Date of Award

Spring 5-10-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Marine Science

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Juliana M. Harding

Abstract/Description

Salt marsh tidal creek estuaries function as nursery habitats for young nektonic fish, such as spot (Leiostomus xanthurus). Larval spot migrate into east coast estuaries shortly after offshore spawning events during the winter and early spring as temperatures increase. Estuaries offer food and protection from predators as spot develop and mature. In 2023, spot demographics, growth rates, and biomass were studied at Oyster Landing in the North Inlet Estuary, South Carolina. Spot were sampled bi-weekly from March to November using seines. Standard lengths (mm) were measured for selected individuals of varying size. Standard length demographics (5 mm groups) were evaluated using FiSAT II to identify cohorts. Water temperatures ranged from 6°C to 35°C, and salinity varied from 1 to 38 ppt. Two cohorts of spot were identified from the standard length demographics. Collection date and length at the first collection of each cohort were used to estimate ingress times. The first cohort arrived on 2/1/2023 with a presumed spawning date in December 2022, while the second cohort arrived on 4/1/2023, with a presumed spawning date in February 2023. Growth rates using standard lengths for the December and February spawned cohorts were 0.30 mm/day and 0.39 mm/day, respectively, and were significantly different with the later cohort growing nearly 25% faster than the earlier cohort. These data suggest that later arrivals and higher temperatures may lead to faster growth rates in juvenile spot, potentially influencing earlier migration to offshore habitats and faster maturation. Future estuarine habitat management strategies for related fisheries that promote the health and function of estuary habitats should be explored.

Comments

Contact author = Juliana Harding (jharding@coastal.edu)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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