Ecological Evaluation of Sedge Island Marine Conservation Area in Barnegat Bay : Final Report, 2017

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dc.contributor.authorJivoff, Paul
dc.contributor.authorBilinski, Joseph
dc.contributor.authorFerko, Marc
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-07T18:28:09Z
dc.date.available2022-11-07T18:28:09Z
dc.date.issued2017-06-09
dc.description.abstractConservation zones are important for maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems and populations of economically important species. In the third year of a three year study, the relative ecological value of the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone (SIMCZ) in Barnegat Bay, NJ was again assessed by comparing species diversity and abundance of fish and selected decapod crustaceans in three habitats (seagrass, algae, and unvegetated) inside the SIMCZ with an area outside the conservation zone. Long-term data sets are required to adequately assess the ecological value of conservation zones, thus, NJ-DEP staff and volunteers were trained in the field techniques to insure continued data collection in the future. Finally, based on results from previous years, the relative importance of the SIMCZ as a refuge against fishing pressure for adult blue crabs was tested using tag-recapture techniques. As in previous years, cylinder (i.e., throw trap) sampling indicates that species diversity, the total abundance of organisms and the abundance of juvenile blue crabs were similar inside the SIMCZ as compared to outside the SIMCZ. The few differences in abundance between the SIMCZ and outside the conservation zone may be attributed in part to relative proximity to the inlet. Habitat was far more important than location in accounting for the differences in species diversity and total abundance of organisms. In general, vegetated habitats (SAV and algae) contained more species, total organisms and several individual species than unvegetated areas. Evidence suggests that the SIMCZ contains habitats that are ecologically valuable and are helping to sustain valuable species. Finally, tagged crabs in the SIMCZ exhibited recapture rates higher than expected and days-at-large times shorter than expected suggesting the recreational fishing effort inside the SIMCZ may be higher than a comparable area with very little recreational (or commercial) fishing. Thus it may be prudent to collect information on recreational fishing activities occurring in the SIMCZ.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10929/106921
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherTrenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Healthen_US
dc.rightsThe organization that has made the Item available reasonably believes that the Item is not restricted by copyright or related rights, but a conclusive determination could not be made. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.en_US
dc.subjectNew Jerseyen_US
dc.subjectEcosystem health - New Jersey - Barnegat Bayen_US
dc.subjectBlue crab - Conservationen_US
dc.subjectCrustacea - Conservationen_US
dc.subjectSedge Islands (N.J.) - Conservationen_US
dc.subjectBarnegat Bay (N.J.) - Conservationen_US
dc.titleEcological Evaluation of Sedge Island Marine Conservation Area in Barnegat Bay : Final Report, 2017en_US
dc.title.alternativeYear Three : Ecological Evaluation of Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zoneen_US
dc.typeTechnical Reporten_US

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