Spatial dynamics of habitat suitability for the growth of newly settled winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus in an estuarine nursery

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The relationship between the growth of early juvenile winter flounder (Psuedopleuronectes americanus, Walbaum; 17 to 27 mm standard length [SL]) and the spatial dynamics of estuarine gradients immediately following larval settlement was examined using field enclosure techniques in a temperate nursery. Enclosures (n = 60; 3 fish per enclosure) were deployed throughout the Navesink River/Sandy Hook Bay estuarine system, New Jersey, in a nested spatial design that allowed measurement of growth variation in time at 3 spatial scales (between regions: × -distance [D]

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

“…Alternatively, mean size could be related to differences in mean salinity among zones. Other flatfishes, such as winter flounder (Psuedopleuronectes americanus), have faster growth in low salinities (Manderson et al 2002). Such low salinity areas may provide refuge from stenohaline marine predators (Rozas and Hackney 1984) increasing survival and perhaps growth and contributing to an overall higher mean size of flounder in these areas.…”

Shallow-Water Piscivore-Prey Dynamics in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

“…At large spatial scales, piscivore-prey dynamics can be regulated by flow patterns (Meffe 1984) and turbidity (Rodríguez and Lewis 1994;Gregory and Levings 1998), both of which are often changed substantially by dam construction (de Merona et al 2001;Osmundson et al 2002;Quist et al 2004). In tidal river estuaries, river flow affects the overlap of suitable water quality and suitable habitat structures (Manderson et al 2002;Peterson 2003), which can influence piscivore-prey dynamics (Manderson et al 1999) that ultimately influence fish nursery habitat quality and recruitment.…”

Do abiotic factors drive the early growth of juvenile spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)?

“…The strongest correlation of 0.363 occurred at a lag of 0 day (P < 0.001; n = 76), showing that growth fluctuation is partly determined by variation in water temperature and salinity. al., 2001;Manderson et al, 2002). Through their physiological effects, abiotic factors are regarded as primary determinants of growth in estuaries, whereas biotic factors are considered secondary (Dunson and Travis, 1994;Belyea and Lancaster, 1999;Peterson et al, 2000a;Mariana, 2001;Peterson et al, 2004).…”

“…Estuaries are physically dynamic and productive interface ecosystems that supply nursery resources for many estuarinedependent species (Baltz et al, 1993;Manderson et al, 2002). However, estuarine organisms are continuously challenged by changing abiotic variables that potentially impinge on their growth responses.…”