Fish and Blue Crab Assemblages in the Shore Zone of Tidal Creeks in the Delaware Coastal Bays

Spatial and temporal dynamics of shore zone fish and Callinectes sapidus (Blue Crab) densities in tidal creeks of the Delaware Coastal Bays were examined during the spring/summer nursery period and in the winter of 2004, 2005, and early 2006 to identify underlying abiotic conditions driving the structure of species assemblages. Distinct spring/summer species assemblages were identified within separate tidal creeks, correlated with dissolved oxygen range. Differences were driven by the dominance of hypoxia-tolerant species in the intensely developed White Creek watershed and hypoxia-sensitive species in the less-developed Miller Creek watershed. In winter, species assemblages were somewhat homogenized and were less influenced by abiotic conditions. Results of this study indicate that the fish and Blue Crab assemblage in the shore zone of tidal creeks in the Delaware Coastal Bays is affected primarily by location-specific influences, such as anthropogenic alteration and associated hypoxia, particularly in the spring and summer.