Use of sandy beach habitat by Fundulus majalis, a surf-zone fish

Abstract

Habitat use by the striped killifish Fundulus majalis was examined at Nannygoat Beach, a sandy beach on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. F. majalis catch per unit effort (CPUE) was greater in runnel habitat than in any other intertidal region, and no F. majalis were captured in the low-tide surf zone. Some F. majalis occupied the same runnel on consecutive tidal cycles. F. majalis distribution may have been influenced by distributions of potential prey (surf clams Donax spp. and Mulinia spp.) and predators (blue crab Callinectes sapidus).