Distribution,Abundance, and Habitat Characterization of the Saltmarsh Topminnow, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fundulus jenkinsi</Emphasis> (Everman 1892) |
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| Authors: | John D Lopez Mark S Peterson Jake Walker Gretchen L Grammer Mark S Woodrey |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Coastal Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA;(2) Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, MS 39562, USA;(3) Coastal Research and Extension, Mississippi State University, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39531, USA; |
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| Abstract: | The saltmarsh topminnow (Fundulus jenkinsi) is federally listed as a Species of Concern due to a its rarity, impacts from human activities, and lack of information
on its biology and ecology. From 2007 through 2008, we used Breder traps to fish the marsh edge on a falling tide in four
regions from Louisiana through the Florida panhandle during winter, spring, and summer periods. Out of 2,108 Breder traps
deployed, 661 F. jenkinsi were collected as far east as Escambia Bay, Florida, with Weeks Bay, National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), Alabama,
yielding the highest F. jenkinsi abundance. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to ordinate physical–chemical data into two meaningful components:
a geomorphic axis (water depth, bank slope, and plant stem density) and a seasonal/spatial axis of species occurrence (water
temperature, salinity, and turbidity). PCA showed a higher mean catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) in environments comprised of
low to moderate stem density (<25 stems/0.25 m−2), depth (<25 cm), bank slope (<15°), turbidity (<30 NTU), and salinity (<16) coupled with spring and early summer water temperatures
(>15°C). F. jenkinsi CPUE was significantly higher in Spartina cynosuroides marsh edge compared with five other habitat types, even though it was one of the least sampled habitats. This species appears
to be collected more frequently and in higher CPUE in small dendritic creeks off of main channels than suggested by our previous
work in main channel edge habitat. This suggests that small creeks are important vectors for marsh access and supports the
value of the dendritic nature of salt marshes to marsh residents. |
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