Assessing the Effects of Physical Barriers and Hypoxia on Red Drum Movement Patterns to Develop More Effective Management Strategies

Human modification of coastal ecosystems often creates barriers to fish movement. Passive acoustic telemetry was used quantify movement patterns and habitat use red drums (Sciaenops ocellatus) within around a complex impoundments, explored how the presence artificial structures (i.e., bollards culverts) hypoxia-related mortality event impacted Results indicated impede individuals with head widths greater than mean distance between (~16.0 cm). Red drum home range area daily traveled were related water dissolved oxygen concentrations; as levels decreased, decreased initially. However, continued exposure hypoxic conditions increased cumulative traveled. When exposed anoxic waters, rate greatly reduced. These findings suggest prolonged low in combination can reduce drum, increase risk mortality, decrease connectivity. Constructing maintaining (sediment biofouling removal) larger culvert openings and/or using wider bollard spacing would improve circulation connectivity, facilitate large sportfish inhabiting Florida’s waters.