Draft Report Text November 2013
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Understanding the Habitat Value and Function of Shoal/Ridge/Trough Complexes to Fish and Fisheries on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Draft Literature Synthesis U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Understanding the Habitat Value and Function of Shoal/Ridge/Trough Complexes to Fish and Fisheries on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Draft Literature Synthesis Principal Authors Deborah Rutecki, Normandeau Associates Eric Nestler, Normandeau Associates Timothy Dellapenna, Texas A&M University, Galveston Ann Pembroke, Normandeau Associates Prepared under BOEM Contract M12PS00031 by Normandeau Associates, Inc. 25 Nashua Rd. Bedford, NH 03110 Published by U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management DISCLAIMER This Literature Synthesis was prepared under contract between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Normandeau Associates, Inc. The document has been technically reviewed by BOEM and has been approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the view and policies of BOEM, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendations for use. It is, however, exempt from review and in compliance with BOEM editorial standards. AVAILABILITY Copies of this report may be obtained from BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program Information System (ESPIS) at the following website: http://www.data.boem.gov/homepg/data_center/other/espis/espismaster.asp?appid=1 CITATION Suggested Citation: Normandeau Associates, Inc. 2014. Understanding the Habitat Value and Function of Shoal/Ridge/Trough Complexes to Fish and Fisheries on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf. Draft Literature Synthesis for the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Contract # M12PS00031. 116 pp. Table of Contents Table of Contents List of Figures ......................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ............................................................................................................. v Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................................................................. vii 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Background .............................................................................................................................1 Approach .................................................................................................................................3 Literature Search Methods ....................................................................................................4 Additional Literature Reviews and Syntheses .....................................................................4 2.0 Geology and Geography ...................................................................................... 5 2.1 What are Shoals? Geological Considerations ................................................................6 2.2 Physical Processes Governing Shoals ...........................................................................10 2.2.1 Physical Differences Between Shoal Regions ....................................................10 2.2.2 Physical Oceanographic Differences Between Shoal Regions ...........................11 2.2.3 Variability of sediment transport between shoals ...............................................13 2.2.4 Assessing Potential Impacts and Recovery of Sand Mining of Shoals: a Geological Perspective ...................................................................................14 2.3 Distribution of Shoals in BOEM OCS Planning Areas ...............................................15 2.3.1 Atlantic OCS Region ..........................................................................................15 2.3.2 Gulf of Mexico OCS Region ..............................................................................16 2.4 Summary .........................................................................................................................16 3.0 Value and Function of Shoal Habitat .............................................................. 17 3.1 Value of Shoal Habitat ...................................................................................................17 3.2 Biophysical Coupling and the Function of Shoal Habitat ..........................................17 4.0 Biological Resource Usage of Shoal Habitats ................................................. 20 4.1 Benthos ............................................................................................................................20 4.1.1 Habitat associations and spatial distribution .......................................................20 4.1.2 Habitat associations and temporal distribution ...................................................23 4.1.3 Species of special conservation or fisheries importance .....................................24 4.1.4 Recovery from disturbance: Recruitment and Colonization ...............................25 4.2 Fishes ...............................................................................................................................25 4.2.1 Description of fishes associated with shoal and ridge/trough complex habitats 26 i Understanding Habitat Value and Function of Shoal/Ridge/Trough Complexes: A Literature Synthesis 4.2.2 Shoal habitat value ..............................................................................................32 4.2.3 Behavior of fishes on or around shoal and ridge/trough complexes ...................35 5.0 Outstanding Questions ...................................................................................... 38 5.1. How does regional/site specific variability between shoals control sediment dynamics and the likelihood that sand removed from a shoal will be replaced through natural processes? .............................................................................39 5.2. What information is needed to predict how much material can be removed from a shoal complex without disrupting the natural physical processes controlling its dimensions? ...............................................................................................39 5.3. Are there differences in function and habitat quality between shoals that are actively moving or have a higher sediment flux rate than those that have little or no annual sedimentary disturbances and are generally static? ...................39 5.4. How can shoal/ridge habitats be effectively sampled to determine their value to fishes at the various scales associated with these habitats? ............................39 5.5. Do shoal/ridge habitats represent critical nursery habitats of fishes? ...................39 5.6. How do we determine microhabitats within a shoal/ridge complex that are critically important? .......................................................................................40 5.7. Which shoals and shoal complexes are most valuable and why? .........................40 5.8. How do we extrapolate localized disturbance effects to population-level responses at a regional scale? .........................................................................40 5.9. How do species-specific life history traits and/or behavior impact the value and connectivity of shoal/ridge habitats? ..............................................................41 5.10. Do useful indicator species exist? .......................................................................41 5.11. How do we avoid or minimize disturbances to these habitats? What resource conservation methods are appropriate? ..........................................................41 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................... 43 Figures ..................................................................................................................... 58 Tables ....................................................................................................................... 79 Appendix A: Glossary ........................................................................................... 103 Appendix B: Summary of Ecological Conditions in BOEM Planning Areas ... 106 ii List of Figures List of Figures Figure 2-1. Characteristics of Sabine Bank, a stranded Holocene barrier island shoal. Source: http://gulf.rice.edu/gulf/ETexas/facies.html. ................................................59 Figure 2-2. Characteristics of Heald Bank, a stranded Bayhead delta shoal. Source: Rodriguez et al. 2004 .................................................................................................60 Figure 2-3. Development of inner shelf sand shoal in the Gulf of Mexico. Source: Penland et al., 1988. ...................................................................................................61 Figure 2-4. Evolution and current characteristics of St. Bernard Shoals. Source: Rogers et al., 2009. ....................................................................................................62 Figure 2-5. Characteristics Holocene produced shoal fields in eastern Gulf of Mexico. Source: Finkl et al. 2007. ...........................................................................................63 Figure 2-6. Characteristics of Cape Lookout Shoal, a cape-associated