Noah L. Silverman^1,2, Carole C. McIvor¹, Justin M. Krebs^1,2 and Victor A. Levesque^1
1U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies, St. Petersburg, FL
²ETI Professionals, Tampa, FL

The passage of two Category 4-5 hurricanes across SW Florida (Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Donna 1960) resulted in patchy conversion of mangrove-forest to mudflat habitat within Big Sable Creek, Everglades National Park. Our goal was to determine the consequence of this habitat conversion on nekton (i.e., fish and decapod crustaceans) inhabiting the intertidal zone. We used block nets across intertidal rivulets to sample nekton leaving replicate forest and mudflat sites. Overall nekton density (individuals per m³) was significantly greater for forested habitats than for non-vegetated mudflats (RM ANOVA, p< 0.001). Species composition also differed between the two habitat types (PRIMER, ANOSIM). Benthic forage species dominated forested sites, whereas schooling species dominated mudflats. How these differences might affect nekton species of recreational or commercial importance is presently unknown. Recent climate models predict increasing hurricane intensity in the Caribbean region in the future. These results suggest that the long-term effects of severe hurricanes on mangrove-associated nekton may be substantial.

Contact Information: Carole C. McIvor, ¹U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies, 600 Fourth Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 USA, Phone: 727 803-8747 Ext 3022, Fax: 727 803-2032, Email: carole_mcivor@usgs.gov

(This abstract is from the 2006 Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference.)

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