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Comparison of fish and macroinvertebrate use ofTypha angustifolia, Phragmites australis, and treatedPhragmites marshes along the lower Connecticut River

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Abstract

Since 1965 large areas of lower Connecticut River tidelands have been converted from high diversity brackish meadow andTypha angustifolia marsh to near monocultures ofPhragmites australis. This study addresses the impact ofPhragmites invasion on fish and crustacean use of oligohaline high marsh. During spring tides from early June through early September 2000, fishes and crustaceans leaving flooded marsh along 3 km of the Lieutenant River, a lower Connecticut River tributary, were captured with Breder traps at 90 sites, equally distributed amongPhragmites, Typha, and treated (herbicide and mowing)Phragmites areas. Pit traps, 18 per vegetation type in 2000 and 30 each inPhragmites andTypha in 2001, caught larvae and juveniles at distances of up to 30 m into the marsh interior. There were no significant differences in fish species compositions or abundances among the vegetation types. Size distributions, size specific biomasses, and diets ofFundulus heteroclitus, the numerically dominant fish, were also similar. The shrimpPalaemonetes pugio was more abundant inPhragmites than in other types of vegetation, whereas the fiddler crabUca minax was least numerous inPhragmites. Mean numbers ofF. heteroclitus andP. pugio caught per site event were positively correlated with increasing site hydroperiod. Significantly moreF. heteroclitus were captured along the upper reach of the river where marsh elevations were lower than farther downstream. MoreF. heteroclitus and fewerP. pugio andU. minax were captured during the day than at night. A relatively small number of larval and juvenileFundulus sp. were captured in pit traps, but consistently fewer inPhragmites than inTypha, suggesting thatTypha and brackish meadow marshes may provide better nursery habitat. Vegetation was sampled along a 30 m transect at each trap site in 2000. Plant species diversity was greatest in treatedPhragmites areas and lowest inPhragmites sites.

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  1. Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue, 06320-4196, New London, Connecticut

    Paul E. Fell, R. Scott Warren, John K. Light, Robert L. Rawson & Sean M. Fairley

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Fell, P.E., Scott Warren, R., Light, J.K. et al. Comparison of fish and macroinvertebrate use ofTypha angustifolia, Phragmites australis, and treatedPhragmites marshes along the lower Connecticut River. Estuaries 26, 534–551 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02823729

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