity of fish species present and to determine patterns of daily fish movement and utilization of intertidal creeks in an old rice field. Samples were collected from the primary station on the ebbing tide with a channel net. Three secondary stations were each sampled twice for comparative results and total biomass and average length per species calculated for each sample. We collected 125,579 individuals with a total biomass of 11.7 kg which represented 23 families and 37 species. Anchoa mitchilli was the dominant species and comprised 96.3% of the total numbers of individuals caught. The next two most abundant fish, Menidia menidia and Fundulus heteroclitus, represented 2.5% and 0.4% of the total numbers caught. The data from the nineteen sample collections were ordered by time of day and the resultant time series sequence of collections simulated a sample collection taken about once every 1.5 hours over 24 hours. A pattern of occurrence was noted for A. mitchilli as increased fish numbers occurred when the creek flooded during the daylight hours and there were significantly reduced numbers when the creek flooded during the early evening or at night. A relationship between light intensity, feeding, and predator avoidance is proposed to explain the creek loading pattern of A. mitchilli.     

Distribution and abundance of ichthyoplankton in the Manicouagan River estuary,a tributary of the lower St. Lawrence estuary

The species composition and relative abundance of ichthyoplankton were investigated during summer 1986 at four stations along the salinity gradient in the Manicouagan River estuary, a tributary of the lower St. Lawrence estuary. Physical characteristics of water masses indicated the presence of a strong saline front (>10‰ per km) delineating the freshwater and marine section of the Manicouagan estuary. The estuary supports a depauperate ichthyoplankton community, including four species of pelagic fish eggs and eight species of fish larvae. Species richness increased with salinity. The ichthyoplankton fauna can be divided into two distinct groups: freshwater and marine. These two groups result initially from spawning preferences exhibited by the different species abundance of freshwater larvae was maximal at the head of the estuary and marine larvae were most abundant at the most saline station. The length frequency distribution suggests that marine larvae are not effectively retained within the estuary. The Manicouagan estuary cannot be considered as a major spawning site nor an important nursery zone for any fish found in this area.     

Patterns of seasonal availability and habitat use by fishes and decapod crustaceans in a southern New Jersey estuary

We examined the community structure of fish and selected decapod crustaceans and tested for within estuary differences among habitats at depths of 0.6 m to 7.9 m, in Great Bay and Little Egg Harbor in southern New Jersey. Several habitat types were identified a priori (e.g., eelgrass, sea lettuce, and marsh creeks) and sampled by trawl (4.9 m headrope, 19-mm mesh wings, 6.3-mm mesh liner), monthly, from June 1988 through October 1989. Repetitive (n=4) 2-min trawl tows were taken at each habitat type from 13 locations. The fishes and decapod crustaceans collected were typical of other Mid-Atlantic Bight estuaries but varied greatly inseasonal abundance and species. In the years sampled, bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) was the dominant species (50.5% of the total number), followed by spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) (10.7%), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia) (9.7%), fourspine stickleback (Apeltes quadracus) (5.9%), blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) (4.6%), and northern pipefish (Syngnathus fuscus) (4.2%). The biota were examined by multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) for habitat associations and “best abiotic predictor” of community structure. Percent silt combined with salinity was the most important abiotic determinant of the faunal distributions among habitats. Temperature was a major factor influencing seasonal occurrence of the biota but had less effect on habitat comparisons. The analysis confirmed the distinct nature of the assemblages associated with the habitats, that is, eelgrass, upper estuary subtidal creeks, channels, and open bay areas. Several species were associated with specific habitats: for example,A. quadracus andS. fuscus with eelgrass, clupeids with subtidal creek stations,L. xanthurus with marsh channels, and black sea bass (Centropristis striata) and spotted hake (Urophycis regia) with sponge-peat habitat. Species richness appeared to be positively related to habitat structural heterogeneity. Thus, the best predictors for these estuarine fish and decapod crustacean assemblages were seasonal temperature, percent silt and salinity combined, and the physical heterogeneity of the habitat.     

Seasonal abundance of atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) in relation to bottom salinity and temperature in South Carolina estuaries

During 1973 and 1974 seasonal abundance and mean total length of Atlantic croaker,Micropogonias undulatus, were investigated by otter trawl at 33 stations in South Carolina estuaries in relation to bottom salinity and temperature. Relative abundance of Atlantic croaker was measured by catch per unit effort at 3°C temperature intervals and 3‰ salinity intervals. Croaker occurred over a bottom temperature range of 9.0–31.4°C while occurring most abundantly in waters above 24.0°C. No significant correlation between size and temperature was found. Croaker were collected in salinities from 0.4 to 34.4‰. High correlations of size and salinity were evident in 1973 during winter (r=0.79), summer (r=0.82), and fall (r=0.94). In 1974, correlations were significant only during fall (r=0.76).     

Selectivity and efficiency of two otter trawls used to assess estuarine fish and macroinvertebrate populations in North Carolina

Otter trawl surveys are frequently used to assess estuarine fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Although these surveys may have similar objectives and sampling areas and seasons may overlap, the sampling gear is usually unique to the agency conducting the survey. An example of this is the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) and Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Estuaries (EMAP) surveys in North Carolinian estuaries. We estimated experimentally the selectivity and efficiency of the trawls used for these surveys to determine the comparability of data used to estimate community structure and the abundance of dominant species. The catch percent similarity of the trawls was low (12.0%). The NCDMF net (3.2-m flat otter trawl, 6.4-mm mesh body, 3.2-mm cod-end, plus tickle chain) precisely (11.7%) and accurately (4.5%) sampled brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, density but overestimated spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, densities (22.8% accuracy), possibly because these fishes had highly contagious distributions. The EMAP net (4.9-m high-rise otter trawl, 38.1-mm mesh body and cod-end) was precise (17.9–37.4%) but inaccurate (76.8–97.2%), probably because of the single large mesh size and the lack of a tickler chain. Our study suggests the EMAP and NCDMF surveys collect different subsamples of the same fish and macroinvertebrate estuarine populations, and therefore could deliver different results and conclusions.     

Finfish utilization of man-initiated and adjacent natural creeks of South Creek estuary,North Carolina using multiple gear types

Three gear types were used to collect finfish species from several tributaries of the South Creek estuary near Aurora, North Carolina, to ascertain whether a man-initiated marsh and creek system resembled adjacent natural areas in finfish species composition and abundance. Project Area II was the man-initiated area constructed in 1983 as up-front mitigation by North Carolina Phosphate Corporation prior to its anticipated mining in the headwaters of nearby natural wetlands. Two creeks served as controls throughout the study: Drinkwater Creek and Jacks Creek. Otter trawls were used monthly from July 1984 through December 1988. Wegener rings were used in April, July, and October from 1984 through 1987. An experimental gill net was used monthly from June 1984 through 1985. A total of 48 finfish species was captured during the study; only 14 species (29.2%) were common among gear types. The species collected were mud sunfish, blueback herring, alewife American shad, striped anchovy, bay anchovy, inland silverside, American eel, silver perch, Atlantic menhaden, crevalle jack, common carp, spotted seatrout, weakfish, sheepshead minnow, gizzard shad, ladyfish, chain pickerel, banded killifish, mummichog, striped killifish, rainwater killifish, mosquitofish, naked goby, green goby, white catfish, brown bull-head, pinfish, longnose gar, green sunfish, pumpkinseed, bluegill, redear sunfish, spot, Atlantic croaker, largemouth bass, white perch, striped bass, striped mullet, white mullet, golden shiner, summer flounder, southern flounder, yellow perch, bluefish, Atlantic needlefish, hogchoker, andTilapia species. Abundance of finfish species was a function of gear type. Bay anchovy and spot represented about 85% of all fish in trawl samples. The remainder was comprised of 27 other species. In Wegener rings, five species—bay anchovy, menhaden, rainwater killifish, spot, and inland silverside—each represented over 10% of all fish collected. Croaker and striped mullet each comprised more than 5% of all fish collected in Wegener rings, but were present in substantial numbers only in 1985. Based on trawl samples, the total number of finfish collected from Project Area II during the period 1984–1988 was statistically similar to those collected from the control creeks; Wegener ring data analysis indicated significantly greater catches in Project Area II compared to the control creeks. Bay anchovy catches were not significantly different among the three creeks by either trawl or Wegener ring. The same result was true for Atlantic menhaden and southern flounder. The abundance of spot in trawl samples from Project Area II was significantly greater than for the control creeks; abundance in ring samples from Project Area II was statistically similar to Jacks Creek, but significantly higher than Drinkwater Creek. The number of Atlantic croaker in Project Area II trawl samples was significantly lower than for the cotnrol creeks. Wegener rings did not sample croaker effectively.     

Small Spatial Scale Variation in Fish Assemblage Structure in the Vicinity of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone

Seasonal hypoxia [dissolved oxygen (DO)?≤?2 mg?l^?1] occurs over large regions of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf during the summer months (June–August) as a result of nutrient enrichment from the Mississippi–Atchafalaya River system. We characterized the community structure of mobile fishes and invertebrates (i.e., nekton) in and around the hypoxic zone using 3 years of bottom trawl and hydrographic data. Species richness and total abundance were lowest in anoxic waters (DO?≤?1 mg?l^?1) and increased at intermediate DO levels (2–4 mg?l^?1). Species were primarily structured as a benthic assemblage dominated by Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) and sand and silver seatrout (Cynoscion spp.), and a pelagic assemblage dominated by Atlantic bumper (Chloroscombrus chrysurus). Of the environmental variables examined, bottom DO and distance to the edge of the hypoxic zone were most strongly correlated with assemblage structure, while temperature and depth were important in some years. Hypoxia altered the spatial distribution of both assemblages, but these effects were more severe for the benthic assemblage than for the pelagic assemblage. Brown shrimp, the primary target of the commercial shrimp trawl fishery during the summer, occurred in both assemblages, but was more abundant within the benthic assemblage. Given the similarity of the demersal nekton community described here to that taken as bycatch in the shrimp fishery, our results suggest that hypoxia-induced changes in spatial dynamics have the potential to influence harvest and bycatch interactions in and around the Gulf hypoxic zone.