Relative efficiencies of three trammel net striking methods

The relative capture efficiencies for fish in 732-m trammel nets using three striking methods were compared using nets set in open-water and along the shoreline in Texas bays in fall and spring. When compared to noise, sublethal concentrations of rotenone and KMnO₄ did not increase the catches of 9 of the 12 species tested at either shoreline or open-water stations in either the fall or spring. Some effect of strike type was noted for hardhead catfish (Arius felis), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), and striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) at stations struck with noise or rotenone, but catches were not consistently greater for either striking method. The catches of some species were different between station types and seasons. However, the total catch at shoreline stations was the same as at open-water stations in both the fall and spring.     

The value of salt marsh edge vs interior as a habitat for fish and decapod crustaceans in a Louisiana tidal marsh

Flume nets of various lengths and a 3-m seine were used to sample the fishes and macrocrustaceans using a flooded Louisiana salt marsh and the adjacent tidal creek. The experiment allowed for species-specific comparisons of the flooded marsh at the creek edge versus the interior. Of the 37,667 organisms collected in flume nets from January through November 1989, 89% were decapods (nine species) and 11% were fish (29 species). An additional 18,539 organisms (75% decapods and 25% fish) were collected from concurrent seine samples taken from July through November. Comparison of catches among different flume lengths and low tide versus high tide seine collections revealed distinct patterns of marsh habitat utilization. Densities of most organisms were highest within 3 m of the water’s edge, but significant numbers of marsh-resident fish species used the interior marshes. The edge marshes appeared to be used by both transient and resident species; however, the interior marshes were used primarily by marsh-resident species (Cyprinodontiformes andPalaemonetes sp.) that are excellent food sources for adult transient-species. Four zonations of marsh use are described for transients, residents, and rare species.     

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.     

Fish and invertebrate assemblages in seagrass, mangrove, saltmarsh, and nonvegetated habitats

Many studies compare utilization of different marine habitats by fish and decapod crustaceans; few compare multiple vegetated habitats, especially using the same sampling equipment. Fish and invertebrates in seagrass, mangrove, saltmarsh, and nonvegetated habitats were sampled during May–August (Austral winter) and December–January (Austral summer) in the Barker Inlet-Port River estuary, South Australia. Sampling was undertaken using pop nets in all habitats and seine nets in seagrass and nonvegetated areas. A total of 7,895 fish and invertebrates spanning 3 classes, 9 orders, and at least 23 families were collected. Only one fish species,Atherinosoma microstoma, was collected in all 4 habitats, 11 species were found in 3 habitats (mangroves, seagrass, and nonvegetated), and 13 species were only caught in seagrass and nonvegetated habitats. Seagrass generally supported the highest numbers of fish and invertebrates and had the greatest species richness. Saltmarsh was at the other extreme with 29 individuals caught from two species. Mangroves and nonvegetated habitats generally had more fish, invertebrates, and species than saltmarsh, but less than seagrass. Analyses of abundances of individual species generally showed an interaction between habitat and month indicating that the same patterns were not found through time in all habitats. All habitats supported distinct assemlages although seagrass and nonvegetated assemblages were similar in some months. The generality of these patterns requires further investigation at other estuaries. Loss of vegetated habitats, particularly seagrass, could result in loss of species richness and abundance, especially for organisms that were not found in other habitats. Although low abundances were found in saltmarsh and mangroves, species may use these habitats for varying reasons, such as spawning, and such use should not be ignored.     

Fish community ecology in an Altered River delta: Spatial patterns in species composition, life history strategies, and biomass

We sampled nearshore fishes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, United States, during 2001 and 2003 with beach seines and gill nets. We addressed three questions. How and why did fish assemblages vary, and what local habitat features best explained the variation? Did spatial variation in assemblages reflect greater success of particular life history strategies? Did fish biomass vary among years or, across habitats? Nonmetric multidimensional scaling showed that habitat variables had more influence on fish assemblages than temporal variables. Results from both gear types indicated fish assemblages varied between Sacramento and San Joaquin River sampling sites. Results from gill net sampling were less pronounced than those from beach seine sampling. The Sacramento and San Joaquin river sites differed most notably in terms of water clarity and abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), suggesting a link between these habitat characteristics and fish relative abundance. Among-site differences in the relative abundance of periodic and equilibrium strategist species suggested a gradient in the importance of abiotic versus biotic community structuring mechanisms. Fish biomass varied among years, but was generally higher in SAV-dominated habitats than the turbid, open habitats in which we found highest abundances of striped bassMorone saxatilis and special-status native fishes such as delta smeltHypomesus transpacificus, Chinook salmonOncorhyncus tschawytscha, and splittailPogonichthys macrolepidotus. The low abundance of special-status fishes in the comparatively productive SAV-dominated habitats suggests these species would benefit more from large-scale restoration actions that result in abiotic variability that mirrors natural river-estuary habitat than from actions that emphasize local (site-specific) productivity.     

Experimental evaluation of biases associated with sampling estuarine fishes with seines

Beach seines are widely used to estimate the density and species richness of fishes in estuaries. We evaluated the causes and extent of bias in estimates from seines using a series of field experiments in small estuaries in southern California, USA. Seining in spatially paired areas that were either enclosed by block nets or not, revealed that seines used without block nets und erestimated density by more than 4-fold and species richness by more than 2-fold relative to blocked areas. Seining in paired blocked areas with seines of two lengths revealed that net length affected estimates of density, but not species richness; a 7.6-m long seine produced 1.6-fold higher estimates of total density than did a 15.2-m long seine due to increased catches of demersal fishes, but not midwater species. Paired sampling in blocked areas also revealed that many fishes initially evaded capture by the seine. Estimates of density but not species richness were significantly higher in areas through which a seine was swept 5 times compared to once. This was due to higher catches of demersal fishes but not midwater fishes in areas seined 5 times. Repeated seining through blocked areas revealed that the vast majority (90% or more) of species and individuals of midwater fishes were captured within the first 5 sweeps, compared to only about 50% of the individuals of demersal species. A mark-recapture study in blocked areas revealed lower probabilities of capture for demersal species relative to midwater species.     

Composition and distribution of larval fishes in New Jersey high marshes

The surface of the salt marsh is an important, but largely unrecognized, site for fish reproduction and larval growth. In an attempt to determine the composition and distribution of fishes utilizing these habitats, we sampled larval and juvenile fish with plankton nets, dip nets, and traps at a variety of microhabitats (tidal and nontidal ponds and ditches and the marsh surface) in three New Jersey high marshes. Two of the three marshes had been altered for mosquito control. During April to September 1980, we collected over 2,400 larvae and juveniles. All study sites were dominated by the larvae of the resident killifishes (Fundulus heteroclitus, Cyprinodon variegatus, F. luciae, andLucania parva) and less commonlyMenidia beryllina. However, the occurrence and abundance of each species varied with microhabitat. Larval production in all three marshes peaked during June–July, but extended from May until September. In most instances juveniles of the dominant fishes had microhabitat preferences similar to the larvae. High marshes may be more important for fish production than previously recognized because they serve as nursery areas for the resident killifishes.     

Nekton Communities in Hawaiian Coastal Wetlands: The Distribution and Abundance of Introduced Fish Species

Nekton communities were sampled from 38 Hawaiian coastal wetlands from 2007 to 2009 using lift nets, seines, and throw nets in an attempt to increase our understanding of the nekton assemblages that utilize these poorly studied ecosystems. Nekton were dominated by exotic species, primarily poeciliids (Gambusia affinis, Poecilia spp.) and tilapia. These fish were present in 50–85% of wetlands sampled; densities were up to 15 times greater than native species. High densities of exotic fish were generally found in isolated wetlands with no connection to the ocean, were often the only nekton present, were positively correlated with surface water total dissolved nitrogen, and were negatively correlated with native species richness. Native species were present in wetlands with complete or partial connection to the ocean. Additional studies are needed to document exotic fish impacts on native fish and bird habitat and whether native fish communities can contribute to invasion resistance of coastal wetlands. Future wetland restoration should include exotic fish eradication, maintenance of hydrological connection to the ocean, or programs to prevent future introductions in order to create wetlands that support native-dominated nekton communities.     

Response of Tidal Creek Fish Communities to Dredging and Coastal Development Pressures in a Shallow-Water Estuary

To investigate the effects of dredging and associated development pressures (i.e., shoreline armoring, developed land use) on fish, three sets of paired dredged and undredged tidal creeks were surveyed within Lynnhaven River, Virginia. Fish species diversity, community abundance, biomass, and size structure were compared among creeks and related to watershed, shoreline, and physicochemical characteristics. Mean fish community characteristics (e.g., abundance) were similar among creeks; however, species-specific analysis revealed subtle differences. Species biomass differed between dredged and undredged creeks, though species abundance was similar. Turbidity highly influenced differences in species abundance among creeks, while organic matter, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and shoreline hardening may be influencing biomass patterns. The most recently dredged creek appeared to provide less suitable nursery habitat for some species than historically dredged creeks, suggesting initial adverse effects with eventual recovery. Protective measures, such as preservation of marshes, dredge depth, and time-of-year restrictions, may be moderating development and dredging pressures.     

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.     

Impact of fish net pen culture on the benthic environment of a cove in South Japan

Over the past three decades, fish net pen culture has been developed in the coastal waters of Japan. However, serious organic pollution of the surrounding water and sediment followed the development of this new style of fishery. This paper reports a typical example of the environmental disturbance that has occurred due to the organic pollution resulting from fish net pen culture. Since fish cultivation was initiated in 1973, oxygen depletion of the bottom water and extremely reducing conditions within the sediment have occurred during the summer. These environmental disturbances resulted in unusual dynamics of the benthic communities including defaunation in the summer and recolonization of the azoic areas from autumn to the next spring. Significant changes in the benthic fauna were observed between benthic communities before and after organic pollution of the sediment. Molluscs were originally the most dominant benthic fauna. As organic pollution of the bottom sediment progressed, the molluscs were replaced by polychaetes. Likewise, total biomass of the benthic fauna decreased markedly over the past two decades. Prior to contamination, the organic matter deposited on the sediment was decomposed by the action of bacteria, ciliates, meiofauna, and macrofauna. The addition of organic material resulting from fish culture has overwhelmed these decomposition mechanisms, and conditions have worsened as organic matter is continuously added to the sediment. Contamination of marine sediment by the net pen cultivation of fish sets up a vicious cycle: the addition of exogenous sources of organic material increases the need for a more vigorous decomposition process while actually creating conditions that limit the rate of the necessary decomposition activity. The sustainable development of fish net pen culture will require the creation of a new technology that efficiently promotes the decomposition of organic matter deposited below the pen nets.     

Assessment of Fish Assemblages Before Dredging of the Shipping Channel Near the Mouth of the Savannah River in Coastal Georgia

Evaluating the effects of anthropogenic activities is dependent upon data collection prior to impact, though funds are rarely allocated to conduct an assessment before a critical need arises. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project is one such activity that includes dredging of the Savannah River. It may potentially change physical conditions of the estuary thereby altering fish assemblages. The purpose of the present study was to characterize pre-impact fish assemblages along a salinity gradient near the mouth of the river and determine which abiotic factors most influence them. One site within the mouth of the Savannah River and two sites immediately outside the river mouth were sampled monthly for 2 years using both a beam trawl and seine net. Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sediment grain size were assessed. All four factors had a significant effect on fish assemblages. A total of 3943 fishes representing ≥55 species formed three statistically distinct fish assemblages and at least three seasonal assemblages. Only 24 species (43.6 %) were collected by both gear types indicating the importance of using multiple gear types to assess fish assemblages. We conclude that the fish assemblages near the mouth of the Savannah River may be altered or may shift given the predicted increase in salinity and/or the possible changes in sediment composition from channel dredging. Understanding the abiotic factors that most influence spatial and seasonal fish distributions prior to dredging will be invaluable in predicting how organisms will be impacted by similar public projects elsewhere.     

Fish assemblages in the mangrove creeks of northern and southern Taiwan

A bimonthly study of the spatial variations in fish assemblages in the six mangrove creeks along the western coast of Taiwan was conducted from February 1996 to February 1997. Fyke nets were used to collect fishes in each of three creeks in the north (subtropical) and south (tropical) regions. A total of 79 fish species belonging to 33 families were collected and, of these, the Gobiidae, Mugilidae, Leiognathidae, and Cichlidae were the most diverse families. The fish assemblages in each creek were dominated by a small number of small fishes, most of which are the young of commercially important species. Their life cycles occurred to some extent in estuarine environments. Analyses by classification and ordination separated the assemblages into a northern group and a southern group and showed that the assemblages were far more temporally varied in the southern creeks than in the northern creeks. Fifty fish species were recorded in the northern creeks and 49 fish species in the southern creeks, with 20 species present in both regions. No significant difference in number of species per netting was detected between the regions. The number of individuals and biomass per netting were greater in the northern creeks than in the southern creeks. Rainfall and organic content of sediments may be responsible for the difference in fish abundance between the regions. In the northern creeks the assemblages were dominated by Liza macrolepis and Liza affinis in winter and spring, but the assemblages were more diverse in summer and fall. In the southern creeks, the assemblages were always characterized by several species and their dominance varied from month to month. The differences in the assemblage structure in northern and southern mangrove creeks are likely due to the oceanic current patterns around Taiwan.     

A comparison of mercury in estuarine fish between Florida Bay and the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA

Concentrations of mercury (Hg) in fish were compared between two Florida estuaries, the Indian River Lagoon and Florida Bay. The objective was to determine if differences in Hg concentration exist and to attempt to relate those differences to sources of Hg. Five hundred and thirteen estuarine fish were collected and analyzed for Hg concentration. Fish species collected were black drum, bluefish, bonnethead shark, common snook, crevalle jack, gafftopsail catfish, gray snapper, Mayan cichlid, pompano, red drum, sheepshead, southern flounder, spadefish, and spotted seatrout. Analysis of variance of species-specific Hg data among the three defined regions of eastern and western Florida Bay and the Indian River Lagoon substantiated regional differences. Proximity to known anthropogenic sources of Hg appeared to be a significant factor in the distribution of Hg concentration among the fish collected. Sufficient numbers of crevalle jack, gray snapper, and spotted seatrout were collected to permit statistical analysis among regions. Hg concentrations in all three of these species from eastern Florida Bay were higher than those collected in the other two areas. A major fraction of the estuarine fish collected in eastern Florida Bay exceeded one or more State of Florida or U.S. Food and Drug Administration fish consumption health advisory criteria. In general, fish from western Florida Bay contained less Hg than those from the Indian River Lagoon, and fish from the Indian River contained less Hg than those from eastern Florida Bay. Crevalle jack from all areas and spotted seatrout from Florida Bay were placed on a consumption advisory in Florida. Detailed study of Florida Bay food web dynamics and Hg biogeochemical cycling is recommended to better understand the processes underlying the elevated Hg levels in fish from eastern Florida Bay. This information may be vital in the formulation of appropriate strategies in the ongoing South Florida restoration process.     

Mainstem and Backwater Fish Assemblages in the Tidal Caloosahatchee River: Implications for Freshwater Inflow Studies

Research strategies for investigating the freshwater-inflow requirements of estuarine fishes often integrate life-history information and correlative analyses of inflow and fish abundance. In tidal rivers, however, some fish have affinities for embayments, oxbows, and smaller tributaries, often referred to collectively as river “backwaters”. The objective of this study was to determine whether freshwater and estuarine fish assemblages differed between backwaters and the mainstem of the tidal Caloosahatchee River, a highly managed river system located in an urban setting in southwest Florida. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling of 21.3-m seine data revealed that fish assemblages did indeed differ between the backwater and mainstem habitats in each of three river sections. Univariate analyses identified species that differed in abundance between the habitats, which included ecologically and economically important fishes in the region. For example, striped mullet Mugil cephalus and pinfish Lagodon rhomboides were more abundant along the river's mainstem; common snook Centropomus undecimalis and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus were more abundant in the river's backwaters. For those species that were more abundant along the mainstem of the river or showed no difference, studies that measure changes in the distribution and abundance of these species with varying inflow along the mainstem of the river are justified. However, for species that were more abundant in backwater areas, geomorphological features should be considered in the design of studies that assess factors affecting fish use.     

Historical Comparison of Fish Community Structure in Lower Chesapeake Bay Seagrass Habitats

Seagrass beds provide important habitat for fishes and invertebrates in many regions around the world. Accordingly, changes in seagrass coverage may affect fish communities and/or populations, given that many species utilize these habitats during vulnerable early life history stages. In lower Chesapeake Bay, seagrass distribution has contracted appreciably over recent decades due to decreased water clarity and increased water temperature; however, effects of changing vegetated habitat on fish community structure have not been well documented. We compared fish community composition data collected at similar seagrass sites from 1976–1977 and 2009–2011 to investigate potential changes in species richness, community composition, and relative abundance within these habitats. While seagrass coverage at the specific study sites did not vary considerably between time periods, contemporary species richness was lower and multivariate analysis showed that assemblages differed between the two datasets. The majority of sampled species were common to both datasets but several species were exclusive to only one dataset. For some species, relative abundances were similar between the two datasets, while for others, there were notable differences without directional uniformity. Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and northern pipefish (Syngnathus fuscus) were considerably less abundant in the contemporary dataset, while dusky pipefish (Syngnathus floridae) was more abundant. Observed changes in community structure may be more attributable to higher overall bay water temperature in recent years and other anthropogenic influences than to changes in seagrass coverage at our study sites.     

Use of tidal freshwater marshes by fishes and macrofaunal crustaceans along a marsh stream-order gradient

Fishes and invertebrate macrofauna (nekton) were sampled biweekly (July through October 1985) from the surface of tidal freshwater marshes. Samples were collected with flume nets at three different stream orders (orders 2, 3 and 4+) along a marsh stream order gradient. Twenty-five species of fishes (5,610 individuals, 17.072 kg preserved wet weight) representing 13 families, and three species of invertebrates (19,570 individuals, 13.026 kg preserved wet weight) were collected. The most abundant species were grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus), banded killifish (F. diaphanus), inland silversides (Menidia beryllina), and blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Invertebrate catches (mostly grass shrimp and blue crabs) were not significantly different among stations. Total numbers of fishes were significantly greater at both headwater (order 2) and main creek (order 3) stations than river (order 4+) stations, but catches of headwater and main creek stations were not significantly different. The relationship between marsh stream order and fish abundance may partly be related to the distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) within marsh tidal creeks. Submerged aquatic vegetation decreases in abundance with increasing stream order. Some species may use SAV as a refuge from predators or as a foraging area during low tide when the marsh surface is inaccessible. The presence of SAV in tidal creeks may enhance the habitat value of adjacent marshes.     

Presence of Fish on the Shallow Flooded Margins of a Small Intermittently Open Estuary in South Eastern Australia under Variable Flooding Regimes

Shallow water habitats within estuarine systems are believed to be important areas for small fish. While a wide variety of shallow habitats have been studied, the land that becomes inundated by the damming effect after the closure of intermittently open mouths has previously been overlooked. Fish were sampled monthly from both the main channel and flood zone of an intermittently open estuary between July 2004 and June 2005 using minifyke nets during the day and at night. A total of 7,787 fish were collected during the study representing 13 species and 11 families. Philypnodon grandiceps was the most abundant species and, together with Atherinosoma microstoma, Pseudogobius olorum, and Galaxias maculatus, made up 94% of the total catch. Inundation of the flood zone occurred in two discrete forms associated with mouth condition, which consisted of sporadic flooding while the mouth was open, to long-term flooding for 6 months after its closure. Large numbers of fish were captured on the flood zone, which included nine species; however, A. microstoma dominated the catch. A distinct shift in the flood zone fish assemblage occurred between the two mouth conditions, which is likely associated with changes in hydro-period and food availability of the flood zone and physico-chemical parameters in the main channel. There was no longitudinal variation in the fish assemblage in both the main channel and flood zone; similarly, the diel period was found to have little effect on the fish assemblage. The total catch per unit effort did not vary across seasons and suggests that fish abundance within the estuary is stable throughout the year. Unlike other estuarine systems where shallow water fish assemblages may be structured by variations in tide and elevation within the Surrey, freshwater inflow and, more importantly, mouth condition appear to have the greatest influence in composition of the shallow water flood zone fish assemblage of intermittently open estuaries.     

Preliminary investigation of the effects of purse seine size on estimates of density and species richness of estuarine fishes

Small purse seines are well suited to sampling open water habitats in estuaries, yet little is known about how variation in their design affects estimates of density and species richness of estuarine fishes. We tested whether purse seine size (length and depth) affected estimates of density or species richness of fishes in San Dieguito Lagoon, southern California, U.S.A. Twenty-one species were captured, with the open water speciesAtherinops affinis dominating the catch. The larger net (36.4 m long × 3.6 m deep) produced higher estimates of density than the smaller net (18.2 m long × 2.4 m deep). The average number of species captured per sample was lower for the smaller net than the larger net, but species accumulation curves for the small and large nets were similar, indicating that the difference in the number of species per sample was primarily caused by the larger area sampled by the larger purse seine. Sampling with the larger purse seine was more time efficient than the smaller seine. We found small purse seines to be useful tools for sampling fishes in open water habitats in a small estuary, but we recommend that care be taken in selecting the size of a purse seine.     

Fish assemblage stability over fifty years in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary; Comparisons among habitats using canonical correspondence analysis

We assessed fish assemblage stability over the last half century in Lake Pontchartrain, an environmentally degraded oligohaline estuary in southeastern Louisiana. Because assemblage instability over time has been consistently associated with severe habitat degradation, we attempted to determine whether fish assemblages in demersal, nearshore, and pelagic habitats exhibited change that was unrelated to natural fluctuations in environmental variables (e.g., assemblage changes between wet and dry periods). Collection data from three gear types (trawl, beach seine, and gill nets) and monthly environmental data (salinity, temperature, and Secchi depth) were compared for four collecting periods: 1954 (dry period), 1978 (wet period), 1996–1998 (wet period), and 1998–2000 (dry period). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that although the three environmental variables were significantly associated with the distribution and abundance patterns of fish assemblages in all habitats (with the exception of Secchi depth for pelagic samples), most fish assemblage change occurred among sampling periods (i.e., along a temporal gradient unrelated to changing environmental variables). Assemblage instability was the most pronounced for fishes collected by trawls from demersal habitats. A marked lack of cyclicity in the trawl data CCA diagram indicated a shift away from a baseline demersal assemblage of 50 yr ago. Centroid positions for the five most collected species indicated that three benthic fishes, Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), and hardhead catfish (Arius felis), were more dominant in past demersal assemblages (1954 and 1978). A different situation was shown for planktivorous species collected by trawls with bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) becoming more dominant in recent assemblage and Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patromus) remaining equally represented in assemblages over time. Changes in fish assemblages from nearshore (beach seine) and pelagic (gill net) habitats were more closely related to environmental fluctuations, though the CCA for beach seine data also indicated a decrease in the dominance ofM. undulatus and an increase in the proportion ofA. mitchilli over time. The reduced assemblage role of benthic fishes and the marked assemblage change indicated by trawl data suggest that over the last half century demersal habitats in Lake Pontchartrain have been impacted more by multiple anthropogenic stressors than nearshore or pelagic habitats.