HR: 0800h
AN: OS51C-1308    [Abstracts]
TI: The Growth Rate of Fundulus Heteroclitus: A Comparative Study of two Virginia Salt Marshes.
AU: * Holloman, E L
EM: elhollom@vims.edu
AF: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 United States
AU: Bodolus, D
EM: dbodolus@po-box.esu.edu
AF: East Stroudsburg University, 115 Moore Hall, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 United States
AB: The growth rate of Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichog) was determined in a comparative study of Virginia tidal salt marshes. Two marshes in close geographic proximity were selected, one was considered pristine (natural) and the other impacted (urban). Monthly sampling was conducted during November 1999 and February 2000 and biweekly during May 2000 through September 2000. Stratified random samples of mummichogs were collected and brought back to the lab for otolith extraction and age determination. All other nekton were identified, measured, and enumerated. Marginal increment analysis was used to validate the use of otoliths in determining the age of mummichogs. Annulus formation was determined to occur annually; therefore counts of annuli obtained were valid and truly reflected the age of mummichogs. Difference in growth was found to exist between mummichogs from the natural and urban marshes. In the natural marsh, mummichogs grew 0.13 mm/day at age 0, 0.04 mm/day at age 1 and 0.13 mm/day at age 2. In the urban marsh, mummichogs grew 0.22 mm/day at age 0, 0.09 mm/day at age 1 and 0.13 mm/day at age 2.
DE: 4200 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting