PATTERNS OF HABITAT USE BY SUB-ADULT MARSH NEKTON: COMPARISON BETWEEN TIDAL FRESHWATER AND SALT MARSHES

David John Yozzo
Eastchester, New York

B.A., State University of New York, College at Purchase, 1987

M.S., University of Virginia, 1990

A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, August, 1994

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

LIST OF FIGURES (245 K w/ inline images)

LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTERS and APPENDICES (285 K)

CHAPTER I:

Nekton Utilization of Tidal Marshes: Literature Review and Introduction

• Introduction

• Autecological Studies

• Abundance and Distribution

• Community-Level Studies

• Larval and Juvenile Studies

• Reproduction/Growth

• Feeding

• Habitat Selection

• Nekton Movement

• Predation

• Gear Development

• Marsh Habitat Alteration

• Future Directions

CHAPTER II:

Mid-Summer Abundance of Larval and Juvenile Finfish and Decapods on the Surface of Fringing Mainland and Back-Barrier Marshes, Virginia Coast Reserve

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Site Description

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

• Conclusions

CHAPTER III:

Young-of-the-Year Abundance and Spawning Site Utilization in a Salt Marsh Population of Fundulus heteroclitus (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae), Virginia Coast Reserve

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Site Description

• Methods

• Results and Discussion

• Conclusions

CHAPTER IV:

Patterns of Habitat Use by Sub-Adult Marsh Nekton: Comparison Between Tidal Freshwater and Salt Marshes

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Site Descriptions

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

• Conclusions

CHAPTER V:

Fish Collections from Tidal Freshwater Wetlands of the Chickahominy River, Virginia, 1983 - 1993, with Notes on Sampling Methods

• Introduction

• Sampling Methods

• Recommendations

CHAPTER VI:

Seasonality, Abundance, and Microhabitat Distribution of Meiofauna from a Chickahominy River, Virginia Tidal Freshwater Marsh

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

CHAPTER VII:

Summary and Conclusions

LITERATURE CITED

APPENDIX I:

Abundance, Distribution and Composition of Nekton collected at Phillips Creek, VCR-LTER, Summer 1993 with Notes on Sampling Methodology and Food Habits

APPENDIX II:

Composition and Abundance of Nekton from a Mailand Salt Pond, Brownsville, Virginia Coast Reserve

APPENDIX III:

Abundance, Composition and Food Habits of Fishes from Beaver Dam Creek, a Tidal Freshwater Tributary of the Chickahominy River

APPENDIX IV:

Abundance, Distribution and Composition of Benthic Macroinvertebrates from Eagle Bottom Marsh

APPENDIX V:

Epiphytic Macroinvertebrates of Water Nymph (Najas minor) Beds, Chickahominy River, Virginia