Connectivity Among Salt Marsh Subhabitats: Residency and Movements of the Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)

We examined connectivity among marsh subhabitats to determine the structural limits and important components of a polyhaline salt marsh by studying the patterns of abundance, residency, and movement of a numerically and ecologically dominant nektonic fish (mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus). We captu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Estuaries and coasts 2012-05, Vol.35 (3), p.743-753
Main Authors: Able, Kenneth W., Vivian, Deborah N., Petruzzelli, Gina, Hagan, Stacy M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Aquatic habitats
Biological and medical sciences
Brackish water ecosystems
Coastal ecology
Coastal Sciences
Creeks
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Environment
Environmental Management
Estuaries
Fish
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundulus heteroclitus
Habitats
Marine
Marine ecology
Marshes
Salt marshes
Schooners
Synecology
Water and Health
Wetland ecology
Wetlands
Wildlife habitats
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Summary:We examined connectivity among marsh subhabitats to determine the structural limits and important components of a polyhaline salt marsh by studying the patterns of abundance, residency, and movement of a numerically and ecologically dominant nektonic fish (mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus). We captured, tagged (n = 14,040 individuals, 30-110 mm), and recaptured from Feb 2001 to Jul 2002, although most recaptures (75-95% by tagging location) occurred within 150 days. Seasonal residency and movements were common among most subhabitats based on catch per unit effort and recapture per unit effort. Thus, these (marsh pools, intertidal and subtidal creeks, and marsh surface) should be considered natural subhabitats within New England type salt marshes. Further, all these subhabitat types should be included in studies of salt marsh nekton and marsh restoration and creation activities.
ISSN:1559-2723
1559-2731
DOI:10.1007/s12237-011-9471-x