Checklist of Fishes in Buttonwood Canal, Everglades National Park, Florida, and Observations on the Seasonal Occurrence and Life Histories of Selected Species

One hundred and three species of fishes, representing 83 genera and 49 families, were collected in Buttonwood Canal, Everglades National Park, Florida, between January 1963 and June 1965.

The following information is given for most species: (1) the seasonal occurrence of the fishes; (2) the relative abundance of the fishes in samples taken at ebb and flood tides; (3) the ranges for salinity and temperature of the water at the times the fishes were collected.

For six species (Elops saurus, Harengula pensacolae, Anchoa hepsetus, Diapterus plumieri, Bairdiella chrysura, and Sciaenops ocellata) length-frequency data are presented.

For eight species (Brevoortia smithi, Harengula pensacolae, Opisthonema oglinum, Anchoa hepsetus, Eucinostomus gula, Lagodon rhomboides, Bairdiella chrysura, and Achirus lineatus) the catches are associated with environmental variables. For these, the catches on consecutive nights were found to be consistent, except for Harengula pensacolae, which was caught in greater numbers on the first night of fishing. No significant differences in catches could be detected between the phases of the moon, except in the period of highest relative abundance. Brevoortia and Bairdiella were most frequently caught in the spring and fall. Lagodon was most common in winter and spring. Harengula, Opisthonema, Anchoa, and Eucinostomus were most abundant in summer. Achirus appeared to exhibit no seasonal changes in catches. Season and rainfall were the most significant parameters related to the catches of these fishes.