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The Areal Extent of Brown Shrimp Habitat Suitability in Mobile Bay, Alabama USA: Targeting Vegetated Habitat Restoration
Citation:
SMITH, LISA M., J. NESTLERODE, L. HARWELL, AND P. BOURGEOIS. The Areal Extent of Brown Shrimp Habitat Suitability in Mobile Bay, Alabama USA: Targeting Vegetated Habitat Restoration. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT. Springer, New York, NY, 171(611-620):DOI 10.1007/s10661-0, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
To present an approach for estimating the areal extent of suitable habitat for post larval and juvenile brown shrimp in Mobile Bay, Alabama.
Description:
The availability of wetlands and shallow water habitats significantly influences Gulf of Mexico (GOM) penaeid shrimp fishery productivity. However, the GOM region has the highest rate of wetland loss in the U.S. Protection and management of these vital GOM habitats are critical to sustainable shrimp fisheries. Brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecuss aztecus) are a major component of GOM fisheries. We present an approach for estimating the areal extent of suitable habitat for post larval and juvenile brown shrimp in Mobile Bay, Alabama, using an existing Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model for the northern GOM calculated from probabilistic survey water quality and sediment data, landcover data and SAV coverages. This estuarine scale approach is intended to support targeted protection and restoration of these habitats. These analyses indicate approximately 60% of the area of Mobile Bay is categorized as suitable to near optimal tbr post larval and juvenile shrimp and 38% of the area is marginally to minimally suitable. We identify potential units within Mobile Bay for targeted restoration to improve habitat suitability.
