Abstract
This study analyzed epifaunal data collected under the Integrated Biscayne Bay Ecological Assessment and Monitoring (IBBEAM) project to: (1) estimate length-weight relationships and growth types; and (2) determine if condition factor is influenced by environmental parameters for seven near-shore epifaunal fishes inhabiting Biscayne Bay, Florida. From 2005 to 2019, fishes were collected via throw trap biannually (dry and wet seasons) at 47 fixed sites between Shoal Point and Turkey Point. The following species appeared in samples consistently and in sample sizes that were deemed significant for analysis: Atherinomorus stipes, Floridichthys carpio, Gobiosoma robustum, Lucania parva, Microgobius gulosus, Opsanus beta, and Syngnathus scovelli. The LWRs differed significantly between seasons for A. stipes, L. parva, and S. scovelli and the estimated slopes indicate positive allometric growth for all focal species. Condition factor was significantly higher in the dry seasons for A. stipes, F. carpio, and G. robustum and in the wet seasons for L. parva. Higher salinities significantly decreased condition factor for A. stipes, G. robustum, L. parva, and O. beta. Higher temperatures significantly increased condition factor for A. stipes and F. carpio, and significantly decreased condition factor for L. parva and S. scovelli. Higher percent cover of seagrass significantly increased condition factor for F. carpio and L. parva but decreased condition factor for S. scovelli. Higher maximum canopy height significantly decreased condition factor for A. stipes and S. scovelli. None of the environmental parameters significantly influenced condition factor for M. gulosus. L. parva was the only species in which all environmental parameters considered significantly influenced condition factor. To my knowledge this study provides the first LWR estimates for F. carpio and S. scovelli. Results of this study provide another dimension to the epifaunal component of IBBEAM project beyond abundance and distribution and suggest a physiological link between environmental parameters and fish condition in Biscayne Bay.