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Fish Assemblages in Three Northwest Florida Urbanized Bayous before and after Two Hurricanes
Citation:
LEWIS, M. A., L. R. GOODMAN, C. A. CHANCY, AND S. J. JORDAN. Fish Assemblages in Three Northwest Florida Urbanized Bayous before and after Two Hurricanes. JOURNAL OF COASTAL RESEARCH. Coastal Education Research Foundation Incorporated, West Palm Beach, FL, 27(1):35-45, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
Determin effects of hurricanes and a net ban on fish structural parameters in urbanized bayous.
Description:
A six-year survey (1993 - 1998) is summarized for fish collected from chemically-contaminated, urbanized bayous in northwest Florida. Fifty-two monthly collections (January - November) were conducted by trawls and seines at 22 sites located in three adjacent bayous associated with the Pensacola Bay estuary. Hurricanes Erin (Category 2) and Opal (Category 3) made landfall nearby and a state-wide entanglement net ban was initiated during 1995. Approximately 585,000 fish were collected and represented by 80 species and 66 genera. The assemblages were dominated by estuarine-dependent and resident species similar to those commonly found in several nearby estuaries. Of these, Leiostomus xanthurus, Brevoortia patronus, Anchoa mitchilli, Lagodon rhomboides and Menidia peninsulae comprised 95% or more of the total catch. Total number of species per sampling event ranged from 8 to 23, total abundances varied from 140 to 14315 individuals and species diversity index values (H5) were between 0.02 and 0.97. Mean species numbers and diversity index values were more consistent monthly than fish total abundance which was influenced by seasonal occurrences of estuarine-dependent species. Hurricane effects were specific to the hurricane, fish structural parameters, species and bayou. Hurricane-induced decreases in salinity (17% to 69%) and the occasional increases in fish abundance were usually temporary and within monthly and multiannual variability. Most structural characteristics were not significantly different pre- and post an entanglement net ban; however, several differences in non-target fish abundance were observed. The relative stability of the fish assemblages despite natural and anthropogenic stresses is attributable to their physiological tolerances to the wide range of physical and chemical conditions characteristic of shallow estuaries in the northern Gulf of Mexico.