Dataset title: Minnowtrap Data from Rookery Branch and the North, Watson, and Roberts Rivers National Park (FCE) from November 2004 to April 2008 Dataset ID: LT_TDCS_Rehage_002 Research type: Long-Term Dataset Creator Name: Dr. Jennifer Rehage Position: Lead Principal Investigator Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park ECS 337 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-3804 Fax: 305-348-6137 Email: rehagej@fiu.edu Metadata Provider Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park OE 148 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-6054 Email: fcelter@fiu.edu URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu Dataset Abstract This study examines temporal and spatial dynamics in the fish community of the oligohaline to mesohaline reaches of ecotonal creeks along the southwest region of Everglades National Park. Sampling is conducted at 15 mangrove creeks in two drainages: Rookery Branch and the North, Roberts, and Watson rivers. The sampling in Rookery Branch expands over a 12-km stretch of ecotonal mangrove creeks upstream of Tarpon Bay. Minnow traps are used to target small-bodied forage fish. Sampling started in the wet season of 2004, and has been conducted three times per year at these approximate times: November (wet season); February (transition); and April (dry season). In the Rookery Branch region, fish abundance varies markedly yearly and seasonally. Catches peak in the drier months, reflecting a pulse of movement by freshwater taxa into creeks as marshes upstream dry. The timing of this pulse is closely tied to the pattern of water recession in upstream marshes, and has important ramifications for wading bird prey availability. Geographic Coverage Study Extent Description The Study Extent of this dataset includes areas near FCE Shark River Slough research sites (downstream of SRS 3 and upstream of SRS 4) from Rookery Branch within Everglades National Park, South Florida Bounding Coordinates Geographic description: Data were collected in Rookery Branch and the North, Roberts, and Watson Rivers, within Everglades National Park, Southwestern Florida West bounding coordinate: -80.95 East bounding coordinate: -80.862 North bounding coordinate: 25.464 South bounding coordinate: 25.34 Geographic description: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Study Area: South Florida, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay West bounding coordinate: -81.078 East bounding coordinate: -80.490 North bounding coordinate: 25.761 South bounding coordinate: 24.913 FCE LTER Sites: SRS 3 and SRS 4 All Sites Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 7 Longitude:-80.897 Latitude:25.429 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 8 Longitude:-80.872 Latitude:25.455 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 9 Longitude:-80.862 Latitude:25.460 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 10 Longitude:-80.865 Latitude:25.464 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 11 Longitude:-80.876 Latitude:25.464 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 12 Longitude:-80.916 Latitude:25.459 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 13 Longitude:-80.89 Latitude:25.45 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 14 Longitude:-80.92 Latitude:25.43 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 15 Longitude:-80.95 Latitude:25.42 Geographic Description:Rookery Branch 16 Longitude:-80.94 Latitude:25.45 Geographic Description:North River 1 Longitude:-80.90 Latitude:25.36 Geographic Description:North River 2 Longitude:-80.89 Latitude:25.36 Geographic Description:North River 3 Longitude:-80.90 Latitude:25.34 Geographic Description:Roberts River 4 Longitude:-80.90 Latitude:25.34 Geographic Description:Roberts River 5 Longitude:-80.90 Latitude:25.39 Geographic Description:Watson River 4 Longitude:-80.94 Latitude:25.37 Geographic Description:Watson River 5 Longitude:-80.94 Latitude:25.38 Geographic Description:Watson River 6 Longitude:-80.95 Latitude:25.38 Temporal Coverage Start Date: 2004-11-02 End Date: 2008-04-30 Data Table Entity Name: LT_TDCS_Rehage_002 Entity Description: Minnowtrap Data from Rookery Branch and the North, Watson, and Roberts Rivers National Park Object Name: LT_TDCS_Rehage_002 Data Format Number of Header Lines: 1 Attribute Orientation: column Field Delimiter: , Number of Records: Attributes Attribute Name: DATE Attribute Label: date Attribute Definition: Collection Date Storage Type: datetime Measurement Scale: Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: SEASON Attribute Label: season Attribute Definition: Everglades Season Storage Type: text Measurement Scale: WET= wet season DRY = dry season TRANS = Transitional season Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: SITENAME Attribute Label: sitename Attribute Definition: Name of Site Storage Type: text Measurement Scale: Name of Site Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: PAIR Attribute Label: minnow trap pair Attribute Definition: minnow trap pair number Storage Type: code Measurement Scale: minnow trap pair number Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: LOC Attribute Label: location Attribute Definition: trap location in the water column Storage Type: code Measurement Scale: T = Top trap B = Bottom trap Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S1_count Attribute Label: species count Attribute Definition: number of Eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S2_count Attribute Label: species 2 Attribute Definition: number of Sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S3_count Attribute Label: species 3 Attribute Definition: number of Sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S4_count Attribute Label: species 4 Attribute Definition: number of Marsh killifish, Fundulus confluentus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S5_count Attribute Label: species 5 Attribute Definition: number of Flagfish, Jordanella floridae Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S6_count Attribute Label: species 6 Attribute Definition: number of Least killifish, Heterandria formosa Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S7_count Attribute Label: species 7 Attribute Definition: number of Bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S8_count Attribute Label: species 8 Attribute Definition: number of Golden topminnow, Fundulus chrysotus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S10_count Attribute Label: species 10 Attribute Definition: number of Brook silverside, Labidesthes sicculus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S12_count Attribute Label: species 12 Attribute Definition: number of Inland silverside, Menidia beryllina Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S30_count Attribute Label: species 30 Attribute Definition: number of Coastal shiner, Notropis petersoni Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S34_count Attribute Label: species 34 Attribute Definition: number of Seminole killifish, Fundulus seminolis Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S36_count Attribute Label: species 36 Attribute Definition: number of Hogchoker, Trinectes maculatus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S37_count Attribute Label: species 37 Attribute Definition: number of Tadpole madtom, Noturus gyrinus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S38_count Attribute Label: species 38 Attribute Definition: number of Warmouth, Lepomis gulosus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S41_count Attribute Label: species 41 Attribute Definition: number of Spotted sunfish, Lepomis punctatus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S42_count Attribute Label: species 42 Attribute Definition: number of Dollar sunfish, Lepomis marginatus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S46_count Attribute Label: species 46 Attribute Definition: number of Everglades pygmy sunfish, Elassoma evergladei Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S47_count Attribute Label: species 47 Attribute Definition: number of Bluespotted sunfish, Enneacanthus gloriosus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S54_count Attribute Label: species 52 Attribute Definition: number of Black acara, Cichlasoma bimaculatum Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S58_count Attribute Label: species 58 Attribute Definition: number of Rainwater killifish, Lucania parva Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S67_count Attribute Label: species 67 Attribute Definition: number of Clown goby, Microgobius gulosus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S71_count Attribute Label: species 71 Attribute Definition: number of Crested goby, Lophogobius cyprinoides Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S72_count Attribute Label: species 72 Attribute Definition: number of Naked goby, Gobiosoma bosc Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S75_count Attribute Label: species 75 Attribute Definition: number of Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: 77_count Attribute Label: species 77 Attribute Definition: number of Spotted tilapia, Tilapia mariae Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S82_count Attribute Label: species 82 Attribute Definition: number of Gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S84_count Attribute Label: species 84 Attribute Definition: number of Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S88_count Attribute Label: species 88 Attribute Definition: number of Jewel cichlid, Hemichromis letourneuxi Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S103_count Attribute Label: species 103 Attribute Definition: number of Tidewater mojarra, Eucinostomus harengulus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S104_count Attribute Label: species 104 Attribute Definition: number of Spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S106_count Attribute Label: species 106 Attribute Definition: number of Code goby, Gobiosoma robustrum Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: S115_count Attribute Label: species 115 Attribute Definition: number of Unidentified mojarra species, Eucinostomus sp Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: number Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: CPUE Attribute Label: catch per unit effort Attribute Definition: Catch Per Unit Effort Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: catchPerUnitEffort Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: DEPTH_Creek Attribute Label: depth Attribute Definition: Depth to Creek bottom Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: meter Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: TEMP Attribute Label: temperature Attribute Definition: Temperature Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: celsius Precision: 0.1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.0 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: DO_perSat Attribute Label: dissolved oxygen percent saturation Attribute Definition: dissolved oxygen percent saturation Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 0.1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.0 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: DO Attribute Label: dissolved oxygen Attribute Definition: Dissolved oxygen Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: milligramsPerLiter Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: Specific_Conductance Attribute Label: specific conductance Attribute Definition: Specific conductance Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: microsiemensPerCentimeter Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value was not recorded) Attribute Name: Salinity Attribute Label: salinity Attribute Definition: Salinity Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: PSU Precision: 0.1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.0 (Value was not recorded) Methods Sampling Description Sampling is conducted at 15 mangrove creeks in two drainages: Rookery Branch and the North, Roberts, and Watson rivers. Minnow traps are used to target small-bodied forage fish. We sample the upper 100-m reaches of each creek with 3-mm mesh metal minnow traps. The minnow trap is an entrapment gear that typically targets small fishes and invertebrates, as well as juveniles of larger species. Minnow traps have two conical-shapled funnel openings (2.54 cm diameter) that inhibit animals from escaping once they enter the trap. Minnow traps are most efficient in capturing bottom-dwelling fishes and invertebrates, although it has been our experience that top-dwelling fish such as eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are caught commonly in traps set at the surface of the water column. Thus, we use paired traps, one set on the bottom and the other suspended at the top of the water column, attached to mangrove prop roots. We deploy five pairs of traps per creek randomly along the uppermost 100-m stretch in each creek. The traps are deployed unbaited overnight along the fringing mangroves for an approximately 24-h catch effort. Fishes and decapods captured from minnow traps are preserved in 10 percent buffered formalin and returned to the laboratory for processing. According to the standardized animal care guidelines, we euthanize all collected fish with an overdose of MS-222 prior to fixation. Specimens are retained in formalin for approximately one week to allow proper fixation, and then are preserved in 70 percent ethanol before processing. During each sampling event, we use a YS 85 unit to record physico-chemical parameters (water temperature, specific conductance/salinity, and dissolved oxygen) when retrieving minnow traps. Method Step Description Sampling is conducted at 15 mangrove creeks in two drainages: Rookery Branch and the North, Roberts, and Watson rivers. Minnow traps are used to target small-bodied forage fish. We sample the upper 100-m reaches of each creek with 3-mm mesh metal minnow traps. The minnow trap is an entrapment gear that typically targets small fishes and invertebrates, as well as juveniles of larger species. Minnow traps have two conical-shapled funnel openings (2.54 cm diameter) that inhibit animals from escaping once they enter the trap. Minnow traps are most efficient in capturing bottom-dwelling fishes and invertebrates, although it has been our experience that top-dwelling fish such as eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are caught commonly in traps set at the surface of the water column. Thus, we use paired traps, one set on the bottom and the other suspended at the top of the water column, attached to mangrove prop roots. We deploy five pairs of traps per creek randomly along the uppermost 100-m stretch in each creek. The traps are deployed unbaited overnight along the fringing mangroves for an approximately 24-h catch effort. Fishes and decapods captured from minnow traps are preserved in 10 percent buffered formalin and returned to the laboratory for processing. According to the standardized animal care guidelines, we euthanize all collected fish with an overdose of MS-222 prior to fixation. Specimens are retained in formalin for approximately one week to allow proper fixation, and then are preserved in 70 percent ethanol before processing. During each sampling event, we use a YS 85 unit to record physico-chemical parameters (water temperature, specific conductance/salinity, and dissolved oxygen) when retrieving minnow traps. Citation Kelsch, S W , B Shields. 1996. Care and handling of sample organisms. p. 121-155 in Murphy, B R , D W Willis. , (eds). Fisheries Techniques. 2nd, American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD, Instrumentation Fifty 3-mm mesh metal minnow traps are used A YSI 85 unit is used to record physico-chemical parameters GPS meter stick satellite phone 10% formalin sample storage buckets sample storage bags data notebooks datasheets pencils sharpies Method Step Description Sampling is conducted at 15 mangrove creeks in two drainages: Rookery Branch and the North, Roberts, and Watson rivers. Minnow traps are used to target small-bodied forage fish. We sample the upper 100-m reaches of each creek with 3-mm mesh metal minnow traps. The minnow trap is an entrapment gear that typically targets small fishes and invertebrates, as well as juveniles of larger species. Minnow traps have two conical-shapled funnel openings (2.54 cm diameter) that inhibit animals from escaping once they enter the trap. Minnow traps are most efficient in capturing bottom-dwelling fishes and invertebrates, although it has been our experience that top-dwelling fish such as eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are caught commonly in traps set at the surface of the water column. Thus, we use paired traps, one set on the bottom and the other suspended at the top of the water column, attached to mangrove prop roots. We deploy five pairs of traps per creek randomly along the uppermost 100-m stretch in each creek. The traps are deployed unbaited overnight along the fringing mangroves for an approximately 24-h catch effort. Fishes and decapods captured from minnow traps are preserved in 10 percent buffered formalin and returned to the laboratory for processing. According to the standardized animal care guidelines, we euthanize all collected fish with an overdose of MS-222 prior to fixation. Specimens are retained in formalin for approximately one week to allow proper fixation, and then are preserved in 70 percent ethanol before processing. During each sampling event, we use a YS 85 unit to record physico-chemical parameters (water temperature, specific conductance/salinity, and dissolved oxygen) when retrieving minnow traps. Citation Everhart, W H , W D Youngs. 1981. Principles of fisheries science. . 2nd, Comstock, Ithaca, NY, Instrumentation Fifty 3-mm mesh metal minnow traps are used A YSI 85 unit is used to record physico-chemical parameters GPS meter stick satellite phone 10% formalin sample storage buckets sample storage bags data notebooks datasheets pencils sharpies Quality Control All data from sampling, catch, and processing datasheets are entered in spreadsheet format using Microsoft Excel. Separate files are created and managed for two sampling methods (electrofishing and minnow trapping). Since analyses are multiyear, all years of data are combined into a single file, and as new data is gathered, it is added to a master datafile containing all previous years of data. Post data entry, data are verified and validated by a different technician from the technician that entered the data. Then, the data files are cleaned and formatted for statistical analyses. Distribution Online distribution: http://fcelter.fiu.edu/perl/public_data_download.pl?datasetid=LT_TDCS_Rehage_002.txt Intellectual Rights These data are classified as 'Type II' whereby original FCE LTER experimental data collected by individual FCE researchers to be released to restricted audiences according to terms specified by the owners of the data. Type II data are considered to be exceptional and should be rare in occurrence. The justification for exceptions must be well documented and approved by the lead PI and Site Data Manager. Some examples of Type II data restrictions may include: locations of rare or endangered species, data that are covered under prior licensing or copyright (e.g., SPOT satellite data), or covered by the Human Subjects Act, Student Dissertation data and those data related to the FCE LTER Program but not funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under LTER grants #DEB-9910514, and # DBI-0620409. Researchers that make use of Type II Data may be subject to additional restrictions to protect any applicable commercial or confidentiality interests. All publications based on this dataset must cite the data Contributor, the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program and that this material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DEB-1237517, #DBI-0620409, and #DEB-9910514. Additionally, two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Office, LTER Program Manager, Florida International University, Southeast Environmental Research Center, OE 148, University Park, Miami, Florida 33199. For a complete description of the FCE LTER Data Access Policy and Data User Agreement, please go to FCE Data Management Policy at http://fcelter.fiu.edu/data/DataMgmt.pdf and LTER Network Data Access Policy at http://fcelter.fiu.edu/data/core/data_user_agreement/distribution_policy.html. Dataset Keywords FCE Florida Coastal Everglades LTER ecological research long-term monitoring consumer dynamics fishes Rookery Branch Minnow traps Everglades National Park catches consumers freshwater estuarine biology species Salinity temperature depth counts specific conductance dissolved oxygen percent dissolved oxygen Data Submission Date: 2009-01-30 Maintenance This is a long-term trophic dynamics and community structure dataset and subsequent data will be appended. This dataset replaces all previous versions of LT_TDCS_Rehage_002 original. The FCE program is discontinuing its practice of versioning data as of March 2013. Dataset Contact Position: Information Manager Organization: LTER Network Office Address: UNM Biology Department, MSC03-2020 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 USA Phone: 505 277-2535 Fax: 505 277-2541 Email: tech-support@lternet.edu URL: http://www.lternet.edu Position: Information Manager Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park OE 148 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-6054 Fax: 305-348-4096 Email: fcelter@fiu.edu URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu Project permits EVER-2008-SCI-0016 Dataset Submission Date 2009-01-30 Dataset Anomalies Some physiochemical readings are missing throughout the various years. The Watson River site is not sampled after 2005. Information Management Notes This is a long-term trophic dynamics and community structure dataset and subsequent data will be appended. This dataset replaces all previous versions of LT_TDCS_Rehage_002 original. The FCE program is discontinuing its practice of versioning data as of March 2013.