Shoreline Epifauna Community of South Biscayne

Bay in Relation to Salinity

Joan A. Browder, Michael B. RobbleeGladys A. Liehr, Darlene R. JohnsonEric Buck, Tom Jackson, Ana Griefen,Laura Petteway

Presentation at the

Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Meeting

July 13-16, 2010

A CERP Objective for Nearshore Biscayne Bay

• To restore the diversity and abundance of the faunal component associated primarily with salinities ranging from near zero to 20 (RECOVER 2005).

• Historical descriptions of the fisheries of the bay suggest a greater diversity and abundance of estuarine species than has been recorded recently.

Alongshore Epifauna Monitoring and Assessment

• Project purpose– To develop a dynamic characterization of the

epifaunal community along the shoreline of south Biscayne Bay from Shoal Point to Manatee Bay

– To determine salinity affinities (i.e., preferred habitat) of epifaunal species

– To develop performance measures and restoration targets to assess the effectiveness of restoration efforts

Sampling area:

2005-2006 Shoal Point to Turkey Point

2007-2009 Shoal Point to Manatee Bay

2005 – 2006, Sites 1-47

2007 and ongoing, with additional Sites 48-72

Dry (Jan. – Feb.) andWet Season (July – Aug.)

Shoal Pt.

Turkey Pt.

Manatee Bay

R.V. Miller

Environmental Data: a) Water and Sediment Depthb) Salinity, DO, pHc) Algae Seagrass Coveraged) bottom type (Braun Blanquet) and canopy height

Faunal data: 3 Throw Traps samples at each site, and 4 Sweeps of each throw trap

Samples kept on ice in the field and frozen for storage

.

Sampling Effort

In the laboratory, samples are sorted and bulk weights takenThen samples are identified, counted, measured, weighed, and preserved in alcohol or formalin for future use.

Special examinations are made to determine sex and other information on selected taxa.

Data entry, quality control, master files, and multi-year database

Metadatabase, statistics, reports

Sampling sites of the alongshore epifauna project

The 72 sampling sites along the shoreline arenumbered from north to south

Designated sub-segments of the coastline and site numbers are delineated.

Note that major canals are concentrated between sites 18-40

www.sealitsoc.org www.sealifebase.org

L. parva F. carpioA. stipes

S. scovelliO. beta

M. gulosus

C. sapidus

F. duorarum

Ophiuriodea

Caridea

Some members of the alongshore epifauna

L. parva

A. stipesF. carpio

S. scovelli

G. robustum

O. beta

M. gulosus

Misc

CRABS

Hermit crab sp.

C. sapidusCallinectes sp.

P. herbstii

Panopeus sp.C. simillis

Misc

FISH

SHRIMPCaridean shrimp sp.

F. duorarum

Alpheus sp.

ECHINODERMA

Ophiuroidea

Asterozoa sp.

H. grisea

Misc

S. scovelli

The Epifauna

Salinity (psu)

0 10 20 30 40 50

Site

02468

101214161820222426283032343638404244464850525456586062646668707274

Dry 07Dry 08Dry 09

Site salinity at sampling time

Dry season collection

Years 2007, 2008, and 2009

Salinity (psu)

0 10 20 30 40 50

Site

02468

101214161820222426283032343638404244464850525456586062646668707274

Wet 07Wet 08Wet 09

Site salinity at sampling time

Wet season collection

Years 2007, 2008, and 2009

Tota

l # o

f Ind

ivid

uals

cou

nted

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Salin

ity (p

su)

0246810121416182022242628303234

Tota

l # o

f Ind

ivid

uals

cou

nted

050

100150200250300350400450500550600650700

Tem

pera

ture

(C)

0246810121416182022242628303234

DW D W Site

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

Tota

l # o

f Ind

ivid

uals

cou

nted

050

100150200250300350400450500550600650700

Can

opy

heig

ht (c

m)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Site

47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

Tot

al #

of I

ndiv

idua

ls c

ount

ed

0

250

500

750

1000

1250

1500

1750

2000

2250

2500

2750

Can

opy

Hei

ght

0

10

20

30

40

50

Tot

al #

of I

ndiv

idua

ls c

ount

ed

0200400600800

1000120014001600180020002200240026002800

Sal

inity

(pp

t)

024681012141618202224262830323436

Tot

al #

of I

ndiv

idua

ls c

ount

ed

0

250

500

750

1000

1250

1500

1750

2000

2250

2500

2750

Tem

pera

ture

(C

)

0246810121416182022242628303234

DRYWET DRY WET

Salinity

Fauna

Temperature

Fauna

Canopy heightFauna

% species composition0 20 40 60 80 100

Site

s0123456789

101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748

Salinity (psu) - Temperature (cm) - Canopy height (cm)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Rainwater killifish Hardhead silverside Goldspotted killifish Gulf pipefish Clown goby Code goby Gulf toadfish Fish Other Hermit crab sp. Blue crab Blue crab sp. Common mud crab Lesser blue crab Mud crab sp. Crabs Other Pink shrimp Caridean shrimp sp. Snapping shrimp sp. Brittle star sp.

www.fishbase.com Gilmore 1995 Lorenz&Serafy 2006

Initial classification of species by halohabitatHalohabitat Salinity Number of

species2005 2010

Estuarine < 35 12Estuarine-polyhaline

~18-35 1

Polyhaline 18-30 2Polyhaline-non-estuarine

~18-40 1

Non-estuarine >35 33Other ?? 48

VENICE System:

A system for the classification of brackish water based on the percentage of chloride in the water.

Zone Salinity (ppt)

HyperhalineEuhalineMixohaline

Mixoeuhaline(Mixo-) polyhaline(Mixo-) mesohaline(Mixo-) oligohaline

Limnic (freshwater)

>4040 - 30~35 - 0.5> 30 but < adjacent euhaline sea30 - 1818 - 55 - 0.5< 0.5

Salinity (ppt)

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Colle

ction

Dry' 07

Wet' 07

Dry' 08

Wet' 08

Dry' 09

Wet' 09Mesohaline Polyhaline Euhaline Hyperhalin

Temperature (C)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Dry' 07

Wet' 07

Dry' 08

Wet' 08

Dry' 09

Wet' 09

Colle

ction

Canopy Height (cm)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Dry' 07

Wet' 07

Dry' 08

Wet' 08

Dry' 09

Wet' 09

Colle

ction

Box plots of salinity, temperature, and canopy height of sites at sampling time

0-

Red line indicates RECOVER salinity target

Salinity (ppt)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Ch. ocellataC.macrocerus

AtherinidaeSparidae

Ch.saburraeMugilidae

SyngnathidaeH. plumieri

H. parraA. criniger

C. arctifronsS. fuscus

M. cephalusG. cinereus

R. marmoratusC. macrops

D. pauciradiatusH. zosteraeS. floridaeA. mitchilli

M. punctatusCyprinodontiformes

S. pelagicusL. nicholsi

UnidentifiedH. histrio

H. aurolineatumH. geminatus

B. dunckeriS. marina

H. erectusH. sciurus

G. robustumCarangidae

L. rhomboidesE. jonesi

H. reidiO. beta

C. variegatusGerreidaeE. havana

H. bimaculatusA. stipes

M.gulosusHaemulidaeH.humeralis

F.carpioL.griseus

KyphosidaeB.soporator

S.testudineusE.gula

SyngnathidaeA. lineatus

L.parvaGobiidae

TetraodontidaeP.latipinna

T. maculatusS.scovelliBelonidae

S.spengleriS. picudilla

E. melanopterusL. cyprinoides

Mesohaline5-18

Polyhaline18-30

Euhaline30-40

Hyperhaline

Salinity (ppt)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

O. reticulates

Ophiuroidea

H. grisea

Holothuroidea

O. wurdemani

E. spinulosus

O. cinereum

Asteroidea

Alpheidae

Caridea

F. duorarum

L. emarginata

H. hemphillii

C. danae

Menippidae

P. spinicarpus

M. subparallelum

Paguroidea

Sesarmidae

S. furcata

A. recordi

Ocypodidae

P. herbstii

L. emarginata

Portunidae

Majidae

Callinectes sp.

C. sapidus

R. harrisii

C. larvatus

Panopeidae

C. similis

Mesohaline5-18

Polyhaline18-30

Euhaline30-40

Hyperhaline

Dry '05

2022 24262830 323436

Rainwater KillifishGoldspotted KillifishHardhead Silverside

Gulf PipefishCode Goby

Gulf ToadfishClown GobySilver Jenny

Big Eye MojarraPinfish

Checkered PufferSheepshead

Dry '06

2022 24262830 323436

Dry '07

2022 24262830 323436

Dry '08

20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36

Rainwater KillifishGoldspotted

Harthead SilversideGulf Pipefish

Code GobyGulf Toadfish

Clown GobySilver Jenny

Bigeye MojarraPinfish

Checkered PufferSheepshead

Dry '09

20 2224 2628 3032 3436

Faunal-density-weighted salinity, of dominant species.

Ordinate is mean salinity at sites 1-47 at time of sampling

-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Total EchinodermataSea Star sp.

Sea Cucumber sp.Cushion Sea Star

Brittle StarTotal Shrimp

Snapping ShrimpPink shrimp

Caridean shrimpTotal Crab

Swimming Crab sp.Swimming CrabStone Crab sp.

Sponge Spider CrabSpider Crab sp.

Spider CrabMud crab sp.

Marsh Crab sp.Marbled Marsh Crab

Longspine Swimming CrabLesser Blue Crab

Hermit crabFiddler Crab sp.

Giant DecorationcrabCommon SpidercrabCommon Mud Crab

Brown-fingered Swimming CrabBlue Crab sp.

Blue CrabAtlantic horseshoe Crab

Total FishYellowfin Mojarra

Whitespotted FilefishWhite GruntUnidentified

TomtateStriped MulletSpotted Whiff

Spotted DragonetSpeckled Worm Eel

Southern SennetSlender Mojarra

Silverside sp.Silver Jenny

Sheepshead MinnowSeahorse sp.

Sargassum PipefishSargassumfishSailor's Choice

Sailfin MollyRedear Sardine

Rainwater KillifishPugnose Pipefish

Puffer sp.Porgies sp.Pipefish sp.

PinfishPygmy seahorse

Northern PipefishNeedlefish sp.

Mullet sp.Mojarra sp.

Mangrove RivulusLongsnout Seahorse

Lined SoleLined Seahorse

Killifish sp.Jewel Cichlid

Jack sp.Hogchoker

Highfin BlennyHardhead Silverside

Gulf ToadfishGulf Stream Flounder

Gulf PipefishGrunt sp.

Gray SnapperGoldspotted Killifish

Goby sp.Fringed Pipefish

Frillfin GobyFlorida Blenny

Flagfin MojarraDwarf SeahorseDusky PipefishCrested Goby

Crested BlennyCode Goby

Clown GobyCheckered Puffer

Bluethroat PikeblennyBluestriped Grunt

Bigeye MojarraBay Anchovy

Bandtail Puffer

Dry 2005 Dry 2006 Dry 2007 Dry 2008 Dry 2009

Dry faunal-density-weighted salinity difference from the mean, by species and year

Salinity difference (psu)

Mean faunal-density-weighted salinity, and average salinity across all sites (1-47), for collections in which species was present, 2005-2009

Faunal-density-weighted-salinity-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8

Marsh crab sp.Fringed pipefish

Frillfin gobySpider crab sp.

Sargassum pipefishDwarf seahorse

Snapping shrimpSponge spider crab

Bluestriped gruntSailfin mollyHermit crab

Lined SeahorseGray Snapper

Caridean shrimpBrittle Star

Common mud crabMojarra sp.Killifish sp.

Pugnose pipefishSpotted whiffPink shrimp

Gulf toadfishPinfish

Grunt sp.Cushion sea star

Blue crabMud crab sp.

Bigeye mojarraBlue crab sp.

Lesser blue crabHardhead silverside

Code gobyDusky pipefish

Gulf pipefishRainwater killifish

Swimming crab sp.Goldspotted killifish

Sheepshead minnowClown gobySilver jenny

Checkered pufferLined sole

Bandtail pufferPipefish sp.

Crested goby

Mean site salinity20 25 30

Salinity units below and above average across sites

Mean faunal-density-weighted salinity, and average salinity across all sites (48-72), for collections in which species was present, 2005-2009

Faunal-density-weighted-salinity-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6

Common spidercrabSea star sp.

Checkered pufferDusky pipefish

Pipefish sp.Pinfish

Brittle starPink shrimp

Gray snapperBigeye mojarra

Caridean shrimpKillifish sp.

Rainwater killifishHermit crabMojarra sp.

Mud crab sp.Hardhead silverside

Gulf toadfishBlue crab

Fringed pipefishDwarf seahorse

Code gobyGulf pipefish

Goldspotted killifishClown goby

Snapping shrimpSpotted dragonet

Bay anchovyHighfin blenny

Mean sites salinity27 32 37

Salinity units below and above average across sites

0 2 4 6 8 10

TemperatureSalinity

DepthCanopy height

HaloduleThalassia

Mixed algaeGulf toadfish

Code gobyClown goby

Mangrove predatorsSeagrass prey

Caridean predatorDistance canal

Distance to mangrove stationsDistance x mangrove

Salinity x ThalassiaHalodule x Distance canal

Number of models

Dry season Wet season

Multiple-regression results for nine dry season and nine wet season species, 2005-2009: Number of models in which each variable was significant

Salinity relationships in multiple regression models, by species

Negative PositiveDry season Goldspotted killifish Pink shrimp

Rainwater killifish Caridean shrimpClown goby Blue crabGulf pipefish Gulf toadfishSpecies richness

Wet season Blue crab Caridean shrimpRainwater killifish Code gobyClown goby Gulf toadfishGulf pipefish

Predicted species density change with salinity increase: decrease (negative) or increase (positive)

www.fishbase.com Gilmore 1995 Lorenz&Serafy 2006Browder et al. 2010

Initial classification of species by halohabitatHalohabitat Salinity Number of

species2005 2010

Estuarine < 35 12 3Estuarine-polyhaline

~18-35 1 13

Non-estuarine >35 33 21Other ?? 48 27

Percent of captured species, coded to halohabitat, by faunal group

Percent of captured individuals, coded to halohabitat, by faunal group

Percent of species, coded by halohabitat --separate bars indicate degree of rarity

Species that did not occur in season

Species that only occurred one time

Species that occurred at least 10 times

Another look at halohabitat in relation to rarity –separate bars for percent of species of increasing degree of dominance

Summary/Conclusions

• Dominant species --polyhaline habitat; rarer species -- non-estuarine (marine) habitat.

• Dominant species, sites 1-47 -- polyhaline habitat, consistent with prevailing conditions.

• Dominant species, sites 48-72 -- non-estuarine (marine) habitat, consistent with prevailing conditions.

• CERP success in implementing of 0-20 (~mesohaline) conditions may radically alter nearshore species composition.

• Possible mechanisms for colonization of new mesohaline habitat– Adaptation of species already present (e.g., pink shrimp in mesohaline

mangrove zone of southwest Florida)– immigration of new species (e.g., hogchoker and mangrove rivulus).

This is a RECOVER CERP Monitoring and Assessment Project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and supported by NOAA Fisheries Service. We thank a myriad of volunteers for helping us with our labor intensive sampling.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Shoreline Epifauna Community of South Biscayne Bay in Relation to Salinity A CERP Objective for Nearshore Biscayne BayAlongshore Epifauna Monitoring and AssessmentSlide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Slide Number 9Slide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide Number 13Initial classification of species by halohabitatSlide Number 15Slide Number 16Slide Number 17Slide Number 18Slide Number 19Slide Number 20Slide Number 21Slide Number 22Slide Number 23Slide Number 24Salinity relationships in multiple regression models, by speciesInitial classification of species by halohabitatSlide Number 27Slide Number 28Slide Number 29Slide Number 30Summary/ConclusionsSlide Number 32