Estuaries with diverse fish communities are considered stable as they are more likely to withstand a range of disturbances due to the variety of species and functional groups. Relatively, year-to-year fluctuations in community biomass are thought to be small and productivity is increased if community diversity is high. This stability becomes important as estuarine habitats are sensitive to anthropogenic impacts and degradation, making them one of the most vulnerable marine habitats in the world.

Understanding the inherent temporal variability and functions of estuarine systems is achieved with continuous monitoring and baseline data. How internal and external pressures modify fish communities can only be evaluated if specific habitat fish compositions over time are known.

The objective of this work is to compare temporal variability in demersal juvenile fish community structure within Yaquina Bay estuary, as well as between eelgrass and artificial habitats. Temporal variability will be examined with data collected from 2008-2009, 2012-2013, and 2015-2017, all which used the same capture techniques.

 

Project members:

Brittany D. Schwartzkopf, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University

Alison D. Whitman, Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Amy Jo Lindsley, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University (previous)

Scott A. Heppell, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University

 

Funding Sources: 

Hatfield Marine Science Center William and Francis McNeil Fellowship

Hatfield Marine Science Center Mamie Markham Research Fellowship

Oregon State Wildlife Grant Program grant T-16-1 E-47

Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society for the Master’s Student Award

Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Carl Bond Award