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Comparison of Fish Communities in Open and Plugged Backfilled Canals in Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Author(s) -
Neill Christopher,
Turner R. Eugene
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1987)7<57:cofcio>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - marsh , open water , brackish marsh , habitat , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , biology , geography , wetland
Fish communities were compared among 13 open, partially open, and plugged back‐filled canals in coastal Louisiana brackish marshes. Captured fish were divided into two categories: residents, those species that complete their entire life cycles in shallow marsh ponds, and migrants, species that move into shallow marsh areas as postlarvae or juveniles. Migrant fishes included several species of high commercial or recreational value and accounted for at least 76% of the fish caught in each open canal. Resident species comprised more than 90% of the individuals caught in each plugged canal. The mean number of migrant species was greater in open and semi‐open than in plugged canals; the mean number of resident species was greater in plugged than in other canal types. Migrant species dominated the catch in two canals that were partially plugged, whereas the catch in a third partially plugged canal consisted entirely of resident species. Plugging canals reduced their use by migrant species and decreased available nursery habitat by rendering areas behind plugs inaccessible. Small breaks in a plug allowed enough water exchange to permit access by juveniles of migrant species. Leaving backfilled canals open or only partially plugged would allow access by migrating fishes and would increase the area of available nursery habitat.