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Thesis
Enhancement of Recruitment and Nursery Function By Habitat Creation in Pensacola Bay, Florida
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2007
Abstract
Urban impacts to estuarine nursery habitats can limit larval recruitment affecting fisheries production and carrying capacity. A community sponsored habitat creation effort, Project GreenShores, in Pensacola Bay, Florida, USA, consists of a limestone oyster reef/breakwater placed seaward of intertidal areas planted with Spartina alterniflora. For this thesis, fish and epibenthic crustacean populations were sampled monthly using a 15.24 m beach seine for fifteen months during and after placement of the reefs and intertidal marsh to monitor changes. The study used an adjacent open water area separated by a point of land with similar preproject characteristics to the marsh creation area as a control. Dominant fish and crustacean species in both locations were Mugil cephalus, Leiostomus xanthurus, and Callinectes sapidus. Overall, there were statistically significant differences between abundance of frequently occurring species and the community structures in Sites 1 and 2. Diversity was nearly indistinguishable between sites, but species richness was higher within the developed site. Fish size was similar between the sites and was consistent with expected presence of juvenile fish based on seasonal spawning patterns and net avoidance capability of larger fish. The results are relevant to communities and fisheries managers considering investments in largescale habitat development projects.
Details
- Title
- Enhancement of Recruitment and Nursery Function By Habitat Creation in Pensacola Bay, Florida
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 117
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries to digitize and/or display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- 99380090720106600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida