Location of seagrass beds in estuaries: effects on associated fish and decapods

Bell, Johann D.; Steffe, Aldo S.; Westoby, Mark

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(88)90180-3

Cited by 124 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…These responses are aligned with previous findings that the distribution and abundance of many fish and decapod species are not controlled by the physical complexity of the seagrass landscape (e.g. Bell et al 1988, Hovel & Lipcius 2002, nor does the variation in seagrass shoot density within a patch explain large scale variation in the abundance of associated fishes or decapods (Worthington et al 1992, Hovel & Lipcius 2002, see also Attrill et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Relationships between a hermit crab and its shell resource: spatial patterns within a seagrass-dominated landscape

Robbins

Bell²

2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Abundance patterns of the hermit crab Pagurus maclaughlinae and its gastropod shell resources were compared to one another across the shallow subtidal landscape within Tampa Bay, Florida at a landscape (4.88 ha) and a sub-landscape (1 m 2 ) scale. Specifically, we investigated whether the spatial abundance patterns of P. maclaughlinae over time could be explained by the abundance patterns of either future resources (i.e. live gastropods) or present resources (i.e. empty gastropod shells). The seagrass landscape was sampled for seagrass, hermit crabs, live gastropods and empty gastropod shells during the spring and fall of 1994 and 1995. The distribution of P. maclaughlinae could be explained by the distribution of its gastropod shell resources when the spatial organization of both P. maclaughlinae and these resources were compared across the landscape. Physical measures of the dominant seagrass Halodule wrightii (i.e. canopy height and shoot density) appeared to be unrelated to the distribution of P. maclaughlinae and either of its shell resources (present or future) across the landscape. These results suggest that hermit crabs track their 'limited' resources (i.e. gastropod shells) when viewed over the spatial scales examined here. Furthermore, our results suggest that the spatial distribution of future, as well as present resources, adds insight into patterns of hermit crab abundance.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Relationships between a hermit crab and its shell resource: spatial patterns within a seagrass-dominated landscape

Robbins

Bell²

2004

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…This was an unexpected result as the study coincided with the main recruitment season of juvenile fish in Botany Bay, i.e. spring and summer (Bell et al 1988, McNeill et al 1992, Worthington et al 1992b, Smith & Suthers 2000. Fish abundances in seagrasses vary both spatially and temporally (Ferrell et al 1993), and the present study appeared to be conducted in a particularly poor year for recruitment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Fish assemblages in habitats dominated by Caulerpa taxifolia and native seagrasses in south-eastern Australia

York¹,

Booth²,

Glasby³

et al. 2006

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Seagrass beds in estuaries are important habitats and nursery grounds for a great variety of fishes, including many economically important species. The introduction of the invasive green alga Caulerpa taxifolia could potentially threaten the seagrasses of south-eastern Australia. This study examined the implications of the spread of C. taxifolia on ichthyofauna in 2 estuaries in central New South Wales. Fish assemblages were compared among adjacent habitats of C. taxifolia and 2 seagrass species (Posidonia australis and Zostera capricorni). Fish were sampled using a small beam trawl to test for differences among habitats in (1) the species composition of the fish assemblages, (2) total abundance and species richness of fishes, and (3) abundances of major fish families. Fish assemblages separated into 3 significantly distinct groupings based on habitat. Total abundances of fishes were similar among habitats; however, species richness was lower in C. taxifolia. The fish assemblages in C. taxifolia were largely characterised by high abundances of gobiid fishes, similar to those in Z. capricorni, and few or no syngnathid and monacanthid species when compared to seagrass fish assemblages. This suggests that if C. taxifolia competitively replaces native seagrass beds in the estuaries of New South Wales, the resulting change in habitat may also cause a change in fish assemblages. This could reduce the abundances of some protected and economically important fish species but may also increase abundances of other opportunistic fishes.

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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%

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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Location of seagrass beds in estuaries: effects on associated fish and decapods

Cited by 124 publications

References 24 publications

Relationships between a hermit crab and its shell resource: spatial patterns within a seagrass-dominated landscape

Relationships between a hermit crab and its shell resource: spatial patterns within a seagrass-dominated landscape

Fish assemblages in habitats dominated by Caulerpa taxifolia and native seagrasses in south-eastern Australia

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

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