Spatial-Explicit Growth Rate Model of Young Striped Bass in Albemarle Sound: Implications on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
Production dynamics of fish may depend on local processes and can
be strongly influenced by the physical habitats which they live. These
habitats are often patchy which inhibits the use of system-wide models
to examine fish production. We examined the growth rate potential of
juvenile striped bass in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, to identify
essential fish habitat (EFH) for striped bass during the summer and
early-fall months. Growth rate potential integrates a physiological-based
model (bioenergetics) of fish growth with the physical environment.
We integrated the growth rate potential model with Global Information
Systems (GIS) to spatially map the growth gate potential of individual
juvenile striped bass in Albemarle Sound. Water temperatures during
the modeled period were within the “preferred” range 19
and 27oC, of juvenile striped bass except during June when water temperatures
were above 28oC. Dissolved oxygen and salinity levels were at levels
suitable for striped bass throughout the modeled period. Mean growth
rate (g/g/d) was 0.023 during the modeled period. Our model predicted
that areas in the north Albemarle Sound, particularly in the Chowan
and North rivers, the mouth of the Roanoke River provided physical habitats
(based on water temperature) to support high growth rates of striped
bass. These areas may be defined as EFH areas. Our approach shows the
usefulness of integrating two technologies to predict fish production.
