We used 11ft nets from A p r~l through November 1991 in Louisiana (USA) deltaic marshes to compare nekton densities In 3 marsh-surface habitats u n d e r g o~n g submergence and h a v~n g different surface elevations (Distichlls spjcata marsh = hlgh elevat~on, Intact Spartina alterniflora marsh = intermediate elevation; and hummocky S dltern~flora marsh = low elevat~on). Daggerblade grass shrlmp Palaemonetes P L I~I O , gulf klllifish Fundulus grandis, sheepshead minnow C)~prinocIon variegatus, diamond k~llifish Adinia xenica, s t r~p e d mullet ~Llugil cephalus, blue crab Calllnectes sapldus, brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus, and white shrlmp P setiferus numer~cally dominated samples from all 3 marsh types and accounted for 93 %, of the total catch. These d o m~n a n t specles exh~bited 3 d~stinct patterns of s p a t~a l distribution among habitats. Gulf k i l l~f~s h and diamond killiflsh were most abundant on D. splcata marsh, whereas h~g h e s t densities of brown s h n m p and w h~t e shrimp were found on hummocky S. alterniflora marsh Dens~tles of daggerblade grass s h r~m p , sheepshead minnows, stnped mullet, and blue crabs were s~rnilar among the 3 marsh types. Although in an advanced state of detenoration, hummocky S alterniflora mal-sh did not lose ~t s h a b~t a t function. Submergence of coastal Gulf of Mexico marshes may benc'f~t marsh nekton, espec~ally penaeid s h r~m p , by Increasing the percentage of time the marsh surface is avalldble for use. However, these benef~ts will be short-l~ved in reglons where rapld submergence leads to a s i g n~f~c a n t decrease in total marsh h a b~t a t
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