Nekton use of regularly-flooded salt-marsh cordgrass habitat in North Carolina, USA

Abstract

Species composition, numbers and biomass of the nekton community on a regularly-flooded Spartina marsh near Beaufort, North Carolina, USA, was estimated for 1 yr using modified 10 m block nets. Thirty-five fish species dominated by mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus, spot Leiostomus xanthurus and pinfish Lagodon rhomboides were captured from the marsh surface. Numbers were greatest in April (1300 per 10 m of marsh edge); biomass was greatest in September (900 g per 10 m). Stream Order 1 (rivulet) marsh was occupied by fewer species, but contained greater numbers and biomass than Stream Order 3 (channel) marsh.