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This layer contains data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Habitat and Ecosystem Program’s (FHEP) estuarine community sampling project (http://dnr2.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/FHEP/index.aspx), r. Fish community surveys were conducted in three tributaries of the Choptank River: Broad Creek (2012-2015), Harris Creek (2012-2015), and the Tred Avon River (2006-2015) (MD DNR, 2014). The objective of the study was to evaluate summer nursery and adult habitat for recreationally important finfish and evaluate the influence of watershed development on total finfish abundance, species richness, presence-absence, and abundance of target species. Sites were sampled every two weeks from July-September. Typically, four evenly spaced haul seine and bottom trawl sample sites were located in the upper two-thirds of each sub-estuary (to reduce influence of mainstream waters), with trawls conducted offshore but adjacent to seine sites (MD DNR, 2014). All fish were identified to species and counted. In addition, striped bass and yellow perch were separated into juveniles and adults, while white perch were separated into three size/life stage categories (juveniles, small adults, and harvestable size, i.e., >200 mm). This layer contains the location of seine surveys and fish counts from for each station and sample date, represented as points. |