Five-Year Study of Seasonal Distribution and Abundance of Fishes and Decapod Crustaceans in the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, Prior to Diversion

摘要

Fluctuations in the distribution and abundance of fishes and decapod crustaceans collected by a 6 m otter trawl net from the Cooper River-Charleston Harbor estuarine system (South Carolina, USA) were examined over a 5-year sampling period. A total of 101 fish species and 41 decapod crustacean species were collected. Species richness was greatest at stations nearest the harbor mouth. Annual fluctuations in species abundance were apparently related to low bottom-water temperatures which affected year-class strength. Ten species accounted for approximately equals 90% of the total number and approximately equals 71% of the total biomass of fin fishes collected in the estuary.