Using Geomorphology to Better Define Habitat Associations of a Large-Bodied Fish, Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis , in Coastal Rivers of Florida

摘要: To adequately protect habitat for economically important fishes, the habitats used must first be identified and described. Coastal geomorphology is often overlooked as an influential parameter of fish use in favor readily available data taken at time sampling. We hypothesized that river dynamics (e.g., length, watershed, floodplain connectivity) mesohabitat categories based on backwater, bend) were least fine-scale microhabitat depth, shore type) describing distribution affinities Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis (hereafter referred to snook) coastal rivers Atlantic coast Tampa Bay, Florida. Contrary previously studied where adult snook abundance increased during a seasonal prey pulse, study differed little between seasons nurseries by juveniles. Mesohabitat distribution. For example, smallest (≤ 250 mm total TL) strongly selected backwater while largest (≥ 851 mm bends. Detailed collected individual capture locations helpful associations size group (shallow depths aquatic macrophytes with various types) characterizing bends (high flow, deep water, lower salinities) but not associated other sizes or categories. Thus, broader scale features found equally detailed should considered when informing conservation efforts.