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UTILIZING A NEW COASTAL MARINE FIELD SAMPLING TECHNIQUE FOR MARK-RECAPTURE ON THE GULF PIPEFISH, SYNGNATHUS SCOVELLI**

Abstract

Concentric circular plots are widely used in terrestrial ecology but are rarely applied to marine environments. This sampling technique partnered with a mark-recapture study has the potential to identify small scale habitat usage and movement patterns, site fidelity, and population estimation. We tested this methodology on the Gulf pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli, that is an excellent flagship species for monitoring the health of submerged aquatic vegetation and lack current management policies. Two sites were selected within a continuous seagrass bed in Tampa Bay and each site consisted of 4 concentric 1.5 m circular plots (20 m diameter). We conducted a mark-resight during wet season in August 2022 and a mark-recapture during dry season in February 2023 to estimate the population surrounding our sites and to identify Gulf pipefish movement within the sites. In August, a total of 2,125 pipefish per 829.36 m2 were collected, 803 fish were marked, and at most 213 of the marked fish were recaptured (26.5%). There was a 4.8-day average interval between mark and recapture events. Of those recaptured, 57.3% were found within 5 m of their center release point suggesting possible site fidelity. In February, a total of 187 pipefish were marked per 829.36 m2 and 5 of the fish were recaptured (2.7%) across a 4.4-day average interval. Program Mark models and the lack of multiple recaptures indicate the Gulf pipefish were transient and do not have site fidelity in February. Based on this study, the methodology is repeatable, and it can assess a species’ habitat usage and movement patterns within their coastal marine environment. Results indicate that the Gulf pipefish seasonally change how they use their environment. Monitoring flagship species, like Gulf pipefish, with this novel coastal methodology can elucidate fine scale changes in habitat usage which is crucial for implementing and monitoring management policies.

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