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2023 Citizen Science Summit

The Patuxent River Fish Survey combines the opportunities provided by Jug Bay’s citizen science and canoe and kayak programming. Twice a summer, citizen scientists lead members of the public in a seine net survey of the Patuxent River at the Sanctuary’s Emory Waters property.

Patuxent River Fish Survey

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2023 Citizen Science Summit

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2023 Citizen Science Summit

Inaugural Survey at June, 2022 Bioblitz

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  • Surveyed Emory Waters at low and high tides and River Farm at low tide
  • Emory Water a much “nicer” site to sample
  • Noticed a big difference in species assemblages at low and high tide
  • Consideration that this would make an excellent learning opportunity for the public

2023 Citizen Science Summit

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2023 Citizen Science Summit

Methodology and Volunteers:

  • Twice per year: July and September
  • Four citizen scientists, up to six members of the public
  • Two hauls with a seine at each tide:
    • Count and identify all fish
    • Measure the first 20 of every species
    • Don’t release first catch until second is collected to avoid catching same fish again
  • Kayak tour of local marshes between tides

2023 Citizen Science Summit

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2023 Citizen Science Summit

Goals and Objectives:

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  • Provide an avenue for fish research, which is part of the Jug Bay Research and Monitoring Needs laid out in 2012
  • Establish a baseline for fish species along the Jug Bay portion of the Patuxent.
  • Present an opportunity to combine citizen science with the environmental education programs offered by Jug Bay’s dedicated group of canoe guides.

2023 Citizen Science Summit

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Overall Data 2022-2023

  • 284 fish sampled (144 at high tide, 140 at low)

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  • 22 species collected, led by spottail shiner and white perch

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  • Also eight crustaceans (blue crab, mysid shrimp, clam)

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2023 Citizen Science Summit

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Tidal Comparisons

  • Trends not as clear as in the bioblitz survey

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  • High tide dominated by spottail shiners, white perch and Atlantic croaker (2023)

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  • Low tide most common were spottail shiners and banded killifish with big jumps in relative abundance of hogchokers and tesselated darters

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2023 Citizen Science Summit

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2023 Fish Growth Data

2023 Citizen Science Summit

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2023 Citizen Science Summit

Future Directions

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  • Searching for a database where we can contribute our research.
  • Reevaluate avenues for advertising the program to the public for next year
  • Investigate options to upgrade equipment, especially our seine net.

2023 Citizen Science Summit