aquatic species diversity and habitat characterization in tidal … · 2018. 1. 18. · aquatic...
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Aquatic Species Diversity and Habitat Characterization in Tidal Parkers Creek Michael E. Molina, American Chestnut Land Trust
Introduction • The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) is a non-profit organization
located in Prince Frederick, MD, dedicated to preserving land and other
natural resources throughout Calvert County.
• The ACLT has recently initiated a biological monitoring program throughout
the Parkers Creek Watershed (PCW) to document baselines of species
richness for various taxa. This information is utilized for ecosystem
analysis, future monitoring efforts, and management decisions by staff.
• Objectives include establishing a species baseline of migratory and year-
round aquatic fauna in Parkers Creek (PC) and characterization of the PC
ecosystem.
Methods • Twelve sites were sampled along a 2-mile segment of PC (Fig. 1).
• A 15-meter seine net was hauled at 7 sites in the downstream portion of PC
(yellow) in March, June, August, and October 2017.
• Five fish trap sites were placed upstream where bottom structure
prevented seining (red). Traps were baited for one day before collection in
May and September 2017.
• Water quality measurements were taken at the 7 seine net sites in March,
June, August, and September 2017 (Table 1).
• Shoreline flora identification was conducted at all 12 sites.
Results • 1066 individuals and 25 different species were collected from
both seine and trap sites (Fig. 3).
• Most abundant species was F. heteroclitus (n=498).
• Simpson’s Index = 0.695, Shannon Index = 1.7, and Evenness =
0.53 (Fig. 3).
• Vegetation analysis indicated a distinct shift in creek flora from
salinity-tolerant to non-tolerant species around site 9 (Table 2).
Discussion • High species richness, low evenness (Fig. 3).
• Rank-Abundance curve shows uneven spread; PC dominated by
the most abundant species (Fig. 2).
• Combination of water quality, vegetation, and fish community
sampling allows for holistic monitoring program for the PCW
through the ACLT.
• Presence of juvenile commercially and recreationally valuable
species illustrates PC’s prominence as an estuary and the
importance of continued monitoring programs.
• Future directions include establishing a monitoring program
schedule, sampling for target species, and analyzing fish
assemblage seasonal variation.
Acknowledgements • Chesapeake Bay Trust for project funding
• Dr. Lora Harris’ lab at Chesapeake Biological Lab for water quality
sampling/processing
• Dr. Ronald Klauda and Dr. Denise Breitburg for advising and equipment
• ACLT staff and volunteers for sampling efforts: A. Phillips-Lewis, B. Field, C. Foutz,
C. Gustin, G. Hanners, J. Rupard, J. Klapper, J. and V. Sullens, K. Anderson, K.
Donahue, M. Blanchette, P. Cook, S. Foley, T. Roswall, and T. Wells
Figure 2. Rank-Abundance Curve for PC assemblage.
Table 1. Water quality data from seven seine sites. Data are averaged for March, June, August, and September.
Figure 1. Site map for Parkers Creek. Seine sites are in yellow and trap sites are in red.
1 Spartina spp.
B. halimifolia
I. frutescens
R. pseudoacacia
A. officinalis
2 Spartina spp.
I. frutescens
S. pungens
A. officinalis
3 Spartina spp.
A. officinalis
I. frutescens
A. cannabinus
4 Spartina spp.
A. officinalis
I. frutescens
A. cannabinus
5 Spartina spp.
S. pungens
D. spicata
I. frutescens
6 Spartina spp.
S. pungens
A. cannabinus
B. halimifolia
7 Spartina spp.
A. cannabinus
S. pungens
B. halimifolia
P. australis
K. virginica
8 S. alterniflora
S. cynosuroides
P. australis
9 S. alterniflora
P. virginica
R. pseudoacacia
10 S. alterniflora
P. virginica
T. latifolia
11 P. virginica
T. latifolia
H. moscheutos
V. dentatum
A. rubrum
12 P. australis
P. virginica
V. dentatum
T. radicans
H. moscheutos
T. latifolia
Table 2. Vegetation ID for
12 sites in PC.
Site Salinity (ppt) Conductivity (mS) Saturated DO (%) DO (mg/L) pH Depth (m) Water Clarity (Kd)
1 (Mouth) 8.52 14.61 107.52 8.79 7.88 0.78 3.08
2 8.08 13.88 106.48 8.74 7.79 0.88 3.87
3 6.12 10.74 82.05 7.00 7.27 1.62 4.33
4 5.46 9.64 81.80 6.97 7.17 0.87 6.22
5 5.09 9.03 82.33 6.90 7.19 1.58 3.50
6 4.28 7.66 86.42 7.35 7.20 1.32 3.60
7 3.46 6.30 96.60 8.09 7.22 0.73 4.26
5.86 10.26 91.89 7.69 7.39 1.11 4.12
s 1.87 3.07 11.54 0.83 0.31 0.38 1.02
Water Quality Parameters
Figure 3. Species richness in PC with each species’ abundance. Diversity
indices are listed at the bottom of table.
Parkers Creek
Species N= 1066
Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus ) 498
Grass Shrimp (Palaemonetes ) 302
Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus ) 59
Striped Killifish (Fundulus majalis ) 42
Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus ) 24
Atlantic Silverside (Menidia menidia ) 20
Black Drum (Pogonias cromis ) 19
Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus ) 17
White Perch (Morone americana ) 15
Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulates) 14
Atlantic Sea Nettle (Chrysaora quequincirrha ) 9
Naked Goby (Gobiosoma bosc ) 8
Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus ) 8
Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus ) 7
Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus ) 4
Hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus ) 4
Spotted Sea Trout (Cynoscion nebulosus ) 3
Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus ) 2
Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus ) 2
Inland Silverside (Menidia beryllina ) 2
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) 2
Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus ) 2
Creek Chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus ) 1
Atlantic Mud Crab (Panopeus herbstii ) 1
Atlantic Needlefish (Strongylura marina ) 1
Species Richness (S)= 25
Simpson’s Index (1-D)= 0.695
Simpson’s Reciprocal Index (1/D)= 3.28
Shannon Diversity Index (H)= 1.70
Pielou’s Evenness Index (J’)= 0.53