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MEPS 250:231-246 (2003)
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Abstract
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Response of surf zone fish to beach nourishment operations on the northern coast of New Jersey, USA
D. H. Wilber1,*, D. G. Clarke2, G. L. Ray2, M. Burlas3
1Dyn Corps, 664 Old Plantation Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA
2US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Wetlands and Coastal Ecology Branch, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180-6199, USA
3US Army Engineer District, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278, USA
*Email: wilberdh@aol.com
ABSTRACT: Surf zone fishes were captured by beach seine over the late summer and early fall of 5 yr (1995 to 1999), spanning pre-, during, and post-nourishment time periods along a 15 km expanse of the New Jersey shoreline. During the baseline years of
sampling, silversides (primarily Menidia menidia) numerically dominated the surf-zone fish community. In 1997, coincident with beach nourishment operations, bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix became numerically dominant, increasing in
abundance 10-fold. Bluefish were not captured near active beach nourishment sites and were significantly more abundant at reference stations than in the beach nourishment (treatment) area for 2 of 6 sampling dates in 1997. In contrast, northern kingfish
Menticirrhus saxatilis were more abundant at treatment stations in 1997, and on one occasion congregated at the stations undergoing active sand replenishment. The feeding habits of Atlantic silversides and northern kingfish were consistent
throughout the study period. In 1997, prey biomass was greater in fish caught at treatment stations when significant differences occurred. Prey consisted primarily of benthic invertebrates such as polychaetes and mole crabs. Amphipods and insects, which
probably originated from groins and terrestrial sources respectively, were also common prey items and were present in plankton samples. Retrospective power analysis indicates that an approximate 3-fold difference in mean fish abundance was the minimum
detectable effect size between reference and treatment areas. Beach nourishment impacts on the surf zone fish monitored in this study were restricted to localized attraction (northern kingfish) and avoidance (bluefish) responses to the beach nourishment
operation.
KEY WORDS: Beach seine · Dredging · Filling · Bluefish · Kingfish · Silversides · Power analysis · Turbidity · Fish food habits
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
250
(2003) on March 26
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2003
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