Ecological Evaluation of Sedge Island Marine Conservation Area in Barnegat Bay : Final Report, 2013
Date
2013-08-21
Date Removed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health
Abstract
Conservation zones are important for maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems and
populations of economically important species. The relative ecological value, especially for
economically important species, of the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone (SIMCZ) in
Barnegat Bay, NJ was assessed by comparing the following inside the SIMCZ with areas outside
the conservation zone: (1) abundance and species diversity of fish and select decapod
crustaceans in three habitats (seagrass, macroalgae, and unvegetated) using throw traps, (2)
population structure of adult blue crabs using commercial-style traps, and (3) brood production
of adult female blue crabs. Throw trap sampling indicates that blue crabs are most abundant in
seagrass as compared to unvegetated habitats. Overall, blue crabs are more abundant outside the
SIMCZ than inside but the difference does not apply to each habitat, suggesting the habitats
inside and outside the SIMCZ are at least equivalent. Inside and outside the conservation area,
species diversity is enhanced in both structured habitats as compared to unvegetated areas and is
similar inside the SIMCZ as compared to outside. Again, this suggests the SIMCZ is at least
equivalent to a comparative area outside the conservation zone. The SIMCZ has greater abundance of adult blue crabs, a sex ratio that is more skewed towards males, and a greater proportion of ovigerous females that are about to spawn and show signs of recent spawning. This suggests that the SIMCZ may provide refuge from fishing, particularly for male blue crabs, and may be an important area for spawning females.
Description
Keywords
New Jersey, Ecosystem health - New Jersey - Barnegat Bay, Blue crab - Conservation, Crustacea - Conservation, Sedge Islands (N.J.) - Conservation, Barnegat Bay (N.J.) - Conservation