A comparison of early juvenile red drum densities among various habitat types in Galveston Bay, Texas

Stunz, Gregory W.; Minello, Thomas J.; Levin, Phillip S.

doi:10.1007/bf02696051

Cited by 80 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…High numbers of southern flounder in vegetated habitats were also reported in Aransas Bay by Stokes (1977). These areas, such as seagrass beds and marshes, are known to support higher densities of several fishes compared to nonvegetated habitats (Bell et al 1988;Boehlert and Mundy 1988;Rozas and Minello 1997;Stunz et al 2002a;Heck and Orth 2003). They provide complex structure that facilitates avoidance of predators while supplying an abundance of accessible prey, in turn, contributing to increased survival and growth rates of fishes (Rozas and Odum 1988;Minello and Zimmerman 1992;Sogard 1992;Rooker et al 1998;Stunz et al 2002b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). Within each zone, triplicate samples were collected in three separate replicated areas of seagrass (Halodule wrightii), marsh edge (Spartina alterniflora; defined as the ecotonal zone between open-water and emergent vegetation, Baltz et al 1993;Stunz et al 2002a), and nonvegetated bottom (open-water). A total of 81 samples (27 samples from each zone) were collected at each sampling event totaling 405 samples over 2 years.…”

Section: Large-scale Patterns Of Habitat Usementioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat Use Patterns of Newly Settled Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, in Aransas–Copano Bay, Texas

Nañez-James

Stunz

Holt³

2008

Estuaries and Coasts

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Southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma populations have been declining in Texas during the past 25 years. Despite their economic importance, little is known about their juvenile habitat requirements. We examined habitat use patterns of newly settled southern flounder in three zones at varying distances from the Aransas Pass inlet in Aransas-Copano Bay by measuring densities using a beam trawl in replicate estuarine habitat types in each zone. Highest abundance occurred near the inlet in vegetated sandy areas and was lowest in nonvegetated muddy bottom in regions furthest from the inlet. We also examined a 25-year fisheries data set from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to evaluate long-term spatiotemporal recruitment patterns in Aransas-Copano Bay. These data showed generally low recruitment during the past 25 years with highest abundance near the inlets. Our results support the importance of vegetated habitat types, especially those near tidal passes, and suggest a longterm decline in recruitment densities of southern flounder.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Large-scale Patterns Of Habitat Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Use Patterns of Newly Settled Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, in Aransas–Copano Bay, Texas

Nañez-James

Stunz

Holt³

2008

Estuaries and Coasts

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“…Common estuarine habitat types assessed typically include seagrass beds, intertidal marshes, and both intertidal and subtidal mud flats . However, few studies have characterized relative nekton abundance on oyster reef compared to other common estuarine habitat types, principally due to the difficulties in using conventional gear for quantitatively sampling live, complex, high-relief oyster reef (but see Zimmerman et al 1989, Wenner et al 1996, Coen et al 1999, Minello 1999, Stunz et al 2002a, Peterson et al 2003). Thus, most work on estuarine nekton habitat use has contrasted nonvegetated bottom with vegetated areas such as subtidal seagrass meadows (see reviews by Orth et al 1984, Pollard 1984, Minello 1999 or salt marshes (Zimmerman et al 1984, Baltz et al 1993, Rozas & Zimmerman 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, this complexity can provide a spawning substrate for a variety of nekton (Runyan 1961 or a refuge from predation. Several experimental studies have documented that nekton preferentially select oyster reef over other common estuarine habitat types (Posey et al 1999, Stunz et al 2001, often resulting in lower mortality rates (Stunz et al 2002a, Grabowski 2004 or influencing benthic trophic cascades (Grabowski et al 2008). Additionally, reefs provide a food source for a variety of marine life (Harding & Mann 2001, Grabowski 2004 leading to rapid growth and increased survivorship (Sogard 1997, Stunz et al 2002b, Shervette & Gelwick 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative value of oyster reef as habitat for estuarine nekton in Galveston Bay, Texas

Stunz

Minello²,

Rozas³

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Biogenic reefs formed by dense aggregations of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica are a dominant feature in most estuarine systems along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Oyster reefs are complex in their structural nature and have long been recognized for their potential habitat value. However, relatively few studies have characterized nekton abundance in this complex habitat type, and live high-relief oyster beds have been particularly difficult to sample with conventional gear. We used a quantitative sampling device to compare nekton use among high-relief live oyster reef, vegetated marsh edge Spartina alterniflora, and nonvegetated bottom habitat types. During 1 yr of seasonal sampling we collected 3791 fishes and 12 386 crustaceans representing 38 and 21 different species, respectively. Density and biomass of most fishes and crustaceans were significantly higher in oyster reef than over nonvegetated bottom. For benthic crustaceans, oyster reef supported a higher density and biomass than vegetated marsh edge. Nektonic crustaceans were generally more abundant in marsh edge than on oyster reef. Species composition and richness varied among habitat types and season; however, richness was highest in oyster reef, followed by marsh edge, and lowest on nonvegetated bottom, except during seasonal low densities during winter. Species composition and size differences were observed among habitat types. Our results show that oyster reef supports a high density, biomass, and richness of estuarine nekton in relation to typically examined estuarine habitat types and has the potential to be an essential habitat. Identifying and quantifying the role of oyster reefs will be critical to implementing effective management for essential fish habitat. KEY WORDS: Oyster reef · Essential fish habitat · Nekton habitat use · Estuarine habitatResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher OPEN PEN

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“…Much research attention has been focused on the habitat requirements of early juvenile estuarine fish (Holt et al 1983, Rooker & Holt 1997, Rooker et al 1998, Stunz et al 2002, while generally neglecting late stage juveniles. For red drum Sciaenops ocellatus, a highly prized recreational estuarine fish species found along the coast of the Southeastern USA and northern Gulf of Mexico, exploitation generally occurs on late stage juveniles (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abiotic and biotic factors influence the habitat use of an estuarine fish

Bacheler¹,

Paramore²,

Buckel³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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For migratory fishes that occupy multiple habitats, surveys conducted at different scales may be required to assess habitat use. We used generalized additive models (GAMs) to relate water quality, microhabitat, geographic, and temporal factors to catches of 2 age classes of subadult red drum Sciaenops ocellatus from a 6 yr fishery-independent gill net survey in North Carolina, USA. Age-1 and age-2 red drum were most often caught in shallow, nearshore waters; in some regions, both showed a preference for seagrass. Age-1 red drum were primarily captured at 2 different salinity ranges (0 to 5 and 20 to 30 psu), while age-2 red drum abundance was not related to salinity. A smaller-scale analysis of 36 telemetered age-2 red drum in a small tributary of the Neuse River showed a negative response to salinity, a positive response to dissolved oxygen, a dome-shaped response to prey evenness, and a positive response to total prey. Although subadult red drum can tolerate a wide variety of environmental conditions, our research suggests that they associate with both abiotic and biotic factors in very specific ways. Habitat use patterns of subadult red drum were age-, scale-, and sometimes region-dependent, highlighting the need for examining habitat use patterns of estuarine organisms at multiple life history stages and scales if generalities about how species respond to abiotic and biotic factors are sought.

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A comparison of early juvenile red drum densities among various habitat types in Galveston Bay, Texas

Cited by 80 publications

References 39 publications

Habitat Use Patterns of Newly Settled Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, in Aransas–Copano Bay, Texas

Habitat Use Patterns of Newly Settled Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, in Aransas–Copano Bay, Texas

Relative value of oyster reef as habitat for estuarine nekton in Galveston Bay, Texas

Abiotic and biotic factors influence the habitat use of an estuarine fish

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