Abstract
We described seasonal fish-assemblages in an estuarine marsh fringing Matagorda Bay, Gulf of Mexico. Habitat zones were identified by patterns of fish species abundance and indicator species optima along gradients in salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), and depth in our samples. Indicators of the lower brackish zone (lower lake and tidal bayou closest to the bay) were gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura), and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) at salinity >15‰, DO 7–10 mg l−1, and depth <0.5 m. Indicators of the upper brackish zone (lake and fringing salt marsh) were pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) at salinity 10–20‰, DO >10 mg l−1, and depth <0.5 m. In the freshwater wetland zone (diked wetland, ephemeral pool, and perennial scour pool), indicators were sheepshed minnow (Cyprinod on variegatus), rainwater killifish (Lucania parva), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) at salinity <5‰, DO <5 mg l−1, and depth ≥1 m. In the freshwater channelized zone (slough and irrigation canal), indicators were three sunfish species (Lepomis), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) at salinity <5‰, DO <5 mg l−1, and depth >1.5 m. In brackish zones, seasonal variation in species diversity among sites was positively correlated with temperature, but assemblage structure also was influenced by depth and DO. In the freshwater zones, seasonal variation in species diversity among sites was positively correlated with depth, DO, and salinity, but assemblage structure was weakly associated with temperature. Species diversity and assemblage structure were strongly affected by the connectivity between freshwater wetland and brackish zones. Uncommon species in diked wetlands, such as tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) and fat sleeper (Dormitator maculatus), indicated movement of fishes from the brackish zone as the water level rose during natural flooding and scheduled (July) releases from the diked wetland. From September to July, diversity in the freshwater wetland zone decreased as receding waters left small isolated pools, and fish movement became blocked by a water-control structure. Subsequently, diversity was reduced to a few species with opportunistic life histories and tolerance to anoxic conditions that developed as flooded vegetation decayed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Browder, J. A. 1978. A modeling study of water, wetlands, and wood storks, p. 325–346.In A. C. Sprunt IV, J. C. Ogden, and S. Winckler (eds.), Wading Birds, Research Report 7. National Audubon Society, New York.
Bulger, A. J., B. P. Hayden, M. E. Monaco, D. M. Nelson, andM. G. McCormick-Ray. 1993. Biologically-based estuarine salinity zones derived from a multivariate analysis.Estuaries 18:311–322.
Chipman, R. K. 1959. Studies of tolerance of certain freshwater fishes to brine water from oil wells.Ecology 40:299–302.
Dufrène, M. andP. Legendre. 1997. Species assemblages and indicator species: The need for a flexible asymmetrical approach.Ecological Monographs 67:345–366.
Dunson, W. A. andJ. Travis. 1991. The role of abiotic factors in community organization.American Naturalist 138:1067–1091.
Gelwick, F. P., M. S. Stock, andW. J. Matthews. 1997. Effects of fish, water depth, and predation risk on patch dynamics in a north-temperate river ecosystem.Oikos 80:382–398.
Griffith, R. W. 1974. Environment and salinity tolerance in the genus Fundulus.Copeia 1974:319–331.
Hackney, C. T., W. D. Burbanck, andO. P. Hackney. 1976. Biological and physical dynamics of a Georgia tidal creek.Chesapeake Science 17:271–280.
Hollander, E. E. andJ. W. Avault, Jr. 1975. Effects of salinity on survival of buffalo fish eggs through yearlings.Progressive Fish Culturist 37:47–51.
Howard-Williams, C. andW. J. Junk. 1976. The decomposition of aquatic macrophytes in the floating meadows of a Central Amazonian várzea lake.Biogeographica 7:115–123.
Johnson, D. L., W. E. Lynch, Jr., andT. W. Morrison. 1997. Fish communities in a diked Lake Erie wetland and an adjacent undiked area.Wetlands 17:43–54.
Kahl, M. P. 1964. Food ecology of the wood stork (Mycteria americana) in Florida.Ecological Monographs 34:97–117.
Karr, J. R. 1991. Biological integrity: A long-neglected aspect of water resource management.Ecological Applications 1:66–84.
Keup, L. andJ. Bayless. 1964. Fish distribution at varying salinities in Neuse River basin, North Carolina.Chesapeake Science 5:199–123.
Kneib, R. T. 1987. Predation risk and use of intertidal habitats by young fishes and shrimp.Ecology 68:379–386.
Kushlan, J. A. 1976. Wading bird predation in a seasonally fluctuating pond.Auk 93:464–476.
Lewis, Jr.,W. M. 1970. Morphological adaptations of cyprinodontoids for inhabiting oxygen deficient waters.Copeia 1970: 319–326.
Lowe-McConnell, R. H. 1987. Ecological Studies in Tropical Fish Communities. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.
McCune, B. andM. J. Mefford. 1997. PC-ORD. Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data, Version 3.0. MjM Software Design, Gleneden Beach, Oregon.
McKinney, L. 1997. Troubled Waters Part II. Texas Parks and Wildlife, February: 47, Austin, Texas.
Meador, M. E. andW. E. Kelso. 1989. Behavior and movements of largemouth bass in response to salinity.Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 118:409–415.
Meador, M. E. andW. E. Kelso. 1990a. Growth of largemouth bass in low-salinity environments.Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 119:545–552.
Meador, M. E. andW. E. Kelso. 1990b. Physiological responses of largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides, exposed to salinity.Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 47:2358–2363.
Odum, W. E. 1984. Dual-gradient concept of detritus transport and processing in estuaries.Bulletin of Marine Science 35:510–521.
Odum, W. E. 1988. Comparative ecology of tidal freshwater and salt marshes.Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 19:147–176.
Parrish, P. R. andR. W. Yerger. 1974. Ochlockonee river fishes: Salinity-temperature effects.Florida Scientist 36:179–186.
Perry, W. G. 1967. Distribution and relative abundance of blue catfish,Ictalurus furcatus and channel catfish,Ictalurus punctatus, with relation to salinity.Proceeding of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Game and Fish Commissioners 21: 436–444.
Peterson, M. S. andM. R. Meador. 1994. Effects of salinity on freshwater fishes in coastal plain drainages in the southeastern U.S.,Reviews in Fisheries Sciences 2:95–121.
Peterson, M. S. andS. T. Ross. 1991. Dynamics of littoral fishes and decapods along a coastal river-estuarine gradient.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 33:467–483.
Renfro, W. C. 1959. Survival and migration of fresh-water fishes in salt water.Texas Journal of Science 11:172–180.
Riggs, C. D. 1957.Mugil cephalus in Oklahoma and northern Texas.Copeia 1957:158–159.
Rozas, L. P. andC. T. Hackney. 1983. The importance of oligohaline estuarine wetland habitats to fisheries resources.Wetlands 3:77–89.
Rozas, L. P. andW. E. Odum. 1987a. Use of tidal freshwater marshes by fishes and macrofaunal crustaceans along a marsh stream-order gradient.Estuaries 10:36–43.
Rozas, L. P. andW. E. Odum. 1987b. Fish and macrocrustacean use of submerged plant beds in tidal freshwater marsh creeks.Marine Ecology Progress Series 38:101–108.
Rozas, L. P. andW. E. Odum. 1988. The role of submerged aquatic vegetation in influencing the abundance of nekton on contiguous tidal fresh-water marshes.Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 114:289–300.
SAS Institute Inc 1996. SAS/STAT User's Guide, Version 6, 4th edition, Volume 2. Cary, North Carolina, USA.
Smilauer, P. 1992. CanoDraw. Microcomputer Power. Ithaca, New York.
Susanto, G. N. andM. S. Peterson. 1996. Survival, osmoregulation and oxygen consumption of YOY coastal largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) exposed to saline media.Hydrobiologia 323:119–127.
Ter Braak, C. J. F. andP. Smilauer. 1998. Canoco Reference Manual and User's Guide to Canoco for Windows: Software for Canonical Community Ordination (version 4) Microcomputer Power, Ithaca, New York.
Toth, L. A., S. L. Melvin, D. A. Arrington, andJ. Chamberlain. 1998. Hydrologic manipulations of the channelized Kissimmee River: Implications for restoration.BioScience 48:757–764.
Wagner, C. M. 1999. Expression of the estuarine species minimum in littoral fish assemblages of the lower Chesapeake Bay tributaries.Estuaries 22:304–312.
Wagner, C. M. andH. M. Austin. 1999. Correspondence between environmental gradients and summer littoral fish assemblages in low salinity reaches of the Chesapeake Bay, USA.Marine Ecology Progress Series 177:197–212.
Weinstein, M. P., S. L. Weiss, andM. F. Walters. 1980. Multiple determinants of community structure in shallow marsh habitats, Cape Fear River Estuary, North Carolina, USA.Marine Biology 58:227–243.
Vince, S., I. Valiela, N. Backus, andJ. M. Teal. 1976. Predation by the salt-marsh killifishFundulus heteroclitus (L.) in relation to prey size and habitat structure; consequences for prey distribution and abundance.Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 23:255–266.
Willard, D. E. 1977. The feeding ecology and behavior of five species of herons in southeastern New Jersey.Condor 79:462–470.
Winemiller, K. O. 1989. Ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning among piscivorous fishes in the Venezuelan Ilanos.Environmental Biology of Fishes 26:177–199.
Winemiller, K. O., 1996. Dynamic diversity: Fish communities of tropical rivers p. 99–134.In M. L. Cody and J. A. Smallwood (eds.), Long-Term Studies of Vertebrate Communities. Academic Press, Orlando, Florida.
Winemiller, K. O. andM. A. Leslie. 1992. Fish assemblages across a complex, tropical freshwater/marine ecotone.Environmental Biology of Fishes 34:29–50.
Winemiller, K. O. andK. A. Rose. 1992. Patterns of life-history diversification in North American fishes: Implications for population regulation.Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49:2196–2218.
Source of Unpublished Materials
Dumesnil, M. Personal Communication. The Nature Conservancy of Texas, P. O. Box 163, Collegeport, Texas 77428-0163.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gelwick, F.P., Akin, S., Arrington, D.A. et al. Fish assemblage structure in relation to environmental variation in a Texas Gulf coastal wetland. Estuaries 24, 285–296 (2001). https://doi.org/10.2307/1352952
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1352952