The Mobile Basin is a prime example of a system that has undergone extensive channel modification with corresponding declines in the distribution and abundance of the native aquatic fauna. However, many of the declining aquatic species of the Mobile basin may persist within unmodified subbasins. The Noxubee River is a subbasin of the Mobile basin that has had very little alteration throughout its watershed. I investigated the species richness and assemblage structure to determine if the contemporary fish assemblage attributes resembled the conditions represented by historic collections. The findings of this study are important because the Noxubee River has not been extensively investigated since 1983, and the river could serve as refugia for declining riverine species of the Mobile basin. After examination at both local and regional levels, I determined that a diverse contemporary fish assemblage comprising 87 species, similar to historic collections, still persists in the Noxubee River system.

I examined the abundance, composition, and distribution of fish communities in the lower Roanoke River, a hydropeaking system in North Carolina. Fishes were sampled at before and after peaking events over three years; 2007 to 2009. I evaluated trends in species richness, diversity, and assemblage composition. There were no significant differences in either richness or diversity suggesting consistent trends in richness and diversity throughout the study. I used non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to create a community composition model. Fish composition was noticeably greater post-peaking and changed minimally across time and event. There were no statistically significant differences in species composition among pre or post peaking samples, sites, or years (ANOSIM p < 0.05). I concluded that the small amount of fish community variation observed supports the possibility that the present assemblage has adapted to a regulated flow regime, however a direct relationship between peaking and community composition cannot be established. Additionally, fishes were sampled at three longitudinal sites during summer months of 2007 to 2009. I examined fish community composition to assess longitudinal gradients away from the source of peaking. Differences among fish species within each longitudinal site were examined by use of trophic and habitat/reproductive guilds. Statistically significant differences were detected between both trophic and reproductive guilds among sites and therefore aided in creating a pattern of longitudinal separation in community structure. The fish community of the Roanoke River between Roanoke Rapids and Hamilton does not appear to show signs of variation that may be attributed exclusively to hydropeaking. Changes in hydrology, river morphometry and topography, and habitat structure may account for the longitudinal variation observed in the community structure analyses. The Roanoke River has been regulated for over 50 years. It is possible that the existing fish community has adapted to fluctuating flows created by seasonal hydropeaking. I concluded that in order to develop an appropriate community model and evaluate the full extent of changes in fish community characteristics over time long-term monitoring is needed in the Roanoke River.

Large, exotic (those whose headwaters are in distant places) rivers are some of the most unique and diverse ecosystems on earth. Because they often flow through a multitude of biomes and climates, their waters are a vital resource not only for the organisms that inhabit these rivers, but for human societies as well. Thus, large rivers, like the Rio Grande, that flow through arid and agricultural regions are highly regulated and diverted. Regulation and dewatering upset a river’s natural flow regime (e.g., magnitude, duration, timing of large flood events), subsequently impacting the river’s ability to transport its sediment supply, and eventually perturbing a river into either sediment surplus or deficit. The combination of altered flow and sediment regimes influence the availability of habitat essential for the survival and viability of aquatic organisms, such as fish and invertebrates. In addition, increased deposition of sediment creates areas suitable for invasive riparian vegetation to establish, likely affecting habitat complexity and increasing the abundance of leaf litter deposited into the river. The altered flow and sediment regimes, in combination with invasive riparian vegetation, culminate and eventually affect the food resources and aquatic communities present in a river ecosystem. Most often, the links between the physical perturbations to a system with the biological factors are poorly understood. In this study, we use distinct segments of the Rio Grande along the US-Mexico border to compare areas with greater and lower habitat heterogeneity, water quality, and invasive riparian species abundance to better understand what physical factors can influence aquatic species such as fish and invertebrate communities. We identify critical limiting factors for the native fish community present, and link the altered flow and sediment regimes with the aquatic ecological template of the Rio Grande.

Richness and distribution of marine organisms exhibits an uneven tridimensional pattern, strongly influenced by ocean hydrodynamics. In tropical environments, seasonal events are mainly related to wind direction changes which affect coastal currents. This work characterizes seasonal patterns influence over pelagic and reef fish fauna exploited by handline artisanal fishing in Alagoas State outer shelf. Richness and diversity indexes were used to compare dry and rainy seasons catches. A total of 374 individuals of 16 families and 30 species were caught (28 teleosts and 2 elasmobranchs) in six surveys. Results demonstrated that rainy season presented higher diversity than dry season. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) using rainfall, wind speed and direction, presented influence over biotic data of species occurrence, forming seasonal groupings. We conclude that seasonal wind changes produce effects over biotic and abiotic components affecting species diversity in tropical marine environments / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A riqueza e distribuição dos organismos marinhos possuem um padrão desigual e tridimensional, fortemente influenciado pelos padrões hidrodinâmicos. Em regiões costeiras tropicais eventos sazonais são principalmente relacionados às mudanças de direção dos ventos que afetam as correntes costeiras. O presente trabalho faz uma caracterização da influência dos padrões sazonais de direção dos ventos sobre as espécies da ictiofauna pelágica e recifal explotada pela pesca artesanal com linha na plataforma externa do litoral de Alagoas. Compararam-se as estações seca e chuvosa por meio de índices de riqueza e diversidade das capturas. Um total de 374 indivíduos pertencentes a 16 famílias e 30 espécies (28 de Teleósteos e duas de Elasmobrânquios) foi coletado durante a pesquisa. Os resultados demonstraram que a estação chuvosa apresentou diversidade maior que a estação seca. Análises de correspondência canônica (CCA) considerando dados de pluviosidade, direção e velocidade dos ventos indicaram influência sobre os dados bióticos de ocorrência de espécies, formando grupos sazonais. Conclui-se que as variações sazonais dos ventos geram consequências sobre fatores bióticos e abióticos que influenciam a diversidade de espécies em regiões tropicais

In three locations of the middle stream of the river Stropnice the electrofishing has been carried out repeteadly. According to stated population characteristics in the period before and after autumn fishing, the influence of Fishery Nové Hrady Ltd. on composition of river ichtyocenosis was set. During the electrofishing basic physical and chemical parameters of water were also stated.

No description available.

Throughout the years, dams have had important function for humans. However, many dams have today lost their function, which raises the question of dam removal. The outcomes of dam removal and their effects on fish communities are not fully investigated, which emphasizes the importance of continuing to study the effect of removal. In this study, I investigated whether or not dam removal in small lake outlets affected fish diversity. I also investigated the effects of the lake area and concentration of nutrients. The data collection was carried out in parts of Värmland, Dalarna and Västmanland counties, where 27 lakes, both with and without removed dams, were sampled. To sample fish, four to eight multimesh gill nets (depending on the area of the lake) were placed at varying depths. Water samples to measure nutrient concentrations were collected in places where the lakes were the deepest. A total of 3 223 individuals and 11 species were caught, with the most common species being perch. The effective species number varied between 1 and 3.44. There was a positive relationship between lake area and fish diversity. Dam removal, concentration of total phosphorus and total nitrogen had no effect on fish diversity. Dam removals can be considered as disturbances in complex systems and their effects may vary. Fish diversity is affected by colonization period and interactions between species, which likely takes long, which may explain why area but not dam removal affected fish diversity in my study. The lakes in the study were relatively homogeneous with respect to nutrient availability, which likely explains why nutrient concentration did not affect fish diversity. It is important to continue investigating the consequences of dam removal in other habitats than rivers, so that management of different water habitats can be carried out in the best way. / Dammar har genom tiderna fyllt en viktig funktion för människan. Många dammar har dock idag tappat sin funktion, vilket lyfter frågan om dammutrivning. Utfallen av dammutrivningar och dess effekter på fisksamhället är inte helt utredda, vilket trycker på vikten att fortsätta att studera effekten av utrivningar. I den här studien undersökte jag om dammutrivningar i mindre sjöutlopp påverkade fiskdiversiteten. Jag undersökte även effekterna av sjöarnas area och koncentration av näringsämnen. Datainsamlingen genomfördes i delar av Värmlands, Dalarnas och Västmanlands län, där 27 sjöar, både med och utan utriven damm, provtogs. För att provta fisk användes fyra till åtta provfiskenät (beroende på sjöns area) som placerades i varierande djup. Vattenproverna samlades in på platser där sjöarna var som allra djupast. Totalt fångades 3223 individer och 11 arter där den vanligaste arten var abborre. Det effektiva artantalet varierade mellan 1 och 3,44. Det fanns ett positivt samband mellan sjöarea och fiskdiversitet. Dammutrivning eller koncentration av total-fosfor eller total-kväve visade sig inte ha någon effekt på fiskdiversiteten. Dammutrivningar kan ses som störningar i komplexa system och att effekterna av dem varierar. Fiskdiversitet påverkas av koloniseringsperiod och interaktioner mellan arter, vilket sannolikt tar lång tid, något som kan förklara varför area men inte dammutrivningar inte påverkade fiskarnas diversitet i min studie. Sjöarna i studien var relativt homogena med avseende på näringstillgång, vilket sannolikt förklarar varför näringsämneskoncentrationen inte påverkade fiskdiversiteten. Det är viktigt att fortsätta arbeta med konsekvenserna av dammutrivningar i andra miljöer utöver älvar så att förvaltning av olika vattenmiljöer kan göras på bästa sätt.

O Pantanal é um complexo de ecossistemas que exibe grande diversidade de ambientes aquáticos. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi caracterizar a estrutura da comunidade de peixes no Parque Nacional do Pantanal Mato-grossense (PNPM), uma Unidade de Conservação federal localizada no município de Poconé, MT, a fim de apoiar a construção de um instrumento de monitoramento baseado na integridade biótica do ambiente aquático. Tal objetivo foi obtido através da adaptação do Índice de Integridade Biótica para o PNPM (IIBPNPM). Previamente ao capítulo sobre a construção do IIBPNPM, que se espera representativo para uma porção ainda intocada do Pantanal, os dois primeiros capítulos fornecem os dados necessários para subsidiar a aplicação do índice. O primeiro trata da caracterização dos diferentes ambientes que ocorrem no PNPM, agrupados em quatro estratos ambientais: rios principais (rios Cuiabá e Paraguai), corixos (canais de ligação da planície de inundação), baías permanentes (não perdem a conexão na seca) e baías temporárias (aquelas que perdem conexão com os outros elementos da planície). Essa caracterização foi realizada na primeira campanha exploratória ao PNPM, em setembro de 2009, quando foram definidos os pontos de amostragem de água e de peixes. Testes estatísticos foram realizados para verificar a existência de associação entre os diferentes estratos e os fatores abióticos (variáveis físicas e químicas da água), porém, não foram significativos, indicando que os ambientes são homogêneos. As coletas de peixes foram realizadas em 12 pontos dentro do PNPM, no período seco, no final de outubro e início de novembro de 2010 e 2011. No segundo capítulo, foram identificadas 154 espécies de peixes, totalizando 19.839 indivíduos, das quais 146 espécies (18.954 exemplares) foram consideradas para a construção do IIBPNPM, por questões de padronização dos petrechos de pesca. Testes estatísticos também não evidenciaram associação entre a estrutura das assembleias de peixes e os estratos, reforçando a hipótese da homogeneidade dos ambientes. No entanto, os índices de diversidade de Shannon (H) e equabilidade de Pielou (J) foram significativamente diferentes entre os estratos. A homogeneidade dos ambientes pode ser explicada pelo fato do PNPM estar situado num pantanal de alta inundação, que pode durar até oito meses de um único ciclo hidrológico. Analisando o que os resultados indicaram, os poucos meses de estiagem parecem não ser suficientes para gerar variablidade ambiental detectável pelos métodos utilizados. O IIBPNPM final é composto por nove métricas e três classes de integridade biótica: excelente, regular e pobre, com intervalos específicos de pontuação. A maioria das métricas se enquadrou na classe excelente, algumas na classe regular e nenhuma na classe pobre, o que era esperado pelo fato de não haver indícios de degradação ambiental no interior do PNPM. A comunidade de peixes, portanto, é bem estruturada, rica e abundante. Não houve diferença significativa nas pontuações do IIBPNPM entre os anos (2010 e 2011). Embora a localização privilegiada do PNPM amorteça o efeito dos impactos antrópicos, eles estão presentes de maneira difusa em todo o Pantanal, com intensidade e magnitude diversas. Aliado a isso, há de se levar em conta que o PNPM é uma área de berçário de muitas espécies de peixes, e exerce papel fundamental no recrutamento de recursos pesqueiros. Por isso, recomenda-se aos gestores do PNPM a implementação de um programa de monitoramento ambiental que tenha a ictiofauna como indicadora dos processos ecológicos. Nesse sentido, a aplicação sistematizada do IIBPNPM pode auxiliar na síntese das informações e na comunicação dos resultados à sociedade. / The Pantanal is a complex of ecosystems that displays high diversity of aquatic habitats. The overall objective of this thesis was to characterize the structure of the fish assemblages in the Pantanal National Park, a federal protected area located in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, to back up the construction of a monitoring instrument based on the biotic integrity of the aquatic environment. This objective was achieved by adapting the Index of Biotic Integrity for the Pantanal National Park habitats. Prior to the chapter on the construction of this index (IIBPNPM), expected to be representative of a quite pristine Pantanal portion, the first two chapters provide the necessary data to support the application of the index. The first one deals with the characterization of the different hábitats that occur in PNPM, grouped into four environmental strata: main rivers (Cuiabá and Paraguai rivers), corixos (channels that connect the floodplain elements), permanent bays (do not lose the river connection in the dry season) and temporary bays (lose the connection in the dry season). This characterization was performed in the first PNPM exploratory campaign, in September 2009, when the future sampling sites were defined by collecting water and fish. Statistical tests were performed aiming to detect the existence of an association between the different strata and abiotic factors (water quality variables). However, they were not significant, indicating that the hábitats are homogeneous. Fish sampling were performed at 12 points within the PNPM, during the dry season in late October and early November of 2010 and 2011. In the second chapter, we identified 154 species of fish, totaling 19,839 individuals from which 146 species (18,954 individuals) were considered for the IIBPNPM framing for reasons of standardization of the fishing gears. Statistical tests also showed no association between the structure of the fish assemblage and strata, reinforcing the hypothesis of homogeneity of environments. However, the Shannon diversity index (H\') and evenness (J) were significantly different between the strata. The homogeneity of the environments can be explained by the PNPM being located in a wetland of high flooding, which can last up to eight months of a single hydrological cycle. Analyzed results indicate that the few dry months are not sufficient to generate environmental variability detectable by the methods used. The final IIBPNPM consists of nine metrics and three classes of biotic integrity: \"excellent\", \"regular\" and \"poor\", with specific ranges of scores. Most metrics are framed in \"excellent\" class, some in \"regular\" and none in \"poor\" one, which was expected because there was no evidence of environmental degradation within the PNPM. The fish community is well structured, rich and abundant. There was no significant difference in scores between IIBPNPM years (2010 and 2011). Although the location of PNPM cushions the effect of human impacts, they are present in a diffuse manner throughout the Pantanal, with various intensities and magnitudes. Allied to this, one should take into account that the PNPM is a nursery area for many fish species, and plays an essential role in the recruitment of fishery resources. Therefore, we emphatically recommend to the PNPM managers that implement an active monitoring program considering the fish assemblage as an indicator of ecological processes. The periodic performance of IIBPNPM can assist in summarizing information and to communicate the results to society.

O Pantanal é um complexo de ecossistemas que exibe grande diversidade de ambientes aquáticos. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi caracterizar a estrutura da comunidade de peixes no Parque Nacional do Pantanal Mato-grossense (PNPM), uma Unidade de Conservação federal localizada no município de Poconé, MT, a fim de apoiar a construção de um instrumento de monitoramento baseado na integridade biótica do ambiente aquático. Tal objetivo foi obtido através da adaptação do Índice de Integridade Biótica para o PNPM (IIBPNPM). Previamente ao capítulo sobre a construção do IIBPNPM, que se espera representativo para uma porção ainda intocada do Pantanal, os dois primeiros capítulos fornecem os dados necessários para subsidiar a aplicação do índice. O primeiro trata da caracterização dos diferentes ambientes que ocorrem no PNPM, agrupados em quatro estratos ambientais: rios principais (rios Cuiabá e Paraguai), corixos (canais de ligação da planície de inundação), baías permanentes (não perdem a conexão na seca) e baías temporárias (aquelas que perdem conexão com os outros elementos da planície). Essa caracterização foi realizada na primeira campanha exploratória ao PNPM, em setembro de 2009, quando foram definidos os pontos de amostragem de água e de peixes. Testes estatísticos foram realizados para verificar a existência de associação entre os diferentes estratos e os fatores abióticos (variáveis físicas e químicas da água), porém, não foram significativos, indicando que os ambientes são homogêneos. As coletas de peixes foram realizadas em 12 pontos dentro do PNPM, no período seco, no final de outubro e início de novembro de 2010 e 2011. No segundo capítulo, foram identificadas 154 espécies de peixes, totalizando 19.839 indivíduos, das quais 146 espécies (18.954 exemplares) foram consideradas para a construção do IIBPNPM, por questões de padronização dos petrechos de pesca. Testes estatísticos também não evidenciaram associação entre a estrutura das assembleias de peixes e os estratos, reforçando a hipótese da homogeneidade dos ambientes. No entanto, os índices de diversidade de Shannon (H) e equabilidade de Pielou (J) foram significativamente diferentes entre os estratos. A homogeneidade dos ambientes pode ser explicada pelo fato do PNPM estar situado num pantanal de alta inundação, que pode durar até oito meses de um único ciclo hidrológico. Analisando o que os resultados indicaram, os poucos meses de estiagem parecem não ser suficientes para gerar variablidade ambiental detectável pelos métodos utilizados. O IIBPNPM final é composto por nove métricas e três classes de integridade biótica: excelente, regular e pobre, com intervalos específicos de pontuação. A maioria das métricas se enquadrou na classe excelente, algumas na classe regular e nenhuma na classe pobre, o que era esperado pelo fato de não haver indícios de degradação ambiental no interior do PNPM. A comunidade de peixes, portanto, é bem estruturada, rica e abundante. Não houve diferença significativa nas pontuações do IIBPNPM entre os anos (2010 e 2011). Embora a localização privilegiada do PNPM amorteça o efeito dos impactos antrópicos, eles estão presentes de maneira difusa em todo o Pantanal, com intensidade e magnitude diversas. Aliado a isso, há de se levar em conta que o PNPM é uma área de berçário de muitas espécies de peixes, e exerce papel fundamental no recrutamento de recursos pesqueiros. Por isso, recomenda-se aos gestores do PNPM a implementação de um programa de monitoramento ambiental que tenha a ictiofauna como indicadora dos processos ecológicos. Nesse sentido, a aplicação sistematizada do IIBPNPM pode auxiliar na síntese das informações e na comunicação dos resultados à sociedade. / The Pantanal is a complex of ecosystems that displays high diversity of aquatic habitats. The overall objective of this thesis was to characterize the structure of the fish assemblages in the Pantanal National Park, a federal protected area located in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, to back up the construction of a monitoring instrument based on the biotic integrity of the aquatic environment. This objective was achieved by adapting the Index of Biotic Integrity for the Pantanal National Park habitats. Prior to the chapter on the construction of this index (IIBPNPM), expected to be representative of a quite pristine Pantanal portion, the first two chapters provide the necessary data to support the application of the index. The first one deals with the characterization of the different hábitats that occur in PNPM, grouped into four environmental strata: main rivers (Cuiabá and Paraguai rivers), corixos (channels that connect the floodplain elements), permanent bays (do not lose the river connection in the dry season) and temporary bays (lose the connection in the dry season). This characterization was performed in the first PNPM exploratory campaign, in September 2009, when the future sampling sites were defined by collecting water and fish. Statistical tests were performed aiming to detect the existence of an association between the different strata and abiotic factors (water quality variables). However, they were not significant, indicating that the hábitats are homogeneous. Fish sampling were performed at 12 points within the PNPM, during the dry season in late October and early November of 2010 and 2011. In the second chapter, we identified 154 species of fish, totaling 19,839 individuals from which 146 species (18,954 individuals) were considered for the IIBPNPM framing for reasons of standardization of the fishing gears. Statistical tests also showed no association between the structure of the fish assemblage and strata, reinforcing the hypothesis of homogeneity of environments. However, the Shannon diversity index (H\') and evenness (J) were significantly different between the strata. The homogeneity of the environments can be explained by the PNPM being located in a wetland of high flooding, which can last up to eight months of a single hydrological cycle. Analyzed results indicate that the few dry months are not sufficient to generate environmental variability detectable by the methods used. The final IIBPNPM consists of nine metrics and three classes of biotic integrity: \"excellent\", \"regular\" and \"poor\", with specific ranges of scores. Most metrics are framed in \"excellent\" class, some in \"regular\" and none in \"poor\" one, which was expected because there was no evidence of environmental degradation within the PNPM. The fish community is well structured, rich and abundant. There was no significant difference in scores between IIBPNPM years (2010 and 2011). Although the location of PNPM cushions the effect of human impacts, they are present in a diffuse manner throughout the Pantanal, with various intensities and magnitudes. Allied to this, one should take into account that the PNPM is a nursery area for many fish species, and plays an essential role in the recruitment of fishery resources. Therefore, we emphatically recommend to the PNPM managers that implement an active monitoring program considering the fish assemblage as an indicator of ecological processes. The periodic performance of IIBPNPM can assist in summarizing information and to communicate the results to society.

The role of mangroves as essential fish habitat has been a focus of extensive research. However, recent evidence has shown that this role should not be evaluated in isolation from surrounding habitats such as seagrass beds and hard-bottom communities. For example, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities provide potential sources of food and shelter for fish species that may reside in the mangroves, but may also undergo ontogenetic migrations and daily home-range movements into neighboring habitats. The connectivity between the mangrove fish community and the surrounding seascape may be influenced by the level of patchiness, fragmentation, and spatial heterogeneity of adjacent SAV habitats (i.e., SAV seascape structure). The spatial patterns and heterogeneity of SAV seascape structures are driven by internal and external regulatory mechanisms operating at different spatial and temporal scales. In addition, it is likely that many fish species inhabiting the mangrove zones have different home ranges, and foraging and migratory patterns; therefore, different mangrove fish species may respond to seascape heterogeneity at different scales. There are few studies that have assessed the influence and connectivity of benthic habitats adjacent to mangroves for estuarine fish populations at multiple scales. The present research used an exploratory seascape approach in Biscayne Bay (Florida, USA) to evaluate patterns in the patch composition and configuration of SAV communities, and to examine relationships between seascape structural metrics and the abundance, diversity, and distribution of fishes that utilize the adjacent mangrove shoreline as nursery and/or adult habitat. This seascape approach consisted of: a) the multi-scale characterization of the SAV distribution across the seascape with metrics developed in Landscape Ecology, Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing; b) multivariate analyses to identify groups with significantly distinct SAV seascape structures within the most heterogeneous scale, and identify possible mechanisms driving the observed SAV seascape structures; and c) an assessment of the mangrove fish community responses to SAV seascape structures. By applying a set of multivariate analyses (e.g., ANOSIM, MDS plots, hierarchical clustering), the buffer within 200 m from shore was identified as the scale with the highest structural heterogeneity. At this scale, two major SAV seascape structures (i.e., areas with similar SAV spatial arrangement and composition) were identified: a fragmented SAV seascape (FSS) structure and a continuous SAV seascape (CSS) structure. Areas with CSS were characterized by large, uniform SAV patches. In contrast, areas with FSS were characterized by a higher density of smaller, more complex SAV patches. Furthermore, the areas with CSS and FSS structures clustered in zones of the bay with distinct salinity properties. The areas with CSS structures were mostly located in zones characterized by high and stable salinity. However, the areas with FSS concentrated in zones that are influenced by freshwater discharges from canals and with low and variable salinity. The responses of fish diversity metrics were not constrained to the scale at which the greatest spatial heterogeneity of SAV seascape structures was observed (i.e., the seascape composition and configuration within 200 m from shore), but was related to SAV seascape characteristics across different scales. The majority of the variability of the fish diversity metrics in the mangrove shoreline was explained by SAV seascape structures within the smaller scales (i.e., 100-400 m from shore), and SAV seascape structures that represented the level of fragmentation and/or the percent of suitable habitat. Different conceptual models were proposed to illustrate and understand the ecological dynamics behind the relationship between the diversity of the mangrove fish community and the structure of the adjacent SAV seascape. In general, the diversity and abundance of fishes is influenced by the type and level of fragmentation of the SAV seascape, which, in turn, influence the proportion of the seascape used for foraging and refuge by fish. In conclusion, this research quantified how the release of large pulses of freshwater into near-shore habitats of coastal lagoons can influence the seascape structure of SAV communities. Namely, freshwater inputs produce fragmentation in otherwise fairly homogeneous SAV meadows. The outcome of this research highlights the importance of seascape characteristics as indicators of ecosystem-level modifications and alterations affecting the spatial distribution, assemblage, and diversity of marine nearshore habitats in coastal regions heavily influenced by human activities. In addition, the results illustrated the cascading effects and synergistic influences of near-shore habitat spatial assemblages on the composition and diversity of estuarine fish communities. Lastly, and very importantly, the relationships established in this project provide quantitative and qualitative information on patterns of species-habitat associations needed for the improved synergistic management and protection of coastal habitats and fisheries resources.