Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC11 Human Activities and Aquatic Ecosystems

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Holloman, E, L, Hampton University, Department of Biology, Hampton, VA, USA, misslynn3@hotmail.com

Bodolus, D, A, Hampton University, Department of Biology, Hampton, VA, USA, deborah.bodolus@hampton.edu

THE EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON THE GROWTH RATE OF FUNDULUS HETEROCLITUS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO VIRGINIA SALT MARSHES.

A comparative study was conducted to determine whether urbanization has an effect on the growth rate of mummichogs. In this study two sample sites were selected, one a natural marsh and the other an urbanized marsh. Both sites were sampled once a month during November 1999 and February 2000 and twice a month during May 2000 and September 2000. The sites were sampled as close to full and new moon as possible on an ebbing spring high tide. Stratified random samples of mummichogs, based on size classes, were collected and brought to the lab; all other fish and crustaceans were identified, measured, and enumerated. The mummichogs were measured, weighed, and its otoliths extracted. The age was determined by the counts of daily rings and annuli. The growth rates were determined and compared using a Von-Bertalnffy curve and Hotelling's T2 statistics, respectively.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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