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USING WINTER FLOUNDER GROWTH RATES AND STABLE ISOTOPES TO ASSESS HABITAT QUALITY
Citation:
Meng, L, J. C. Powell, AND B K. Taplin. USING WINTER FLOUNDER GROWTH RATES AND STABLE ISOTOPES TO ASSESS HABITAT QUALITY. Presented at Estuarine Research Federation '99, New Orleans LA, September 24-30, 1999.
Description:
We used winter flounder growth rates and stable isotopes to assess habitat quality across an anthropogenic gradient in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Cages (1 m2) were placed in the Providence River which had the highest nutrient concentrations and greatest development, Prudence Island, an estuarine reserve with intermediate impacts, and Sheffield Cove, the low impact site. Growth rates were measured over three approximately two-week experiments from 8 June to 2,2 July, 1998. Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, organic carbon, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, chlorophyl A, and benthic food were also measured. Stable isotope ratios ( 13C and 15N) were measured in the fish tissue and sediments. Growth rates ranged from 0.22 to 0.63 mm/day and were generally highest at Prudence Island and lowest in Sheffield Cove. Isotopic nitrogen values reflected fish growth and were higher at more impacted sites. Growth rates obtained in our Narragansett Bay experiment are similar to those from Rhode Island's coastal ponds, Mount Hope Bay, and in other Northeastern estuaries. Results of this study and previous work suggest winter flounder growth rates are affected by a variety of natural factors, such as initial fish size, time of year, and latitude, as well as human effects on habitat.