Linking Coastal Watersheds to Fish & Fisheries Felicia Coleman Florida State University Coastal...

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

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March Anomalies

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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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