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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 1 One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano: An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina’s Atlantic Coast Cody Gramlin a , Joshua Heishman b , Molly Jones c , Miranda Lattyak c a Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47409 b Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 c Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 _________________________________________________________________ _____________ Submitted 3.October.2016

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Page 1: One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano- An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina's Atlantic Coast

Gramlin et al. 2016 - 1

One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano: An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina’s Atlantic Coast

Cody Gramlina, Joshua Heishmanb, Molly Jonesc, Miranda Lattyakc

a Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 715 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47409b Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907c Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907

______________________________________________________________________________Submitted 3.October.2016

INTRODUCTION

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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 2

The Atlantic Ocean is the world’s second largest ocean, and provides habitat for nearly

230,000 identified species (Macpherson 2002) with approximately 160 new species being

described every year (Census of Marine Life 2003). Some of the highest densities and diversities

of marine vertebrates and other biota are found within the coastal regions of the sea, with

habitats such as mangroves, estuaries, and lagoons (Humphreys et al. 2009). In order to better

understand the dynamics of species within these systems, samples of marine fish species and

crustaceans were sampled to gage relative abundance, diversity indices, and community

structures.

To gain a broader understanding of how habitat condition affects community structure

and species abundance, we identified three locations within Hunting Island, USA, to sample

using fyke nets and seine nets. These samples yielded many individual species in all three

locations, which were identified in the field according to ichthyological identification definitions.

The use of several net designs allowed for a wide variety of species to be captured, and gave a

significantly more complete narrative of the species present within Hunting Island’s marine and

estuarine systems.

In order to fully describe the finer dynamics of community structures and populations of

the marine systems sampled, the community biodiversity between sites (beta diversity) was

analyzed. In an effort to describe the overall habitat suitability and identify differential

community structures for each sampling site, individual biodiversity metrics were taken from

each site to compare the ability of each site to support a community with multiple organisms in a

diverse dispersal. Calculations were conducted in analysis of the effectiveness of the fyke and

seine nets in the form of catch per unit effort (CPUE).

Page 3: One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano- An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina's Atlantic Coast

Gramlin et al. 2016 - 3

METHODS

All marine samples were collected between and including the dates August 8 and August

14, 2016. Samples were gathered from three locations within the Hunting Island State Park area

including a beach directly adjacent to the campsite where we were based, a tide pool to the north

of the campsite along the beach, and multiple areas in a lagoon located ~5 kilometers away.

Seine nets were used to retrieve samples from all three sampling locations with additional

retrievals done at the lagoon location using large and small fyke nets. Samples collected with

fyke nets were collected on rough 24-hour intervals with account for the time following the low

tides for the area, with an exception for August 12 when the fyke nets were left to soak for 48

hours prior to retrieval.

Beach seines were utilized at each site by taking single sweeps through an area before

retrieving the catch to the shore. For the setting and retrieving of fyke nets, participants split up

into smaller groups to set nets at multiple locations around the lagoon. This saved on time, as

well as allowed for everyone to practice their skills in the field. To ensure complete

understanding of marine sampling techniques, all participants took part in counting and organism

identification, as well as deployment of the fyke and seine nets. A metric of catch per unit effort

was determined in order to consider the efficiency of each net deployment for seine and fyke nets

by dividing total catch by unit of effort (i.e. time interval, seine deployment).

As described above, it is understood that certain marine settings may serve as more ideal

locations for the rearing of a wide diversity of organisms. In order to observe how our sites

differ in terms of the species each supports and the diversity of their respective communities,

each site was ranked according to the Shannon index in order to compare relative levels of

biodiversity exhibited by each site according to the seine net catchments.

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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 4

Further, a measure of equitability was determined using the Shannon index value for each

site in order to compare the evenness with which the community was populated with each

species present. A Sørensen comparison was completed among the beach, tide pool, and lagoon

using seine capture data to consider the similarity which the three sites had to one another with

regard to community structure among species presence. All analyses were completed using

Excel (Microsoft Office Inc., 2016).

Page 5: One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano- An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina's Atlantic Coast

Gramlin et al. 2016 - 5

RESULTS

Table 1 provides the approximated Catch Per Unit Effort, or CPUE, values for the number of individuals of a species per sample/hour using mini fyke nets set in three different locations at the northern lagoon in South Carolina's Hunting Island State Park during August 2016. All nets were retrieved in 24 hour intervals aside from the collection on August 12, when the nets soaked for 48 hours before retrieval.

N. Lagoon: Mini Fykes CPUE (Individuals/Hour) 8-Aug 9-Aug 10-Aug 12-Aug

Species Scientific NameWest

Side (1)Cente

r (1)East

Side (1)West

Side (2)Cente

r (2)East

Side (2)West

Side (3)Cente

r (3)East

Side (3)West

Side (4)Cente

r (4)East

Side (4)

Atlantic Menhaden

Brevoortia tyrannus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.021 0

White Mullet Mugil curema 0 0 0 0 0.125 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 0 0.083 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.021Striped Anchovy

Anchoa hepsetus 0 0 0.042 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0.042 0.042

Inland Silverside

Menidia beryllina 0 0 0.458 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Silver PerchBairdiella chrysoura 0.167 0.042 0 0.208 0 0.5 0.417 0 0.167 0.25 0.042 0

SpotLeiostomus xanthurus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.021 0

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus 0 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0.021 0.042 0.021

PinfishLagodon rhomboides 0 0.083 0 0.167 0.042 0.208 0.208 0 0.083 0.208 0.25 0.021

PigfishOrthopristis chrysopterus 0 0 0 0.042 0 0.042 0 0 0 0.042 0.063 0

MummichogFundulus heteroclitus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.021

Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Tidewater Mojarra

Eucinostomus harengulus 0 0.125 0 0 0.083 0 0 0 0 0 0.021 0.021

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda 0 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0.021 0 0

LeatherjackOligoplites saurus 0 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northern Tonguefish

Symphurus pusillus 0.042 0.042 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Striped Burrfish

Chilomycterus schoepfi 0 0.125 0.083 0.083 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0.083 0

Oyster Toadfish Opsanus tau 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0

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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 6

Blue Crab (female)

Callinectes sapidus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Blue Crab (male)

Callinectes sapidus 0.167 0.042 0 0.083 0.125 0.042 0.125 0 0 0.063 0.188 0.042

CPUE for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 1 (Individuals/Hour)Most Common ⇒ Less Common

West Side (1)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.167

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.167

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.042

N/A N/A N/A

Center (1)

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.125

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.125

Striped Mullet (Mugil

cephalus): 0.083

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.083

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura)/ Northern

Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.042

Striped Killifish (female)

(Fundulus Majalis)/ Blue

Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.042

East Side (1)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.458

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.083

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.042

N/A N/A N/A

West Side (2)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.208

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.167

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.083

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus):

0.083

Pigfish (Orthopristis

chrysopterus): 0.042

N/A

Center (2)

White Mullet (Mugil curema):

0.125

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.125

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.083

Spotted Seatrout

(Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.042

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides)/ Great Barracuda

(Sphyraena barracuda):

0.042

Leatherjack (Oligoplites

saurus)/ Northern

Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.042

East Side (2)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.500

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.208

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.042

Pigfish (Orthopristis

chrysopterus): 0.042

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.042

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.042

West Side (3)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.417

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.208

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.125

N/A N/A N/A

Center (3)

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Page 7: One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano- An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina's Atlantic Coast

Gramlin et al. 2016 - 7

East Side (3)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.167

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.083

Oyster Toadfish

(Opsanus tau): 0.042

N/A N/A N/A

West Side (4)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.250

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.028

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinected sapidus): 0.063

Pigfish (Orhopristis

chrysopterus): 0.042

Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.021

Great Barracuda

(Spyhraena barracuda):

0.021

Center (4)

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.250

Blue Crab (Male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.188

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi): 0.083

Pigfish (Orthopristis

chrysopterus): 0.063

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura)/Spotted

Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.042

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.042

East Side (4)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus)/ Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.042

Striped Mullet (Mugil cephalus):

0.021

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.021

Spotted Seatrout

(Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.021

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.021

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.021

Figure 1 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their CPUE values from each sample of mini fyke net collections at the lagoon on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 2 provides the approximated CPUE values for the number of individuals of a species per sample/hour using large fyke nets set in two different locations at the northern lagoon in South Carolina's Hunting Island State Park during August 2016. All nets were retrieved in 24 hour intervals aside from the collection on August 12, when the nets soaked for 48 hours before retrieval.

N. Lagoon: Large Fykes CPUE (Individuals/Hour) 8-Aug 9-Aug 10-Aug 12-Aug 13-Aug

Species Scientific NameEast

Side (1)West

Side (1)East

Side (2)West

Side (2)East

Side (3)West

Side (3)East

Side (4)West

Side (4)East

Side (5)West

Side (5)

Atlantic Menhaden

Brevoortia tyrannus 0 0.083 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

American Thread Herring

Opisthonema oglinum 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

White Mullet Mugil curema 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 0 0.042 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0 1.458 0.708 2.417 0 1.625 0.021 0.292 0.75 0Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0.208 0

Silver PerchBairdiella chrysoura 0.167 1.958 1.667 0.5 0 0.042 0.146 0.083 0.417 0.292

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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 8

SpotLeiostomus xanthurus 0 0.25 0.083 0.208 0 0 0 0 0.083 0.042

Spotted SeatroutCynoscion nebulosus 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.083 0

Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0

Atlantic CroakerMicropogonias undulatus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0.042

PinfishLagodon rhomboides 0 1.083 0.292 1.458 0 0.542 0.021 0.042 0.292 0.417

PigfishOrthopristis chrysopterus 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.042

MummichogFundulus heteroclitus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.021 0.167 0.083

Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.021 0 0Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.042Tidewater Mojarra

Eucinostomus harengulus 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0

Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0

Southern Flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma 0 0.083 0.083 0.083 0 0.042 0.042 0 0.042 0.042

Summer FlounderParalichthys dentatus 0 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northern Tonguefish

Symphurus pusillus 0.042 0.042 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0 0

HogchokerTrinectes maculatus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.125

Striped BurrfishChilomycterus schoepfi 0 0.083 0 0 0 0 0.021 0.021 0.125 0.083

Northern Pipefish Syngnathus fuscus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0

Atlantic SpadefishChaetodipterus faber 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.021 0 0 0

Bighead Sculpin Prionotus tribulus 0 0 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0 0Blue Crab (female)

Callinectes sapidus 0 0 0 0.042 0 0 0.021 0 0 0

Blue Crab (male)Callinectes sapidus 0.167 0.167 0.167 0.208 0 0.375 0.146 0.188 0.25 0.208

CPUE for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 2 (Individuals/Hour)Most Common ⇒ Less Common

East Side (1)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.167

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.167

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.042

N/A N/A N/A

West Side (1)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 1.958

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 1.458

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 1.083

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus):

0.250

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.167

Atlantic Menhaden

(Brevoortia tyrannus

Page 9: One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano- An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina's Atlantic Coast

Gramlin et al. 2016 - 9

)/Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma

)/Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.083

East Side (2)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 1.667

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.708

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.292

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus):

0.167

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus):

0.083

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.083

West Side (2)

Blue Crab (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.250

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 2.417

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 1.458

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.500

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus):

0.208

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.083

East Side (3)

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

West Side (3)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 1.625

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.542

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.375

Silver Perch (Bairdiella chrysoura

)/Great Barracuda

(Sphyraena barracuda):

0.042

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.042

Bighead Sculpin

(Prionotus tribulus): 0.042

East Side (4)

Blue Crab (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.167

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.146

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.042

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus)/Pinfish

(Lagodon rhomboides):

0.021

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi)/Atlantic Spadefish

(Chaetodipterus faber): 0.021

Blue Crab (Female)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.021

West Side (4)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.292

Blue Crab (Male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.188

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.083

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.042

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.042

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus)/Striped

Killifish (Male) (Fundulus

majalis)/Striped

Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.021

East Side

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.417

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.292

Inland Silverside (Menidia

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus):

Striped Burrfish(Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.125

Spot (Leiostomus

xanthuru

Page 10: One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano- An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine Species along South Carolina's Atlantic Coast

Gramlin et al. 2016 - 10

(5) beryllina): 0.208

0.167 s)/Spotted Seatrout

(Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.083

West Side (5)

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.417

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.292

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.208

Hogchoker (Trinectes

maculatus): 0.125

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.083

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.083

Figure 2 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their CPUE values from each sample of large fyke net collections at the lagoon on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 3 provides the approximated CPUE values for the number of individuals of a species per sample/seine haul using a 30.5-meter seine deployed in the northern lagoon on Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, in August 2016.

N. Lagoon: 30.5 m Seine CPUE (Individuals/Haul) 12-Aug 13-Aug

Species Scientific Name Haul 1 (1) Haul 2 (1) Haul 1 (2) Haul 2 (2)

White Mullet Mugil curema 0 3 4 0Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 0 0 2 0Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0 0 4 1Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 27 5 0 0Silver Perch Bairdiella chrysoura 0 1 0 0Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus 0 0 0 1Pinfish Lagodon rhomboides 0 0 4 3Gulf Killifish Fundulus grandis 67 61 17 4Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus 31 29 108 23Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 34 18 9 3Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 8 3 0 0Tidewater Mojarra Eucinostomus harengulus 4 32 51 0Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina 0 0 1 0Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfi 0 0 2 7Blue Crab (female) Callinectes sapidus 1 0 0 0Blue Crab (male) Callinectes sapidus 0 0 0 3

CPUE for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 3 (Individuals/Haul)Most Common ⇒ Less Common

Haul 1 (12-Aug)

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 67

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 27

Striped Killifish (male

and female) (Fundulus

majalis): 42

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus herngulus): 4

Blue Crab (female)

(Callinectes sapidus): 1

N/A

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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 11

Haul 2 (12-Aug)

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 61

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus): 32

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 29

Striped Killifish (male and

female) (Fundulus

majalis): 21

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 5

White Mullet (Mugil

curema): 3

Haul 1 (13-Aug)

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 108

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus): 51

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 17

Striped Killifish (Male)

(Fundulus majalis): 9

White Mullet (Mugil curem

a)/Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 4

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 4

Haul 2 (13-Aug)

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 23

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 7

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 4

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 3

Striped Killifish

(Male) (Fundulus majalis): 3

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 3

Figure 3 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their CPUE values from each sample of 30.5 m seine net collections at the lagoon on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 4 provides the approximated CPUE values for the number of individuals of a species per sample/seine haul using a 30.5-meter seine deployed at the beach adjacent to the Hunting Island State Park Campground in South Carolina during August 2016.

Beach: 30.5 m Seine CPUE (Individuals/Haul) 8-Aug 13-Aug

Species Scientific Name Haul 1 (1) Haul 1 (2) Haul 2 (2) Haul 3 (2) Haul 4 (2)

American Thread Herring Opisthonema oglinum 0 56 40 11 7Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0 19 37 26 11Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 0 8 20 42 29Silver Perch Bairdiella chrysoura 4 0 0 0 0Whiting Menticirrhus americanus 0 9 1 7 4Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0 6 0 3 1Tidewater Mojarra Eucinostomus harengulus 0 1 0 0 0Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina 0 4 0 4 5Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus 0 14 4 3 2Leatherjack Oligoplites saurus 0 1 0 0 0Northern Tonguefish Symphurus pusillus 1 0 0 0 0Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfi 0 2 0 1 0Speckled Crab Arenaeus cribrarius 0 6 0 0 0Lady Crab Ovalipes ocellatus 0 0 0 0 1Blue Crab (male) Callinectes sapidus 4 1 0 0 3

CPUE for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 4 (Individuals/Haul)Most Common ⇒ Less Common

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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 12

Haul 1 (8-Aug)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 4

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes sapidus): 4

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus pusillus): 1

N/A N/A N/A

Haul 1 (13-Aug)

American Thread

Herring (Opisthonema

oglinum): 56

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 19

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus): 14

Whiting (Menticirrhus

americanus): 9

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 8

Striped Killifish (male)

(Fundulus majalis)/

Speckled Crab (Arenaeus

cribrarius): 6

Haul 2 (13-Aug)

American Thread

Herring (Opisthonema

oglinum): 40

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 37

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 20

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus): 4

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

1

N/!

Haul 3 (13-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 42

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 26

American Thread Herring

(Opisthonema oglinum): 11

Whiting (Menticirrhus

americanus): 7

Atlantic Needlefish

(Strongylura marina): 4

Striped Killifish

(Fundulus majalis)/

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus): 3

Haul 4 (13-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 29

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 11

American Thread Herring

(Opisthonema oglinum): 7

Atlantic Needlefish

(Strongylura marina): 5

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

4

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 3

Figure 4 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their CPUE values from each sample of 30.5 m seine net collections at the beach near the campground on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 5 provides the approximated CPUE values for the number of individuals of a species per sample/seine haul using a 30.5-meter seine deployed at the tide pool north of the Hunting Island State Park Campground in South Carolina during August 2016.

Tide Pool: 30.5 m Seine CPUE (Individuals/Haul) 14-Aug

Species Scientific Name Haul 1 Haul 2 Haul 3 Haul 4

Smooth Butterfly Ray Gymnura micrura 0 0 1 2Atlantic Stingray Dasyatis sabina 1 1 1 0American Thread Herring Opisthonema oglinum 1 1 5 0White Mullet Mugil curema 34 1 2 5Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 5 4 329 6Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 1484 457 109 22Silver Perch Bairdiella chrysoura 0 0 1 0Spot Leiostomus xanthurus 0 0 10 0Whiting Menticirrhus americanus 29 6 86 31

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Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 12 4 7 54Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 6 0 0 0Tidewater Mojarra Eucinostomus harengulus 198 35 2 2Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina 0 0 4 0Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus 13 8 4 5Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma 0 0 1 0Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfi 0 0 1 8Speckled Crab Arenaeus cribrarius 0 0 0 8Blue Crab (male) Callinectes sapidus 1 0 0 0

CPUE for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 5 (Individuals/Haul)Most Common ⇒ Less Common

Haul 1 (14-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 1484

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus): 198

White Mullet (Mugil

curema): 34

Whiting (Menticirrhus

americanus): 29

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus): 13

Striped Killifish (male

and female) (Fundulus

majalis): 18

Haul 2 (14-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 457

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus): 35

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus): 8

Whiting (Menticirrhus

americanus): 6

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 4

Striped Killifish (male

and female) (Fundulus majalis): 4

Haul 3 (14-Aug)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 329

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 109

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

86

Spot (Menticirrhus

americanus): 10

Striped Killifish

(male) (Fundulus majalis): 7

American Thread Herring

(Opisthonema oglinum): 5

Haul 4 (14-Aug)

Striped Killifish

(Male) (Fundulus

majalis): 54

Whiting (Menticirrhus

americanus): 31

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 22

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 8

Speckled Crab (Arenaeus

cribrarius): 8

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 6

Figure 5 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their CPUE values from each sample of 30.5 m seine net collections at the tide pool north of the campground on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 6 provides the approximated Relative Abundance, or RA, values for organisms captured using mini fyke nets set in three different locations at the northern lagoon in South Carolina’s Hunting Island State Park during August 2016. The RA values reflect the number of individuals of a species in a sample per total number of collected individuals in a sample.

N. Lagoon: Mini Fykes Relative Abundance 8-Aug 9-Aug 10-Aug 12-Aug

Species Scientific Name West Side (1) Cente

East Side (1)

West Side (2)

Center (2)

East Side (2)

West Side (3)

Center (3)

East Side (3)

West Side (4)

Center (4)

East Side (4)

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r (1)

Atlantic Menhaden

Brevoortia tyrannus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.027 0

White Mullet Mugil curema 0 0 0 0 0.231 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 0 0.133 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.111Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0 0 0.071 0 0 0.048 0 0 0 0 0.054 0.222Inland Silverside

Menidia beryllina 0 0 0.786 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Silver PerchBairdiella chrysoura 0.444 0.067 0 0.357 0 0.571 0.556 0 0.571 0.414 0.054 0

SpotLeiostomus xanthurus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.027 0

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus 0 0 0 0 0.077 0 0 0 0 0.034 0.054 0.111

PinfishLagodon rhomboides 0 0.133 0 0.286 0.077 0.238 0.278 0 0.286 0.345 0.324 0.111

PigfishOrthopristis chrysopterus 0 0 0 0.071 0 0.048 0 0 0 0.069 0.081 0

MummichogFundulus heteroclitus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.111

Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 0 0.067 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Tidewater Mojarra

Eucinostomus harengulus 0 0.2 0 0 0.154 0 0 0 0 0 0.027 0.111

Great Barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda 0 0 0 0 0.077 0 0 0 0 0.034 0 0

LeatherjackOligoplites saurus 0 0 0 0 0.077 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northern Tonguefish

Symphurus pusillus 0.111 0.067 0 0 0.077 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Striped BurrfishChilomycterus schoepfi 0 0.267 0.143 0.143 0 0.048 0 0 0 0 0.108 0

Oyster Toadfish Opsanus tau 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.143 0 0 0Blue Crab (female)

Callinectes sapidus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Blue Crab (male)

Callinectes sapidus 0.444 0.067 0 0.143 0.231 0.048 0.167 0 0 0.103 0.243 0.222

RA for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 6Most Common ⇒ Less Common

West Side (1)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.444

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.444

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.111

N/A N/A N/A

Center (1) Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.267

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.200

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.133

Striped Mullet (Mugil

cephalus): 0.133

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura)/ Striped

Killifish

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus)/ Blue Crab

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(female) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.067

(male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.067

East Side (1)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.786

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.143

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.071

N/A N/A N/A

West Side (2)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.357

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.286

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.143

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus):

0.143

Pigfish (Orthopristis

chrysopterus): 0.071

N/A

Center (2) White Mullet (Mugil curema):

0.231

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.231

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.154

Spotted Seatrout

(Cynoscion nebulosus)/

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.077

Great Barracuda

(Sphyraena barracuda)/ Leatherjack (Oligoplites

saurus): 0.077

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.077

East Side (2)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.571

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.238

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.048

Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysopterus:

0.048

Oyster Toadfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.048

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus):

0.048

West Side (3)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.556

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.278

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.167

N/A N/A N/A

Center (3) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

East Side (3)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.571

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.286

Oyster Toadfish (Opsanus tau):

0.143

N/A N/A N/A

West Side (4)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.414

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.345

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.103

Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysopteru

s): 0.069

Spotted Seatrout

(Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.034

Great Barracuda

(Sphyraena barracuda):

0.034

Center (4) Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.324

Blue Crab (Male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.243

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.108

Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysopteru

s): 0.081

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus)/ Silver Perch

(Bairdiella chrysoura):

0.054

Spotted Seatrout

(Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.054

East Side (4)

Blue Crab (Male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.222

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.222

Striped Mullet (Mugil

cephalu

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides):

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus):

Tidewater Mojarra

(

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s)/Spotted Seatrout

(Cynoscion nebulosus):

0.111

0.111 0.111 Eucinostomus

harengulus): 0.111

Figure 6 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their RA values from each sample of mini fyke net collections at the northern lagoon on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 7 provides the approximated RA values for organisms captured using large fyke nets set in two different locations at the northern lagoon in South Carolina’s Hunting Island State Park during August 2016. The RA values reflect the number of individuals of a species in a sample per total number of collected individuals in a sample.

N. Lagoon: Large Fykes Relative Abundance 8-Aug 9-Aug 10-Aug 12-Aug 13-Aug

Species Scientific NameEast

Side (1)West

Side (1)East

Side (2)West

Side (2)East

Side (3)West

Side (3)East

Side (4)West

Side (4)East

Side (5)West

Side (5)

Atlantic Menhaden

Brevoortia tyrannus 0 0.015 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

American Thread Herring

Opisthonema oglinum 0 0.008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

White Mullet Mugil curema 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 0 0.008 0.014 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0 0.267 0.233 0.487 0 0.6 0.048 0.412 0.29 0Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 0 0 0 0.008 0 0 0 0 0.081 0

Silver PerchBairdiella chrysoura 0.444 0.359 0.548 0.101 0 0.015 0.333 0.118 0.161 0.206

SpotLeiostomus xanthurus 0 0.046 0.027 0.042 0 0 0 0 0.032 0.029

Spotted SeatroutCynoscion nebulosus 0 0.008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.032 0

Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.016 0

Atlantic CroakerMicropogonias undulatus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.016 0.029

PinfishLagodon rhomboides 0 0.198 0.096 0.294 0 0.2 0.048 0.059 0.113 0.294

PigfishOrthopristis chrysopterus 0 0.008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.029

MummichogFundulus heteroclitus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.029 0.065 0.059

Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.029 0 0Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.029Tidewater Eucinostomus 0 0.008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.016 0

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Mojarra harengulus

Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda 0 0 0 0 0 0.015 0 0 0 0

Southern Flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma 0 0.015 0.027 0.017 0 0.015 0.095 0 0.016 0.029

Summer FlounderParalichthys dentatus 0 0.008 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northern Tonguefish

Symphurus pusillus 0.111 0.008 0 0 0 0 0 0.059 0 0

HogchokerTrinectes maculatus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.088

Striped BurrfishChilomycterus schoepfi 0 0.015 0 0 0 0 0.048 0.029 0.048 0.059

Northern Pipefish Syngnathus fuscus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.016 0

Atlantic SpadefishChaetodipterus faber 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.048 0 0 0

Bighead Sculpin Prionotus tribulus 0 0 0 0 0 0.015 0 0 0 0Blue Crab (female)

Callinectes sapidus 0 0 0 0.008 0 0 0.048 0 0 0

Blue Crab (male)Callinectes sapidus 0.444 0.031 0.055 0.042 0 0.138 0.333 0.265 0.097 0.147

RA for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 7Most Common ⇒ Less Common

East Side (1)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.444

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.444

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.111

N/A N/A N/A

West Side (1)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.359

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.267

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.198

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus):

0.046

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.031

Atlantic Menhaden

(Brevoortia tyrannus)/ Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma)/

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.015

East Side (2)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.548

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.233

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.096

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus):

0.055

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus):

0.027

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.027

West Side (2)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.487

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.294

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.101

Blue Crab (male and

female) (Callinectes

sapidus):

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus):

0.042

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.017

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0.05

East Side (3)

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

West Side (3)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.600

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.200

Blue Crab (male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.138

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura)/ Great

Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda):

0.015

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.015

Bighead Sculpin

(Prionotus tribulus): 0.015

East Side (4)

Blue Crab (male and female) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.381

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.333

Southern Flounder

(Paralichthys lethostigma):

0.095

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.048

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.048

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.048

West Side (4)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.412

Blue Crab (Male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.265

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.118

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides)/ Northern

Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.059

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus)/ Striped Killifish

(Fundulus majalis): 0.029

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.029

East Side (5)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.161

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.113

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.097

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.081

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.065

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus schoepfi):

0.048

West Side (5)

Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides):

0.294

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.206

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus): 0.147

Hogchoker (Trinectes

maculatus): 0.088

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.059

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.059

Figure 7 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their RA values from each sample of large fyke net collections at the northern lagoon on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 8 provides the approximated RA values for organisms captured using a 30.5-meter seine deployed in the northern lagoon on Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, in August 2016. The RA values reflect the number of individuals of a species in a sample per total number of collected individuals in a sample.

N. Lagoon: 30.5 m Seine Relative Abundance 12-Aug 13-Aug

Species Scientific Name Haul 1 (1) Haul 2 (1) Haul 1 (2) Haul 2 (2)

White Mullet Mugil curema 0 0.02 0.02 0Striped Mullet Mugil cephalus 0 0 0.01 0

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Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0 0 0.02 0.022Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 0.157 0.033 0 0Silver Perch Bairdiella chrysoura 0 0.007 0 0Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus 0 0 0 0.022Pinfish Lagodon rhomboides 0 0 0.02 0.067Gulf Killifish Fundulus grandis 0.39 0.401 0.084 0.089Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus 0.18 0.191 0.535 0.511Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0.198 0.118 0.045 0.067Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 0.047 0.02 0 0Tidewater Mojarra Eucinostomus harengulus 0.023 0.211 0.252 0Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina 0 0 0.005 0Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfi 0 0 0.01 0.156Blue Crab (female) Callinectes sapidus 0.006 0 0 0Blue Crab (male) Callinectes sapidus 0 0 0 0.067

RA for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 8Most Common ⇒ Less Common

Haul 1 (12-Aug)

Striped Killifish (male and

female) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.245

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.157

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 0.39

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.180

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.023

Blue Crab (female)

(Callinectes sapidus):

0.006

Haul 2 (12-Aug)

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 0.401

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.211

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.191

Striped Killifish (male

and female) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.138

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.033

White Mullet (Mugil

curema): 0.020

Haul 1 (13-Aug)

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.535

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.252

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 0.084

Striped Killifish

(Male) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.045

White Mullet (Mugil

curema)/ Striped

Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.020

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.020

Haul 2 (13-Aug)

Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus): 0.511

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.156

Gulf Killifish (Fundulus

grandis): 0.089

Pinfish (Lagodon

rhomboides): 0.067

Striped Killifish

(Male) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.067

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes sapidus):

(0.067)

Figure 8 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their RA values from each sample of 30.5 m seine net collections at the northern lagoon on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

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Table 9 provides the approximated RA values for organisms captured using a 30.5-meter seine deployed at the beach adjacent to the Hunting Island State Park Campground in South Carolina during August 2016. The RA values reflect the number of individuals of a species in a sample per total number of collected individuals in a sample.

Beach: 30.5 m Seine Relative Abundance 8-Aug 13-Aug

Species Scientific Name Haul 1 (1) Haul 1 (2) Haul 2 (2) Haul 3 (2) Haul 4 (2)

American Thread Herring Opisthonema oglinum 0 0.441 0.392 0.113 0.111Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0 0.15 0.363 0.268 0.175Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 0 0.063 0.196 0.433 0.46Silver Perch Bairdiella chrysoura 0.444 0 0 0 0Whiting Menticirrhus americanus 0 0.071 0.01 0.072 0.063Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0 0.047 0 0.031 0.016Tidewater Mojarra Eucinostomus harengulus 0 0.008 0 0 0Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina 0 0.031 0 0.041 0.079Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus 0 0.11 0.039 0.031 0.032Leatherjack Oligoplites saurus 0 0.008 0 0 0Northern Tonguefish Symphurus pusillus 0.111 0 0 0 0Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfi 0 0.016 0 0.01 0Speckled Crab Arenaeus cribrarius 0 0.047 0 0 0Lady Crab Ovalipes ocellatus 0 0 0 0 0.016Blue Crab (male) Callinectes sapidus 0.444 0.008 0 0 0.048

RA for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 9Most Common ⇒ Less Common

Haul 1 (8-Aug)

Silver Perch (Bairdiella

chrysoura): 0.444

Blue Crab (male) (Callinectes

sapidus): 0.444

Northern Tonguefish (Symphurus

pusillus): 0.111

N/A N/A N/A

Haul 1 (13-Aug)

American Thread Herring

(Opisthonema oglinum): 0.441

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.150

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

0.071

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.063

Striped Killifish

(male) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.047

Speckled Crab (Arenaeus

cribrarius): 0.047

Haul 2 (13-Aug)

American Thread Herring

(Opisthonema oglinum): 0.392

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.363

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.196

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus):

0.039

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

0.010

N/A

Haul 3 (13-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.433

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.268

American Thread Herring

(Opisthonema oglinum):

0.113

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

0.072

Atlantic Needlefish

(Strongylura marina):

0.041

Florida Pompano

(Strongylura marina): 0.031

Haul 4 (13-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.460

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.175

American Thread Herring

(Opisthonema

Atlantic Needlefish

(Strongylura

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

Blue Crab (Male)

(Callinectes

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oglinum): 0.111

marina): 0.079 0.063 sapidus): 0.048

Figure 9 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their RA values from each sample of 30.5 m seine net collections at the beach near the campground on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Table 10 provides the approximated RA values for organisms captured using a 30.5-meter seine deployed at the tide pool north of the Hunting Island State Park Campground in South Carolina during August 2016. The RA values reflect the number of individuals of a species in a sample per total number of collected individuals in a sample.

Tide Pool: 30.5 m Seine Relative Abundance 14-Aug

Species Scientific Name Haul 1 Haul 2 Haul 3 Haul 4

Smooth Butterfly Ray Gymnura micrura 0 0 0.00178 0.014Atlantic Stingray Dasyatis sabina 0.000561 0.00193 0.00178 0American Thread Herring Opisthonema oglinum 0.000561 0.00193 0.00888 0White Mullet Mugil curema 0.019 0.00193 0.00355 0.035Striped Anchovy Anchoa hepsetus 0.0028 0.000774 0.584 0.042Inland Silverside Menidia beryllina 0.832 0.884 0.194 0.154Silver Perch Bairdiella chrysoura 0 0 0.00178 0Spot Leiostomus xanthurus 0 0 0.0178 0Whiting Menticirrhus americanus 0.016 0.012 0.153 0.217Striped Killifish (male) Fundulus majalis 0.00673 0.00774 0.012 0.378Striped Killifish (female) Fundulus majalis 0.00336 0 0 0Tidewater Mojarra Eucinostomus harengulus 0.111 0.068 0.00355 0.014Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina 0 0 0.0071 0Florida Pompano Trachinotus carolinus 0.00729 0.015 0.0071 0.035Southern Flounder Paralichthys lethostigma 0 0 0.00178 0Striped Burrfish Chilomycterus schoepfi 0 0 0.00178 0.056Speckled Crab Arenaeus cribrarius 0 0 0 0.056Blue Crab (male) Callinectes sapidus 0.000561 0 0 0

RA for 6 Most Common Species/Sample in Table 10Most Common ⇒ Less Common

Haul 1 (14-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.832

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.111

White Mullet (Mugil

curema): 0.019

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

0.016

Striped Killifish (male

and female) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.010

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus):

0.00729

Haul 2 (14-Aug)

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.884

Tidewater Mojarra

(Eucinostomus harengulus):

0.068

Florida Pompano

(Trachinotus carolinus):

0.015

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

0.012

Striped Killifish

(male) (Fundulus

majalis):

Atlantic Stingray

(Dasyatis sabina)/

American

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Gramlin et al. 2016 - 22

0.00774 Thread Herring

(Opisthonema oglinum)/

White Mullet (Mugil

curema): 0.00193

Haul 3 (14-Aug)

Striped Anchovy (Anchoa

hepsetus): 0.584

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.194

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

0.153

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus):

0.0178

Striped Killifish

(Male) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.012

American Thread

Herring (Opisthonema

oglinum): 0.009

Haul 4 (14-Aug)

Striped Killifish (Male) (Fundulus

majalis): 0.378

Whiting (Menticirrhus americanus):

0.217

Inland Silverside (Menidia

beryllina): 0.154

Striped Burrfish

(Chilomycterus

schoepfi): 0.056

Speckled Crab (Arenaeus

cribrarius): 0.056

White Mullet (Mugil

curema)/ Florida

Pompano (Trachinotus

carolinus): 0.035

Figure 10 displays the top 6 most common species caught and their RA values from each sample of 30.5 m seine net collections at the tide pool north of the campground on Hunting Island, South Carolina, in August 2016. The most common species appears on the left, and then the chart decreases leading to the sixth most common species on the right.

Total Number of Captured Species at Each Location

Northern Lagoon Beach Tide Pool

Fish Species: 28 Fish Species: 12 Fish Species: 15

Invertebrate Species: 1 Invertebrate Species: 3 Invertebrate Species: 2

Total Species: 29 Total Species: 15 Total Species: 17

Figure 11 reflects the number of species collected in each of the three locations sampled in Hunting Island, South Carolina. The data obtained in the Northern Lagoon column comes from adding the number of fish and invertebrate species collected in mini and large fyke nets, as well as hauls of a 30.5-meter seine. The data in the Beach and Tide Pool columns display the results of hauling the 30.5-meter seine along the beach outside of the Hunting Island Campground and the tide pool just north of the campground.

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Table 11 provides the Shannon index values of the samples taken from the exposed beach, lagoon, and tide pool according to capture data from the seine nets. Equitability refers to the evenness of spread of individuals across all species sampled.

Site Sampled Shannon Index Equitability

Lagoon 2.571 0.927

Exposed Beach 1.853 0.684

Tide Pool 1.950 0.703

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DISCUSSIONThe types of marine organisms we captured based on the habitats we sampled did not

surprise us. We mainly captured juvenile and smaller fish species, and invertebrates. This is

what we expected by sampling in the lagoon, along the beach, and in the tide pools, as the warm,

shallow waters of these sites were predicted to serve as a nursery for juvenile populations. All of

these habitats lend themselves to smaller species and younger fish because they are safer

environments, away from the open ocean that would have more predators and more harsh

conditions.

Our sampling techniques likely biased our data. Seine nets can only be utilized to capture

individuals swimming near shore and in relatively shallow water. Organisms that spend the

majority of their time on the bottom typically were not captured using the seine such as Southern

Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma), Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), Northern

Toungefish (Symhurus pusillus), and Hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus), as they had a high

likelihood of evading capture below the net. However, seines were used to capture Smooth

Butterfly Rays (Gymnura micrura) and Atlantic Stingrays (Dasyatis Sabina). The smaller

demersal fish most likely escaped under the beach seine since it was not always in contact with

the bottom. Many of the faster swimming fish were lost using the seines. This was likely

attributable to user error or inefficient use of the nets.

The fyke nets captured a larger range of fish. These were set for a longer amount of time,

allowing for a greater range of fish to be captured which could account for fish more active at

different parts of the day. The nets were also set in deeper parts of the lagoon, which could

account for a greater range of organisms. The fyke nets did carry a slight bias in their design, as

they are only capable of capturing organisms that swim or crawl along the lagoon margins and

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were trapped. This design tended to exclude many sedentary species, as well as species which

never occurred in <5 m of the shoreline. Additionally, some species less susceptible to being

captured were demersal species such as P. lethostigma, P. dentatus, S. pusillus, T. maculatus, G.

micrura and D. Sabina. They were usually buried in the sand and were harder to capture,

especially when there were issues with keeping the lead lines on the bottom.

In order to consider what differences may exist between the fyke and seine net data, the

metric of CPUE was used to consider the relative efficiency which each rigging had at sampling

in terms of quantity of catch. From data collected, we conclude that the fyke nets were generally

more productive mechanisms or sampling across a wide span of species, although the seine nets

produced significantly more individuals (primarily of schooling fish such as Menidia beryllina).

In order to classify the relative health of each habitat in terms of its supported

biodiversity, the data from seine net pulls was utilized to calculate the Shannon index of all

sampled individuals from the lagoon, beach, and tide pool. From this, it was determined that the

lagoon supports a significantly higher diversity of organisms, with the exposed beach supporting

the least in this comparison. Further, the evenness of distribution of individuals amongst the

sampled species was also the highest in the lagoon, while an overwhelming majority of the

individuals sampled in the exposed beach were varieties of only a few species, leading to low

equitability. The Tide pool produced intermediate values for both the Shannon index and

equitability.

Initial data suggests that there was a slight yet significant difference between the samples

which were set for 24 hours in comparison to the set which lasted 48 hours. We attribute this

difference likely to the design of the fyke net permitting free movement of most organisms

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throughout the rigging during the set time. This design would potentially create a habitat in

which larger, carnivorous individuals had a significant advantage against smaller, defenseless

individuals which might otherwise rely on camouflage to evade detection. This pressure would

be expected in a lesser degree in the 24 hour sets, and would likely have a negative impact on

species richness, as predatory individuals would experience a strong selective advantage and

likely would remove a significant portion of the population from the sample before we were able

to remove it. This would likely decrease our overall CPUE for the the 48 hour set, as the longer

soak time would allow for 1) removal of organisms due to internal predation and 2) the unlikely

occurrence of escape of individuals from the net, which we believe would not be offset by the

longer soak time increasing the catchment.

These areas are biased towards smaller organisms, under 10cm. The majority of the

organisms we captured were rather small for their species; we concluded they represent mainly

juveniles. This correlation shows that this habitat is likely a great nursery for young fish, mostly

due to the protection provided in the shallow waters. Upon maturation, these species clearly

move to another area to live their adult lives, as mature adults represent little to none of the

populations of the various species. There were a few species such as the Mummichog (Fundulus

heteroclitus), Striped Killifish (Fundulus majalis), Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna), Striped

Anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus), and Inland Silverside (Menidia beryllina) that were closer to

maturity. This tells us these organisms make this their permanent habit, likely for the same

reasons as the juveniles. Here they are protected from predators in the shallow water of the

lagoon, tide pools, and beach.

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Salt Lakes: Buried Pools of Endemic Biodiversity on the Western Plateau, Australia.”

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Macpherson, E. 2002. “Large-Scale Species-Richness Gradients in the Atlantic Ocean.” Proceedings:

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