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Small Spatial Scale Variation in Fish Assemblage Structure in the Vicinity of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone

Estuaries and Coasts volume 36, pages 268–285 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Seasonal hypoxia [dissolved oxygen (DO) ≤ 2 mg l−1] occurs over large regions of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf during the summer months (June–August) as a result of nutrient enrichment from the Mississippi–Atchafalaya River system. We characterized the community structure of mobile fishes and invertebrates (i.e., nekton) in and around the hypoxic zone using 3 years of bottom trawl and hydrographic data. Species richness and total abundance were lowest in anoxic waters (DO ≤ 1 mg l−1) and increased at intermediate DO levels (2–4 mg l−1). Species were primarily structured as a benthic assemblage dominated by Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) and sand and silver seatrout (Cynoscion spp.), and a pelagic assemblage dominated by Atlantic bumper (Chloroscombrus chrysurus). Of the environmental variables examined, bottom DO and distance to the edge of the hypoxic zone were most strongly correlated with assemblage structure, while temperature and depth were important in some years. Hypoxia altered the spatial distribution of both assemblages, but these effects were more severe for the benthic assemblage than for the pelagic assemblage. Brown shrimp, the primary target of the commercial shrimp trawl fishery during the summer, occurred in both assemblages, but was more abundant within the benthic assemblage. Given the similarity of the demersal nekton community described here to that taken as bycatch in the shrimp fishery, our results suggest that hypoxia-induced changes in spatial dynamics have the potential to influence harvest and bycatch interactions in and around the Gulf hypoxic zone.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the crew of the R/V Tommy Munro, the R/V Texas Longhorn, and numerous technicians and volunteers for help in conducting the research cruises. We thank T. Henwood, B. Pellegrin, and S. Nichols of the National Marine Fisheries Service Pascagoula Laboratory for valuable advice and the use of trawl gear. We thank A. Hohn, D. Meyer, K. Purcell, and two anonymous reviewers for comments on the manuscript. Financial support for this project was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration (NOAA) Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research under award No. NA05NOS4781197 and No. NA03NOS4780040. This is NGOMEX publication number 165. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of NOAA or any of its sub-agencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Beaufort Laboratory, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, 101 Pivers Island Rd., Beaufort, NC, 28516-9722, USA

    J. Kevin Craig

  2. Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State University, 3618 Highway 98, St. Teresa, FL, 32358-2702, USA

    Samantha H. Bosman

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  1. J. Kevin Craig
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  2. Samantha H. Bosman
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Correspondence to J. Kevin Craig.

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Craig, J.K., Bosman, S.H. Small Spatial Scale Variation in Fish Assemblage Structure in the Vicinity of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone. Estuaries and Coasts 36, 268–285 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9577-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-012-9577-9

Keywords

  • Hypoxia
  • Assemblage structure
  • Gulf of Mexico
  • Spatial dynamics
  • Edge effects
  • Eutrophication
  • Bycatch
  • Community dynamics