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Home > GCR > Vol. 36 > Iss. 1 (2025)

 

Alternate Title

Use of Light Traps to Assess the Taxonomy and Seasonality of Early Life stages of Fishes Recruiting to Upper Matagorda Bay in Texas

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Detecting the ingress of larval and early juvenile fishes into estuaries is crucial for understanding the early life stages and population dynamics of species—specific recruitment seasonality. However, monitoring these early life stages presents challenges due to their small size, seasonal variability, spatial patchiness, and their use of structurally complex habitats. Although plankton nets have been widely used to sample larval fishes, light traps have been found to have more flexibility, durability, and cost—effective. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of light traps for sampling larval and early juvenile fishes in a Texas estuary. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) the efficiency and selectivity of light traps, and 2) the seasonal differences in taxa and diversity observed in light traps. Light traps were deployed in shallow, shoreline habitats in the upper reaches of Matagorda Bay, TX. A total of 24 families were observed with the top family, Clupeidae, making up 50.3% of the total number of individuals caught. Spring had significantly higher catch—per—unit—effort, family richness, and family diversity than the other seasons. Length frequency distribution ranged from 3−58 SL mm. Light traps allowed for the sampling of shallow complex habitats while capturing size ranges that are underrepresented in fisheries monitoring programs that utilize trawls and seines.

First Page

59

Last Page

70

Supplemental Data
Hajovsky et al. Supplemental Figure S1.pdf (132 kB)
Supplemental Figure S1
Hajovsky et al. Supplemental Figure S2 for Hajovsky et al.pdf (144 kB)
Supplemental Figure S2
Hajovsky et al. Supplemental Figure S3 for Hajovsky et al.pdf (142 kB)
Supplemental Figure S3
Hajovsky et al. Supplemental Figure S4.pdf (166 kB)
Supplemental Figure S4
Hajovsky et al. Supplemental Table S1.pdf (165 kB)
Supplemental Table S1
Hajovsky et al. Supplemental Table S2.pdf (229 kB)
Supplemental Table S2
Hajovsky et al. Supplemental Table S3.pdf (248 kB)
Supplemental Table S3

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Statement

Artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the preparation of this manuscript, and a disclosure statement is included in the Acknowledgments and the cover letter.

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