Research Document - 2010/001

Overview analyses of the Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) in the Basin Head Lagoon from 2002 to 2008

By M.-H. Thériault and S. Courtenay

Abstract

An analysis was conducted of littoral nekton data collected in Basin Head Lagoon, Prince Edward Island (PEI), through the Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) for the years 2002 to 2008. The objective was to determine whether a recent decline in abundance of the distinct variant of Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) could be explained by, or might be correlated with, changes in fauna. Samples of nearshore fish, crabs and shrimp are obtained monthly, May to September, by beach seine at six stations around the main lagoon. Additional data collected include water temperature, salinity, oxygen content, substrate type and coverage of submerged aquatic vegetation. Abundance and richness of fish and crustaceans were lowest in 2006 followed by increased abundance of certain species (sand shrimp – Crangon septemspinosa, mummichog – Fundulus heteroclitus, Atlantic silverside – Menidia menidia, smooth flounder – Pleuronectes putnami, and green crab – Carcinus maenas) to their highest levels in the seven years of monitoring. Different community assemblages were found in Basin Head in 2007 and 2008 compared to the earlier years, a pattern driven by higher abundance of sand shrimp in 2007 and 2008, higher abundance of young-of-the-year mummichog in 2008 and fewer fourspine stickleback (Apeltes quadracus) in 2007 and 2008. The two last years were also warmer than the three previous years and eelgrass (Zostera marina) coverage declined in the last year. Comparison between Basin Head and the other sites sampled in Prince Edward Island showed that Basin Head differed from the other sites primarily by having the highest number of green crab every year since 2004. Increases in green crab abundance may have contributed to the decline in Irish moss.

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