Research Document - 2012/138
Use of eelgrass habitats by fish in eastern Canada
By V. Joseph, A.L. Schmidt, and R.S. Gregory
Abstract
The purpose of this document is to review the literature on the ecological function of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) to fish communities in eastern Canada for the purpose of designating eelgrass as an Ecologically Significant Species (ESS). Relatively few studies have investigated the function of eelgrass habitats in eastern Canada compared to the USA or Australia. Therefore, this review also draws from other eelgrass or seagrass studies around the world to demonstrate the use of eelgrass habitats by fish. Eelgrass is a common marine angiosperm that is found in sheltered bays and coastal waters in eastern Canada. Eelgrass meadows provide structural complexity to the nearshore underwater landscape and like seagrass habitats, elsewhere in the world are known to support high densities and diversity of fishes and other aquatic organisms in comparison to unvegetated sandy or muddy bottoms. These habitats are often nursery and rearing areas for young fish. Abundances of juvenile life stages in these habitats are often high, as are those of other small bodied fish. Recruitment to such areas as well as enhanced growth and survival of juveniles over time has led to wide acceptance among ecologists that seagrass habitats are important nursery grounds for many fishes. Several mechanisms seem to explain the high densities of fishes in eelgrass and other seagrass habitats. Among these, refuge from predation, enhanced food resources and habitat structural complexity are generally considered most important to the function of seagrass habitats for fishes particularly juveniles.
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