The Effects of Front‐Associated Wind Events and Resultant Sediment Resuspension on Dietary Habits and Caloric Intake of Bay Anchovy and Age‐0 Atlantic Croaker in Mobile Bay, Alabama

Abstract

We examined the effects of wind‐driven sediment resuspension on the stomach fullness, prey composition, and caloric intake of Bay Anchovy Anchoa mitchilli, a particulate planktivore, and age‐0 Atlantic Croaker Micropogonias undulatus, a benthic omnivore, in Mobile Bay, Alabama. Mobile Bay is a shallow estuary in the northern Gulf of Mexico with substrates ranging from silt to small sand. High‐wind events were associated with cold fronts and were characterized by wind velocities ≥4.0 m/s. Bay Anchovy stomachs were less full during such events and gut contents contained greater contributions by low‐calorie items. Atlantic Croaker stomach fullness did not differ significantly with wind speed. However, prey composition during high‐wind events shifted toward high‐calorie items. These scenarios imply that high‐wind events in Mobile Bay could have an adverse effect on energy uptake by resident Bay Anchovy but may benefit energy uptake by Atlantic Croaker.Received December 14, 2012; accepted March 23, 2013