Abstract

The importance of fringe red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) habitat as nursery grounds for recreationally important fish species was assessed in Great Pond, a 0.5 km square mangrove-lined, tidal pond on the south coast of St. Croix. Fish species composition and abundance were quantitatively sampled monthly in four areas of mangrove prop-root and pond habitat over a two-year period, using standardized fish traps and seine netting methods. A total of 1,403 fish were caught in traps, representing 18 species and 12 families. The familiy Lutjanidae had the highest abundance (46.4%), followed by the families Gerridae (36.9%) and Camulgidae (10.0%). L. apodus, G. cinereus, E. jonesi, C. latus and L. griseus were the five most abundant species caught in order of abundance in the four trap areas. Mean number of species and individuals caught per trap and overall abundance of the five most common species showed differences by area relative to mangrove cover. A total of 1,433 individuals, representing 17 species and 13 families, were caught in seine net samples. The family Gerreidae had the highest abundance (92.1%). Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), snook (Centropomus undecimalis) and bonefish (Albula vulpes) were present in trap and net samples but in low abundance. Length-frequency distributions of the most abundant species caught in trap and net samples verify the importance of mangrove habitat for juvenile fish species.

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