Nekton in Gulf Coast wetlands: Fine-scale distributions, landscape patterns, and restoration implications

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dc.acquisition-srcDownloaded from-Web of Scienceen_US
dc.call-noen_US
dc.contract-noen_US
dc.contributor.authorMinello TJen_US
dc.contributor.authorRozas LPen_US
dc.contributor.otherEcological Applicationsen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-02-15T17:16:47Z
dc.date.available2010-02-15T17:16:47Z
dc.date.issued2002 Apren_US
dc.degreeen_US
dc.description441-455en_US
dc.description-otheren_US
dc.description.abstractMany decapod crustaceans and fishes are common inhabitants of flooded salt marshes in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, but spatial distributions are uneven, and population sizes are difficult to estimate. We measured fine-scale (1-10 m) distributions of nekton on the vegetated marsh surface using enclosure samplers in Galveston Bay, Texas, and used these patterns to estimate population size. Natant decapod crustaceans were abundant in the marsh; densities of juvenile brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus, white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus, and blue crabs Callinectes sapidus were highest 1 m from the water's edge and declined rapidly to 10 m from the edge. We developed regression models to describe these fine-scale density patterns and validated the models with independent data on density distributions from two other marsh systems. We used a Geographic Information System to transfer the density models to a natural marsh landscape; the highly fragmented Elmgrove Point marsh was composed of shallow nonvegetated bottom (37.4% of the area) and Spartina alterniflora vegetation (62.6%) with similar to 15 % of the vegetated area within 1 m of the marsh-water interface. We estimated that this 437-ha salt marsh complex supported populations of 16.2 million brown shrimp, 15.5 million white shrimp, and 11.3 million blue crabs. We divided the marsh complex into 39 sectors and examined relationships between nekton populations and landscape-scale patterns of marsh fragmentation. The amount of edge and the population estimates in a sector increased consistently with the amount of water up to similar to20-25%. Nekton population declines were not apparent until the late stages of marsh disintegration (>70% open water). We also used our fine-scale density models to simulate the effects of adding creeks to a 1-ha created salt marsh of solid vegetation. For shrimp, 1-2 creeks/ha (or a comparable amount of edge) were required to reach populations equivalent to shallow nonvegetated bottom, and up to 6 creeks/ha were required to reach populations similar to those estimated for the natural marsh complex. Simulated populations of blue crabs reached levels in the natural marsh complex with the addition of fewer creeks (2-3 creeks/ha)en_US
dc.description.urihttp://gbic.tamug.edu/request.htmen_US
dc.historyen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/23400
dc.latitudeen_US
dc.locationen_US
dc.longitudeen_US
dc.notesTimes Cited: 6ArticleEnglishMinello, T. JSE Fisheries Sci Ctr, Natl Marine Fisheries Serv, NOAA, Galveston Lab,Fishery Ecol Branch, Galveston, TX 77551 USACited References Count: 68532EC1707 H ST NW, STE 400, WASHINGTON, DC 20006-3915 USAWASHINGTONen_US
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dc.relation.ispartofseries51046.00en_US
dc.relation.urien_US
dc.scaleen_US
dc.seriesen_US
dc.subjectblue crabsen_US
dc.subjectdensity modelsen_US
dc.subjectedge marshen_US
dc.subjectGulf Coast wetlandsen_US
dc.subjecthabitat fragmentationen_US
dc.subjectlandscape patternsen_US
dc.subjectnekton populationsen_US
dc.subjectRESTORATIONen_US
dc.subjectsalt marshen_US
dc.subjectSHRIMPen_US
dc.subjectSpartina alternifloraen_US
dc.subjecttidal creeksen_US
dc.subjectSALT-MARSHen_US
dc.subjectDECAPOD CRUSTACEANSen_US
dc.subjectGALVESTON BAYen_US
dc.subjectNATANT MACROFAUNAen_US
dc.subjectSEAGRASS HABITATen_US
dc.subjectPENAEUS-AZTECUSen_US
dc.subjectBROWN SHRIMPen_US
dc.subjectTEXAS USAen_US
dc.subjectLAND LOSSen_US
dc.subjectFISHen_US
dc.titleNekton in Gulf Coast wetlands: Fine-scale distributions, landscape patterns, and restoration implicationsen_US
dc.typeJournalen_US
dc.universityen_US
dc.vol-issue12(2)en_US

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