The hydrography and macro-biota of the Chocolate Bayou estuary, Brazoria County, Texas (1969-1971).
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Abstract
Analyses of the seasonal abundance of animals and the hydrology of the Chocolate Bayou estuary, a small body of water adjoining West Galveston Bay, were based on data collected between May 1969 and October 1971. Salinity ranged from less than 1.0 to 36.6 ppt (parts per thousand) and was related inversely to rainfall ( r= -0.49, degrees of freedom = 24, for surface waters; r= -0.51, d.f.=24, for bottom waters) and stream flow (r= -0.66, d.f.=12, for surface waters; r= -0.53, d.f.=10, for bottom waters). Water temperature ranged from 7.0 degrees C in winter to 32.0 degrees C in summer and was directly related to air temperature trends (r = 0.93, d.f. = 10). Dissolved oxygen reanged from 0.0 to 17.3 mg/l (milligrams per liter). Hydrogen ion concentration ranged from 7.1 to 8.5 pH units. A partial, annotated list of macro-biota is provided. Scientific and, if available, common names are given. White shrimp (Panaeus setiferus) and brown shrimp (P. aztecus) were the dominant large crustaceans. Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) was the principal fish.