Data sheets. A data sheet was developed for each 

 species in each estuary to enable quick data compila- 

 tion and presentation. Figure 4 depicts the data sheet 

 for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in Mobile 

 Bay. Data sheets were developed by project staff and 

 reviewed by local experts. Data compiled for each 

 species/life stage included: 1) the salinity zone it 

 occupies (seawater, mixing, tidal fresh), 2) its monthly 

 distribution in those zones, and 3) its relative abun- 

 dance in the zones. The ELMR data sheets were 

 entered into a microcomputer data base management 

 system. 



The relative abundance of a species was classified 

 using the following categories: 



• Not present: species or life history stage not found, 

 questionable data as to identification of species, and/ 

 or recent loss of habitat or environmental degradation 

 suggests absence. 



• No information available: no existing data available, 

 and after expert review it was determined that not even 

 an educated guess would be appropriate. 



• Rare: species is definitely present but not frequently 

 encountered. 



• Common: species is frequently encountered but not 

 in large numbers; does not imply a uniform distribution 

 over a specific salinity zone. 



• Abundant: species is often encountered in substantial 

 numbers relative to other species. 



• Highly abundant: species is numerically dominant 

 relative to other species. 



Adults were defined as reproductively mature individu- 

 als, juveniles as immature but otherwise similar to 

 adults, and spawning adults as those releasing eggs 

 and sperm. There were a few exceptions to these 

 defined life stages, such as mating in crabs. 



Cynoscion nebulosus 

 spotted seatrout 



Mobile Bay 

 Alabama 



Legend: 



Relative Abundance: 



= Not Present 

 = Rare 



i = Common 

 Abundant 

 Highly Abundant 



Data Reliability (R): 



1 = Highly Certain 



2 = Moderately Certain 



3 = Reasonable Inference 



Figure 4. Example of a species/estuary data sheet: spotted seatrout in Mobile Bay. 



