Fine-scale movements and tracking of juvenile southern flounder in Galveston Bay, Texas

What is it about?

Understanding the habitats used by fishes is needed for proper management and conservation. Southern flounder is a popular sportfish along the entire Gulf of Mexico that has exhibited declines in recent years, particularly in Texas waters. We used acoustic telemetry technology to track the movements of juvenile southern flounder in an estuary at a very fine scale (< 5 square meters). We found flounder to use deep, cooler waters in areas of sand substrate within our acoustic positioning system.

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Why is it important?

Our work demonstrates the value of telemetry positioning systems to track aquatic and marine organisms at very fine resolutions in space and in time. We show the value in combining tracking animal movement with fine-scale habitat assessments and monitoring. The combination of these techniques allows for a comprehensive understanding of what influences habitat use. For southern flounder, we show habitat use is dynamic, and thus movements need to be considered when designating essential habitats.