Measuring mutual movements, mixing, and mingling among multiple mangrove bays by an important estuarine sea bream (Archosargus rhomboidalis)

Quantifying the spatial and temporal aspects of fish residency is needed to understand energy transfer, habitat function, contaminant exposure, effective design MPAs in estuarine systems. The movements 19 sea bream (Archosargus rhomboidalis), an ecologically important species mangrove estuaries western Atlantic, were investigated multiple bays on a Caribbean Island over two years using surgically implanted acoustic transmitters. Fish almost continuously monitored (residency index 96–100%) by array hydrophones during 11–13 month battery-life their Individual utilized small core areas (mean = 9.8 ha daytime 11.0 at night), displayed daily site fidelity 57% overlap day night area), showed no evidence ontogenetic increase size, many exhibited change winter months which coincident with suspected spawning. captured from same bay generally occupied spaces within study area, similar proportions, compared adjacent bays. different did not mix wander throughout ecosystem even though it all suitable used groups localized individuals. This similarity occupancy patterns limited scale scales weeks or months. When considered resolution individual receivers hourly time steps, most are close proximity one another for vast majority time. Although some pairs had as 84% detections after tagging, they gradually spent less near each other, overall pattern was consistent whole highlights importance examining time-intervals interactions.