Utilization of Salt Marsh Edge Habitats by Newly Settled Sciaenids in West Galveston Bay, Texas

Geary, B. W., J. W. Webb, J. R. Rooker, Texas A&M University, 5007 Avenue U, Galveston, Texas

Postsettlement patterns of habitat use along salt-marsh shorelines of West Galveston Bay, Texas were examined for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) from the commercially valuable family Sciaenidae. Monthly collections were made from May through December 1997 using a 1.5-m beam trawl pulled along the edge of salt-marsh shorelines and tidal creeks ranging in location from near a tidal pass (< 2 km) to > 25 km from the tidal pass. Cynoscion nebulosus occurred in collections May-October peaking in June (0.245/m² ± 0.059 SE). Sciaenops ocellatus were collected September-November with peak densities in September (0.09/m² ± 0.059) while M. undulatus occurred October-December peaking in November (0.03/m² ± 0.009). Over 98% of the fish collected were <30 mm standard length (SL), with all C. nebulosus and S. ocellatus >=5 mm SL; all M. undulatus collected were >=7 mm SL.
Cynoscion nebulosus were smaller, and significantly more numerous, along interior bay shorelines than at shorelines near the tidal pass. Conversely, S. ocellatus were collected in significantly higher numbers, and at a smaller size, at shorelines near the tidal pass. A similar, but nonsignificant, trend was observed for M. undulatus. Few C. nebulosus and S. ocellatus were collected from tidal creeks located at the rear of a tertiary bay, although the majority collected were larger than occurred in
either interior bay or shorelines in the vicinity of the tidal pass. The smallest size classes of M. undulatus were collected in tidal creeks as well as near a tidal pass. This research suggests that settlement of C. nebulosus and S. ocellatus may occur at the first salt marsh habitat encountered (i.e. interior bay and tidal pass area shorelines, respectively), with movement to remote tidal creeks occurring after initial settlement. No clear pattern occurs in M. undulatus, with settlement occurring at
salt marsh habitats in various locations.

Copyright © 1999
Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Last modified: 01/07/09 06:45:17 AM