Program Info

Website
Region(s)
NE
Summary
A nekton monitoring program was established for the estuarine habitat within the GTM NERR. The estuaries of GTM NERR span a total north-south distance of about 60 km and are fed by three rivers (Guana, Tolomato, and Matanzas) and two inlets (St. Augustine and Matanzas), and are dominated in the south by mangroves and in the north by Spartina marsh. The estuary is strongly influenced by weather patterns including temperature and rain; these two factors lead to a wide range of environmental conditions that can rapidly change making the GTM NERR an ideal site for studying nekton diversity.
Parameters
start and stop depths, water temperature (°C), salinity (ppt), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), species, total number, average total length (mm)
Notes
Application
Results are to provide basic knowledge about nekton diversity at the GTM NERR, to determine the factors that explain variation in density and diversity and how it changes over time, and identify new species.
Publications
reports, presentations, and community outreach
Start
2010
End
2018
Frequency
Monthly
Method
The north-south span of water within the GTM NERR was divided into 20 equal zones (10 in the northern and 10 in the southern component) of approximately 2.9 km for nekton and benthic invertebrate monitoring. Samples were collected monthly using a 4.9 m otter trawl (38 mm body mesh and 6 mm mesh cod-end), for two minute intervals. Three replicates occurred at each site for every sampling event (total 60 samples/month). Environmental data were collected at each site using a handheld YSI meter. Habitat type and tide were also recorded. Fish collected were identified to species and counted. The first 20 specimens of each species were measured for Total Length to the nearest millimeter. All identified animals were returned to the water. Any animals that could not be identified in the field were retained. Retained animals were kept in a plastic container on ice for later identification and preserved in 70% ethanol.
Discontinuity
2012 - 2017
Data Location
GTM NERR Server
Data Format
Excel
No
Habitats
Water Column
SEACAR Citation
Alternative Citation

indicates priority attributes

Contacts
Katie Petrinec

SWMP Data Specialist

Kathryn.Petrinec@dep.state.fl.us

Export Standardized Data

Habitat(s) : Indicator(s) Last Updated File Download

Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection Managed Areas

Guana River Marsh, Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR

Indicators

Indicator
Water Column - Nekton

Documentation and Data provided by program

File Type File Name Added On Details
Data 2012 GTMNERR Juv Nekton Trawl Data.xlsx 03/04/19 08:58 AM View Details
Logo DEP_logo_2019.png 04/08/19 01:57 PM View Details
Protocols Nekton Monitoring.docx 10/26/18 09:26 AM View Details
Protocols Sampling Protocol Nekton.docx 10/26/18 09:26 AM View Details
Report KImball Eash-Loucks 2021 EC 44(6) p1508-1520 Supp.pdf 06/08/22 04:04 PM View Details