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ESTIMATING THE AREAL EXTENT OF SUITABLE HABITAT FOR POST-LARVAL AND JUVENILE BROWN SHRIMP (FARFANTEPENAEUS AZTECUS) IN MOBILE BAY NATIONAL ESTUARY II
Citation:
SMITH, L. M., J. NESTLERODE, P. BOURGEOIS, AND Y. ALLEN. ESTIMATING THE AREAL EXTENT OF SUITABLE HABITAT FOR POST-LARVAL AND JUVENILE BROWN SHRIMP (FARFANTEPENAEUS AZTECUS) IN MOBILE BAY NATIONAL ESTUARY II. Presented at Alabama-Mississippi Bays and Bayous Symposium, Mobile, AL, November 27 - 29, 2006.
Description:
Extensive research has demonstrated a strong correlation between wetlands and productivity of shrimp fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, the Gulf coast has the highest rate of wetland loss in the U.S. Quantifying suitable habitat for post-larval and juvenile shrimp in Gulf estuaries is vital to sustainable fisheries. The extent of suitable habitat determines best management practices and restoration activities. We present the results from the application of an existing Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model for northern Gulf of Mexico brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) using National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) wetland and submerged aquatic vegetation coverages and EPA National Coastal Assessment (NCA) data for water quality and sediment characterization for Mobile Bay, Alabama. These results will serve as a baseline for the areal extent of suitable brown shrimp habitat within the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) boundaries. Estuarine habitat protection, conservation and restoration goals have been outlined in MBNEP's Comprehensive Coastal Management Plan. This information could be used to evaluate and support those management goals. The integration of NCA data and vegetated habitat coverage data allows for an estimate of suitable habitat as percent cumulative area. This approach may also provide an estimate of the extent of suitable brown shrimp habitat Gulf-wide.