phological abnormalities, and ability to bioaccumulate 

 contaminants indicate environmental pollution orstress. 



4) Ecological value - based on several species at- 

 tributes, including trophic level, relative abundance, 

 and importance of species as a key predator or prey 

 organism (e.g., grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, 

 and bay anchovy, Anchoa mitchilli). 



Data Sheets. A data sheet was developed for each 

 species in each estuary to enable quick compilation 

 and data presentation. For example, Figure 4 depicts 

 the data sheet for red drum in Galveston Bay. Data 

 sheets were developed by project staff and reviewed 

 by local experts. Data compiled for each species' life 

 stage included: 1) the salinity zones it occupies, 2) its 

 monthly occurrence in the zones, and 3) its relative 

 abundance in the zones. 



The relative abundance of a species was defined using 

 one of the following categories: 



• Highly abundant - species is numerically dominant 

 relative to other species 



• Abundant - species is often encountered in substan- 

 tial numbers relative to other species. 



• Common - species is generally encountered but not 

 in large numbers; does not imply an even distribution 

 over a specific salinity zone. 



• Rare - species is present but not frequently encoun- 

 tered. 



• Not present - species or life stage not found, question- 

 able data as to identification of the species, or recent 

 loss of habitat or environmental degradation suggests 

 absence. 



• No information available - no data available, and after 

 expert review it was determined that even an educated 

 guess would not be appropriate. 



Sciaenops ocellatus 

 Red drum 



Galveston Bay 

 Texas 



Legend: Relative Abundance: 



= Not Present 

 = Rare 

 = 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: red drum in Galveston Bay. 



