Linking Coastal Watersheds to Fish & Fisheri Felicia Coleman Florida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory Photo by Richard Bickel
Linking Coastal Watersheds to Fish & Fisheries
Felicia ColemanFlorida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory Photo by Richard Bickel
Gulf of Mexico Zonation
38 % Coastal 22 % Shelf (< 200m)20 % Slope*(200 - 3000m) 20% Deep Sea (>3000 m)
ProductivityEGoM > WGoM
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*most complex on earthFrom: Gulfbase, www.gulfbase.org
Circulation - The Loop Current
From: The Sustainable Seas
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Nutrient Input - freshwater discharge
Links terrestrial & marine ecosystems
Groundwater , springs
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Felicia Coleman
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Chlorophyll plumes from •Mississippi River
•Apalachicola River
Nutrient Input - freshwater discharge
Nutrient Input
Mississippi - BAD Apalachicola - GOOD
The Dead Zone The Green River Phenomenon
same season, same time as peak spawning for:
•Gag•Red Grouper
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Habitat Linkages
From: Heck et al. 2008Link
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Habitat Linkages – life cycle
From: Heppell et al. 2006Link
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Fishing Sites
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s Habitat Linkages – fisheries
Felicia ColemanLink
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Felicia Coleman
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-100-80-60-40-20
020406080
100
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
March Anomalies
% D
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Chl a
APA discharge
Felicia Coleman
Chlorophyll based on March SeaWiFS ocean color satellite data(from Dr. Steve Morey et al., FSU COAPS)
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Summary• The benefits of river flow extend far beyond the
boundaries of the bay
• That river flow delivers nutrients offshore that support a highly productive fisheries
• Those fisheries deliver billions of dollars to coastal communities and those industries that depend upon them
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