Seagrass habitat utilization by fishes in Christmas Bay, Texas
Date
1997
Authors
Crotwell, Patricia Lynn
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Texas A&M University
Abstract
This report presents an analysis of fish populations in Christmas Bay, Texas during the period of April, 1994 to March, 1995. Data includes statistics concerning density, biomass, and diversity. Variations in these parameters are then related to concurrent hydrographic conditions and sea grass biomass. Christmas Bay was found to have greater overall density than reported in other sea grass habitats. However, all population parameters examined varied monthly and seasonally. Water temperature and salinity exerted the most significant effects, while sea grass biomass had only a small-scale, random effect. Background literature is reviewed, and all supportive data analyses are presented.
Description
93 pgs.
Keywords
sea grass, marine fish, aquatic communities, underwater habitats, salinity effects, temperature effects