20080868 Ver 2_Draft PCS Creeks Fish Guilds revised via Fishbase._20180823

2016 PCS Creeks Report -Draft Addendum on Fish Guilds
Methods
Each species caught in trawl or fyke nets was assigned one of six trophic guilds: zoobenthivore,
zooplanktivore, piscivore, herbivore, omnivore, or detritivore (see Table 1 for each species'
designation). For all species the predominant prey item was chosen in order to assign species to
guilds and, for most species, guild designations were assigned using information available on
FishBase (Froese and Pauly 2016). Definitions for guilds are as follows (from Elliot et al. 2007):
• zoobenthivore — feed on invertebrates associated with the substratum;
• zooplanktivore — feed on zooplankton, including crustaceans, fish eggs, and fish larvae;
• piscivore — feed on finfish and large invertebrates (e.g., squid);
• herbivore — feed on plants, including algae and phytoplankton;
• omnivore — feed on both plants and animals;
• detritivore — feed on detritus.
Information for five species (chain pipefish, naked goby, redear sunfish, sheepshead minnow,
and swamp darter) was not available on FishBase. Guild designations for these fish were
assigned based on previously published scientific literature. These five fish species represented
about 1.5 percent of the total catch over all years.
For each sample event, the number of fish belonging to each guild was determined. Then,
relative abundance of each guild was calculated by dividing the number of fish in each guild by
the total number of fish caught in that particular sample. Relative abundance was used as
opposed to total abundance in order to focus on compositional changes in community structure
through time rather than changes in total numbers.
Statistical analysis proceeded in a similar manner as the fish and benthos sections of previous
reports. For each creek, a Similarity Profile (SIMPROF) was used to determine clusters among
the different years. Similarity Percentage Analysis (SIMPER) was then used to determine how
clusters differed. For the impacted creeks that have pre- and post -Mod Alt L data, an Analysis of
Similarity (ANOSIM) was used to determine if trophic guild designation differed based on Mod
Alt L status. Four creeks (Huddles Cut, Tooley, Jacks, and Muddy) contain more than five years
of data. For these creeks, a Biota and/or Environmental Matching (a.k.a. BEST routine) was
conducted to determine the set of environmental variables most important in structuring fish
trophic guilds.
Results — Impacted Creeks with Pre- and Post -Mod Alt L Data
Jacks Creek
Fish samples in Jacks Creek were collected from 1999 — 2005 and from 2011 — 2015, with 2015
as the first post -Mod Alt L year.
Three clusters among the 12 years were detected using SIMPROF (Figure 1). Cluster A
contained three pre -Mod Alt L years (2000, 2004, 2014) and one post -Mod Alt L year (2015),
Cluster B contained the years 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2013, and Cluster C contained the
years 2002, 2011, and 2012. Cluster A was 85.6 percent similar to Cluster B and 75.2 percent
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similar to Cluster C. Cluster A had more detritivores and less zoobenthivores than Cluster B and
had more zoobenthivores but less omnivores than Cluster C. Cluster B was 74 percent similar to
Cluster C and had more zoobenthivores and less omnivores than Cluster C.
Trophic guild composition in the post -Mod Alt L year did not significantly differ from pre -Mod
Alt L years (ANOSIM: R = -0.227, P = 0.767).
Jacks Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores (Figure 2). The composition of trophic
guilds has been relatively consistent since 1999, with some increase of omnivores in 2002, 2011,
and 2012.
Temporal variability among fish guilds within Jacks Creek displayed very strong positive
correlation (0.673) among guild composition and a combination of five environmental variables:
water temperature, specific conductivity, elemental nitrogen in the form of ammonium (NH4-N),
elemental phosphorus in the form of phosphate (PO4-P), and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP).
Jacobs Creek
Fish samples in Jacobs Creek were collected from 2011 — 2015, with 2014 and 2015 considered
post -Mod Alt L years.
Two clusters among the five years were detected using SIMPROF (Figure 3). Cluster A
contained two pre -Mod Alt L years (2011 and 2012) and Cluster B contained one pre -Mod Alt L
year (2013) and two post -Mod Alt L years (2014 and 2015) (Figure 3). These two clusters were
59.7 percent similar. Differences between the two groups were primarily driven by higher
relative abundances of omnivores and lower relative abundances of zoobenthivores in Cluster A.
Trophic guild composition in post -Mod Alt L years did not significantly differ from pre -Mod Alt
L years (ANOSIM: R = -0.00, P = 0.400).
Jacobs Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores in the last three years while omnivores
contributed more to community structure in 2011 and 2012 (Figure 4).
Drinkwater Creek
Fish samples in Drinkwater Creek were collected from 2011 — 2015, with 2013 — 2015
considered post -Mod Alt L years.
No clusters among the five years were detected using SIMPROF. Trophic guild composition in
post -Mod Alt L years did not significantly differ from pre -Mod Alt L years (ANOSIM: R =
0.250, P = 0.300).
Drinkwater Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores and zooplanktivores to a lesser extent
(Figure 4). Omnivores contributed more to community structure in 2011 and 2012, but had less
presence in recent years.
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Tooley Creek
Fish samples in Tooley Creek were collected from 1999 — 2001 and from 2010 — 2015, with
2012 — 2015 considered post -Mod Alt L years.
No clusters among the nine years were detected using SIMPROF. Trophic guild composition in
post -Mod Alt L years did not significantly differ from pre -Mod Alt L years (ANOSIM: R = -
0.138, P = 0.844).
Tooley Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores (Figure 2). Omnivores contributed more
to community structure in 2001 and 2010 to 2012, but had less presence from 2013 to 2015.
Temporal variability among fish guilds within Tooley Creek displayed moderate positive
correlation (0.442) among guild composition and one environmental variable: percent visible
surface submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV).
Huddles Cut
Fish samples in Huddles Cut were collected from 1999 — 2001 and 2007 — 2015, with 2010 —
2015 considered post -Mod Alt L years.
Three clusters among the 12 years were detected using SIMPROF (Figure 5). Cluster A
contained just one post -Mod Alt L year (2014), Cluster B contained two pre -Mod Alt L years
(2000 and 2008) and two post -Mod Alt L years (2011 and 2015) and Cluster C contained four
pre -Mod Alt L years (1999, 2001, 2007, and 2009) and three post -Mod Alt L years (2010, 2012,
and 2013) (Figure 6). Cluster A was 65.6 percent similar to Cluster B and 59.4 percent similar to
Cluster C. Cluster A had less zoobenthivores and more zooplanktivores and detritivores than
both Cluster B and Cluster C. Cluster B was 84.3 percent similar to Cluster C and had more
omnivores and less zoobenthivores than Cluster C.
Trophic guild composition in post -Mod Alt L years did not significantly differ from pre -Mod Alt
L years (ANOSIM: R = 0.043, P = 0.258).
Huddles Cut was mostly composed of zoobenthivores, although omnivores contributed more to
community structure in 2000, 2008, 2011, and 2015 than in other years (Figure 2).
Temporal variability among fish guilds within Huddles Cut displayed moderate positive
correlation (0.332) among guild composition and one environmental variable: percent visible
surface submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV).
Impact Creeks with Pre -Mod Alt L Data Only
Porter Creek
Fish samples in Porter Creek were collected from 2011 — 2015. All five years are pre -Mod Alt L.
Two clusters among the five years were detected using SIMPROF (Figure 6). Cluster A only
contained 2011 and Cluster B contained the remaining years (2012 — 2015). Cluster A was 58.2
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percent similar to Cluster B and had more zooplanktivores and detritivores and less
zoobenthivores.
Porter Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores and zooplanktivores, although the
contribution of zooplanktivores to community structure has fallen since 2011 (Figure 4).
DCUTH
Fish samples in DCUTI I were collected from 2013 — 2015. All three years are pre -Mod Alt L.
No clusters among the three years were detected using SIMPROF.
DCUTI I was mostly composed of zoobenthivores and all other trophic guilds provided small
contributions to community structure (Figure 4).
Control Creeks
Little Creek
Fish samples in Little Creek were collected from 2011 — 2015. No clusters among the five years
were detected using SIMPROF.
Little Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores, although zooplanktivores contributed
more to community structure in 2011 than in subsequent years (Figure 4).
PA2
Fish samples in PA2 were collected from 2011 — 2015. No clusters among the five years were
detected using SIMPROF.
PA2 was mostly composed of zoobenthivores in all years; however, omnivores contributed more
to community structure in 2011 and 2012 as did piscivores in 2014 (Figure 4).
Long Creek
Fish samples in Long Creek were collected from 2011 — 2015. No clusters among the five years
were detected using SIMPROF.
Long Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores (Figure 4). The composition of trophic
guilds in Long Creek has varied less since 2012.
Muddy Creek
Fish samples in Muddy Creek were collected from 1999 — 2005 and from 2007 — 2015. Among
the 16 years, there were two clusters detected by SIMPROF (Figure 7). Cluster A contained two
years (2002 and 2008), Cluster B contained the remainder of years, and also contained more
omnivores and less zoobenthivores.
Muddy Creek is mostly composed of zoobenthivores with consistent smaller contributions to
community structure by zooplanktivores (Figure 2). Omnivores contributed more structure in
2002 and 2008 than in other years.
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Temporal variability among fish guilds within Muddy Creek displayed moderate positive
correlation (0.568) among guild composition and one environmental variable: conductivity.
DCUT19
Fish samples in DCUT19 were collected from 2013 — 2015. No clusters among the three years
were detected using SIMPROF.
DCUT19 is mostly composed of zoobenthivores with consistent smaller contributions by
omnivores (Figure 4).
Duck Creek
Fish samples in Duck Creek were collected from 2011 — 2015. No clusters among the five years
were detected using SIMPROF.
Duck Creek was mostly composed of zoobenthivores in all years but 2011 (Figure 4). While
zooplanktivores contributed consistent community structure in all years, in 2011 they provided
more structure than zoobenthivores.
All Creeks Analysis
To examine relationships among all creeks and all years, multivariate cluster analysis was
conducted. A SIMPROF analysis revealed six different clusters (Figure 8). Every cluster
contained at least one year from a control creek, a pre -Mod Alt L creek, and a post -Mod Alt L
creek. There were no clusters that contained solely pre -Mod Alt L years. Similarities between
clusters ranged from 53.5 percent (Clusters A and E) to 89.6 percent similar (Clusters D and E).
Most of the differences between clusters were driven by variation in the relative abundances of
zoobenthviores, zooplanktivores, and omnivores.
References
Buchheister A and Latour RJ (2015) Diets and trophic -guild structure of a diverse fish
assemblage in Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A. Journal of Fish Biology 86967-992.
Elliott M et al. (2007) The guild approach to categorizing estuarine fish assemblages: a global
review. Fish and Fisheries 8:241-268.
Froese R and Pauly D, editors (2016) FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org (06/2016).
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2013) Standard operating
procedure, biological monitoring: Stream fish community assessment program. Revised
December 01, 2013.
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Table 1. Guild designations of all fish caught in trawl nets or fyke nets
Common Name
Scientific Name
Trophic Guild
Alewife
Alosa pseudoharengus
Zoobenthivore
American eel
Anguilla rostrata
Zoobenthivore
American shad
Alosa sapidissima
Zooplanktivore
Atlantic croaker
Micropogonias undulatus
Zoobenthivore
Atlantic menhaden
Brevoortia tyrannus
Detritivore
Atlantic needlefish
Strongylura marina
Zooplanktivore
Atlantic silverside
Menidia menidia
Zooplanktivore
Banded killifish
Fundulus diaphanus
Zoobenthivore
Bay anchovy
Anchoa mitchilli
Zooplanktivore
Black crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Piscivore
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Piscivore
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Zoobenthivore
Bluespotted sunfish
Enneacanthus gloriosus
Zoobenthivore
Bowfin
Amia calva
Piscivore
Brown bullhead
Ameiurus nebulosus
Zoobenthivore
Chain pickerel
Esox niger
Zoobenthivore
Chain pipefish
Syngnathus louisianae
Zooplanktivore
Common carp
Cyprinus carpio
Omnivore
Crevalle jack
Caranx hippos
Zoobenthivore
Eastern mosquitofish
Gambusia holbrooki
Zoobenthivore
Eastern mudminnow
Umbra pygmaea
Zoobenthivore
Flier
Centrarchus macropterus
Zoobenthivore
Flounder sp.
Paralichthys sp.
Piscivore
Gizzard shad
Dorosoma cepedianum
Omnivore
Golden shiner
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Omnivore
Grass carp
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Herbivore
Green goby
Microgobius thalassinus
Zoobenthivore
Hogchoker
Trinectes maculatus
Zoobenthivore
Inland silverside
Menidia beryllina
Zooplanktivore
Ladyfish
Elops saurus
Zoobenthivore
Largemouth bass
Micropterus salmoides
Piscivore
Longnose gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Piscivore
Mummichog
Fundulus heteroclitus
Zoobenthivore
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Naked goby
Gobiosoma bosci
Zoobenthivore
Northern pipefish
Syngnathus fuscus
Zooplanktivore
Oyster toadfish
Opsanus tau
Zoobenthivore
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides
Omnivore
Pipefish
Syngnathus sp.
Zooplanktivore
Pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
Zoobenthivore
Rainwater killifish
Lucania parva
Zoobenthivore
Red drum
Sciaenops ocellatus
Piscivore
Redear sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
Zoobenthivore
Sciaenidea sp.
Sciaenidea sp.
Piscivore
Sheepshead minnow
Cyprinodon variegatus
Omnivore
Silver perch
Bairdiella chrysoura
Piscivore
Southern flounder
Paralichthys lethostigma
Zoobenthivore
Spot
Leiostomus xanthurus
Zoobenthivore
Spotted seatrout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Zoobenthivore
Striped bass
Morone saxatilis
Piscivore
Striped mullet
Mugil cephalus
Omnivore
Summer flounder
Paralichthys dentatus
Piscivore
Sunfish
Lepomis sp.
Zoobenthivore
Swamp darter
Etheostoma fusiforme
Zoobenthivore
White catfish
Ameiurus catus
Zoobenthivore
White perch
Morone americana
Zooplanktivore
Yellow bullhead
Ameiurus natalis
Zoobenthivore
Yellow perch
Perca flavescens
Zoobenthivore
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Jacks Creek
Group Averages
Figure 1. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Jacks Creek.
Bold years indicate post -Mod Alt L years.
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to
N
N
A
B
C
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a
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Figure 1. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Jacks Creek.
Bold years indicate post -Mod Alt L years.
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1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Jacks
0.0 0.2 0,4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Huddles
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Tooley
■ zooplanktivore
❑ zoobenthivore
❑ piscivore
❑ detritivare
■ omnivore
■ herbivore
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Figure 2. Fish guilds of Jacks Creek, Muddy Creek, Huddles Cut, and Tooley Creek from 1999
to 2015 (gaps represent no collection during that year per approved plan). For each creek, x-axis
represents relative abundance. Dashed lines indicate switch from pre- to post -Mod Alt L.
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I
a
L
E o
.N
N
W
0
ID
Jacobs Creek
Group Averages
r ;\J LY7
r
O O C]
N N C4
Figure 3. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Jacobs Creek.
Bold years indicate post -Mod Alt L years.
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*3 LO
r r
C) (D
N N
Figure 3. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Jacobs Creek.
Bold years indicate post -Mod Alt L years.
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Jacobs PA2 Drinkwater Little Long
0
N
N
Q
N
rI
0
N
Q
O
N
IS 1
O
N
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 9.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Porter
N
0IV7
DCUT 19
DCUT 11
Duck
ff
N
N
■ zooplanktivore
❑ zoobenthivore
0 piscivore
M
N
0IL
■ detritivore
■ omnivore
1 herbivore
v
0
N
Q
N
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0,8 1.0
0.0 0.2 0,4 0.6 0.8 1.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1,0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0,6 0.8 1.0
Figure 4. Fish guilds of Jacobs Creek, PA2, Drinkwater Creek, Little Creek, Long Creek, Porter
Creek, DCUT 19, DCUT 11, and Duck Creek from 2011 to 2015 (gaps represent no collection
during that year per approved plan). For each creek, x-axis represents relative abundance.
Dashed lines indicate switch from pre- to post -Mod Alt L.
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a
0
Huddles Cut
Group Averages
� LO CJ Co O n W N I� CA
T_ r r Q p r r Cil CD r 0 O
Q (D o CJ C> C) C] CA CJ 0 0 C7
N N N N CV N N N N N N
Figure 5. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Huddles Cut.
Bold years indicate post -Mod Alt L years.
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�L
f6
O
Ecv
A
0
a
0
Huddles Cut
Group Averages
� LO CJ Co O n W N I� CA
T_ r r Q p r r Cil CD r 0 O
Q (D o CJ C> C) C] CA CJ 0 0 C7
N N N N CV N N N N N N
Figure 5. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Huddles Cut.
Bold years indicate post -Mod Alt L years.
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Porter Creek
Group Averages
O C>
N N
LO CO
� r r
(D Q O
N tai N
Figure 6. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Porter Creek.
Gray years indicate pre -Mod Alt L years.
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v
Z,
c�
E
N
A
0
0
Porter Creek
Group Averages
O C>
N N
LO CO
� r r
(D Q O
N tai N
Figure 6. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Porter Creek.
Gray years indicate pre -Mod Alt L years.
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�L
.E
0
EO
C)
LO
0
A
a
M
u
Muddy Creek
Group Averages
O C r O r 0 0 r 0 0 M 0 0
Figure 7. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections in Muddy Creek.
Blue years indicate control years.
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Figure 18. Cluster dendrogram for fish guild data of all years of fish collections for all creeks. Gray text: pre -Mod Alt L years, Black text: post -Mod Alt L years, Blue text: control years.
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