Joseph W. Love
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
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Featured researches published by Joseph W. Love.
American Midland Naturalist | 2008
Joseph W. Love; Christopher M. Taylor; Melvin P. Warren
ABSTRACT We sampled fishes and aquatic insects monthly (Jun.–Sept. 2002) from intermittent tributaries of the Alum Fork of the Saline River (Arkansas, U.S.A.) to quantify the response of fish and aquatic insect assemblage properties to seasonal desiccation and habitat fragmentation. We collected a total of 4219 individuals, representing 18 species of fishes and 27 families of aquatic insects. Changes in the composition of fish assemblages were significantly related to temporal variability in pool volume and location in the watershed. Smaller, upstream pools varied in volume more than downstream pools. Fish assemblages were significantly more similar through summer in downstream, larger pool habitats. Changes in the composition of aquatic insect families were related to variation in water quality conditions. Highly eutrophied sites were typically dominated by midge larvae (Chironomidae), resulting in highly similar assemblages over time. Our results support findings at larger space and time scales and call attention to the importance of rapid changes in habitat quality, size and connectivity on stream communities.
Northeastern Naturalist | 2009
Joseph W. Love; Paulinus Chigbu; Eric B. May
Abstract We determined how environmental variability affected distributions of seasonally recruiting fishes (i.e., transient species) in coastal lagoons of Maryland from May–October during 1996, 1997, and 1999. A total of 241 monthly sampling events were conducted in the coastal lagoons at 40 sampling stations. Fluctuations in salinity resulting from variation in stream discharge were negatively correlated with intra-annual stability of fish assemblages. Transient, or non-resident species (e.g., recruiting species), were more frequent in habitats where salinity was less variable. When stream discharge lessened during dry years, transient species were more common throughout the coastal lagoons. Thus, environmental variability influenced distributions of young-of-year fishes in coastal estuaries.
Wetlands | 2008
Joseph W. Love; John Gill; Joshua J. Newhard
We surveyed fish assemblages from Blackwater River drainage (Cambridge, Maryland, USA) to assess spatiotemporal patterns of fish distribution in response to salinity intrusion of freshwater wetlands. Three sites spaced along a longitudinal stream gradient were sampled from each of the Little Blackwater River and Blackwater River from December 2005 to December 2006. Salinity in upstream areas of Blackwater River ranged from 9–12 psu, while in the Little Blackwater River salinity ranged from 0–5 psu. Most of the spatial differences in assemblage structure occurred between upstream sites of Blackwater River, an area influenced by saltwater intrusion from the combined effects of sea level rise and a man-made canal, and upstream sites of Little Blackwater River. Freshwater-dependent fishes (e.g., brown bullhead and black crappie) dominated upstream sites of Little Blackwater River, whereas euryhaline species (e.g., killifish and silversides) dominated upstream sites of Blackwater River. We used the Little Blackwater River as a reference system to test the hypothesis that remnant freshwater-dependent fish populations of transitional areas in the Blackwater River may have declined as salinity levels increased. Upstream habitats of Blackwater River were brackish, while such habitats of Little Blackwater River were more persistently freshwater. As salinity increased seasonally in the Little Blackwater River, the abundance of freshwater-dependent fishes declined at two sites. Differences in species diversity and composition between Blackwater River and Little Blackwater River are likely associated with higher salinity and connectivity in upstream portions of the Blackwater River.
Hydrobiologia | 2005
Joseph W. Love; Christopher M. Taylor; Melvin L. Warren
The effects of population density, fish density, and dissolved oxygen on body condition of late-instar nymphs of Stenonema tripunctatum (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae) were investigated using nymphs sampled from isolated, upland stream pools over summer in central Arkansas, USA. All three factors exhibited high variation among pools. Body condition was negatively related to fish density, and positively related to dissolved oxygen (when included in the model). High fish densities may be related to low body condition because they cause reduced foraging or force earlier emergence at small body sizes. These results emphasize the combined effects of biotic and abiotic factors on body condition in mayflies, and support earlier findings that population density is a less-important factor.
Marine and Coastal Fisheries: Dynamics, Management, and Ecosystem Science | 2009
Joseph W. Love; Peter D. Chase
Abstract Scup Stenotomus chrysops, a commercially important marine species, are distributed from Nova Scotia to south Florida, and may represent morphologically distinct populations across their range. It was determined whether there were morphological differences between a North Atlantic Bight (NAB) population (41°N) and two South Atlantic Bight (SAB) populations (30°N and 32°N) of this species from April 2005 to July 2005, when the populations had formed spawning groups. Morphology was compared among populations by means of a geometric, landmark-based analysis of morphological and meristic traits for 180 individuals that were sexed and staged to maturity. A backward, stepwise discriminant functions analysis (DFA) produced a model that generated DFA scores that differed significantly between the NAB and SAB populations. Forehead and body depth dimensions differed among populations but not sexes. The DFA model predicted similar scores for 32 new NAB individuals and 31 new SAB individuals; however, scores were consistently underpredicted for the NAB individuals and overpredicted for the SAB individuals. We concluded that distinct northern and southern populations support a two-stock or two-species hypothesis; however, it is unclear whether this stock structure is related to reproductive or other life history traits. Either phenotypic plasticity or divergent selection may explain the morphological dissimilarities among these populations, but their influence on individual fitness remains unknown.
Southeastern Naturalist | 2007
Joseph W. Love; Peter D. Chase
Abstract We sampled fishes from nearshore, continental shelf (≈30 m) to shelf-slope, deep-water habitats (≈100 m) in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) and South Atlantic Bight (SAB) during winter (2005) to explore compositional differences among temperatures and depths. Trawl surveys conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service do not typically sample winter fish assemblages concurrently from both the MAB and SAB, although increased concern over changes in distribution of species such as Pterois volitans (Lionfish) may warrant such studies. We collected 41 families and 68 species of fish, and found that temperature and depth influenced their distribution. More species were collected in the SAB where temperature was 10 °C higher. At nearshore sites of SAB, we collected reef fishes (Chaetodontidae; Fistulariidae) and Stenotomus chrysops (Scup). At deep water sites of SAB, we collected Ophichthidae, Acropomatidae, and Scorpaenidae. Assemblages of the MAB were dominated by Squalus acanthias (Spiny Dogfish), particularly at nearshore sites. Pomatomus saltatrix (Bluefish) and Scomber scombrus (Atlantic Mackerel) were also abundant in the MAB. Our results highlight distributions of some fish species during winter. However, more data are necessary for understanding macroecological patterns of marine fish distribution in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, especially as they relate to the interactive effects of temperature and depth on populations.
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management | 2015
Joseph W. Love; Joshua J. Newhard; Brett Greenfield
Abstract Northern snakehead Channa argus, an invasive predatory fish species from Asia, may continue to establish itself throughout temperate areas of the eastern United States, particularly in shallow vegetated habitats of ponds and streams. The species was first collected in the Potomac River in 2004 and has become successfully established in several major rivers within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The objectives of this work were to develop habitat suitability criteria using a novel methodology that combines geographic information systems technology and fish surveys to estimate population sizes. A combination of catch data and reported or empirically derived habitat relationships were used to analyze seasonal distributions (March–October) in two tidal freshwater tributaries of the Potomac River: Nanjemoy Creek (2013) and Chopawamsic Creek (2010–2013). Adults were collected in relatively deeper sections of the streams (average depth 0.7–1.0 m) with a low cover of submerged aquatic vegetation (0–21% of ...
American Midland Naturalist | 2015
Joseph W. Love
Abstract Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a common predator and popular sport fish in tidal freshwater streams and lakes of North America. Tidal freshwater streams of Chesapeake Bay watershed, the largest estuary of the United States, differ remarkably in availability of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and suitability for spawning habitat for M. salmoides. After scoring nursery habitat attributes of size and habitat quality, I combined scores to form indices for 141 nursery habitats of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Average index for nursery habitat quality was positively related to the relative abundance of juvenile M. salmoides. For two important coastal fisheries for M. salmoides, over half of highly indexed nursery habitats were expected to be negatively impacted by projected sea level rise (SLR). Innovative strategies aimed at conserving populations of M. salmoides may include identifying habitats vulnerable to such long-term habitat changes and either protecting important habitats or managing future expectations for these populations.
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management | 2017
Joseph W. Love; Mary Groves; Branson D. Williams
Abstract Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides is arguably the most popular sport fish of inland waters in the United States. The majority of anglers in the fishery practice catch and release. Catch-and-release guidelines aim to reduce negative impacts of angling on individual fish, though such impacts on populations are not widely reported. We hypothesized that a decline in the population size for Largemouth Bass from a catch-and-release fishery from the Potomac River resulted from a period of greater fishing mortality followed by habitat loss that reduced the recovery of the population. After we analyzed several years of fishery-dependent and independent data (1999–2015), it was determined that fishing mortality and relative exploitation were greater than average in the latter half of the 2000s than in previous years. Fishery-independent survey results suggested a loss of large fish and decline in population size. The relative abundance of juveniles subsequently declined possibly because the area of sub...
Marine Ecology Progress Series | 2009
Joseph W. Love; Daniel F. Luers; Branson D. Williams