MODDE and ROSS: SEASONALITY OF FISHES OCCUPYING A SURF ZONE HABITAT 



(1977) in recognizing the low anal ray count (gen- 

 erally 16) specimens of Sardinella sp. as Spanish 

 sardine, S. anchovia. Our specimens of Menidia 

 generally had three or fewer anal fin rays anterior 

 to the posterior extension of the swim bladder by 

 which Johnson (1975) characterized M. pe- 

 ninsulae (Goode and Bean). However, we have fol- 

 lowed Edwards et al. ( 1978 ) in retaining tidewater 

 silverside, M. beryl Una, for this form. 



Although some variation occurred in the annual 

 ranking of species abundance (Table 3), A. lyolep- 

 is; H. jaguana\ and gulf menhaden, Brevoortia 

 patronus, were among the four most abundant 

 species in all 3 yr. Less numerous species showed 

 more variability. For instance, the striped an- 

 chovy, A. hepsetus, was third in abundance in 1976 

 but eighth in abundance in 1977, while T. 

 carolinus was sixth in abundance in 1976 and 

 fourth in abundance in 1977. 



Table 3. — Rank order of abundance of the 10 most numerous 

 fish species collected from the Horn Island, Miss., surf zone by 

 year. 



Species 



1975 



1976 



1977 



The number of fishes collected from the surf 

 zone habitat of Horn Island was characterized by 

 distinct seasonal changes. Peaks in fish per seine 

 haul (collected between 0900 and 1600 h) occurred 

 during the warmer months between June and Sep- 

 tember 1976 and 1977 (Figure 2). In 1975 fishes 

 were not collected in large numbers until the Au- 

 gust collection. Large numbers of fishes were col- 

 lected as early as June in 1976 although few fishes 

 were collected in July of the same year. In 1977 

 fishes were not collected in abundance in June, but 

 were in July. 



The number of fishes collected dropped during 

 the fall and winter months but rose again during 

 late winter and early spring (Figure 2). This sec- 

 ondary peak, occurring in March 1976 and 1977, 

 was composed of denatant migrants (sensu Gush- 

 ing 1975j which had recently been spawned 



9f 



J3. 



R 



JIL 



H I h _ 



AMJ JASONOJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJ JASON 



wre 1976 1977 



Figure 2 . — Mean number of fishes collected per seine haul from 

 Stations 1 through 4 on Kom Island, Miss., between April 1975 

 and November 1977. Data represents collections made between 

 0900 and 1600 h c.s.t. 



offshore and were drifting into Mississippi Sound 

 via the barrier island passes. Following the late 

 winter (March) peak there was another period of 

 low catch per effort between April and June in 

 1976 and 1977. 



The numerically dominant species collected 

 within the surf zone exhibited distinct seasonal 

 occurrence patterns. Gluster analysis among 

 these species indicated three modes of occurrence 

 (Figure 3). Although data for the cluster analysis 

 included only fishes collected between 0900 and 

 1600 h, there was no significant difference ( x^, 5% 

 level) in the monthly presence offish species col- 

 lected at this time period and those collected be- 

 tween 1600 and 0900 h. The most numerous 

 species, A. lyolepis and H. jaguana, showed the 

 highest similarity in seasonal occurrence and 

 were most common during spring and summer. 

 Other species also characteristic of spring and 

 summer included Eucinostomus sp. and T. caroli- 

 nus. Anchoa hepsetus and Menticirrhus littoralis 

 had less seasonal affinity with the above species 

 since they also occurred well into fall. 



A second seasonal group included flat anchovy, 

 Anchoviella perfasciata; S. anchovia; and white 

 mullet, Mugil curema, which were representa- 

 tives of the summer fauna (Figure 3). These 

 species were never collected at water tempera- 

 tures below 24.5° G. 



915 



