PARENT SESSION
Thursday, August 10, 8:00-11:30 am
COS 88 - Estuarine and wetland ecology
L-14, Lobby Level, Cook Convention Center
Presiders: D Kashian and HN Morzaria Luna
Growth rates and species composition of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) in nearshore, subtidal, and estuarine habitats.
Gallagher, Brett*,1, Heppell, Selina1, 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
ABSTRACT- Despite a clear need for basic biological information on juvenile rockfish life history, there have been very few efforts to describe distribution and habitat of this critical life stage, particularly along the Oregon coast. Identification of nursery habitat for rapidly declining rockfish stocks is a critical step to conserving and rebuilding over-exploited populations. Estuarine environments play a critical role in providing nursery habitats for many fish species throughout the world yet few studies have examined whether or not estuaries along the Oregon coast are providing critical habitat for nearshore groundfish species. This study seeks to investigate the relationship between habitat-type, species diversity, and relative abundance of rockfish species following settlement into nearshore reefs and estuaries. I will determine the timing of settlement events and assess individual growth rates for young-of-the-year Sebastes within three separate potential nursery environments: nearshore rocky reefs, subtidal kelp beds, and dock pilings within the Yaquina Bay estuary. This study will provide biologists with information on spatial and temporal patterns of recruitment for Oregon's nearshore Sebastes and thereby, contribute unique information for improved management.
Key words: sebastes, Estuarine, nursery habitat