Dataset title: Movements of aquatic mesopredators within the Shark River estuary (FCE LTER), Everglades National Park, South Florida, USA, February 2012 - ongoing Dataset ID: LT_TDCS_Rehage_004 Research type: Long-term Dataset Creator Name: Dr. Jennifer Rehage Position: Principle investigator Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park ECS 119 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-0181 Email: rehagej@fiu.edu URL: https://myweb.fiu.edu/rehagej/ Metadata Provider Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Address: Florida International University 11200 SW 8th Street OE 148 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-6054 Email: fcelter@fiu.edu URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu Dataset Abstract In South Florida, the allocation of the limited freshwater supply is of constant debate. Stakeholder groups for freshwater include agriculture, South Florida populations, and the natural environment and the ecosystem services that they provide. One ecosystem service invaluable to South Florida is the provisioning of coastal recreational fisheries. This ecosystem service generates approximately 8 billion dollars in angler expenditures in Florida alone. However, the interplay between the provisioning of fisheries and the allocation and input of freshwater to coastal systems is largely unknown. One such way that recreationally important fishes could be impacted by changes in freshwater inputs to coastal systems is through the availability of food. Previous research has shown that seasonal rainfall patterns and freshwater management create spikes in prey availability for important recreational fishes such as Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) and Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides). These prey pulses are restricted to the most inland reaches of the estuary. However, two important questions remain unanswered: 1) How far away do snook and bass move to take advantage of this prey subsidy? 2) Do these spikes in prey availability increase the reproductive output of snook? In order to answer these questions, we use acoustic telemetry to track the movements of key recreational fish species (Common Snook and Largemouth Bass) over multiple years (2012 – current) in the Shark River Estuary, Everglades National Park. Data provided by this study will be the first step in quantifying the importance of freshwater inflows to coastal fisheries. From a science perspective our research will provide valuable insight to how highly mobile species respond to pulses of prey across a patchy landscape, and how these temporary highly abundant resources will act to boost consumer populations. The value of pulsed resources to consumers have been identified as an important information gap in population ecology. Dataset Purpose I aim to determine the relative importance of interannual variations in the hydrologic regime on tropical fish I) reproduction II) juvenile recruitment, and ultimately III) angler catch rates. I aim to conduct a six year field study tracking reproductive and recruitment dynamics of a popular tropical recreationally targeted species, snook. I will then relate these reproductive and recruitment dynamics to factors of the hydrologic regime that may vary across years. Geographic Coverage Study Extent Description Shark River Estuary, SFWSC Study Area Bounding Coordinates Geographic description: The Study Extent of this dataset includes areas near FCE Shark River Slough research sites (downstream of SRS 3) from Rookery Branch to Tarpon Bay within Everglades National Park, South Florida West bounding coordinate: -81.141 East bounding coordinate: -80.863 North bounding coordinate: 25.463 South bounding coordinate: 25.306 FCE LTER Sites: FCE Temporal Coverage Start Date: 2012-02-02 End Date: 2023-04-15 Data Table Entity Name: LT_TDCS_Rehage_004.csv Entity Description: Movements of aquatic mesopredators within the Shark River estuary (FCE), Everglades National Park, South Florida from February 2012 to Present Object Name: LT_TDCS_Rehage_004.csv Data Format Number of Header Lines: 1 Attribute Orientation: column Field Delimiter: , Number of Records: Attributes Attribute Name: Transmitter Attribute Label: Individual fish fitted with a transmitter Attribute Definition: The tag identification code of individual tags Storage Type: code Measurement Scale: The tag identification code of individual tags Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Species Attribute Label: Species of tagged fish Attribute Definition: Common (and scientific) name of tagged fish Storage Type: text Measurement Scale: Common (and scientific) name of tagged fish Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Datetime_UTC Attribute Label: Date and time of detection in UTC format Attribute Definition: Date and time of detection in UTC format Storage Type: datetime Measurement Scale: Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Latitude Attribute Label: latitude in decimal degrees of a single detection Attribute Definition: coordinate Storage Type: coordinate Measurement Scale: coordinate Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Longitude Attribute Label: Longitude in decimal degrees of a single detection Attribute Definition: coordinate Storage Type: coordinate Measurement Scale: coordinate Missing Value Code: Methods Sampling Description Passive acoustic tracking was used to quantify the movement patterns of individual Common Snook and Largemouth Bass to assess their use of upstream areas of the estuary in response to the marsh prey pulse. Fish were surgically fitted with a Vemco V13 or V16 transmitter (Vemco, Halifax, NS, Canada). Transmitters were set to emit a unique series of pulses for each fish at a random interval between 60 and 180 s (mean emission interval = 120 s). Movements of acoustically tagged fish were tracked within an array of 43 Vemco VR2 and VR2W acoustic receivers. In situ measurements revealed mean detection ranges of receivers were c. 500 m. Each receiver was attached to a PVC pipe set in a 10-kg cement anchor. Data from receivers were downloaded every 3–4 months for the duration of the study, and batteries were replaced as needed. Method Step Description Fish were fitted with a V-13 or V-16 acoustic transmitters. Transmitters were implanted surgically into the body cavity of fishes following IACUC Protocol #201287. Transmitters emit an ultrasonic pulse at random every 60 – 180 seconds that can be interpreted by autonomous listening stations dispersed throughout the Shark River estuary. Once a listening station detects a transmitter, it records a time of detection and a unique tag ID. Data were downloaded off of receivers every two months Citation Matich, Philip 2014-01-01. Multi-tissue stable isotope analysis and acoustic telemetry reveal seasonal variability in the trophic interactions of juvenile bull sharks in a coastal estuary. Journal of Animal Ecology, 83(1): 199-213. Protocol Protocol Title: Tagging fish Protocol Creator(s) Name: Dr. Philip Matich Position: Graduate Student Organization: Florida International University Address: 3000 NE 151st North Miami, Florida 33181 USA Email: pmati001@fiu.edu Publication Date: 2014-01-01 Abstract Passive acoustic tracking was used to quantify the movement patterns of individual Common Snook and Largemouth Bass to assess their use of upstream areas of the estuary in response to the marsh prey pulse. Fish were surgically fitted with a Vemco V13 or V16 transmitter (Vemco, Halifax, NS, Canada). Transmitters were set to emit a unique series of pulses for each fish at a random interval between 60 and 180 s (mean emission interval = 120 s). Movements of acoustically tagged fish were tracked within an array of 43 Vemco VR2 and VR2W acoustic receivers. In situ measurements revealed mean detection ranges of receivers were c. 500 m. Each receiver was attached to a PVC pipe set in a 10-kg cement anchor. Data from receivers were downloaded every 3–4 months for the duration of the study, and batteries were replaced as needed. Keywords Acoustic tracking Common Snook Largemouth Bass VEMCO Procedural Steps Immobilize fish with anesthetic create a 20 mm incision on ventral side of body cavity insert tag into body cavity close wound with 2 stiches waterproof wound with super glue Instrumentation V 13 transmitters are 13 x 36 mm in a cylinder shape, addtional information can be found https://www.innovasea.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Innovasea-Fish-Tracking-69khz-tags-data-sheet-0621.pdf V 16 transmitters are 16 x 68 mm in a cylinder shape, addtional information can be found https://www.innovasea.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Innovasea-Fish-Tracking-69khz-tags-data-sheet-0621.pdf VR2W Listening devices are cylindrical 308 mm long x 73 mm diameter and are anchored to the benthos additional information can be found https://www.innovasea.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Innovasea-Fish-Tracking-vr2w_69khz-data-sheet-0621.pdf Method Step Description Fish were collected via electrofishing methods, Citation Boucek, Ross E 2013-10-01. No free lunch: displaced marsh consumers regulate a prey subsidy to an estuarine consumer.. Oikos, 122(10): 1453-1464. Protocol Protocol Title: Catching fish Protocol Creator(s) Name: Ross Boucek Position: Graduate Researcher Organization: Florida International University Address: Florida International University University Park ECS 119 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-0181 Publication Date: 2013-10-01 Abstract We captured Common Snook and Largemouth Bass using a boat-mounted, generator-powered electrofisher (two-anode, one cathode Smith-Root 9.0 unit) . Boat electrofishing is an effective sampling technique in freshwater habitats, including the Everglades, and has been used successfully to sample upper estuarine fish communities (Rehage and Loftus 2007). We conducted three replicate electrofishing bouts (timed sampling transects) at fixed locations in each site, each 200 m apart. For each bout, we ran the boat at idle speed at a randomly-selected creek shoreline and applied power for 5 min of time, during which two netters captured all immobilized fishes. We standardize power output to 1500 Watts, given temperature and conductance conditions measured at the beginning of each bout. Keywords Electrofishing fish capture Procedural Steps Apply electric current to sampling area net immobilized fish place fish into a water tank on boat Instrumentation 21 foot Aluminum boat fitted with a generator and other electrofishing equipment (see citation 28) Method Step Description Data Checking protocols Citation Young, Joy Spatiotemporal dynamics of spawning aggregations of common snook on the east coast of Florida.. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 505: 227-240. Protocol Protocol Title: Checking data Protocol Creator(s) Name: Joy Young Position: Biological Scientist Organization: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tequesta Field Laboratory, Address: 19100 Southeast Federal Highway Tequesta , Florida 33469 USA Email: joy.young@myfwc.com Publication Date: 2014-05-01 Abstract Telemetry data normally contain a certain amount of erroneous detections which can increase in number due to code collisions from the detection of other tags, and abiotic (e.g. boat) and biotic (e.g. snapping shrimp) noise. Prior to analyses, ‘false’ detections and were removed from the dataset. Keywords False detections Data checking Procedural Steps identify distance and time between fish detections determine if that distance is feasible for fish to travel in the duration between detections If impossible, false detection is deleted Instrumentation None Quality Control Detection data are managed and checked through software provided by VEMCO. See http://vemco.com/products/vue-software/?product-software Distribution Online distribution: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-fce/1198/6/1392e50402ffe5bc26155a8b815efed4 Intellectual Rights These data are not publicly accessible because they could be used to target/exploit sensitive species. They are considered Type II data per the LTER Network Data Access Policy. Dataset Keywords populations long-term monitoring consumers fishes FCE FCE LTER Florida Coastal Everglades LTER ecological research consumer dynamics Rookery Branch snook movements Everglades National Park acoustic transmitters consumers freshwater estuarine biology species Centropomus undecimalis Data Submission Date: 2023-10-05 Maintenance This is a long-term trophic dynamics and community structure dataset and subsequent data will be appended. Dataset Contact Name: Jordan Massie Position: Jordan Massie Organization: Institute of Environment, Southeast Environmental Research Center Address: Florida International University University Park ECS 119 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-0181 Email: jmass041@fiu.edu Position: Information Manager Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Address: Florida International University 11200 SW 8th Street OE 148 Miami, FL 33199 USA Email: fcelter@fiu.edu URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu Project permits EVER-SCI-2013-0020 Dataset Submission Date 2023-10-05 Information Management Notes