La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Impact of common reed, Phragmites australis, on essential fish habitat: Influence on reproduction, embryological development, and larval abundance of mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus)
Auteurs :	K. W. Able, Auteur ; S. M. Ragan, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Estuaries (26(1) FEB 2003)
Article en page(s) :	40-50
Résumé :	The invasion of Spartina marshes by the common reed, Phragmites australis, along the east coast of the United States over the last several decades has been well documented, although we know little about the impact of this invasion on the fish fauna and the few published papers seem contradictory. During 1999-2000 (May-September) we evaluated the fish response to vegetation type (Phragmites australis versus Spartina alterniflora) by monitoring several aspects of fish early life history (egg deposition, embryonic development, hatching success, and larval and juvenile abundance) in low salinity marshes in the Mullica River in southern New Jersey. The dominant fish species using the marsh surface, Fundulus heteroclitus (93% of total catch, n = 996 individuals), reproduced in both vegetation types with eggs deposited in leaf axils near the base of the plant in Spartina and in broken stems of Phragmites during both years. These eggs also undergo successful embryonic development to hatching in both vegetation types. Larval and juvenile (5-75 nun total length, but 95%

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