In cooperation with the

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in

Waterways, and Contaminants in Fish, at the

Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National

Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana,

1999-2000

SCIENTIFIC

INVESTIGATIONS REPORT

2004-5065
Front cover photographs

Upper left: Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)

(Photograph provided by James C. Petersen, U.S. Geological Survey)

Center: Pipeline Canal near Segnette Waterway, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park

and Preserve, Louisiana

(Photograph provided by Christopher M. Swarzenski, U.S. Geological Survey)

Lower right: Damselfly (order Odonata)

(Photograph provided by Dennis K. Demcheck, U.S. Geological Survey)
Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities 

in Waterways, and Contaminants in Fish,

at the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte 

National Historical Park and Preserve, 

Louisiana, 1999–2000

By Christopher M. Swarzenski, Scott V. Mize, Bruce A. Thompson, 

and Gary W. Peterson

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the National Park Service

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5065
U.S. Department of the Interior

Gale A. Norton, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Charles G. Groat, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2004

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services

Box 25286, Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

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Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Swarzenski, C.M., Mize, S.V., Thompson, B.A., and Peterson, G.W., 2004, Fish and aquatic invertebrate communities in 

waterways, and contaminants in fish, at the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, 

Louisiana, 1999–2000: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5065, 35 p.
 iii

Contents

Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Purpose and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Description of Study Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Approach and Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Fish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Aquatic Invertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Richest-Targeted Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Depositional-Targeted Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Contaminants in Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Selected References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Appendixes

1. Submerged aquatic vegetation observed along transects of waterways sampled

for fish in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and

Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

2. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat at

selected sites in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical

Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

3. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in depositional-targeted habitat

at selected sites in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical

Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Figures

1. Map showing location of the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National

Historical Park and Preserve in Barataria Basin, Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

2. Map showing sampling sites in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte

National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

3-10. Graphs showing:

3. Specific conductance at selected sites in waterways of the Barataria

Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana,

January 1999–April 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

4. Number of new species of fish added per additional length of waterway

sampled using a boat-mounted electroshocker, 1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

5. Relative abundances of predominant groups of aquatic invertebrates for

richest-targeted habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National

Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

6. Total abundance and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrates for richesttargeted habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical

Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
iv 

7. Percentages of five dominant taxa of aquatic invertebrates for richesttargeted habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National

Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

8. Total abundance and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrates for richesttargeted habitat and depositional-targeted habitat in the Barataria

Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve,

Louisiana, April 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

9. Relative abundance of noninsect and insect groups of aquatic

invertebrates for richest-targeted habitat and depositional-targeted

habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical

Park and Preserve, Louisiana, April 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

10. Relation between total mercury concentrations in composited fish fillet

tissue and average wet weight of fish in selected surface-water sites

in southern Louisiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Tables

1. Ecological affinity, trophic guild, and relative pollution tolerance of fish species

identified at the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park

and Preserve in May, July, and November 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

 2. Number, weight, length, and weight contribution of dominant fish sampled

at the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve,

Louisiana, in May, July, and November 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

 3. Number, weight, and weight contribution of sunfish (Family Centrarchidae)

sampled at the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park

and Preserve, Louisiana, in May, July, and November 1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

 4. Taxa, abundances, and percentages of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted

habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and

Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

 5. Taxa, abundances, and percentages of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted

habitat and depositional-targeted habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte

National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, April 2000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

 6. Concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated

biphenyls in whole tissue of fish from selected waterways in the Barataria

Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana,

July and November 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

 7. Concentrations of selected trace elements, iron, and manganese in muscle

(fillet) tissue of fish from selected waterways in the Barataria Preserve,

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, July and

November 1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

 8. Monthly fish consumption limits for methylmercury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
 v

Conversion Factors and Datum

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F = (1.8 x °C) + 32

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27).

Abbreviated water-quality and chemical concentration units:

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25°C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given in micrograms per gram (μg/g) and 

micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg).

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

inch (in.) 25,400 micrometer (μm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 4,047 square meter (m2)

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2)

square foot (ft2) 929.0 square centimeter (cm2)

square foot (ft2) 0.09290 square meter (m2)

Volume

ounce, fluid (fl. oz) 0.02957 liter (L)

pint (pt) 0.4732 liter (L)

quart (qt) 0.9464 liter (L) 

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L)

cubic inch (in3) 0.01639 liter (L)

Mass

ounce (oz) 28.35 gram (g)

pound (lb) 0.4536 kilogram (kg)

Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in

Waterways, and Contaminants in Fish, at the

Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National

Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999-2000

By Christopher M. Swarzenski1, Scott V. Mize1, Bruce A. Thompson2, and Gary W. Peterson3

Abstract

Fish and aquatic invertebrate communities in waterways of 

the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park 

and Preserve, Louisiana, were surveyed from 1999 to 2000. An 

inventory of fish in the Barataria Preserve was established, and 

concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements; iron; and manganese in 

fish tissue for selected species were determined. The fish and 

aquatic invertebrate sampling completed for this study indicated that abundant and diverse communities are present in the 

Barataria Preserve.

Thirty-two species of fish were identified in the Barataria 

Preserve during this survey. The total number of species identified in a single sampling ranged from 20 to 26. Most of the fish 

sampled are designated as intermediate in their tolerance to 

poor water quality. Three species of fish designated as tolerant 

(common carp, Cyprinus carpio; golden shiner, Notemigonus 

crysoleucas; and yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis), and one 

as intolerant (lake chubsucker, Erymizon sucetta), were identified.

In November 1999, the average total weight of all fish 

collected by boat-mounted electroshocker from a single site 

was about 35,000 grams; in May and July 1999, the average 

total weight was between 9,000 and 10,000 grams. The contribution of spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) to the total weight 

of the fish averaged between 38 and 41 percent among the three 

sample periods. Members of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) 

contributed between 18 and 28 percent of the total weight. For 

each sampling period, 60 to 83 percent of the total weight from 

the sunfish family was contributed by bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

Aquatic invertebrates were sampled at three sites. Most 

aquatic invertebrates identified were freshwater species, but 

some were brackish-water and marine species. About 234,000 

organisms were identified and enumerated from the richesttargeted habitat (RTH, floating rafts of aquatic plants). Individuals from 84 genera belonging to 51 families were identified. 

Diptera (true flies) was the most diverse group. Malacostraca 

(crustaceans), especially Amphipoda (scuds and sideswimmers), were the most abundant (36 percent). Total abundance 

and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrates were comparable 

during the March and July sampling in 1999, but were lower in 

samples collected from the same habitat at all three sites in 

April 2000. About 106 individuals were identified and enumerated from the depositional-targeted habitat (DTH, bottom 

material). Individuals from 7 genera belonging to 9 families 

were identified. Diptera was the most diverse group, and 

Annelida, especially tubificid worms, were the most abundant 

organisms identified (52 percent). Total abundance and composition of aquatic invertebrate communities differed between 

RTH and DTH at all three sites in April 2000.

Organic compounds in whole fish, and trace elements, 

iron, and manganese in fillets, were analyzed in bowfin (Amia 

calva), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), largemouth bass 

(Micropterus salmoides), and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). 

Organic compounds were not detected. Mercury was detected 

in fillets of all four species. Highest concentrations of mercury 

were detected in fillets from bowfin and largemouth bass. 

Mercury concentrations increased with increasing weight in the 

three predatory fish species (bowfin, bluegill, and largemouth 

bass), but were much lower, relative to weight, in the omnivore, 

common carp. Chromium concentrations were detected in 

tissue of the two larger fish, bowfin and common carp. 

Cadmium and lead were not detected in any samples.

Mercury concentrations for larger predatory fish caught in 

Preserve waterways may be a concern if the fish are frequently 

consumed by humans. The process of mercury accumulation 

appears to be natural, and not related to a local source problem. 

Mercury concentrations in comparable fish tissue at some other 

sites in coastal Louisiana were higher per unit wet weight of 

fish.

1

U.S. Geological Survey, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

2

Coastal Fisheries Institute, Louisiana State University.

3

Coastal Ecology Institute, Louisiana State University.
2 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Introduction

The Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical 

Park and Preserve is a healthy 20,600-acre wetland ecosystem 

about 10 mi southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana (fig. 1). Proximity to a large metropolitan area and easy access to water make 

the Preserve a popular center for fishing; however, the abundant 

aquatic resources of the Preserve have not been systematically 

surveyed and tabulated. To effectively manage these resources, 

information is needed about fish and aquatic invertebrate 

communities, as well as concentrations of selected contaminants in fish tissue.

Many natural and anthropogenic factors influence water 

quality in the Barataria Preserve and may affect aquatic 

resources. In other studies, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

analyzed physical properties and selected major ions, trace 

elements, nutrients, and organic compounds of surface water 

and bottom material within the Barataria Preserve (Garrison, 

1982; Swarzenski, 2004). These studies demonstrated that 

water with differing quality was entering the study area from 

several sources, including Lake Salvador, Segnette Waterway, 

and Bayou Villars. Stormwater runoff from suburban areas also 

was entering the Preserve. Bottom sediments contained some 

organic pollutants and some trace elements. DDT concentrations appeared to decrease over time, but polychlorinated 

biphenyl (PCB) concentrations remained constant or increased. 

Concentrations of organic compounds and trace elements in 

surface water and bottom material (Swarzenski, 2004) were 

below levels at which the Canadian Council of Ministers of the 

Environment (1999) determined impairment of aquatic 

resources could occur.

Large-scale projects are being developed to restore the 

coastal wetlands (Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary 

Program, 1994). One strategy is the diversion of freshwater 

from the Mississippi River across the levees into the wetlands 

to mimic the natural springtime overbank flooding that 

occurred before the levees were constructed. The Davis Pond 

diversion, located about 5 mi northwest of the Preserve, was 

scheduled to begin operation in 2001, and would result in a 

seasonal influx of nutrient- and sediment-rich water. As the 

Davis Pond diversion introduces Mississippi River water into 

the Park and Preserve, the fish and aquatic invertebrate communities in the Preserve may change in response to the change in 

water quality.

During 1999-2000, the USGS, in cooperation with the 

National Park Service, conducted a survey of fish and other 

aquatic communities in waterways of the Barataria Preserve to 

provide data essential to the effective management of these 

resources. Major objectives included (1) compiling an inventory of fish in the Preserve; (2) describing aquatic invertebrate 

and algal communities; (3) collecting data on concentrations of 

selected organochlorine pesticides, PCB’s, and trace elements; 

iron; and manganese in fish tissue; and (4) compiling a list of 

submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) observed in the waterways.

Purpose and Scope

This report describes fish and aquatic invertebrate community composition in waterways of the Barataria Preserve of Jean 

Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, based on samples 

collected during 1999-2000. Concentrations of selected 

contaminants in tissue and whole organism samples of four fish 

species commonly caught in waters of the Barataria Preserve 

and consumed by humans are presented. A list of SAV species 

observed during the survey also is presented, in appendix 1. 

Samples to determine algal populations in surface water of the 

Preserve were collected, but these data are not included in this 

report because of inconsistencies in sample processing and 

preservation between sampling periods. This report provides 

data on conditions in Preserve waterways prior to the freshwater 

diversion from the Mississippi River taking effect.

Description of Study Area

The Barataria Preserve includes swamp forests and large 

expanses of freshwater peat marsh, with interconnected canals 

and other waterways. The terrain is relatively flat; water flow is 

sluggish and bidirectional. The water in the canals and bayous 

is low in suspended sediment and high in dissolved organic 

compounds (Garrison, 1982). The bottom material consists of 

soft clays and silts with a high proportion of organic matter 

(Garrison, 1982; Skrobialowski, 2001). The Preserve (fig. 1) is 

located in Barataria Basin, a low-lying interdistributary basin 

flanked by the Mississippi River to the east and a former distributary of the Mississippi River, Bayou Lafourche, to the west. 

The west side of the Barataria Preserve adjoins Lake Salvador.

There is a continuum from fresh to saltwater in Barataria 

Basin. Salinity of surface water in the basin varies and is determined by the mixture of marine water from the Gulf of Mexico 

and freshwater runoff from precipitation and local drainage. 

Direct inflow from the Mississippi River is limited and occurs 

through a diversion structure that crosses the flood control 

levees. Canals, lakes, and bayous connect the Gulf of Mexico to 

the most inland parts of the basin. There is no structural impediment to flow of water and material. An excellent description of 

Barataria Basin is given by Conner and Day (1987). They 

discuss the physical environment and climatic forcing factors, 

and provide profiles of all estuarine habitats and communities 

in this subtropical estuary.

Approach and Methods

Fish and aquatic invertebrates residing in the major waterways of the Preserve were sampled. Fish samples were 

collected along canal banks. Their habitat consisted of overhanging wax-myrtle (Myrica cerifera) shrubs sometimes 

reaching into the water, SAV, and occasional tree stumps or 

logs. The SAV at three sites were identified (app. 1). The SAV 

provides shelter for species such as golden topminnow 

(Fundulus crysotus), western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), 
Introduction 3

Figure 1. Location of the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in 

Barataria Basin, Louisiana.

Davis Pond

Freshwater

Diversion Structure 

Barataria

Preserve 

Lake

Salvador 

Lake

Cataouatche 

Segnette

Waterway

Bayou

Bardeaux

Bayou Villars

Study area,

shown in

Figure 2

NEW ORLEANS

Lafitte

Westwego

Crown

Point

Barataria arataria

Waterway Waterway

Barataria

Diversion Channel

BARATARIA

WATERWAY

MISSISSIPPI

RIVER

Bayou Perot

Intracoastal

Waterway

AR

TX

MS

LOUISIANA

Barataria

Basin

Enlarged

area

0 5 KILOMETERS

USGS 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangle Series: New Orleans, 0 5 MILES

Louisiana 1:100,000-Scale Metric Map, 1983

29°45'

30°00’

EXPLANATION

Salinity gage, Barataria Waterway

at Lafitte
4 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

and banded pygmy sunfish (Elassoma zonatum), as well as the 

early life-history stages of many of the larger species such as 

spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) and largemouth bass 

(Micropterus salmoides) (Ross, 2001). Aquatic invertebrates 

were sampled from rafts of floating vegetation or the soft 

bottom sediments.

Fish and aquatic invertebrates were sampled and SAV 

noted at Tarpaper Canal near Keyhole 6 (site 1, fig. 2), Pipeline 

Canal west of Crown Point (site 2), and North Twin Canal 

(site 3), following techniques established by the National 

Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program (Meador and 

others, 1993; Cuffney and others, 1993). Sites 2 and 3 were on 

or near sites for which contaminant data on bottom material was 

known (Swarzenski, 2004). At sites 4 and 6, only fish were 

sampled. Fish were sampled in mid-May, late July, and early 

November 1999 to determine seasonal variations and community structure. Aquatic invertebrates were sampled in midMarch and late July 1999, and again in mid-April 2000, also to 

assess seasonality in communities. In contrast to fish, aquatic 

invertebrates were sampled in April 2000 rather than in 

November 1999. Fall sampling, originally planned for late 

September, was delayed until early November. It was decided 

that fish collections would not be affected by the delay, but that 

invertebrate communities could be depauperate that late in the 

year, and not representative. Hence, invertebrate sampling was 

postponed until the following spring.

At sites 1-3, fish were surveyed on both banks of a reach 

of canal (transects A and B) with a boat-mounted electroshocker. Site 1 reach was 800 m in length, site 2 reach was 

700 m, and site 3 reach was 500 m. The same transects were 

sampled each time at each site. During fish collection, the boat 

was maneuvered slowly along the bank. The hull served as the 

cathode. A pole-mounted anode ring covered with small-mesh 

netting was manually swept through and under the diverse 

microhabitats. This net and two additional nets were used to 

capture the fish, which were put into buckets filled with canal 

water. After both sides of a reach were electrofished, the fish 

were identified, weighed, length measured, physical deformities noted, and then released back into the canal. These data 

were used to tabulate fish species and individual numbers.

To determine if smaller fish species and early life-history 

stages were efficiently sampled by electrofishing, two additional sites (sites 4 and 6) were sampled during each trip using 

a seine 10 ft in length, with 3/16-in. mesh. For each trip, three 

to four seine hauls were made along a short length of canal in 

shallow-marsh (site 4) or swamp-forest (site 6) habitat. Site 4 

also was sampled in mid-May at two randomly selected points 

with a 1-m2 drop-net sampler. Fish species collected using these 

techniques were compared with those collected by electrofishing to evaluate sampling efficiency.

Aquatic invertebrate communities were sampled from 

richest-targeted habitat (RTH) and depositional-targeted habitat 

(DTH) (Cuffney and others, 1993) at sites 1-3. The RTH 

selected was the floating rafts of aquatic plants, primarily waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), along the banks of the waterways. In coastal Louisiana freshwater areas, floating rafts of 

vegetation are considered preferred habitat not only for invertebrates in the water column but also for some invertebrates more 

typically found in bottom sediment (Sklar, 1985). Within each 

reach, the underside of five rafts was scooped using a 0.25-m2, 

fine-mesh (425-μm), wire-rim net, and the scooped material 

was composited in a 19-L bucket. Invertebrates were carefully 

picked out of the vegetation, preserved in a 10-percent formalin 

solution, and shipped to the USGS National Water Quality 

Laboratory (NWQL) in Denver, Colorado, for enumeration and 

taxonomic identification. Rare and large organisms were 

preserved separately. DTH, sampled only in April 2000, was 

fine-grained material from the waterway soft bottom sediments. 

At each of the three sites, five samples were collected with a 

petite Ponar sampler with a surface area of 0.24 m2

 (a combined

surface area of 1.2 m2), and composited for analysis. Invertebrates in bottom material retained by a 425-μm sieve were 

removed, preserved in a 10-percent formalin solution, and 

shipped to the NWQL.

In consultation with the Natural Resource Manager of Jean 

Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, bowfin (Amia 

calva), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), largemouth bass 

(Micropterus salmoides), and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) 

were selected for contaminant analyses. Two species were 

collected and submitted for analyses in July, and two additional 

species were collected and submitted for analyses during the 

November trip. The largest individuals of the targeted species 

that were collected at sites 1-3 were analyzed for selected chemicals. This number varied depending on the catch from electrofishing. Whole fish were homogenized, composited, and 

analyzed for organochlorine pesticides and PCB’s. Skin-off fish 

fillets were composited and analyzed for trace elements, iron, 

and manganese. Samples were chilled and sent to the NWQL 

for analysis. Analytical methods for tissue are published in 

Hoffman (1996) and Leiker and others (1995). 

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Sandee Dingmann and David Muth of 

the National Park Service for their assistance with all aspects 

of the survey. Patricia J. D’Arconte, Lane B. Simmons, and 

Roland W. Tollett of the USGS assisted with field collections.

Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate 

Communities

Water quality greatly influences the composition and relative abundances of aquatic communities including fish and 

invertebrates. Aquatic communities can be useful indicators of 

water quality (Karr, 1981; Barbour and others, 1995). Chemical 

and physical surveys of water quality may not always detect 

problematic water quality, because they are subject to continuously fluctuating conditions. Frequent sampling may be needed 

to detect poor water-quality. In contrast, fish and aquatic invertebrates have life cycles that span months to years and integrate 
Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities 5

Figure 2. Sample sites in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park 

and Preserve, Louisiana.

Site 3, North

Twin Canal 

Site 1,Tarpaper Canal ite 1,Tarpaper Canal

near Keyhole 6 near Keyhole 6

N-10 Kenta Canal N-10 Kenta Canal

north of Barataria north of Barataria 

Site 1, Tarpaper Canal

near Keyhole 6

N-10 Kenta Canal

north of Barataria 

N-8, Keyhole 6 south

of Westwego

N-6 and Site 2, Pipeline

Canal west of Crown Point

Crown

Point

Barataria

0 1 2 3

0 1 2 3 MILES

KILOMETERS

Site 4

Site 6

Tarpaper

Canal

Bayou

Bardeaux

Bayou Villars

Twin Canals

Bayou

des

Familles

Kenta Canal

Kenta Canal

Pipeline

Canal

Segnette

Waterway

LAKE

SA

L

VA

D

OR

Intracoastal Waterway

USGS 15 Minute Quadrangle Series: New Orleans, Louisiana 1:100,000-Scale Metric Map, 1967

N

EXPLANATION

Water sampling site

Fish and aquatic invertebrate sampling site—Fish sampled with boat-mounted electroshocker

Fish sampling site, seine—Seine and drop net used at site 4
6 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

water-quality conditions over long periods. In an area where 

habitat quality is good and remains stable, the presence and 

relative abundances of taxa can be used to evaluate water 

quality and determine whether an optimal community composition (high biotic integrity) is present along a given reach of 

waterway. Of the two aquatic communities, fish live longer, 

often surviving several years; invertebrates generally have 

lifespans of less than a year.

For aquatic communities to be useful as indicators of biotic 

integrity and water quality, the optimal community composition 

in a given physiographic area should be well documented. 

Ideally, a pristine or minimally affected area in an environmental setting similar to the proposed study area must first be 

identified (Karr and Chu, 1997). This pristine area is sampled at 

a reference site for several successive years so that seasonal and 

inter-annual variations of individuals and species can be documented. Taxa and relative abundances at the study site(s) then 

are compared to those from the reference site. In the absence of 

data from reference sites, routine monitoring over several years 

can help determine the stability of the communities. For the 

study described in this report, fish and aquatic invertebrates 

were sampled in a manner that would permit these data being 

included in long-term assessments of water quality and biotic 

integrity in the Preserve.

Fish

In the Barataria Preserve, there were small variations in the 

number and taxa of fish sampled during the three trips. The fish 

sampling completed for this study indicated that abundant and 

diverse communities are present in the Barataria Preserve. With 

the exception of the common carp, all fish collected are native 

to Barataria Basin. Fish were most abundant in November 1999. 

Specific conductance, possibly an important influence on 

aquatic community composition, increased in Preserve waterways from 1,000-3,000 μS/cm to 4,000-6,000 μS/cm during the 

study (fig. 3).

During this survey, 16 families, comprising 32 species of 

fish, were identified in the Barataria Preserve. They are listed, 

along with ecological affinity and relative pollution tolerance 

where that information was available, in table 1. Fish in the 

Barataria Preserve during the study were similar to those found 

in freshwater swamps and low-salinity marshes of coastal Louisiana (Conner and Day, 1987). Of the 32 species identified, 22 

had freshwater affinities. All life-history stages of many of the 

species were present. The total number of species found during 

a single sampling event ranged from 20 to 26. Seining added 

from 1 to 2 species to the total during each sampling event. The 

total was lowest in July 1999, when only two of the three sites 

were sampled. Two to four species were unique to each of the 

three sampling periods.

Catfish (Family Ictaluridae) were not found in the July 

1999 sampling. Bowfin (Amia calva) were abundant in the 

November sampling, were observed but not caught in the May

sampling, and were not observed or caught during the July

sampling. Seven members of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) 

were identified in the Barataria Preserve during this study. 

Sixteen species belonging to the sunfish family are found in 

freshwater systems in Louisiana.

Figure 3. Specific conductance at selected sites in waterways of the Barataria Preserve, Jean 

Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Barataria Basin, Louisiana, January 1999–April 2000.

1/1/1999 4/1/1999 7/1/1999 10/1/1999 1/1/2000 4/1/2000 

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE,

IN MICROSIEMENS PER CENTIMETER

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

N-6, Pipeline Canal near Segnette Waterway

N-8, Keyhole 6 south of Westwego

N-10, Kenta Canal north of Barataria

Data from Swarzenski (2004)

EXPLANATION
Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities 7

Table 1. Ecological affinity, trophic guild, and relative pollution tolerance of fish species identified at the Barataria Preserve, Jean 

Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in May, July, and November 1999.

[Y, fish identified during sampling period; N, fish not identified during sampling period; Ys, fish captured only by seine; --, not known]

Fish species by family1

Ecological affinity1 Trophic

guild2

Relative 

pollution 

tolerance3

Sampling date (1999) Scientific name (common name)

FAMILY May

17–19

July

26–28

November

1–3 Genus species

LEPISOSTEIDAE (gars)

Lepisosteus oculatus (spotted gar) Freshwater Piscivore Intermediate Y Y Y

AMIIDAE (bowfins)

Amia calva (bowfin) Freshwater Piscivore Intermediate Y N Y

ANGUILLIDAE (freshwater eels)

Anguilla rostrata (American eel) Catadromous Piscivore Intermediate Y N N

CLUPEIDAE (herrings)

Brevoortia patronus (gulf menhaden) Estuarine/marine -- -- N Y Y

Dorosoma cepedianum (gizzard shad) Freshwater Omnivore Intermediate Y Y Y

Dorosoma petenense (threadfin shad) Freshwater Omnivore Intermediate N N Y

ENGRAULIDAE (anchovies)

Anchoa mitchilli (bay anchovy) Estuarine/marine -- -- Y Y Y

CYPRINIDAE (carps and minnows)

Cyprinus carpio (common carp) Freshwater Omnivore Tolerant Y Y Y

Notemigonus crysoleucas (golden shiner) Freshwater Omnivore Tolerant Y Y Y

CATOSTOMIDAE (suckers)

Erymizon sucetta (lake chubsucker) Freshwater Insectivore Intolerant Y N Y

ICTALURIDAE (bullhead catfish)

Ameiurus natalis (yellow bullhead) Freshwater Insectivore Tolerant N N Y

Ictalurus furcatus (blue catfish) Freshwater Piscivore Intermediate Y N N

Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish) Freshwater Piscivore Intermediate Y N Y

BELONIDAE (needlefish)

Strongyluria marina (Atlantic needlefish) Estuarine/marine Insectivore/Piscivore Y N N

CYPRINODONTIDAE (toothcarps)

Cyprinodon variegatus (sheepshead minnow) Estuarine Omnivore Intermediate Ys N N

FUNDULIDAE (killifish and topminnows)

Fundulus chrysotus (golden topminnow) Freshwater -- -- Y Y Y

Fundulus grandis (Gulf killifish) Estuarine Piscivore -- N N Ys

Fundulus pulvereus (bayou topminnow) Estuarine -- -- N Ys N

Lucania parva (rainwater killifish) Estuarine -- -- Y Y Y

POECILIIDAE (livebearers)

Gambusia affinis (western mosquitofish) Freshwater Insectivore Intermediate Y Y Y

Heterandria formosa (least killifish) Freshwater -- -- Y Y N

Poecilia latipinna (sailfin molly) Freshwater -- -- Ys Y Y

ATHERINIDAE (silversides)

Menidia beryllina (inland silverside) Estuarine -- -- N Y N
8 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

ELASSOMIDAE (pigmy sunfish)

Elassoma zonatum (banded pygmy sunfish) Freshwater Insectivore Intermediate Y N Y

CENTRARCHIDAE (sunfish)

Chaenobryttus (Lepomis) gulosus (warmouth) Freshwater Piscivore Intermediate Y Y Y

Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) Freshwater Insectivore Intermediate Y Y Y

Lepomis microlophus (redear sunfish) Freshwater Insectivore Intermediate Y Y Y

Lepomis punctatus (redspotted sunfish) Freshwater -- -- Y Y Y

Lepomis symmetricus (bantam sunfish) Freshwater Insectivore Intermediate Y Y Y

Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) Freshwater Piscivore Intermediate Y Y Y

Pomoxis nigromaculatus (black crappie) Freshwater Piscivore Intermediate Y N Y

MUGILIDAE (MULLETS)

Mugil cephalus (striped mullet) Estuarine/marine -- -- Y Y Y

TOTAL 26 20 25

Exclusive to sampling period 4 2 3

1

Fish species by family taxonomic nomenclature (scientific names and common names) follow Robins and others, 1991.

2Trophic guild based on Appendix C of Barbour and others, 1999.

3Relative pollution tolerance based on Appendix C of Barbour and others, 1999.

Table 1. Ecological affinity, trophic guild, and relative pollution tolerance of fish species identified at the Barataria Preserve, Jean 

Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in May, July, and November 1999.—Continued

[Y, fish identified during sampling period; N, fish not identified during sampling period; Ys, fish captured only by seine; --, not known]

Fish species by family1

Ecological affinity1 Trophic

guild 2

Relative 

pollution 

tolerance3

Sampling date (1999) Scientific name (common name)

FAMILY May

17–19

July

26–28

November

1–3 Genus species

Most of the fish collected in the Barataria Preserve for this 

study are classified as intermediate in their tolerance to poor 

water quality (table 1). Only three species identified during this 

study are designated as tolerant: the common carp (Cyprinus 

carpio), golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and yellow 

bullhead (Ameiurus natalis). Small numbers of lake chubsucker 

(Erymizon sucetta) were collected in the May and November 

samples. This species is classified as intolerant of poor water 

quality (Barbour and others, 1999).

The total number of species found during each sampling 

trip was similar, but the number of individuals and the total 

weight of fish sampled was much higher in November 1999 

(table 2). In May and July, the total weight of electroshocked 

fish from a single site averaged between 9,000 and 10,000 g; in 

November, the average weight of all fish from a single site was 

about 35,000 g. The number of individuals for most species and 

families increased by 3 to 5 times in November. Catfish were an 

exception, with both the number of individuals and the average 

weight per individual decreasing in November compared to 

May collections. The higher specific conductance at this time 

could be a factor (fig. 3). The contribution of spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) to the total weight of the electroshocked fish 

averaged 38 to 41 percent among the three sample periods. 

Members of the sunfish family contributed between 18 and 

28 percent to the total fish weight. Bowfin (Amia calva) and 

common carp (Cyprinus carpio) contributed almost 25 percent 

of weight in November; their relative contribution to total 

weight was less in the two earlier sampling periods. The 

average weight per individual for most species sampled was 

lowest in July.

All seven members of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) 

found in the Barataria Preserve during this study were collected

during each sampling period, with the exception of black 

crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), which was not collected in

July (table 3). Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and largemouth 

bass (Micropterus salmoides) contributed 60 to 83 percent of 

the total Centrarchidae weight during each sampling period 

(table 3). In November, redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) 

contributed 29 percent of the total weight (table 3).
Table 2. Number, weight, length, and weight contribution of dominant fish sampled at the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park a

May, July, and November 1999.

[NA, not applicable]

Dominant fish

1May 15–17 2July 26–28 1N

Number

of

individuals

Average 

weight per 

individual 

(grams)

Average 

length per 

individual3

(millimeters)

Contribution 

to total 

sample 

weight 

(percent)

Number

of

individuals

Average 

weight per 

individual 

(grams)

Average 

length per 

individual 

(millimeters)

Contribution 

to total 

sample 

weight 

(percent)

Number

of

individuals

Averag

weight 

individu

(grams

CLUPEIDAE (herrings)

Gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum

5 180 194 3 2 54 90 1 21 137 

CYPRINIDAE (carps and minnows)

Common carp, Cyprinus carpio

1 1,106 331 4 1 2,041 410 11 5 3,665 

LEPISOSTEIDAE (gars)

Spotted gar, Lepisosteus oculatus

20 570 377 39 20 349 402 38 92 473 

ICTALURIDAE (bullhead catfish)

(3 species total)

12 631 270 26 0 NA NA NA 4 321 

CENTRARCHIDAE (sunfish)

(7 species total)

189 28 79 18 231 23 70 28 790 31 

AMIIDAE (bowfins)

Bowfin, Amia calva

0 NA NA NA 0 NA NA NA 6 1,015 

MUGILIDAE (mullets)

Striped mullet, Mugil cephalus

11 234 207 9 23 173 181 22 28 294 

May 15–17 July 26–28 N

Total weight, in grams, of above 

categories

28,871 18,307 

Total weight, in grams, of all fish 

collected

29,550 18,343 

Average weight of fish collected, in 

grams per meter of shoreline sampled

7.2 6.1 

1Three sites sampled.2Two sites sampled.3Standard length used (from tip of snout to base of tail).
10 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Table 3. Number, weight, and weight contribution of sunfish (Family Centrarchidae) sampled at the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte 

National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, in May, July, and November 1999.

[<, less than indicated value]

Sunfish species

1

May 15–17 2July 26–28 1November 1–3

Number

of individuals

Average 

weight per 

individual 

(grams)

Contribution

to total

sample 

weight 

(percent)

Number

of individuals

Average 

weight per 

individual 

(grams)

Contribution

to total

sample 

weight 

(percent)

Number

of individuals

Average 

weight per 

individual 

(grams)

Contribution

to total

sample 

weight 

(percent)

Warmouth, Chaenobryttus 

gulosus

7 110 14 3 20 1 27 39 4

Bluegill, Lepomis 

macrochirus

77 22 33 45 34 29 270 29 32

Redear sunfish, Lepomis 

microlophus

28 31 16 35 21 14 354 20 29

Redspotted sunfish,

Lepomis punctatus

8 17 3 27 2 1 64 12 3

Bantam sunfish, Lepomis 

symmetricus

4 3 <1 20 2 1 8 1 <1

Largemouth bass, 

Micropterus salmoides

63 27 32 101 28 54 56 121 28

Black crappie, Pomoxis 

nigromaculatus

2 48 2 0 0 0 11 79 4

May 15–17 July 26–28 November 1–3

Total weight (grams) 5,318 5,198 24,285

1Three sites sampled.

2Two sites sampled.

Seasonal sampling of three sites (sites 1-3) using a boatmounted electroshocker appeared to provide a good representation of fish community composition in Preserve waterways. 

At least three sample-collection sites probably are necessary 

to describe fish communities. Species generally were added 

with each additional transect sampled (fig. 4). Fish were most 

abundant, and the full complement of species for a particular 

trip was reached more quickly, in November; but May 

sampling yielded the highest number of species, and the 

highest number of species uniquely collected during a single 

sampling event. Using only a boat-mounted electroshocker 

may suffice to describe fish communities in Preserve waterways over time. The boat-mounted electroshocker (sites 1-3) 

captured 29 of the 32 species of fish found during this study. 

Seining at two additional sites (4 and 6) only added 3 species: 

sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), Gulf killifish 

(Fundulus grandis), and bayou topminnow (Fundulus 

pulvereus). The drop-net sampler (site 4) did not add to the 

species list. A boat-mounted electroshocker can sample larger 

areas more efficiently than the other two techniques.

Aquatic Invertebrates

The fish and aquatic invertebrate sampling completed for 

this study indicated that abundant and diverse communities are 

present in the Barataria Preserve. Most aquatic invertebrates 

identified in the Barataria Preserve were freshwater species, but 

some brackish-water and marine species also were collected. In 

April 2000, total abundance (number of organisms per square 

meter) and taxa richness (total number of taxa) declined, and 

changes in community composition occurred in the RTH at all 

three sites, compared to March and July 1999. Abundance and 

composition of aquatic invertebrate communities differed 

between RTH and DTH habitats at all three sites.
Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities 11

Figure 4. Number of new species of fish added per additional length of waterway sampled using a 

boat-mounted electroshocker, 1999.

1A 1B 2A 2B 3A 3B 

TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

May

July

November

EXPLANATION

SITE NUMBER AND TRANSECT

Sample trip

Richest-Targeted Habitat

About 234,000 organisms were identified and enumerated 

from the RTH during the study. Abundances for organisms by 

taxa are listed in appendix 2, along with total abundances for 

each sampling period. Individuals from 84 genera belonging to 

51 families were identified. Thirty-five individuals were identified to species. Taxa identified to Order, and their respective 

abundances for the three sampling periods, are listed in table 4. 

Sites having the highest taxa richness did not necessarily have 

the highest total abundance. Diptera (true flies) was the most 

diverse group (38 taxa), followed by Coleoptera (beetles; 23 

taxa), and Gastropoda (snails, limpets; 17 taxa). Malacostraca 

(crustaceans), especially Amphipoda, were the most abundant 

(36 percent) followed by other noninsects (sponges, hydras, 

moss animals, flatworms, roundworms, leeches, and eightlegged arthropods; 19 percent) and Diptera (14 percent), 

especially the family Chironomidae (midges) (app. 2).

The largest seasonal variation in composition in RTH 

samples from spring (March 1999) to summer (July 1999) 

occurred at sites 1 and 2 (fig. 5). Malacostraca, which dominated in the spring samples at all sites (41 to 75 percent of the 

community), decreased in relative abundance to 7 to 31 percent 

in the summer samples; Amphipoda decreased from 71 to 

7 percent at site 1 and from 45 to 15 percent at site 2 (table 4; 

app. 2). In contrast, other noninsects, nematodes in particular, 

increased in relative abundance from 0 to 38 percent at site 1 

and from 0 to 20 percent at site 2 from spring to summer. 

Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) also 

increased in relative abundance from 0 to 5 percent at site 1 

and from 0 to 18 percent at site 2 from spring to summer. The 

smallest seasonal variation in relative abundance between 

sampling periods was at site 3, at the marsh-swamp interface.

Ephemeroptera, Plechoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera, 

referred to collectively as EPT, generally are intolerant to pollution or perturbation, and are expected to decrease with waterquality degradation (Barbour and others, 1999). The percentage 

of EPT in a sample, therefore, can be related to water-quality 

conditions. Typically, aquatic invertebrates are subjected to the 

most stress in the summer, when water temperatures are high 

and dissolved-oxygen concentrations are low (Hynes, 1970). 

However, in the Barataria Preserve, mayflies and caddisflies in 

RTH samples were proportionally more abundant in July than 

during the other two sampling periods. Stoneflies prefer cool 

running waters (Hynes, 1970) and usually are not present in the 

waterways of southern Louisiana. No stoneflies were present in 

any of the invertebrate samples collected from the Barataria 

Preserve. Mayflies, especially Caenis, which is generally 

considered a more tolerant mayfly, composed the largest 

percentage of EPT at all sites in July.
Table 4. Taxa, abundances, and percentages of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National His

Louisiana, 1999–2000. [Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. --, species not collected] Taxa Tarpaper Canal near Keyhole 6 (site 1) Pipeline Canal west of Crown Point (site 2) North 

PHYLUM 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 

CLASS Abun- dance Per- cent Abun- dance Per- cent Abun- dance Per- cent Abun- dance Per- cent Abun- dance Per- cent Abun- dance Per- cent Abun- dance Per- cent 

ORDER 

PORIFERA (sponges) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 67 0.22 -- -- -- -- CNIDARIA (coelenterates) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

HYDROZOA (hydras) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

HYDROIDA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

BRYOZOA (moss animals) -- -- -- -- -- -- 50 0.26 -- -- -- -- 108 0.26 PLATYHELMINTHES (flatworms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

TURBELLARIA (free-living flatworms) 212 0.86 392 0.67 -- -- 101 .53 874 2.81 -- -- 748 1.80 

NEMERTEA (proboscis worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

ENOPLA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

HOPLONEMERTEA -- -- -- -- -- -- 50 .26 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

NEMATODA (roundworms) -- -- 22,540 38.55 20 0.27 -- -- 6,250 20.10 -- -- 1,818 4.38 MOLLUSCA (clams, snails, and limpets) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

BIVALVIA (bivalve molluscs) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

VENEROIDA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3 .01 

GASTROPODA (snails, limpets) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

BASOMMATOPHORA 1,348 5.45 5,106 8.73 40 .55 403 2.12 3,231 10.39 161 2.13 8,570 20.65 MESOGASTROPODA 215 .87 395 .68 -- -- -- -- 201 .65 -- -- -- -- 

ANNELIDA (segmented worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

HIRUDINEA (leeches) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

ARHYNCHOBDELLAE -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 .01 -- -- -- -- -- -- RHYNCHOBDELLAE 72 0.29 1 .00 20 .27 4 .02 -- -- -- -- 6 .01 

OLIGOCHAETA (aquatic worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

TUBIFICIDA 847 3.43 12,936 22.12 -- -- 1,866 9.80 2,957 9.51 -- -- 2,139 5.15 

ARTHROPODA (arthropods) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

ARACHNIDA (eight-legged arthropods) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

ACARI (water mites) 988 4.00 2,744 4.69 60 .82 252 1.32 1,277 4.11 -- -- 1,603 3.86 

MALACOSTRACA (crustaceans) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

AMPHIPODA (scuds, sideswimmers) 17,441 70.53 3,921 6.71 5,907 80.60 8,527 44.80 4,638 14.92 5,230 69.33 15,086 36.35 DECAPODA (crayfishes, shrimps) 4 .02 5 .01 5 .07 10 .05 72 .23 71 .94 7 .02 ISOPODA (aquatic sow bugs) 917 3.71 -- -- 81 1.11 1,413 7.42 2 .01 0 .00 1,925 4.64 MYSIDA (opossum shrimps) 80 .32 -- -- 202 2.76 -- -- -- -- 484 6.42 -- -- 

INSECTA (insects) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 

COLEOPTERA (beetles) 154 0.62 6 .01 -- -- 262 1.38 154 .50 25 .33 881 2.12 COLLEMBOLA (springtails) 635 2.57 -- -- -- -- 101 .53 67 .22 23 .30 855 2.06 DIPTERA (true flies) 1,277 5.16 5,693 9.74 482 6.58 5,154 27.08 5,511 17.73 483 6.40 5,675 13.67 EPHEMEROPTERA (mayflies) 9 .04 2,951 5.05 40 .55 59 .31 5,108 16.43 46 .61 1,503 3.62 HEMIPTERA (true bugs) 443 1.79 599 1.02 128 1.75 110 .58 70 .23 192 2.55 121 .29 LEPIDOPTERA (aquatic caterpillars) 5 .02 196 .34 60 .82 50 .26 67 .22 69 .91 217 .52 ODONATA (damsel/dragonflies) 79 .32 793 1.36 244 3.33 621 3.26 207 .67 760 10.07 236 .57 TRICHOPTERA (caddisflies) 1 .00 197 .34 40 .55 -- -- 337 1.08 -- -- -- -- 

TOTAL ABUNDANCE 24,727 100.00 58,475 100.00 7,329 100.00 19,034 100.00 31,090 100.00 7,544 100.00 41,501 100.00 2
Figure 5. Relative abundances of predominant groups of aquatic invertebrates for richest-targeted habitat in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafittand Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000.

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF PREDOMINANT INVERTEBRATE GROUPS, IN PERCENT

0

102030405090807060

100

InsectsNon-ins

Ephem(mayflColeop(beetleDipter(true fOther (spring caterp drago

Malac(crustMollu(clamOligoc(aquaOther (spon anim worm worm

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

Site 2

(Pipeline Canal west of Crown Point)

Site 3

(North Twin Canal)

Site 1

(Tarpaper Canal near Keyhole 6)

SITES
14 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Compared to the samples collected in spring 1999, total 

abundance and taxa richness of RTH decreased at all sites 

between RTH samples collected in the spring 2000 (fig. 6). At 

sites 1 and 2, total abundance was greatest in July 1999; at 

site 3, however, total abundance was greatest in March 1999. 

Total abundance in spring samples decreased by 43 to 70 

percent and taxa richness decreased by 36 to 54 percent from 

1999 to 2000 (fig. 6). Taxa richness of aquatic invertebrates in 

RTH samples was comparable in March and July 1999, but was 

lower in samples from all three sites in April 2000. Total abundance and taxa richness in April 2000 were highest at site 3. A 

nearby water-quality data-collection site (N-10, fig. 2) near 

site 3 exhibited the smallest increase in specific conductance of 

all sites in waterways during the study (fig. 3). The largest 

decrease in total abundance occurred at site 1, and the largest 

decrease in taxa richness occurred at site 2.

Composition measures such as relative abundance (fig. 5) 

and the percentages of the five dominant taxa (fig. 7) illustrate 

the differences between 1999 and 2000 spring samples. 

Mollusca (clams, snails, and limpets), especially Gastropoda, as 

well as other noninsects, decreased in relative abundance at all 

sites except site 2, where relative abundance of Mollusca 

remained the same. The relative abundance of Malacostraca, 

particularly Amphipoda, increased at all sites from 36 to 

71 percent of the community in 1999 to 46 to 81 percent in 

2000, with the largest increase occurring at site 2. Perturbation 

may increase the dominance of a few taxa (Barbour and others, 

1999). The percentages of the five dominant taxa (fig. 7) 

increased at all sites from 54 to 79 percent of the community in 

1999 to 69 to 86 percent in 2000, with the largest increase 

occurring at site 2.

The decrease in total abundance and taxa richness, and the 

changes in community composition between March 1999 and 

April 2000, are likely due to drought conditions in southern 

Louisiana (Swenson and others, 2003), and the corresponding 

increase in salinity as measured by the specific conductance 

values that occurred between July 1999 and April 2000 in

Preserve waterways (Swarzenski, 2004). During that time,

salinity was much higher than is usual for this part of Barataria 

Basin (Swarzenski, 1992). Elevated salinity in Preserve waterways broke up large rafts of floating water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) that had clogged canals near the dataFigure 6. Total abundance and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrates for richest-targeted habitat in the Barataria 

Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000. TOTAL ABUNDANCE, IN ORGANISMS PER SQUARE METER

TAXA RICHNESS, IN NUMBER OF TAXA

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

50,000

40,000

60,000

70,000

0

10

20

30

60

50

40

70

80

EXPLANATION

Total abundance

Taxa richness

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

Site 2

(Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point)

Site 3

(North Twin Canal)

Site 1

(Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6)

SITES
Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities 15

collection sites for 2 or more years, reducing the RTH in the 

Preserve. Sikora and Sklar (1987, p. 62) noted that seasonal 

changes in floating aquatic raft extent affected the abundance of 

aquatic invertebrates. Aquatic invertebrate communities in 

floating aquatic rafts in the Preserve may be influenced by the 

higher salinity and overall loss in habitat that occur during 

regional droughts.

Depositional-Targeted Habitat

Aquatic invertebrates in bottom material at the three sites 

were sampled only in April 2000. About 106 organisms were 

identified and enumerated from all the DTH samples. Individuals from 7 genera belonging to 9 families were identified 

(app. 3). Four individuals were identified to species. Diptera 

(true flies) was the most diverse group (5 taxa), followed by 

Malacostraca (crustaceans; 4 taxa) and Annelida (worms; 

3 taxa). Together, these three groups comprised more than 

94 percent of the individual aquatic invertebrates collected in 

DTH samples. Annelida (52 percent), especially tubificid 

worms, were the most abundant, followed by Diptera 

(26 percent), especially the family Chironomidae (midges), 

and Malacostraca (16 percent). The aquatic invertebrate 

communities represented in DTH samples from this survey 

were similar in composition to the communities found in 

bottom material during the earlier survey by Garrison (1982).

The total abundance and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrate communities differed between the RTH and DTH samples 

collected from all three sites in April 2000 (fig. 8). The RTH

had substantially more individuals (38,621 aquatic invertebrates), and higher taxa richness (26 to 45 taxa) than the DTH 

(106 aquatic invertebrates, 3 to 7 taxa), even though roughly the 

same total area (about 1.2 m2

) was sampled. These findings 

were similar to those of an earlier study of a swamp forest in 

Barataria Basin (Sikora and Sklar, 1987; Sklar, 1985), in which

floating plant rafts contained the most abundant and diverse 

invertebrate communities. One possible explanation for the 

lower total abundance and taxa richness in DTH environments 

may be the low dissolved-oxygen concentrations and lack of 

diverse habitat and food resources in bottom sediments, 

compared to floating plant rafts.

Compositional differences in RTH and DTH samples 

collected in April 2000 from site 3 distinguish this site from the 

other sites in the Preserve. Noninsects, primarily crustaceans 

(amphipods such as scuds and sideswimmers) and annelid 

worms, dominated all RTH and DTH samples from sites 1 and 

2 and the RTH sample from site 3. At site 3, insects (mostly 

midges) dominated the DTH sample (fig. 9). Crustaceans, 

Figure 7. Percentages of five dominant taxa of aquatic invertebrates for richest-targeted habitat in the Barataria 

Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000. FIVE DOMINANT TAXA, IN PERCENT

0

10

20

30

50

40

80

90

70

60

100

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

July

1999

March

1999

April

2000 

Site 2

(Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point)

Site 3

(North Twin Canal)

Site 1

(Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6)

SITES
16 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

primarily mysids (opossum shrimps) and annelids in the class 

Polychaeta (marine worms), which are almost exclusively 

marine species (Pennak, 1954), were present in April 2000 

samples from sites 1 and 2. Mysids were present in RTH and 

DTH samples from site 1, and only in RTH samples from site 2 

(table 5). Polychaetes were present only in DTH samples at sites 

1 and 2. The presence of mysids and polychaetes in April 

samples was consistent with the increase in specific conductance (fig. 3) at these sites.

Contaminants in Fish

Three predators, bowfin (Amia calva), bluegill (Lepomis 

macrochirus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 

and the omnivore common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were 

selected for analyses because of their feeding habits (trophic 

level) and frequency of human consumption. Their biology and 

feeding habitats are described in detail by Ross (2001). Bowfin 

feed in the water column, consuming a diet mostly of fish and 

also large crustaceans such as crayfish. Bluegill typically feed 

in the water column, primarily on zooplankton, but also on 

terrestrial and aquatic insects. Largemouth bass also feed in the 

water column, consuming aquatic insects and fish (bluegill, and 

gizzard and threadfin shads). Common carp are bottom feeders, 

sifting through soft mud and detritus for food.

Whole fish analyses did not detect any organic compounds 

(table 6). In a concurrent study, organic compounds were not 

found in water samples from Preserve waterways, with the 

exception of the herbicide 2,4-D, which was detected at one of 

three sites during one of three sampling events. 2,4-D is occasionally sprayed onto floating aquatic vegetations in parts of the 

Preserve to keep waterways clear for boats (Swarzenski, 2004). 

Trace elements, iron, and manganese analyzed in fish 

fillets are listed in table 7. Mercury (as total Hg) was detected 

in all four species, with greatest concentrations detected in 

largemouth bass and bowfin. Mercury concentrations 

increased with increasing wet weight of the three predatory 

fish species, but were much lower, relative to weight, in the 

common carp (fig. 10). Arsenic was not detected in bluegill 

and common carp tissue, but was detected in largemouth bass 

and bowfin. Chromium concentrations were detected in tissue 

of the two largest fish, common carp and bowfin, suggesting 

Figure 8. Total abundance and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrates for richest-targeted habitat (RTH) and depositionaltargeted habitat (DTH) in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, April 2000. TOTAL ABUNDANCE, IN ORGANISMS PER SQUARE METER

TAXA RICHNESS, IN NUMBER OF TAXA

0

5,000

10,000

20,000

15,000

25,000

0

10

5

15

20

25

40

45

50

35

30

RTH DTH RTH DTH RTH DTH 

Site 2

(Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point)

Site 3

(North Twin Canal)

Site 1

(Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6)

SITES

EXPLANATION

Total abundance

Taxa richness
Contaminants in Fish 17

that weight (a surrogate for age), plays a role in accumulation 

of this trace element. Cadmium and lead were below detection 

in all tissue samples. The smallest fish, bluegill, had the 

highest concentrations of manganese, selenium, and strontium.

Sampling for contaminants was exploratory and was 

limited to a few fish per analysis. In a more rigorous sampling 

scheme, typically fillets from at least eight individuals of 

similar size and caught at a single location would be composited 

to establish age-related concentrations of contaminants. Fish 

would be electroshocked for the sole purpose of obtaining sufficient individuals of a single age class. Although mercury 

concentrations are expected to increase as fish increase in 

weight, the linear trend indicated in figure 10 seems to be somewhat idealized. The relation between age and tissue contaminant concentration is better quantified using larger, more robust 

sampling populations.

In most adult fish, 90-100 percent of the total mercury 

present is in the form of methylmercury. This is the biologically 

active and toxic form of mercury. An advisory of fish consumption by humans at indicated levels of methylmercury is given in 

table 8. The consistent linear increase in mercury concentration 

with increasing fish weight at the Barataria Preserve (fig. 10) 

suggests concentrations for larger fish caught in Preserve waterways may be a concern, if the fish are frequently consumed by 

humans. At mercury concentrations detected in fish tissue 

during this study (table 7), monthly consumption limits for the 

typical consumer (table 8) are as follows: common carp or 

bluegill, more than 3,500 g (128 oz, about 15 meals); largemouth bass, more than 1,800 g (64 oz, a little less than 8 meals); 

or bowfin, 600 g (more than 21 oz, about 2.6 meals). 

For women of childbearing age, consumption of fish with 

tissue methylmercury concentrations of 0.1 to 0.15 μg/g wet 

tissue weight (0.5 to 0.75 μg/g dry tissue weight, assuming 

80 percent moisture content for fish) should be limited to less 

than 10 g of wet weight fillet per day. This amount is equivalent 

to about 1/4 of a cup of fish or one fish sandwich per week (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 2001, p. 4). Mercury 

concentrations below levels that pose a risk to adults can harm 

children. Children 7 years or younger are especially sensitive 

to mercury because their nervous systems are still forming 

(Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 1998b).

Figure 9. Relative abundance of noninsect and insect groups of aquatic invertebrates for richest-targeted habitat (RTH) and 

depositional-targeted habitat (DTH) areas for three sites in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and 

Preserve, Louisiana, April 2000. RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF NON-INSECT AND INSECT GROUPS, IN PERCENT

0

10

20

30

40

50

80

90

60

70

100

RTH DTH RTH DTH RTH DTH 

Site 2

(Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point)

Site 3

(North Twin Canal)

Site 1

(Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6)

SITES

EXPLANATION

Non-insects

Insects
18 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Table 5. Taxa, abundances, and percentages of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat and depositional-targeted habitat in 

the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, April 2000.

[Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. RTH, richest-targeted habitat; DTH, 

depositional-targeted habitat; --, species not collected; * Suborder]

Taxa Tarpaper Canal near Keyhole 6 

(site 1)

Pipeline Canal west of Crown 

Point (site 2) North Twin Canal (site 3)

PHYLUM RTH DTH RTH DTH RTH DTH

CLASS Abundance

PercentAbundancePercentAbundancePercentAbundancePercentAbundancePercentAbundancePercent ORDER

PLATYHELMINTHES (flatworms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TURBELLARIA (free-living 

flatworms)

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 67 0.28 -- --

NEMATODA (roundworms) 20 0.27 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

MOLLUSCA (clams, snails, and limpets) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

GASTROPODA (snails, limpets) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

BASOMMATOPHORA 40 0.55 -- -- 161 2.13 -- -- 136 0.57 -- --

PROSOBRANCHIA* -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 5.13 -- -- -- --

ANNELIDA (segmented worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

HIRUDINEA (leeches) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ARHYNCHOBDELLAE -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 0.00 -- --

RHYNCHOBDELLAE 20 0.27 -- -- -- -- -- -- 268 1.13 -- --

OLIGOCHAETA (aquatic worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TUBIFICIDA -- -- 34 56.67 -- -- 10 25.64 2,419 10.19 2 28.57

POLYCHAETA (marine worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TEREBELLIDA -- -- 4 6.67 -- -- 5 12.82 -- -- -- --

ARTHROPODA (arthropods) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ARACHNIDA (eight-legged 

arthropods)

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ACARI (water mites) 60 0.82 2 3.33 -- -- -- -- 67 0.28 -- --

MALACOSTRACA (crustaceans) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

AMPHIPODA (scuds, sideswimmers) 5,907 80.60 8 13.33 5,230 69.33 7 17.95 11,022 46.41 -- --

DECAPODA (crayfishes, shrimps) 5 0.07 -- -- 71 0.94 -- -- 2 0.01 -- --

ISOPODA (aquatic sow bugs) 81 1.11 -- -- 0 0.00 -- -- 1,612 6.79 -- --

MYSIDA (opossum shrimps) 202 2.76 2 3.33 484 6.42 -- -- -- -- -- --

INSECTA (insects) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COLEOPTERA (beetles) -- -- -- -- 25 0.33 -- -- 2 0.01 -- --

COLLEMBOLA (springtails) -- -- -- -- 23 0.30 -- -- -- -- -- --

DIPTERA (true flies) 482 6.58 8 13.33 483 6.40 15 38.46 5,173 21.78 5 71.43

EPHEMEROPTERA (mayflies) 40 0.55 -- -- 46 0.61 -- -- 942 3.97 -- --

HEMIPTERA (true bugs) 128 1.75 -- -- 192 2.55 -- -- 480 2.02 -- --

LEPIDOPTERA (aquatic caterpillars) 60 0.82 -- -- 69 0.91 -- -- 134 0.56 -- --

ODONATA (damsel/dragonflies) 244 3.33 2 3.33 760 10.07 -- -- 1,423 5.99 -- --

TRICHOPTERA (caddisflies) 40 0.55 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TOTAL ABUNDANCE 7,329 100.00 60 100.00 7,544 100.00 39 100.00 23,748 100.00 7 100.00
Contaminants in Fish 19

Table 6. Concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls in whole tissue of fish from 

selected waterways in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, July and 

November 1999.

[Values for constituents, except lipids, are measured in wet weight, recoverable, in micrograms per kilogram. <, less than indicated value]

Species:

Bluegill

(Lepomis 

macrochirus)

Largemouth bass 

(Micropterus 

salmoides)

Bowfin

(Amia calva)

Common carp

(Cyprinus carpio)

Sample date: July 28 November 1

Number of individual fish composited: 4 3 2 2

Average fresh weight (grams): 60 279 1,389 3,815

Constituents Concentrations

Percent lipids, in whole fish 0.7 0.9 2.5 6.6

Aldrin <5 <5 <5 <5

Alpha-BHC <5 <5 <5 <5

Benzene, hexa-chloro- <5 <5 <5 <5

Beta-BHC <5 <5 <5 <5

Cis-chlordane <5 <5 <5 <5

Cis-nonachlor <5 <5 <5 <5

DCPA <5 <5 <5 <5

Delta-BHC <5 <5 <5 <5

Dieldrin <5 <5 <5 <5

Endrin <5 <5 <5 <5

Heptachlor epoxide <5 <5 <5 <5

Heptachlor <5 <5 <5 <5

Lindane <5 <5 <5 <5

Methoxychlor, O, P′ - <5 <9 <5 <5

Methoxychlor, P, P′ - <5 <5 <5 <5

Mirex <5 <5 <5 <5

O, P′ -DDD <5 <5 <5 <5

O, P′ -DDE <5 <5 <5 <5

O, P′ -DDT <5 <5 <5 <5

Oxychlordane <5 <5 <5 <5

P, P′ -DDD <5 <5 <5 <5

P, P′ -DDE <5 <5 <5 <5

P, P′ -DDT <5 <5 <5 <5

Pentachloroanisole <5 <5 <5 <5

Toxaphene <200 <200 <200 <200

Trans-chlordane <5 <5 <5 <5

Trans-nonachlor <5 <5 <5 <5

Polychlorinated biphenyls <50 <50 <50 <50
20 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Table 7. Concentrations of selected trace elements, iron, and manganese in muscle (fillet) tissue of fish from selected waterways 

in the Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, July and November 1999.

[Values for constituents, except water, are measured in dry weight, recoverable, in micrograms per gram. <, less than indicated value]

Species:

Bluegill

(Lepomis 

macrochirus)

Largemouth bass 

(Micropterus 

salmoides)

Bowfin

(Amia calva)

Common carp

(Cyprinus carpio)

Sample date: July 28 November 1

Number of individual fish composited: 4 2 2 1

Average fresh weight (grams): 81 380 1,602 5,557

Constituents Concentrations1

Percent water in tissue 82 80 79 79

Aluminum <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0

Antimony <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Arsenic <.3 .6 1.4 <.2

Barium .8 <.1 .3 .9

Beryllium <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Boron .9 .9 1.2 .7

Cadmium <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Chromium <.5 <.5 .6 .5

Cobalt <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Copper .9 .8 1 2.8

Iron 5 7 12 73

Lead <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Manganese 2.4 .5 1.1 1.5

Mercury1 .2 .4 1.5 .2

Molybdenum <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Nickel <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Selenium 3.8 1.9 .8 .8

Silver <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Strontium 6.9 1 2.3 4.7

Vanadium <.3 <.2 <.2 <.2

Zinc 24 17 14 25

1

To convert to wet weight concentration, divide dry weight concentration by 5. Mercury concentrations must be converted to wet weight concentrations for direct comparison with fish consumption limits listed in table 8.
Contaminants in Fish 21

Figure 10. Relation between total mercury concentrations in composited fish fillet tissue and average wet 

weight of fish in selected surface-water sites in southern Louisiana. AVERAGE TOTAL MERCURY IN FISH TISSUE, IN MICROGRAMS PER GRAM DRY WEIGHT

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.5

2.0

3.5

3.0

0 1,000 2,000 5,000 6,000 

EXPLANATION

Fish were caught in the Barataria Preserve, except where noted—

Fish at all sites were caught between May 1998 and November 1999

Longear (n=8), Bayou Lacassine near Port Arthur

(Lepomis megalotis)

Largemouth bass (n=7), Bayou des Allemands at Allemands

(Micropterus salmoides)

Largemouth bass (n=8)

(Micropterus salmoides)

Largemouth bass (n=2)

(Micropterus salmoides)

Bluegill (n=4)

(Lepomis macrochirus)

Bowfin (n=2)

(Amia calva)

Common carp (n=1)

(Cyprinus carpio)

n= Number of samples

Fish from other coastal Louisiana waterways

Fish composite from three sites in Jean Lafitte National Park
22 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

In many waters in Louisiana, mercury concentrations are 

sufficiently high in fish fillets to be of concern (Louisiana 

Department of Environmental Quality, no date; Louisiana 

Department of Health and Hospitals, 1998a). There are 35 

consumptive advisories (including a statewide coastal advisory) 

listed for Louisiana by the Louisiana Department of Health and 

Hospitals (1998a). Mercury concentrations in comparable fish 

tissue at some other sites in coastal Louisiana were higher per 

unit wet weight of fish compared to concentrations in fish tissue 

sampled at the Barataria Preserve (fig. 10), indicating that 

mercury is not an issue specific to the Barataria Preserve, with 

a unique local source. Mercury concentrations in bottom material of Barataria Preserve waterways were between 0.01 and 

0.03 μg/g sediment dry weight in a recent survey (Swarzenski, 

2004). These concentrations are below levels that would raise 

toxicity concerns for aquatic life (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 1999).

The sources and processes by which mercury becomes 

available to, and accumulates in, aquatic organisms in areas 

where direct inputs of mercury appear to be low, such as the 

Preserve waterways, is not well understood. There is no 

apparent local source to Preserve waterways that can be mitigated or removed. Wetland environments in general appear to 

play a key role because of anaerobic conditions in soils. Highly 

organic soils, for example the Everglades marshes or the peat 

marshes that make up much of the Preserve, also may be important in making mercury bioavailable. Studies of mercury 

cycling in wetlands (Krabbenhoft and others, 1999; Gilmour 

and others, 1992) suggest that, under certain conditions, 

wetlands may make atmospheric mercury deposited in wetlands 

more readily available for biological uptake. This is because the 

reduction of sulfate to sulfide, which occurs in the anaerobic 

wetland soils containing sulfate, may facilitate methylation of 

mercury. Further study on this issue in the Preserve is 

warranted, especially in light of the Davis Pond diversion. The 

diversion may change the way sulfates enter Barataria Preserve 

wetlands, which could enhance mercury methylation rates.

Summary and Conclusions

Fish and aquatic invertebrate communities in waterways of 

the Barataria Preserve of the Jean Lafitte National Historical 

Park and Preserve, Louisiana, were surveyed from 1999 to 

2000. An inventory of fish in the Barataria Preserve was established, and concentrations of selected organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and trace elements; iron; and 

manganese for selected fish species were determined. The fish 

and aquatic invertebrate sampling completed for this study indicated that abundant and diverse communities are present in the 

Barataria Preserve.

Fish were surveyed at three sites in Preserve waterways in 

May, July, and November 1999. Sixteen families, comprising 

32 species of fish, were identified in the Barataria Preserve 

during this survey. Of the 32 species, 22 had freshwater affinities. All life-history stages of many of the species were present.

The total number of fish species found in a single sampling 

ranged from 20 to 26. The total was lowest in July, when only 

two of the three sites were sampled. Between 2 and 4 species 

were unique to each of the three sampling periods. A boatmounted electroshocker was sufficient to collect most species; 

seining added from 1 to 2 species to the total during each 

sampling event. A drop-net sampler did not add to the species 

list.

In November, the average weight of all fish recovered 

from a single site was about 35,000 grams; in May and July the 

average weight of all fish from a single site was between 9,000 

and 10,000 grams. The number of individuals for most species 

or categories also increased, by about 3 to 5 times, in 

November. The contribution of spotted gar (Lepisosteus 

oculatus) to the total weight of the electroshocked fish averaged 

between 38 and 41 percent among the three sample periods. 

Bowfin (Amia calva) and common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) 

contributed almost 25 percent of fish weight in November; their 

relative contribution to total weight was less in the two earlier 

sampling periods. Members of the sunfish family 

(Centrarchidae) contributed between 18 and 28 percent of the 

total fish weight; for each sampling period, bluegill (Lepomis 

macrochirus) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) 

contributed 60 to 83 percent of the total Centrarchidae weight. 

The average weight per individual for most species or categories was lowest in July.

Table 8. Monthly fish consumption limits for methylmercury.

[Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2001, p. 5. >, greater than]

Risk-based consumption

limit for humans Noncancer health endpoints

Fish meals1 per month Fish tissue concentration, micrograms

per gram wet weight2

16 >0.03 to 0.06

12 >0.06 to 0.08

8 >0.08 to 0.12

4 >0.12 to 0.24

3 >0.24 to 0.32

2 >0.32 to 0.48

1 >0.48 to 0.97

0.5 >0.97 to 1.9

None >1.9

1A fish meal is assumed to be about 227 grams wet weight; consumer 

weight is 70 kilograms; reference dose for methylmercury is 10-4 milligrams 

per kilogram per day.

2

To convert to dry weight concentration, multiply wet weight concentration by 5; a moisture content of 80 percent was assumed for fish.
Summary and Conclusions 23

Most of the fish collected in the Barataria Preserve during 

this study are classified as intermediate in their tolerance to poor 

water quality. Three species designated as tolerant of poor water 

quality, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), golden shiner 

(Notemigonus crysoleucas), and yellow bullhead (Ameiurus 

natalis), and one intolerant species, lake chubsucker (Erymizon 

sucetta), were identified during the study.

Aquatic invertebrates were sampled from three sites in 

March and July 1999 and April 2000. Most aquatic invertebrates identified in the Barataria Preserve were freshwater 

species, but some were brackish-water and marine species. 

About 234,000 organisms were identified and enumerated from 

the richest-targeted habitat (RTH, floating rafts of aquatic 

plants) during the study. Individuals from 84 genera belonging 

to 51 families were identified. Thirty-five individuals were 

identified to species. Diptera (true flies) was the most diverse 

group (38 taxa), and Malacostraca (crustaceans), especially 

Amphipoda, were the most abundant (36 percent).

Total abundance and taxa richness of aquatic invertebrates 

in RTH samples were comparable during the March and July 

sampling in 1999, but were lower in samples collected from the 

same habitat at all three sites in April 2000. From 1999 to 2000, 

total abundance in spring samples decreased by 43 to 70 percent 

and taxa richness decreased by 36 to 54 percent. The largest 

decrease in total abundance occurred at site 1 (Tarpaper Canal 

near Keyhole 6); the largest decrease in taxa richness occurred 

at site 2 (Pipeline Canal west of Crown Point). Composition 

measures such as relative abundance and proportion of the five 

most dominant taxa illustrate the differences between 1999 and 

2000 spring samples. Mollusca (clams, snails, and limpets), 

especially Gastropoda, as well as other noninsects, decreased 

in relative abundance at all sites except site 2 (Pipeline Canal 

west of Crown Point), where relative abundance of Mollusca 

remained the same. The relative abundance of Malacostraca, 

particularly Amphipoda, increased at all sites from 36 to 

71 percent of the community in 1999 to 46 to 81 percent of the 

community in 2000, with the largest increase occurring at site 2. 

The percentages of the five most dominant taxa increased at all 

sites from 54 to 79 percent of the community in 1999 to 69 to 

86 percent in 2000, with the largest increase occurring at site 2.

The decrease in total abundance and taxa richness and the 

changes in community composition between March 1999 and 

April 2000 are likely due to drought conditions in southern 

Louisiana and the corresponding increase in salinity in waterways of the Barataria Preserve. Elevated salinity in Preserve 

waterways broke up large rafts of floating water hyacinth, 

reducing the RTH. Salinity levels in surface water were atypically high by April 2000 at all three sites.

Aquatic invertebrates in bottom material at the three sites 

were sampled only in April 2000. About 106 individuals were 

identified and enumerated from all depositional-targeted habitat 

(DTH, bottom material) samples. Individuals from 7 genera 

belonging to 9 families were identified. Four individuals were 

identified to species. Diptera was the most diverse group 

(5 taxa), and Annelida, especially tubificid worms, were the 

most abundant (52 percent). 

Total abundance and composition of aquatic invertebrate 

communities differed between RTH and DTH at all three sites 

in April 2000. The RTH environment had substantially more 

individuals (38,621 aquatic invertebrates) than the DTH environment (106 aquatic invertebrates), even though roughly the 

same total area (about 1.2 square miles) was sampled. Compositional differences in RTH and DTH samples collected from 

site 3 distinguish this site from the other sites in the Preserve. 

Noninsects dominated all RTH and DTH samples from sites 1 

and 2, and the RTH sample from site 3. Insects (mostly midges) 

dominated the DTH sample from site 3. The presence of mysids 

(opossum shrimps) and polychaetes (marine worms), which are 

almost exclusively marine species, were present only in 

samples from sites 1 and 2. This was consistent with the 

increase in specific conductance at these sites. Sampling of 

aquatic invertebrate communities may have potential for evaluating water-quality conditions and trends in the Barataria 

Preserve.

 Three predators, bowfin (Amia calva), bluegill (Lepomis 

macrochirus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), 

and the omnivore common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were 

selected for contaminant analyses. Organic compounds were 

not detected in any whole fish analyses. Mercury was detected 

in fillets of all four species sampled. The greatest concentrations 

of mercury were detected in bowfin and largemouth bass. 

Mercury concentrations increased with increasing wet weight in 

the three predatory fish species, but were much lower, relative 

to weight, in the omnivore. Arsenic was detected in bowfin and 

largemouth bass. Chromium concentrations were detected in 

tissue of the two larger fish, bowfin and common carp, 

suggesting that weight plays a role in accumulation of this trace 

element. Cadmium and lead concentrations were below detection in all tissue samples.

The consistent linear increase in mercury concentration 

with increasing fish weight at the Barataria Preserve suggests 

that mercury concentrations for larger predatory fish caught in 

Preserve waterways may be a concern if the fish are frequently 

consumed by humans. The process of mercury accumulation 

appears to be natural, and not related specifically with Preserve 

waterways or a local source problem. Mercury concentrations 

in comparable fish tissue at some other sites in coastal Louisiana were higher per unit wet weight of fish, supporting the 

conclusion that mercury is not an issue specific to the Barataria 

Preserve. Other studies of mercury cycling in wetlands suggest 

that wetlands under certain conditions may make atmospheric 

mercury deposited in wetlands more readily available for 

biological uptake. The reduction of sulfate to sulfide which 

occurs in anaerobic wetland soils, provided there is a source of 

sulfate, may facilitate methylation of mercury. The Davis Pond 

diversion, about 4 miles northwest of the Preserve, may change 

the way sulfates enter Barataria Preserve wetlands, which could 

enhance mercury methylation rates. As the diversion introduces 

Mississippi River water into the Park and Preserve, the fish and 

aquatic invertebrate communities in the Preserve may change in 

response to the change in water quality.
24 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Selected References

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Plan: Nichols State University, BTNEP Publication 12, 

199 p.

Barbour, M.T., Gerritsen, Jeroen, Snyder, B.D., and Stribling, 

J.B., 1999, Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for use in streams 

and wadeable rivers—Periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish (2d ed.): Washington, D.C., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, EPA841-B-99-002, 339 p.

Barbour, M.T., Plafkin, J.L., Porter, K.D., Gross, S.K., and 

Hughes, R.M., 1997, Revision to Rapid Bioassessment 

Protocols for use in streams and rivers: Periphyton, benthic 

macroinvertebrates, and fish: Washington, D.C., U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, EPA 

444/4-89-001, 174 p.

Barbour, M.T., Stribling, J.B., and Karr, J.R., 1995, Multimetric approach for establishing biocriteria and measuring biological condition, in: Davis, W.S., and Simon, T.P., eds., 

Biological assessment and criteria—Tools for water resource 

planning and decision making: Boca Raton, Fla., Lewis 

Publishers, p. 63-77.

Benson, A.J., Fuller, P.L., and Jacono, C.C., 2001, Summary 

report of nonindigenous aquatic species in U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service Region 4: U.S. Geological Survey, 68 p.

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Canadian environmental quality guidelines, Canadian sediment quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic 

life—Summary tables, exerpt from Publication no. 1299, 

ISBN 1-896997-34-1: accessed March 1, 2001, at URL 

http://www.ec.gc.ca/ceqg-rcqe/sedtbl_e.PDF (Internet site 

updated; accessed April 1, 2004, at URL 

http://www.ccme.ca/assets/pdf/e1_06.pdf )

Conner, W.H., and Day, J.W., Jr., eds., 1987, The ecology of 

Barataria Basin, Louisiana—an estuarine profile: U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 85.7.13, 165 p.

Cuffney, T.F., Gurtz, M.E., and Meador, M.R., 1993, Methods 

for collecting benthic invertebrate samples as part of the 

National Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-406, 66 p.

Froese, R., and Pauly, D., eds., 2003, Gamefishes occurring 

in the USA (contiguous states): FishBase, accessed on 

February 14, 2003, at URL http://www.fishbase.org

Garrison, C.R., 1982, Water quality of the Barataria Unit, Jean 

Lafitte National Historical Park, Louisiana (April 1981-

March 1982): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

82-691, 34 p.

Gilmour, C.C., Henry E.A., and Mitchell, Ralph, 1992, Sulfate 

stimulation of mercury methylation in freshwater sediments: 

Environmental Science and Technology, v. 26, p. 2281-2287.

Hoffman, G.L., 1996, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory—Preparation 

procedure for aquatic biological material determined for 

trace metals: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

96-362, 42 p.

Horowitz, A.J., Demas, C.R., Fitzgerald, K.K., Miller, T.L., and 

Rickert, D.A., 1994, U.S.Geological Survey protocol for the 

collection and processing of surface-water samples for the 

subsequent determination of inorganic constituents in filtered 

water: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-539, 

57 p.

Hynes, H.B.N., 1970, Ecology of running waters: Caldwell, 

N.J., Blackburn Press, 555 p.

Karr, J.R., 1981, Assessment of biotic integrity using fish 

communities: Fisheries, v. 6, no. 6, p. 21-27.

Karr, J.R., and Chu, E.W., 1997, Biological monitoring and 

assessment: Using Multimetric indexes effectively: Seattle, 

Wash., University of Washington, EPA 235-R97-001, 149 p.

Krabbenhoft, D.P., Wiener, J.G., Brumbaugh, W.G., Olson, 

M.L., DeWild, J.F., and Sabin, T.J., 1999, A national pilot 

study of mercury contamination of aquatic ecosystems along 

multiple gradients, in Morganwalp, D.W., and Buxton, H.T., 

eds., 1999, U.S. Geological Survey Toxic Substances 

Hydrology Program—Proceedings of the Technical Meeting, 

Charleston, South Carolina, March 8-12, 1999—v. 2—Contamination of hydrologic systems and related ecosystems: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 99-4018B, p. 147-160.

Leiker, T.J., Madsen, J.E., Deacon, J.R., and Foreman, W.T., 

1995, Methods of analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey 

National Water Quality Laboratory—Determination of chlorinated pesticides in aquatic tissue by capillary-column gas 

chromatography with electron-capture detection: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-710, 42 p.

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, [n.d.], Mercury programs: Louisiana Department of Environmental 

Quality, accessed on February 14, 2003, at URL 

http://www.deq.state.la.us/surveillance/mercury

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 1998a, Mercury 

in fish in Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Health and 

Hospitals Office of Public Health, accessed on February 14, 

2003, at URL http://www.dhh.state.la.us/PDF/Mercury1.pdf 

(Internet site updated; accessed May 4, 2004, at URL 

http://www.dhh.state.la.us/offices/publications/pubs-87/

MERCURY1.PDF )

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, 1998b, What 

you should know about eating some Louisiana fish: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public 

Health, accessed on May 4, at URL http://www.dhh.state.

la.us/offices/publications/pubs-87/MERCURY2.PDF

Meador, M.R., Gurtz, M.E., and Cuffney, T.F., 1993, Methods 

for sampling fish communities as part of the National WaterQuality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 93-104, 40 p.
Selected References 25

Moulton, S.R., II, Carter, J.L., Grotheer, S.A., Cuffney, T.F., 

and Short, T.M., 2000, Methods of analysis by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water-Quality Laboratory—

Processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 00-212, 49 p.

Pennak, R.W., 1954, Freshwater invertebrates of the United 

States: New York, N.Y., Ronald Press Company, 769 p.

Porter, S.D., Cuffney, T.F., Gurtz, M.E., and Meador, M.R., 

1993, Methods for collecting algal samples as part of the 

National Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-409, 39 p.

Robins, C.R., Bailey, R.M., Bond, C.E., Brooker, J.R., Lachner, 

E.A., Lea, R.N., and Scott, W.B., 1991, Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada (5th 

ed.): Bethesda, Md., American Fisheries Society, Special 

Publication 20, 183 p.

Ross, S.T., 2001, Inland fishes of Mississippi: Jackson, Miss., 

University Press of Mississippi, 624 p.

Sikora, W.B, and Sklar, F.H., 1987, Benthos, in Conner, W.H., 

and Day, J.W., Jr., eds., The ecology of Barataria Basin, 

Louisiana—an estuarine profile: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Biological Report 85.7.13, p. 58-79.

Sklar, F.H., 1985, Seasonality and community structure of the 

backswamp invertebrates in a Louisiana cypress-tupelo 

wetland: Wetlands, v. 5, p. 69-86.

Skrobialowski, Stanley C., 2002, Trace elements and organic 

compounds in bed sediment from selected streams in 

southern Louisiana, 1998: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 02-4089, 39 p.

Swarzenski, C.M., 1992, Marsh mat movement in coastal 

Louisiana marshes—effect of salinity and inundation on 

nutrients and vegetation: Norfolk, Va., Old Dominion 

University, Ph.D. Dissertation, 99 p.

Swarzenski, C.M., 2004, Resurvey of quality of surface water 

and bottom material of the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte 

National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999-

2000: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4038, 28 p.

Swenson, E.M., Evers, E. E., and Grymes, J. M., III. 2003. 

Brown Marsh Task II.5, Integrative approach to understanding the causes of salt marsh dieback—Analysis of climate 

drivers. Prepared for Louisiana Department of Natural 

Resources, Coastal Restoration Division, (Interagency 

Agreement Number 2512-01-14) Baton Rouge, La. 70804-

4027. Coastal Ecology Institute, School of the Coast and 

Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. 

70803, 181 p.

Tiner, R.W., 1993, Field guide to coastal wetland plants of the 

southeastern United States: University of Massachusetts 

Press, 328 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2001, Mercury 

update—Impact on fish advisories: U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, Office of Water, EPA-823-F-01-011, 

accessed on February 14, 2003, at URL 

www.epa.gov/waterscience/fishadvice/mercupd.pdf

Appendixes

Appendix 1 29

Appendix 1. Submerged aquatic vegetation observed along transects of waterways sampled for fish in the Barataria 

Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000.

Species Common name Characteristic

Azolla caroliniana Mosquito-fern Free-floating

Ceratophilum demersum Coontail Free-floating

Eichhornia crassipes Water hyacinth Free-floating

Utricularia macrorhiza Common bladderwort Free-floating

Cabomba caroliniana Fanwort Rooted, floating

Nymphaea odorata Water lily Rooted, floating

Hydrilla verticillata Hydrilla Rooted, submerged

Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian water-milfoil Rooted, submerged

Vallisneria americana. Tapegrass, wild celery Rooted, submerged

Potamogeton epihydrus Ribbon-leaf pondweed Rooted, submerged, and floating-leaved

Heteranthera reniformis Kidney-leaf mud plantain Free-floating and submerged
30 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Appendix 2. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat at selected sites in the Barataria Preserve,

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000.

[Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. --, species not collected; *, Suborder; 

**, Subfamily; ***, Tribe]

Taxonomic Heirarchy1

Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6 (site 1)

Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point (site 2) North Twin Canal (site 3)

PHYLUM

CLASS

ORDER

Family

Genus species 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00

PORIFERA (sponges) -- -- -- -- 67 -- -- 59 --

CNIDARIA (coelenterates) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

HYDROZOA (hydras) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

HYDROIDA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydridae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydra sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 59 --

BRYOZOA (moss animals) -- -- -- 50 -- -- 108 59 --

PLATYHELMINTHES (flatworms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TURBELLARIA (free-living flatworms) 212 392 -- 101 874 -- 748 176 67

NEMERTEA (proboscis worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ENOPLA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

HOPLONEMERTEA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Tetrastemmatidae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Prostoma sp. -- -- -- 50 -- -- -- -- --

NEMATODA (roundworms) -- 22,540 20 -- 6,250 -- 1,818 1,588 --

MOLLUSCA (clams, snails, and limpets) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

BIVALVIA (bivalve molluscs) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

VENEROIDA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Sphaeriidae (fingernail clams) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Sphaeriinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 59 --

Musculium sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- 3 -- --

GASTROPODA (snails, limpets) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

BASOMMATOPHORA -- -- -- -- 269 -- 427 59 --

Ancylidae (limpets) 141 2,548 -- -- 538 -- 1,711 118 --

Ferrissia sp. -- 392 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hebetancylus excentricus -- 1 -- 50 134 -- 429 235 --

Laevapex fuscus -- 2 -- -- -- -- 6 3 --

Laevapex sp. 1 -- -- -- 202 -- 1 294 67

Lymnaeidae (pond snails) 71 -- -- 50 -- -- 321 -- --

Fossaria/Stagnicola sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- 108 -- --

Pseudosuccinea columella 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1

Physidae (pouch snails) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Physella sp. 1,060 1,372 40 303 1,277 161 3,746 588 67

Planorbidae (orb snails) 71 588 -- -- 605 -- 321 294 --

Biomphalaria havanensis 2 201 -- -- 4 -- 2 6 --

Micromenetus dilatatus 1 2 -- -- 134 -- 1,497 59 --

Micromenetus sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Planorbella sp. -- -- -- -- 68 -- 1 61 1

MESOGASTROPODA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydrobiidae 212 392 -- -- 134 -- -- 647 --

Amnicola sp. 3 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Pyrgophorus sp. -- -- -- -- 67 -- -- 1 --

ANNELIDA (segmented worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

HIRUDINEA (leeches) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ARHYNCHOBDELLAE -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Erpobdellidae -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 1
Appendix 2 31

RHYNCHOBDELLAE -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Glossiphoniidae 71 -- 20 -- -- -- -- -- 134

Helobdella stagnalis -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 134

Helobdella triserialis -- 1 -- -- -- -- 6 -- --

Piscicolidae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Myzobdella lugubris 1 -- -- 4 -- -- -- -- --

OLIGOCHAETA (aquatic worms) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

TUBIFICIDA -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Naididae 776 12,740 -- 1,866 2,957 -- 2,139 941 2,419

Tubificidae 71 196 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ARTHROPODA (arthropods) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ARACHNIDA (eight-legged arthropods) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

ACARI (water mites) 988 2,744 60 252 1,277 -- 1,603 1,294 67

MALACOSTRACA (crustaceans) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

AMPHIPODA (scuds, sideswimmers) 8,542 588 423 2,778 336 207 8,665 647 672

Corophiidae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Corophium sp. 73 196 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Crangonyctidae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Crangonyx sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- 427 -- 605

Synurella sp. -- -- 20 -- -- -- -- -- --

Gammaridae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Gammarus sp. 1,411 -- 1,634 907 -- 3,664 -- -- 2,823

Hyalellidae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hyalella azteca 7,415 3,137 3,830 4,842 4,302 1,359 5,994 5,711 6,922

DECAPODA (crayfishes, shrimps) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cambaridae 1 -- 3 -- 1 -- -- -- 2

Cambarellus shufeldtii -- -- -- -- 68 -- -- 1 --

Palaemonidae (prawns and river 

shrimps)

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Palaemonetes kadiakensis 1 -- -- 4 -- -- 6 2 --

Palaemonetes paludosus 2 4 2 6 3 2 1 1 --

Palaemonetes sp. -- 1 -- -- -- 69 -- -- --

ISOPODA (aquatic sow bugs) 353 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Asellidae -- -- -- 706 -- -- 535 -- 134

Caecidotea sp. 564 -- 81 707 2 -- 1,390 1 1,478

MYSIDA (opossum shrimps) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Mysidae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Taphromysis louisianae 80 -- 202 -- -- 484 -- -- --

INSECTA (insects) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

COLEOPTERA (beetles) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Curculionidae (weevils) 76 1 -- -- 74 -- 323 61 --

Dytiscidae (predaceous diving

beetles)

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Colymbetinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Agabini*** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Ilybius sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --

Appendix 2. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat at selected sites in the Barataria Preserve,

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000.—Continued

[Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. --, species not collected; *, Suborder; 

**, Subfamily; ***, Tribe]

Taxonomic Heirarchy1

Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6 (site 1)

Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point (site 2) North Twin Canal (site 3)

PHYLUM

CLASS

ORDER

Family

Genus species 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00
32 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Matini*** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Matus sp. -- 1 -- -- -- -- 108 -- --

Cybistrinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cybister fimbriolatus -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- --

Cybister sp. -- 2 -- 2 4 2 2 -- 1

Hydroporinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Bidessini*** 71 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydrovatini*** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydrovatus sp. -- -- -- 1 69 -- 3 1 --

Methilinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Celinini*** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Celina sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --

Haliplidae (crawling water beetles) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Haliplus sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --

Peltodytes sexmaculatus -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- 13 --

Hydraenidae (minute moss beetles) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydraena sp. -- -- -- -- -- 23 108 -- --

Hydrophilidae (water scavenger

beetles)

-- -- -- -- -- -- 108 -- --

Derallus altus -- -- -- -- -- -- 3 -- --

Enochrus sp. -- -- -- 3 -- -- 2 -- 1

Helobata larvalis -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- --

Paracymus sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- 3 -- --

Noteridae (burrowing water beetles) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 176 --

Hydrocanthus sp. 3 2 -- 2 2 -- 3 3 --

Notomicrus sp. -- -- -- 50 -- -- -- -- --

Suphisellus bicolor -- -- -- -- 5 -- -- -- --

Scirtidae (marsh beetles) 4 -- -- 153 -- -- 215 -- --

Staphylinidae (rove beetles) -- -- -- 50 -- -- -- -- --

COLLEMBOLA (springtails) 635 -- -- 101 67 23 855 235 --

DIPTERA (true flies) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Brachycera* 71 -- -- -- -- -- 109 -- --

Ephydridae (shore and brine flies) -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 67

Sciomyzidae (marsh flies) -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- --

Stratiomyidae (soldier flies) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 67

Stratiomyinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hedriodiscus/Odontomyia sp. 2 2 -- 1 -- -- -- 2 --

Nematocera* -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Ceratopogonidae (biting midges,

no-see-ums)

71 197 40 51 -- -- -- -- --

Ceratopogoninae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Bezzia/Palpomyia sp. -- 393 -- 50 134 -- 321 588 --

Dasyheleinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Dasyhelea sp. -- 393 -- -- -- -- 108 353 --

Chironomidae (midges) 2 3 -- 13 2 -- -- -- --

Chironominae** -- -- -- 302 134 -- -- -- --

Appendix 2. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat at selected sites in the Barataria Preserve,

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000.—Continued

[Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. --, species not collected; *, Suborder; 

**, Subfamily; ***, Tribe]

Taxonomic Heirarchy1

Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6 (site 1)

Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point (site 2) North Twin Canal (site 3)

PHYLUM

CLASS

ORDER

Family

Genus species 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00
Appendix 2 33

Chironomini*** 71 -- -- -- -- -- 641 118 67

Chironomus sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 134

Cryptochironomus sp. 71 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Dicrotendipes sp. -- -- -- 50 -- -- -- 59 --

Endochironomus sp. 212 196 242 1,462 202 92 535 -- 2,688

Glyptotendipes sp. -- -- 40 -- -- -- -- -- 336

Goeldichironomus sp. -- -- 40 50 67 -- 214 -- 874

Parachironomus sp. 282 -- 20 1,411 874 161 641 412 336

Polypedilum sp. -- 392 -- 50 941 -- 214 59 --

Zavreliella sp. -- 196 -- -- 403 -- -- 176 --

Tanytarsini*** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 59 --

Micropsectra/Tanytarsus sp. 71 196 -- 151 -- -- -- 59 --

Tanytarsini genus “A” -- -- -- -- 67 -- 108 118 67

Tanytarsus sp. -- 784 -- -- 67 -- 1,711 59 --

Orthocladiinae** -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Cricotopus trifascia group -- -- -- -- -- 92 -- -- --

Cricotopus sp. -- 392 -- 1,260 67 -- -- -- 67

Limnophyes sp. 71 -- -- -- -- -- 108 -- --

Nanocladius sp. 141 -- -- 202 -- -- -- -- --

Rheocricotopus sp. -- -- -- 50 -- -- -- -- --

Tanypodinae** -- 196 20 -- 67 -- -- -- --

Pentaneurini*** -- -- 40 -- -- -- -- -- --

Ablabesmyia sp. 212 -- -- -- 605 -- 427 353 67

Labrundinia sp. -- 1,176 40 -- 1,478 138 214 176 336

Larsia sp. -- 1,176 -- -- 336 -- -- 118 --

Monopelopia sp. -- -- -- -- 67 -- -- 118 --

Culicidae (mosquitos) -- -- -- 51 -- -- -- -- --

Culex sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 67

Psychodidae (moth flies) -- -- -- -- -- -- 322 -- --

EPHEMEROPTERA (mayflies) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Baetidae -- -- 20 -- 67 46 -- -- --

Callibaetis sp. 3 203 20 55 135 -- 114 239 67

Caenidae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Caenis diminuta 6 4 -- 2 -- -- -- 177 --

Caenis sp. -- 2,744 -- 2 4,906 -- 1,389 2,176 875

HEMIPTERA (true bugs) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Belostomatidae (giant water bugs) -- -- 2 -- -- 25 -- -- 72

Belostoma lutarium -- 1 -- -- 3 -- -- 2 --

Belostoma sp. -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- --

Corixidae (water boatmen) 423 196 81 101 67 115 108 118 202

Trichocorixa sp. 18 8 -- 4 -- 23 6 1 --

Gerridae (water striders) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Neogerris hesione -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- --

Naucoridae (creeping water bugs) -- -- 20 -- -- -- -- -- --

Pelocoris femoratus 2 1 -- 1 -- -- 4 2 4

Pelocoris sp. -- -- 20 -- -- -- -- 2 --

Appendix 2. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat at selected sites in the Barataria Preserve,

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000.—Continued

[Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. --, species not collected; *, Suborder; 

**, Subfamily; ***, Tribe]

Taxonomic Heirarchy1

Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6 (site 1)

Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point (site 2) North Twin Canal (site 3)

PHYLUM

CLASS

ORDER

Family

Genus species 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00
34 Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways and Contaminants in Fish

Nepidae (water scorpions) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Ranatra australis -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- --

Ranatra nigra -- -- -- 4 -- -- -- -- --

Ranatra sp. -- -- 5 -- -- 5 -- 59 --

Pleidae (pigmy back swimmers) -- 1 -- -- -- 23 -- -- --

Veliidae (broad-shouldered water 

striders)

-- 196 -- -- -- -- -- -- 202

Microvelia pulchella -- 196 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Platyvelia brachialis -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- --

LEPIDOPTERA (aquatic caterpillars) -- 196 60 50 67 69 -- -- 134

Pyralidae 5 -- -- -- -- -- 217 -- --

ODONATA (damsel/dragonflies) -- -- 40 -- -- 23 -- 118 134

Aeshnidae (darners) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Anax junius -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- --

Coenagrionidae -- 588 162 605 202 719 214 823 1,215

Coenagrion/Enallagma sp. -- -- 21 -- -- -- -- -- 4

Enallagma signatum -- -- -- 1 2 -- -- -- --

Enallagma sp. -- 3 -- 5 -- 8 -- 118 --

Ischnura posita -- -- -- -- -- -- 6 -- --

Ischnura ramburii -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- --

Ischnura sp. 73 1 20 6 1 10 4 -- 67

Telebasis byersi -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- --

Libellulidae -- 196 -- -- -- -- -- 59 --

Erythemis simplicicollis 5 5 -- 1 2 -- 2 2 1

Erythemis sp. -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- 2 --

Pachydiplax longipennis 1 -- 1 -- -- -- 7 -- 2

TRICHOPTERA (caddisflies) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydroptilidae (microcaddis) -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydroptila sp. -- -- -- -- 202 -- -- -- --

Orthotrichia sp. -- 196 -- -- 67 -- -- -- --

Leptoceridae -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Oecetis cinerascens 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --

Oecetis sp. -- 1 40 -- 68 -- -- 59 --

TOTAL ABUNDANCE 24,727 58,475 7,329 19,034 31,090 7,544 41,501 20,241 23,748

1

Aquatic invertebrate community data and taxonomy used in this report are presented in alphabetical order and are taxonomically representative (spelling and 

taxonomic heirarchy) of data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory, Lakewood, Colorado.

Appendix 2. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in richest-targeted habitat at selected sites in the Barataria Preserve,

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999–2000.—Continued

[Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. --, species not collected; *, Suborder; 

**, Subfamily; ***, Tribe]

Taxonomic Heirarchy1

Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6 (site 1)

Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point (site 2) North Twin Canal (site 3)

PHYLUM

CLASS

ORDER

Family

Genus species 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00 3/16/99 7/27/99 4/21/00
Appendix 3 35

Appendix 3. Taxa and abundances of aquatic invertebrates in depositional-targeted habitat at selected sites in the Barataria Preserve, 

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 2000.

[Abundances of aquatic invertebrates are rounded to the nearest whole number and reported as organisms per square meter. --, species not collected; *, Suborder; 

**, Subfamily; ***, Tribe]

Taxonomic Heirarchy1

Tarpaper Canal near

Keyhole 6 (site 1)

Pipeline Canal west of

Crown Point (site 2)

North Twin Canal

(site 3)

PHYLUM

CLASS

ORDER

Family

Genus species 4/21/00 4/21/00 4/21/00

MOLLUSCA (clams, oysters, squids, octopods, snails, and limpets) -- -- --

GASTROPODA (snails, limpets) -- -- --

PROSOBRANCHIA* -- 2 --

ANNELIDA (segmented worms) -- -- --

OLIGOCHAETA (aquatic worms) -- -- --

TUBIFICIDA -- -- --

Naididae 6 -- --

Tubificidae 28 10 2

POLYCHAETA (marine worms) -- -- --

TEREBELLIDA -- -- --

Ampharetidae -- -- --

Hobsonia florida 4 5 --

ARTHROPODA (arthropods) -- -- --

ARACHNIDA (eight-legged arthropods) -- -- --

ACARI (water mites) 2 -- --

MALACOSTRACA (crustaceans) -- -- --

AMPHIPODA (scuds, sideswimmers) -- 7 --

Crangonyctidae 4 -- --

Hyalellidae -- -- --

Hyalella azteca 4 -- --

MYSIDA (opossum shrimps) -- -- --

Mysidae -- -- --

Taphromysis louisianae 2 -- --

INSECTA (insects) -- -- --

DIPTERA (true flies) -- -- --

Ceratopogonidae (biting midges, no-see-ums) -- -- --

Ceratopogoninae** -- -- --

Sphaeromias sp. -- -- 3

Chironomidae (midges) -- -- --

Chironominae** -- -- --

Chironomini*** -- 2 --

Chironomus sp. 4 10 2

Tanytarsini*** -- -- --

Tanytarsus limneticus 2 3 --

Tanypodinae** -- -- --

Coelotanypodini*** -- -- --

Clinotanypus sp. 2 -- --

ODONATA (damsel/dragonflies) -- -- --

Coenagrionidae 2 -- --

TOTAL ABUNDANCE 60 39 7

1Aquatic invertebrate community data and taxonomy used in this report are presented in alphabetical order and are taxonomically representative (spelling and 

taxonomic heirarchy) of data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory, Lakewood, Colorado.
Prepared by the Louisiana District office:

U.S. Geological Survey, WRD

3535 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 120

Baton Rouge, LA 70816

Text layout by Ella M. Decker, USGS, Huron, South Dakota.

Graphics layout by Connie J. Ross, USGS, Huron, South Dakota

This publication is available online at URL

http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/sir20045065

Information regarding the water resources in Louisiana is available at

URL http://la.water.usgs.gov/
P

rinted onrecycled paper

Swarzenski and others—Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Communities in Waterways, and Contaminants in Fish, at the Barataria Preserve of Jean Lafitte National Historical

Park and Preserve, Louisiana, 1999-2000—SIR 2004-5065