NOTE Powell: Larval abundance, distribution, and spawning habits of Cynoscion nebulosus 707 



Spatially, there were significant differences in densities 

 of spotted seatrout among 14 stations from 1994 through 

 1995 (P=0.01), and densities were highly variable (Table 

 2). In addition, a considerable number of zero catches oc- 

 curred at stations where spotted seatrout were collected 

 at least one time. This high variability indicated that the 

 sampling design was inadequate to properly evaluate the 

 spatial and temporal abundance of spotted seatrout larvae. 

 However, some patterns could be discerned. Generally, lar- 

 val spotted seatrout were absent or rarely collected in the 

 eastern (stations 2, 3, and 4), Atlantic transition (stations 

 1 and 14), northern transition (station 15) zones and in a 

 portion of the central zone (station 15) (Tables 2 and 3). 

 They were consistently collected at station 6 in the central 

 zone (Tables 2 and 3). 



There were no significant differences (P=0.14) in densi- 

 ties of spotted seatrout among stations in 1996; stations 

 where trout occurred on more than one occasion in 1994-95 

 (Table 2). As in 1994-95, high mean densities of spotted 

 seatrout occurred at station 6 (Table 2). 



Significant differences in spotted seatrout densities 

 at certain stations were observed between the periods 

 1994—95 and 1996. Differences were observed at stations 

 9 (P=0.02), station 10 (P=0. 02), and station 13 (P=0.02). At 

 these three stations in 1996 spotted seatrout were collected 

 only in one month (August). They were never collected at 

 station 5 in 1996 (Table 2). 



Size of larvae was indicative of spawning locations. 

 Recently hatched spotted seatrout larvae ( 1.0-1.9 mm no- 

 tochord length; s5 d old) were collected mainly in central 

 (stations 5 and 6), Gulf transition (stations 9, 10, 11, 12, 17) 

 and western (stations 13 and 16) zones. Recently hatched 

 larvae were rare at station 4 (eastern zone), station 14 

 (central zone) and station 15 (northern transition zone). 

 They were absent at station 8 (Atlantic transition zone) 

 (Figs. 4 and 5). 



Discussion 



Evidence from previous studies (Powell et al., 1989; Ruth- 

 erford et al., 1989a) and the present study establishes the 

 spatial and temporal spawning habits of spotted seatrout 

 in Florida Bay. Length-frequency distributions of spotted 

 seatrout larvae collected in 1984-85 (Powell et al., 1989) 

 and data from the present study indicate that spotted seat- 

 rout spawn mainly in the Gulf transition, central, and west- 

 em zones of Florida Bay and that there is limited spawning 

 in the northern transition and eastern zones (Figs. 4 and 

 5). Spawning also occurs in the far northeastern portion of 

 Florida Bay in Little Blackwater and Blackwater Sounds 

 (Rutherford et al., 1989a). However, there is no evidence for 

 spawning in the Atlantic transition zone. The distribution 

 of planktonic larvae is not necessarily a good indicator of 

 postsettlement habitat requirements because abiotic fac- 

 tors related to transport could influence their distribu- 

 tion. However, in Florida Bay larvae are not distributed 

 homogeneously throughout the bay, and mudbanks impede 

 circulation (Fourqurean and Robblee, 1999). The adults are 

 generally nonmigratory and inhabit shallow seagrass-rich 

 environments (Chester and Thayer, 1990). Hence, the dis- 



