Tuckey and Dehaven Fish assemblages found in tidal creek and seagrass habitats in the Suwannee River estuary 



111 



Bray-Curtis similarity 



Figure 4 



Results of cluster analysis for fish assemblages found in the Suwannee 

 River estuary. SG = seagrass habitats, TC = tidal-creek habitats, l = January, 

 2 = February, etc., and the year is denoted by the last two digits of the year. 

 For example, SG_1_97 corresponds to samples collected during January of 

 1997 in seagrass habitats. Note: Clusters are free to rotate at the point at 

 which the lines branch. 



species accounted for more than 68% of the cumulative 

 similarity within the winter-spring assemblage. The 

 summer assemblage had an average similarity level 

 of 62.29 and was characterized by ten species that 

 accounted for 70.65% of the cumulative similarity; A. 

 mitchilli, Menidia spp., Eucinostomus spp., sand seatrout 

 (Cynoscion arenarius), B. chrysoura, C. nebulosus, L. 

 rhomboides, E. harengulus, M. martinica, and leather- 

 jacket (Oligoplites saurus). The fall assemblage had an 

 average similarity level of 60.36 and was characterized 

 hy Eucinostomus spp., Menidia spp., gulf killifish (Fiin- 

 dulus grandis), A. mitchilli, E. harengulus, diamond kil- 

 lifish (Adinia xenica), clown goby (Microgobius gulosus). 



and M. cephalus, which accounted for more than 67% of 

 the cumulative similarity. Species tolerant of low salin- 

 ity, such as A. xenica, marsh killifish {Fundulus con- 

 fluentus), mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), and least 

 killifish {Heterandria formosa) were commonly collected 

 in tidal creeks. There were 35 species collected, includ- 

 ing groups such as cyprinids, cyprinodontids, poeciliids, 

 lepisosteids, and centrarchids, which were restricted 

 entirely to tidal creeks (Table 2). 



Seasonal recruitment of juvenile fishes to tidal-creek 

 habitats was evident and remained consistent through- 

 out the study resulting in three clearly defined assem- 

 blages. Young-of-the-year L. xanthurus recruited to 



