Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Habitat utilization by small flatfishes in a North Carolina estuary

  • Published:
Estuaries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Distribution and abundance of flatfish species (<150 mm standard length) were related to habitat characteristics in the Newport River and Back Sound estuaries in North Carolina. Salinity, turbidity, depth, distance from marsh edge, benthic composition, and grain size were used to describe the different shallow water habitats from April through October 1994. One Scophthalmidae, seven Paralichthyidae, one Achiridae, and one Cynoglossidae species were collected during the study including juvenileParalichthys albigutta (gulf flounder),P. dentatus (summer flounder), andP. lethostigma (southern flounder) along with multiple age classes ofCitharichthys spilopterus (bay whiff),Etropus crossotus (fringed flounder),Symphurus plagiusa (blackcheek tonguefish), andTrinetes maculatus (hogchoker). Incidental catches ofAncylopsetta quadrocellata (ocellated flounder),C. macrops (spotted whiff), andScopthalmus aquosus (windowpane) were also made. Flatfish distributions among habitats varied by species, size within species, and season. Regardless of season, the highest densities of flatfishes were found in the upper estuary. All habitats were used by one or more species and most species occurred at several habitats. Some species were significantly more abundant at specific habitat types. Ontogenetic shifts in habitat utilization were found for several species. High densities of smallP. lethostigma, C. spilopterus, S. plagiusa, andT. maculatus occurred in the upper estuary on muddy substrates. LargeP. dentatus, C. spilopterus, S. plagiusa, andT. maculatus utilized sand flats and channels in the lower estuary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Able, K. W. andS. C. Kaiser. 1994. Synthesis of summer flounder habitat parameters. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Ocean Program Decision Analysis Series No. 1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Ocean Office, Silver Spring, Maryland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, R. L. andD. M. Baltz. 1997. Distribution and microhabitat use by flatfishes in a Louisiana estuary.Environmental Biology of Fishes 50:85–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkeley, S. A., D. W. Pybas, andW. L. Compos. 1985. Bait shrimp of Biscayne Bay. Florida Sea Grant Extension Program. NA80AA-D-00038. Florida Sea Grant Extension Program, Gainesville, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Box, G. E. P., W. G. Hunter, andJ. S. Hunter. 1978. Statistics for experimenters: An introduction to design, data analysis, and model building. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, J. S. 1995. Role of feeding and prey distribution of summer and southern flounder in selection of estuarine nursery habitats.Journal of Fish Biology 47:355–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, J. S., J. M. Miller, andD. E. Hoss. 1991. Immigration and settlement pattern ofParalichthys dentatus andP. lethosligma in a estuarine nursery ground, North Carolina, USA.Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 27:393–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, J. R. 1992. Coastal degradation and fish population losses, p. 45–51.In R. H. Stroud (ed.), Stemming the Tide of Coastal Fish Habitat Loss. National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Savannah, Georgia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cyrus, D. P. 1992. Turbidity gradients in two Indo-Pacific estuaries and their influence on fish distribution.Southern African Journal of Aquatic Sciences 18:51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cyrus, D. P. andS. J. M. Blaber. 1992. Turbidity and salinity in a tropical northern Australian estuary and their influence on fish distribution.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 35:545–563.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dovel, W. L., J. A. Mihursky, andA. J. McErlean. 1969. Life history aspects of the hogchoker,Trinectes maculatus, in the Patuxent River Estuary, Maryland.Chesapeake Science 10:104–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutherz, E. J. 1967. Field Guide to the Flatfishes of the Family Bothidae in the Western North Atlantic. United States Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hettler, Jr.,W. F. 1989. Nekton use of regularly-flooded saltmarsh cordgrass habitat in North Carolina, USA.Marine Ecology Progress Series 56:111–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hettler, Jr.,W. F. andA. J. Chester. 1990. Temporal distribution of ichthyoplankton near Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina.Marine Ecology Progress Series 68:157–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirby-Smith, W. W. andJ. D. Costlow. 1989. The Newport River estuarine system. University of North Carolina Sea Grant College Publication. UNC-SG-89-04. University of North Carolina, Beaufort, North Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuipers, B. 1975. On the efficiency of a two-meter beam trawl for juvenile plaice (Pleuronectes platessa).Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 9:69–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, F. D. andG. E. Drewry. 1978. Development of fishes of the Mid-Atlantic Bight, An atlas of egg, larval, and juvenile stages, Volume VI, Stromateidae through Ogcocephalidae. Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minello, T. J., R. J. Zimmerman, andE. X. Martinez. 1987. Fish predation on brown shrimp,Penaeus aztecus Ives: Effects of turbidity and substratum on predation rates.Fishery Bulletin 85:59–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munroe, T. A. 1992. Interdigitation pattern of dorsal-fin pterygiophores and neural spines, and important diagnostic character for Symphurine tonguefishes (Symphurus: Cynoglossidae: Pleuronectiformes).Bulletin of Marine Science 50:357–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munroe, T. A. 1998. Systematics and ecology of tonguefishes of the genusSymphurus (Cynoglossidae: Pleuronectiformes) from the western Atlantic Ocean.Fishery Bulletin 96:1–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, D. M., E. A. Irlandi, L. R. Settle, M. E. Monaco, andL. Coston-Clements. 1991. Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in southeast estuaries. Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program Report No. 9. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Ocean Service Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, Silver Spring, Maryland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ott, L. 1988. An Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis, 3rd Edition. PWS-Kent Publishing Company, Boston, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, D. S. andF. A. Cross. 1992. What is coastal fish habitat?, p. 17–22.In R. H. Stroud (ed.), Stemming the Tide of Coastal Fish Habitat Loss. National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Savannah, Georgia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, A. B. andF. J. Schwartz. 1977. Distribution of paralichthid flounders (Bothidae:Paralichthys) in North Carolina estuaries.Chesapeake Science 18:334–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plumb, R. H. 1981. Procedures for handling and chemical analysis of sediment and water samples. Environmental Laboratory, United States Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulley, M. G. 1993. Pamlico Sound survey September 1992 cruise report. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Marine Fisheries, Morehead City, North Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichert, M. J. M. andH. W. Van der Veer. 1991. Settlement, abundance, growth and mortality of juvenile flatfish in a subtropical estuary (Georgia, U.S.A.).Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 27:375–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, S. G., T. E. Targett, andS. B. Van Sant. 1984. Fishnursery use in Georgia salt-marsh estuaries: The influence of springtime freshwater conditions.Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 113:595–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, S. W. andS. P. Epperly. 1985. Utilization of shallow estuarine nursery areas by fishes in Pamlico Sound and adjacent tributaries, North Carolina, p. 207–232.In A. Yanez-Aranciba (ed.), Fish Community Ecology in Estuaries and Coastal Lagoons: Towards an Ecosystem Integration. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Press, Mexico.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryder, R. A. and S. R. Kerr. 1989. Environmental priorities: placing habitat in hierarchic perspective. 105:2–12.In C. D. Levings, L. B. Holt, and M. A. Henderson (eds.), Proceedings of the National Workshop on Effects of Habitat Alteration on Salmonid Stocks.Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

  • SASInstitute, Inc. 1987. SAS/STAT Guide for Personal Computers, Version 6. Cary, North Carolina.

  • Schwartz, F. J., W. T. Hogarth, andM. P. Weinstein. 1982. Marine and freshwater fishes of the Cape Fear Estuary, North Carolina, and their distribution in relation to environmental factors.Brimleyana 7:17–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer, V. G. and K. D. Woodburn. 1960. An ecological study of the fishes of the Tampa Bay area. Florida State Board of Conservation and Marine Laboratory, Professional Paper Series Number 1. St. Petersburg, Florida.

  • Tucker, Jr.,J. W. 1982. Larval development ofCitharichthys cornutus, C. gymnorhinus, C. spilopterus, andEtropus crossotus (Bothidae), with notes on larval occurrence.Fishery Bulletin 80:35–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodruff, D. L. 1996. Water clarity of the Neuse River-Pamlico Sound Estuary, North Carolina: In-situ and remote spectral characterization. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

Source of Unpublished Material

  • Meyer, D. L., E. C. Townsend, and P. L. Murphey. In review. Final report for the project: The evaluation of restored wetlands and enhancement methods for existing restorations. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Habitat Conservation, Restoration Center, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beaufort Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, 101 Pivers Island Road, 28516-9722, Beaufort, North Carolina

    Harvey J. Walsh & David S. Peters

  2. Coastal Research Unit of Zululand, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, 3886, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa

    Digby P. Cyrus

Authors
  1. Harvey J. Walsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David S. Peters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Digby P. Cyrus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harvey J. Walsh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Walsh, H.J., Peters, D.S. & Cyrus, D.P. Habitat utilization by small flatfishes in a North Carolina estuary. Estuaries 22, 803–813 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2307/1353113

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1353113

Keywords

Search

Navigation