Biscayne Bay is near the downstream end of the massive Southern and Central Florida Water Management System, which is being modified by the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP). Epifauna (i.e., shrimp, crabs, and small fishes) in nearshore Biscayne Bay are being monitored twice annually, wet and dry season, at 47 sites along the mainland shoreline to assess the effects of freshwater inflow changes brought about by CERP implementation. Bottom vegetation and salinity are being monitored concurrently in collaborative efforts. Statistical analyses were used to identify a subset of epifaunal species whose distribution and abundance respond quantitatively to change in salinity. Habitat Suitability Models developed for these species will be used to assess CERP effects. Modeling results will provide a scientific basis for a suite of ecological performance measures and targets for assessing CERP effects for use in adaptive management to protect and improve the Biscayne Bay nearshore ecosystem.

Sampled marshes and ponds along two transects within the intermediate and brackish marsh zones of Breton Sound, Louisiana, from May 7-11, 2001. Sampling followed several planned releases of freshwater from the Caernarvon diversion structure during the winter of 2000 and spring of 2001 as part of a larger study to examine the ecological effect of pulsed freshwater releases on the ecosystem.

Nekton in the northern Gulf of Mexico often depend on marsh habitat and estuarine nursery areas during their life history, but patterns of habitat use and the underlying processes that drive these patterns are not fully understood. We examined small-scale (1-50 m) patterns of habitat use in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, between 2002 and 2006 by collecting nekton with a 1-m2 drop sampler. Habitat-specific densities were estimated for six habitat types at various distances from the shoreline into the marsh (Marsh1M = 1m and Marsh3M = 3 m into the marsh) and over shallow nonvegetated bottom, SNB (SNB1M = 1 m, SNB5M = 5 m, SNB20M = 20 m, and SNB50M = 50 m) seaward of the marsh. Habitat-specific growth rates also were estimated for brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus caged in SNB1M, SNB5M, and SNB20M. Nekton density patterns in Barataria Bay appeared to be clearly different from the Galveston Bay model, which predicts nekton distribution patterns relative to the marsh shoreline. Although densities in Barataria Bay were significantly higher in samples near the marsh shoreline (Marsh1M or SNB1M) for brown shrimp, blue crab, and white shrimp, highest mean densities were not always present in marsh edge vegetation. In addition, densities of brown shrimp and white shrimp in Barataria Bay declined much more steeply with distance into the marsh than in the model. Daily growth rates (1.0 - 1.2 mm TL day-1; 68 - 89 mg day-1) for brown shrimp were similar among SNB habitat types. Our results suggest that SNB in Barataria Bay may be relatively more important as habitat for fishery species than previously assumed.

This data set is derived from complementary projects operated in western and southwestern Puerto Rico. The research was designed 1) to compare the prevalence and impact of coral diseases on reefs across a gradient of human affects from mainland Puerto Rico, to more remote shelf edge reefs, and also uninhabited offshore islands (Mona Island and Desecheo Island) to understand factors that enhance or decrease disease impacts and document the resulting effects on reef fish assemblages, and 2) to monitor restoration success at the site of the M/V Fortuna Reefer grounding on Mona Island using Acropora palmata fragment reattachment, growth, and survival, incidence of coral disease, and composition of reef fish assemblages as indicators of recovery and reef health. The data consist of transect surveys (30 x 2 m) and stationary point counts (5m radius) of reef fish assemblages taken around permanent sites: identification to the lowest taxon possible (generally, genus and species), abundance, size estimates (fork length to the nearest cm). Samples are identified by location, date, time, and observer. Benthic data are maintained separately by co-PI (A. Bruckner).

Study compared densities of nekton, benthos, and seagrass among newly deposited dredged sediments and nearby and distant natural seagrass sites over a three year period. Recovery of seagrass and nekton communities from dredged material placement was predicted to take from 4-8 years.

The effect of salinity on utilization of shallow-water nursery habitats by aquatic fauna was assessed in San Antonio Bay, Texas. Overall, 272 samples were collected in a variety of marsh, vegetated, and non-vegetated habitats throughout the Bay system. Sampling began in fall 1986 and extended through fall 1989. Vegetated habitats, marsh, and submerged aquatic vegetation has significantly higher densities of fishes and decapod crustaceans than bare mud habitats.

Reef fish assemblage structure was assessed in 20062007 (recent period) in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA , and compared with data collected from 1977 to 1981 (historical period) from the same location. Substantial differences were observed in reef fish assemblage structure between periods. Sixty-four percent of species were observed less frequently in the recent period. Mean species richness per survey declined at all sites, with declines ranging from 9 to 27. Declines of fishery-targeted species were also observed and were consistent with but not greater than those observed for the reef fish assemblage as a whole. The observed declines appeared to be assemblage-wide, as a majority of species within all trophic guilds examined (spongivores, planktivores, herbivores, omnivores, invertivores, generalist carnivores, and piscivores) declined in frequency of occurrence between periods, with declines ranging from 55 of species for piscivores to 75 for omnivores. Mean number of species per survey declined for all guilds but herbivores, and ranged from a 14 decline for piscivores to 67 for planktivores. The declines observed in the present study are conceptually consistent with, but more extensive than, those recently documented for the Caribbean region as a whole and with those expected in coral reef systems that are heavily utilized by humans.

Seagrass and habitat data collected from dive surveys undertaken in April 2001, showing habitat classifications at 1,035 survey sites

Between May 5, 1993 and September 19, 1994, we collected quantitative 1-m2 area drop samples and measured a variety of habitat attributes using field surveys and aerial photography to characterize three existing marshes (Atkinson Island, Hog Island, and Cedar Point) in Galveston Bay. We also compared nekton densities among different types of intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats (pond, channel, cove, open bay, and four marsh types). The vegetated surface consistently contained more species and dominant species exhibited at least some degree of habitat selection. To maximize fishery habitat, we recommend placing greater emphasis on constructing low marsh edge habitat by creating large areas of Spartina alterniflora and Scirpus maritimus marsh interspersed with a dense network of shallow channels and interconnected ponds.