Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Fall 1-31-1997
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Science - (M.S.)
Department
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science
First Advisor
Judith S. Weis
Second Advisor
Peddrick Weis
Third Advisor
Richard B. Trattner
Abstract
Predation by Fundulus heteroclitus is known to be an important factor regulating the abundance and size distribution of Palaemonetes pugio in the salt marsh habitat.
A preliminary study showed that P. pugio from a polluted estuary, Piles Creek, were relatively larger than those found in a more pristine estuary, Little Sheepshead Creek. Possible causes could be differences in competition, inherent environmental components, reproductive effort, or predation. To investigate the differences in size frequency, data on relative abundances of both species and size frequency distribution of P. pugio were collected for comparison from the two estuaries.
It was determined that P. pugio were preyed upon more frequently in LSC than in PC due to there being nearly three times as many F. heteroclitus in LSC than in PC. It was concluded that size selective predation is limiting the number of adult shrimp from ultimately reaching their maximum length.
Recommended Citation
Santiago, Celine, "Size-frequency distribution of Palaemonetes pugio in two New Jersey estuaries and predator-prey interactions with Fundulus heterocolitus" (1997). Theses. 1030.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/1030
