RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern...

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Joan A. Browder, Katarzyna Kulpa , Ian Zink, Gladys Liehr , Joseph Serafy , Diego Lirman , Sarah Bellmund ,Thomas Jackson Presentation for GEER 2017, April 17 - 19, Coral Springs, FL RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND NEARSHORE SOUTH - CENTRAL BISCAYNE BAY

Transcript of RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern...

Page 1: RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern Puffer Pinfish Checkered puffer Florida blenny Silverside sp. Unidentified Halfbeak

Joan A. Browder, Katarzyna Kulpa, Ian Zink, Gladys Liehr,

Joseph Serafy, Diego Lirman, Sarah Bellmund, Thomas Jackson

Presentation for GEER 2017, April 17-19, Coral Springs, FL

RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE

COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND

NEARSHORE SOUTH-CENTRAL

BISCAYNE BAY

Page 2: RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern Puffer Pinfish Checkered puffer Florida blenny Silverside sp. Unidentified Halfbeak

This project is based on monitoring

data from the open water area

adjacent to the Biscayne Bay

shoreline, where CERP-related

changes in freshwater flow to the bay

will be most strongly reflected in

changes in salinity and epifauna

affected by salinity.

CERP aims to restore a more natural

inflow volume and distribution in

space and time, potentially increasing

the area, frequency and duration of

mesohaline and low polyhaline

salinity conditions.

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IBBEAM

Integrated Biscayne Bay Ecological

Monitoring and Assessment

Long-term Objective of Project to be described

today:

Visualizing the target nearshore estuarine epifaunal

community

Developing community performance measures and

targets to help us get there and know when we’ve

arrived.

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MONITORING AREA

47 sites

2007 - 2016

DRY season

January-March

WET season

July-September

IBBEAM

Epifaunal

Monitoring

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• A 1-m² throw-trap, cleared with a sweep net (4 sweeps), was used to sample epifauna in a 3-m² area at each site.

• Samples consisted of small fish, shrimp, crabs, and echinoderms.

• Salinity and other environmental variables were measured at each site.

• Fish were identified to species or higher taxa, weighed, and measured.

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• Fish community dynamics in relation to salinity is the main focus of this presentation.

• We assign fish species to halohabitat types based on the median salinity of the distribution of their members.

• Then we compare halohabitatgroups for how they change over time and differ between 5-yr periods.

Approach

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This overview of fish species in relation to salinity

covers the 10-yr period 2007-2016 and two 5-yr

periods within it: 2007-2011 and 2012-2016.

Our hypotheses:

1. The nearshore epifauna fish community can be assigned

to four halohabitat types that change differently in

response to change in salinity.

2. Change in the fish community can be documented

quantitatively in a 5-yr period.

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Total Collecting Period 2007-2016

2007-2011 Collections

2012-2016 Collections

Box plot components

• Median

• 25 and 75 percentiles

• 5 and 95 percentiles

• Outliers

Box-plots were prepared to

display the salinity of

distribution of all

individuals of each species

collected over the selected

period.

Species were classified to halohabitat based

on median salinity of their distribution.

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1011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647

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DRY 2007 Dry 2008 DRY 2009 DRY 2010 DRY 2011

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WET 2007 WET 2008 WET 2009 WET 2010 WET 2011

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Salinity per site 2007-2016

Salinity (ppt)

2 4 6 8 12 14 16 18 22 24 26 28 32 34 36 38 42 440 10 20 30 40

Co

llectio

n

07D

08D

09D

10D

11D

12D

13D

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Collection 2007-2011

Distribution:

Median

25 and 75 percentiles

5 and 95 percentiles

Outliers

Halohabitats:

Mesohaline 5-18

Polyhaline Low18-24

Polyhaline High 24-30

Euhaline Low 30-35

Euhaline High 35-40

Hyperhaline >40

salinity 2007-2011

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Bandtail pufferSouthern sennet

Gulf Stream flounderGoby sp.

Puffer sp.Pipefish sp.

Chub sp.Banded killifishCrested blenny

Lined soleRedear sardine

Silver jennyMarsh killifish

Sheepshead minnowCheckered puffer

Lined seahorseHardhead silverside

Jewel cichlidClown goby

Spaghetti eelLongsnout seahorseGoldspotted killifish

Gulf pipefishBigeye mojarra

Jack sp.Rainwater killifish

Code gobyCrested goby

HogchokerGray snapperMosquitofishSailfin molly

Atlantic needlefishHighfin blenny

Sargassum fishNorthern pufferDusky pipefish

Bluestriped gruntPorgies sp.Gulf killifish

Grunt sp.Gulf toadfish

Killifish sp.Redfin needlefishPugnose pipefish

Sargassum pipefishUnidentified

Mangrove rivulusFrillfin gobyMojarra sp.

Dwarf seahorseYellowfin mojarra

Florida blennyFringed pipefish

Striped MulletPinfish

Seahorse sp.Mullet sp.

Spotted whiffMesohaline

5-18

Polyhaline

18-30

Euhaline

30-40

Hyperhaline

<40

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Collection 2012-2016

salinity 2012-2016

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Crested goby

Least puffer

Great Barracuda

Tripletail

Mayan Cichlid

Goby sp.

Killifish sp.

Spotted whiff

Beloniformes sp.

Sheepshead minnow

Clown goby

Hardhead silverside

Sailor's choice

Rainwater killifish

Bandtail puffer

Lined sole

Mojarra sp.

Code goby

Pipefish sp.

Pupfish sp.

Mosquitofish

Goldspotted killifish

Gulf toadfish

Pearl Blenny

Percoidei*0

Gray snapper

Darter Goby

Chain Pipefish

Gulf pipefish

Seahorse sp.

Sheepshead

Dwarf seahorse

Needlefish sp.

Southern Puffer

Pinfish

Checkered puffer

Florida blenny

Silverside sp.

Unidentified

Halfbeak sp.

Mangrove Gambusia

Sailfin molly

Fringed pipefish Mesohaline

5-18

Polyhaline

18-30

Euhaline

30-40

Hyperhaline

<40

Distribution:

Median

25 and 75 percentiles

5 and 95 percentiles

Outliers

Halohabitats:

Mesohaline 5-18

Polyhaline Low18-24

Polyhaline High 24-30

Euhaline Low 30-35

Euhaline High 35-40

Hyperhaline >40

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0

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07D 07W 08D 08W 09D 09W 10D 10W 11D 11W

# o

f sp

ecie

sCumulative species, by halohabitat, 2007-2011

Total Me PoL PoH EuL

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# o

f sp

ecie

sCumulative species, by halohabitat, 2012-2016

Total Me PoL PoH

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0

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Initial and after 2012

Me PoL PoH

Species added after indicated initial year, by

halohabitat type.

0

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Me PoL PoH EuL

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Species added after indicated initial year, by season

0

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Me PoL PoH EuL

Initial and after 2007

Initial Dry Wet

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Initial Dry Wet

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Me

3%

PoL

36%

PoH

37%

EuL

24%

Percentage by halohabitat 2007-2011

Me

14%

PoL

53%

PoH

33%

EuL

0%

Percentage by halohabitat 2012-2016

Me

8%

PoL

42%PoH

39%

EuL

11%

Percentage by halohabitat, 2007-2016

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Collection 2007-2016

• Median

• 25 and 75 percentiles

• 5 and 95 percentiles

• Outliers

Halohabitats

• Mesohaline 5-18

• Polyhaline Low18-24

• Polyhaline High 24-30

• Euhaline Low 30-35

• Euhaline High 35-40

• Hyperhaline >40

salinity 2007-2016

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Crested gobyLeast puffer

Great BarracudaTripletail

Mayan CichlidGoby sp.

Southern sennetGulf Stream flounder

Bandtail pufferPuffer sp.

Beloniformes sp.Sheepshead minnow

Chub sp.Killifish sp.

Banded killifishCrested blenny

Lined soleSailor's choice

Redear sardineSilver jenny

Marsh killifishHardhead silverside

Mojarra sp.Clown goby

Lined seahorsePipefish sp.Pupfish sp.

MosquitofishJewel cichlidPearl BlennyPercoidei*0

Rainwater killifishGray snapper

Darter GobySpaghetti eel

Goldspotted killifishLongsnout seahorse

Chain PipefishGulf pipefish

Bigeye mojarraJack sp.

Code gobyCheckered puffer

HogchokerSheepshead

Needlefish sp.Atlantic needlefish

Highfin blennySargassum fishSouthern Puffer

Spotted whiffNorthern puffer

Silverside sp.Dusky pipefish

Bluestriped gruntGulf toadfish

Dwarf seahorsePorgies sp.

Seahorse sp.Halfbeak sp.Gulf killifish

Florida blennyMangrove Gambusia

Sailfin mollyGrunt sp.

UnidentifiedRedfin needlefishPugnose pipefish

Sargassum pipefishMangrove rivulus

Frillfin gobyYellowfin mojarra

PinfishFringed pipefish

Striped MulletMullet sp.

Mesohaline

5-18

Polyhaline

18-30Euhaline

30-40

Hyperhaline

<40

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0

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f sp

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sCumulative number of species by halohabitat, 2007-2016

Total Me PoL PoH EuL

Page 22: RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern Puffer Pinfish Checkered puffer Florida blenny Silverside sp. Unidentified Halfbeak

Test of Hypotheses:Number of years to 80% of asymptote with nonlinear

least squares equation for each halohabitat type based

on 10 years of cumulative species presence data.

Results: Species richness reaches 80%

of asymptote in less than 10 years for

all halohabitat types except

mesohaline, which may continue to

increase beyond 10 years.

0 2 4 6 8 10

Tot

EuhL

PolyH

PolyL

Meso

Years to 80% asymptote

?

Analysis: Curves with

asymptotes were fitted to

trajectories of cumulative

species added by collection

(year-season).

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Test of Hypotheses:

Result: No significant difference in distribution of species

by halohabitat in 2012-2016 period compared to 2007-

2015 period.

n = 102; X2 =4.703; p > 0.1

2007-20112008-2016

0

5

10

15

20

25

Me PoL PoH EuL

2007-2011 2 25 24 8

2008-2016 6 20 15 2

Nu

mb

er

of

specie

s

2007-2011 vs. 2008-2016 species

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Halohabitat Color Key Me PoL PoH EuL No fish

Classification consistent throughout: 7

Common Name Scientific Name 2007-2011 2007-2016 2012-2016

Clown goby Microgobius gulosus 353 556 203

Goldspotted killifish Floridichthys carpio 1768 3590 1822

Gulf pipefish Syngnathus scovelli 750 1352 602

Hardhead silverside Atherinomorus stipes 1038 6358 5320

Lined sole Achirus lineatus 7 14 7

Pipefish sp. Sygnathiidae 16 71 55

Sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus 69 133 64

Classification went from lower to higher salinity, contrary to halohabitat change: 2

Bandtail puffer Sphoeroides spengleri 1 2 1

Checkered puffer Sphoeroides testudineus 49 79 30

Classification went from higher to lower salinity, following halohabitat change: 13

Code goby Gobiosoma robustum 313 856 543

Crested goby Lophogobius cyprinoides 5 30 25

Dwarf seahorse Hippocampus zosterae 9 23 14

Florida blenny Chasmodes saburrae 1 7 6Goby sp. Gobiidae 4 62 58

Gray snapper Lutjanus griseus 2 7 5

Killifish sp. Cyprinodontiformes 18 70 52

Mojarra sp. Gerridae sp. 37 595 558

Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis 3 37 34

Rainwater killifish Lucania parva 14949 26188 11239

Seahorse sp. Hippocampinae sp. 1 2 1

Spotted whiff Citharichthys macrops 2 4 2

Unidentified 8 10 2

Classification did not change from 1st 5yr to 10yr: 4

Code goby Gobiosoma robustum 313 856 543

Fringed pipefish Anarchopterus criniger 10 12 2

Gulf toadfish Opsanus beta 345 433 88

Pinfish Lagodon rhomboidalis 75 84 9

n = 26

X2 =10.29

p = 0.0119

Distribution

by halohabitat

type of fish

species

common to

both 5-yr

periods

Page 25: RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern Puffer Pinfish Checkered puffer Florida blenny Silverside sp. Unidentified Halfbeak

Halohabitat Color Key Me PoL PoH EuL No fish

Species present only in 2007-2011 period: 33

Common Name Scientific Name 2007-2011 2007-2016 2012-2016

Atlantic needlefish Strongylura marina 1 1

Banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus 2 2

Bigeye mojarra Eucinostomus havana 113 113

Bluestriped grunt Haemulon sciurus 2 2

Chub sp. Cyprinidae 1 1

Crested blenny Hypleurochilus geminatus 4 4

Dusky pipefish Syngnathus floridae 1 1

Frillfin goby Bathygobius soporator 4 4

Grunt sp. Haemulidae 8 8

Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis 1 1

Gulf Stream flounder Citharichthys arctifrons 1 1

Highfin blenny Lupinoblennius nicholsi 1 1

Hogchoker Trinectes maculatus 2 2

Jack sp. Carangidae 1 1

Jewel cichlid Hemichromis bimaculatus 1 1

Lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus 2 2

Longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi 2 2

Mangrove rivulus Rivulus marmoratus 1 1

Marsh killifish Fundulus confluentus 5 5

Mullet sp. Mugilidae sp. 1 1

Northern puffer Sphoeroides maculatus 2 2

Porgies sp. Sparidae 1 1

Puffer sp. Tetraodontidae sp. 4 4

Pugnose pipefish Bryx dunckeri 3 3

Redear sardine Harengula humeralis 1 1

Redfin needlefish Strongylura notata 1 1

Sargassum fish Histrio histrio 2 2

Sargassum pipefish Syngnathus pelagicus 4 4

Silver jenny Eucinostomus gula 9 9

Southern sennet Sphyraena picudilla 4 4

Spaghetti eel Moringua edwardsi 1 1

Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 15 15

Yellowfin mojarra Gerres cinereus 2 2

Halohabitat Color Key Me PoL PoH EuL No fish

Species present only in 2012-2016 period: 17

Common Name Scientific Name 2007-2011 2007-2016 2012-2016

Beloniformes sp. Beloniformes sp. 1 1

Chain Pipefish Syngnathus louisianae 1 1

Darter Goby Ctenogobius boleosoma 1 1

Great Barracuda Sphyraena barracuda 3 3

Halfbeak sp. Hemiramphidae 1 1

Least puffer Sphoeroides parvus 1 1

Mangrove Gambusia Gambusia rhizophorae 4 4

Mayan Cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus 1 1

Needlefish sp. Needlefish sp. 17 17

Pearl Blenny Entomacrodus nigricans 1 1

Percoidei Percoidei 1 1

Pupfish sp. Cyprinodontidae 196 196

Sailor's choice Haemulon parra 1 1

Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus 2 2

Silverside sp. Atherinidae 120 120

Southern Puffer Sphoeroides nephelus 1 1

Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis 1 1

n1 = 33; n2 = 17

X2 = 8.02

p = 0.036

Distribution by

halohabitat type of fish

species unique to 1st

(left) and 2nd (right) 5-yr

periods.

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Test of Hypotheses:

Result: Permanova suggests species abundance differs

significantly between between 1st and 2nd 5-yr period and season.

NMDS plots and 2-way PERMANOVA results comparing

1) 1st and 2nd 5-yr period and 2) seasonal differences in

fish community species abundances

PERMANOVA results: Season F = 4.91, p = 0.004;

5-yr Period F = 2.84, p = 0.045

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Perspective:

PERMANOVA results: Season F = 4.06, p = 0.039;

5-yr Period F = 1.51, p = 0.222

NMDS plot and 2-way PERMANOVA results comparing

salinity at sampling sites by 1) 1st and 2nd 5-yr period and

2) season.

Result: Permanova did not find significant differences in site

salinities, separated by season, between 5-yr periods.

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• More than 5 years of data are required to confidently assign

species to halohabitat type based on the species’ median salinity;

10 years of data appear more reliable.

• Saturation curves fit to cumulative species curves explained more

than 90% of their variance and reached 80% of their asymptote in

less than 10 years.

• A contingency table test found no sig. diff. in distribution of species

among halohabitat types in 2nd vs. 1st 5-yr periods.

• Halohabitat type distributions differed significantly (↓ salinity) in

the 26 spp. common to both 5-yr periods.

• Halohabitat distributions differed between the 1st period unique

spp. (n=33) and 2nd period unique spp. (n=17) (↓ salinity). • A 2-way PERMANOVA test found a significant difference in

species abundances between both 5-yr periods and seasons.

• A 2-way PERMANOVA test found a significant difference in site

salinities between seasons but not between 5-yr periods.

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• Investigate species-specific contributions to community

differences between 5-yr periods.

• Further investigate community structure relative to

environmental gradients (i.e., expand NMDS analyses).

• Use other sources of information beyond present dataset to

develop a comprehensive list of species that could potentially

colonize a more consistent nearshore Biscayne Bay estuarine

habitat.

• Investigate food web structure of nearshore Biscayne Bay and

how this structure is affected by differing halohabitats and

associated spp.

Page 30: RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern Puffer Pinfish Checkered puffer Florida blenny Silverside sp. Unidentified Halfbeak

THANK YOU !

Page 31: RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern Puffer Pinfish Checkered puffer Florida blenny Silverside sp. Unidentified Halfbeak

• The BBEAM Team

Page 32: RECONSTITUTING THE ESTUARINE COMMUNITY OF MAINLAND ... · Dwarf seahorse Needlefish sp. Southern Puffer Pinfish Checkered puffer Florida blenny Silverside sp. Unidentified Halfbeak

Halohabitat Color Key Me PoL PoH EuL No fish

Common Name Scientific Name 2007-2011 2007-2016 2012-2016

Atlantic needlefish Strongylura marina 1 1

Banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus 2 2

Bandtail puffer Sphoeroides spengleri 1 2 1

Beloniformes sp. Beloniformes sp. 1 1

Bigeye mojarra Eucinostomus havana 113 113

Bluestriped grunt Haemulon sciurus 2 2

Chain Pipefish Syngnathus louisianae 1 1

Checkered puffer Sphoeroides testudineus 49 79 30

Chub sp. Cyprinidae 1 1

Clown goby Microgobius gulosus 353 556 203

Code goby Gobiosoma robustum 313 856 543

Crested blenny Hypleurochilus geminatus 4 4

Crested goby Lophogobius cyprinoides 5 30 25

Darter Goby Ctenogobius boleosoma 1 1

Dusky pipefish Syngnathus floridae 1 1

Dwarf seahorse Hippocampus zosterae 9 23 14

Florida blenny Chasmodes saburrae 1 7 6

Frillfin goby Bathygobius soporator 4 4

Fringed pipefish Anarchopterus criniger 10 12 2

Goby sp. Gobiidae 4 62 58

Goldspotted killifish Floridichthys carpio 1768 3590 1822

Gray snapper Lutjanus griseus 2 7 5

Great Barracuda Sphyraena barracuda 3 3

Grunt sp. Haemulidae 8 8

Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis 1 1

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Halohabitat Color Key Me PoL PoH EuL No fish

Common Name Scientific Name 2007-2011 2007-2016 2012-2016

Gulf pipefish Syngnathus scovelli 750 1352 602

Gulf Stream flounder Citharichthys arctifrons 1 1

Gulf toadfish Opsanus beta 345 433 88

Halfbeak sp. Hemiramphidae 1 1

Hardhead silverside Atherinomorus stipes 1038 6358 5320

Highfin blenny Lupinoblennius nicholsi 1 1

Hogchoker Trinectes maculatus 2 2

Jack sp. Carangidae 1 1

Jewel cichlid Hemichromis bimaculatus 1 1

Killifish sp. Cyprinodontiformes 18 70 52

Least puffer Sphoeroides parvus 1 1

Lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus 2 2

Lined sole Achirus lineatus 7 14 7

Longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi 2 2

Mangrove Gambusia Gambusia rhizophorae 4 4

Mangrove rivulus Rivulus marmoratus 1 1

Marsh killifish Fundulus confluentus 5 5

Mayan Cichlid Cichlasoma urophthalmus 1 1

Mojarra sp. Gerridae sp. 37 595 558

Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis 3 37 34

Mullet sp. Mugilidae sp. 1 1

Needlefish sp. Needlefish sp. 17 17

Northern puffer Sphoeroides maculatus 2 2

Pearl Blenny Entomacrodus nigricans 1 1

Percoidei Percoidei 1 1

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Halohabitat Color Key Me PoL PoH EuL No fish

Common Name Scientific Name 2007-2011 2007-2016 2012-2016Pinfish Lagodon rhomboidalis 75 84 9Pipefish sp. Sygnathiidae 16 71 55Porgies sp. Sparidae 1 1Puffer sp. Tetraodontidae sp. 4 4Pugnose pipefish Bryx dunckeri 3 3Pupfish sp. Cyprinodontidae 196 196Rainwater killifish Lucania parva 14949 26188 11239Redear sardine Harengula humeralis 1 1Redfin needlefish Strongylura notata 1 1Sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna 9 14 5Sailor's choice Haemulon parra 1 1Sargassum fish Histrio histrio 2 2Sargassum pipefish Syngnathus pelagicus 4 4Seahorse sp. Hippocampinae sp. 1 2 1Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus 2 2Sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus 69 133 64Silver jenny Eucinostomus gula 9 9Silverside sp. Atherinidae 120 120Southern Puffer Sphoeroides nephelus 1 1Southern sennet Sphyraena picudilla 4 4Spaghetti eel Moringua edwardsi 1 1Spotted whiff Citharichthys macrops 2 4 2Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 15 15Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis 1 1Unidentified 8 10 2Yellowfin mojarra Gerres cinereus 2 2

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• Site

• Latitude and longitude

• Time

• Date

• Salinity

• Temperature

• Dissolved oxygen (DO)

• Conductivity

• pH

• Water depth

• Sediment depth

• SAV species-specific and community % cover (10-0.25 m² quadrats)

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Salinity per site 2007-2011

Salinity (ppt)

2 4 6 8 12 14 16 18 22 24 26 28 32 34 36 38 42 440 10 20 30 40

Co

llectio

n

07D

07W

08D

08W

09D

09W

10D

10W

11D

11W

Mesohaline Polyhaline Euhaline Hyperhaline

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Salinity per site 2012-2016

Salinity (ppt)

2 4 6 8 12 14 16 18 22 24 26 28 32 34 36 38 42 440 10 20 30 40

Co

llectio

n

16W

16D

15W

15D

14W

14D

13W

13D

12W

12D

Mesohaline Polyhaline Euhaline Hyperhaline

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Halohabitat Categories, with upper and lower salinity bounds:

HalohabitatLower salinity

boundary

Upper salinity

boundary

Oligohaline 0.000 5.000

Mesohaline 5.001 18.000

Polyhaline Low 18.001 24.000

Polyhaline High 24.001 30.000

Euhaline Low 30.001 35.000

Euhaline High 35.001 40.000

Hyperhaline 40.001+

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• Oligohaline 0-5

• Mesohaline 5-18

• Polyhaline 18-30

–Poly Low 18-24

–Poly High 25-30

• Euhaline 30-40

• Hyperhaline >40

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Hypotheses Tests with

Contingency Tables

Nonlinear least-squares regression

1. The favorable salinity range for a fish species in a study

area is reflected in the distribution of individuals with

respect to salinity.

2. The fish community changes over time in response to

change in salinity.

3. Change in the fish community can be documented

quantitatively in a 5-yr period.

HYPOTHESES

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Test of Hypotheses 2 and 3:

PERMANOVA test result: p = 0.062

Result: At p ≤ 0.10,

Permanova suggests

species abundance

difference between

the first (2007-2011)

and second (2012-

2016) 5 years.

NMDS plot and PERMANOVA results comparing first

(2007-2011) and second (2012-2016) fish community

species abundances

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PERMANOVA results: p = 0.004

NMDS plot and PERMANOVA results of comparison of dry and

wet season fish species abundances over 10-year period, 2007-2016

Result: Difference

between dry season

and wet season

species abundance

distributions are

significant at p ≤ 0.05.

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This overview of fish species in relation to salinity

covers the 10-yr period 2007-2016 and two 5-yr

periods within it: 2007-2011 and 2012-2016.

Our hypotheses:

1. The favorable salinity range for a fish species in a study

area is reflected in the distribution of individuals with

respect to salinity.

2. The nearshore fish community can be assigned to four

halohabitat types that change differently in response to

change in salinity.

3. Change in the fish community can be documented

quantitatively in a 5-yr period.