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Population Dynamics of Common Nearshore Forage Fishes in the Delaware Inland Bays, USA

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Abstract

In the Mid-Atlantic, four species of forage fish, Menidia menidia (Atlantic Silverside), Fundulus heteroclitus (Mummichog), Fundulus majalis (Striped Killifish), and Cyprinodon variegatus (Sheepshead Minnow), account for a large proportion of fish abundance in estuarine environments and are important food sources for state and federally managed predatory species. The population dynamics of these species are poorly understood, and factors affecting their populations are largely unclear or unknown. Seine samples were collected in the Delaware Inland Bays over 9 years (2011–2019), with indices and trends in abundance, as well as climatic and biotic drivers of population changes investigated at both combined estuary and individual bay scales. Average interannual decreases in abundance for all four species at the combined estuary scale ranged between 31.9 and 69.2%, while increases ranged between 65.9 and 178.6%, indicating the extreme variability these species show between years. Standardized models of abundance demonstrated long-term declines in abundance for Mummichog and Sheepshead Minnow at both the combined estuary and individual bay scales. Spring discharge affected Mummichog and Sheepshead Minnow abundance, and Sheepshead Minnow showed a strong negative correlation with Summer Flounder abundance. These data quantify the variability in abundance for an important portion of the forage base in Mid-Atlantic estuaries and should be considered as fisheries management shifts away from single-species approaches and recognizes the forage needs of managed species. Results indicate that even commonly encountered species can consistently vary through time and emphasize the need to examine other important but poorly studied forage species.

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Acknowledgements

This work would not have been possible without the amazing group of volunteers who have collected the data used in this study. Particular thanks must be given to the late Ron Kernehan for starting this survey. Thank you to Dr. Marianne Walch, John Clark, and Roy Miller for their oversight and advice with the survey.

Funding

This work was funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (cooperative agreements EPA—CE-993990–10, -11, -12, -13, -14, -15) and by grants from the State of Delaware, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

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  1. Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, 39375 Inlet Road, Rehoboth Beach, Delware, 19971, USA

    Andrew T. McGowan & Dennis H. Bartow

  2. University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program, College of Earth, Ocean & Environment, School of Marine Science & Policy, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delware, 19958, USA

    Edward A. Hale

  3. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delware, 19901, USA

    Michael Greco

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  1. Andrew T. McGowan
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Correspondence to Andrew T. McGowan.

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The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays is a non-profit organization and a National Estuary Program. It was created to promote the wise use and enhancement of the Inland Bays watershed by conducting public outreach and education, developing and implementing restoration projects, encouraging scientific inquiry and sponsoring needed research, and establishing a long-term process for the protection and preservation of the Inland Bays watershed. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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McGowan, A.T., Hale, E.A., Bartow, D.H. et al. Population Dynamics of Common Nearshore Forage Fishes in the Delaware Inland Bays, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 45, 2181–2203 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-022-01066-w

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