Abstract
This study examines the effects of environmental changes on fish populations in Norwalk Harbor, focusing on winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), northern pipefish (Syngnathus fuscus), and naked goby (Gobiosoma bosci) as examples of species responding to climate-related shifts. We analyze how water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen correlate with fish abundance. To assess statistically significant differences in catch per unit effort (CPUE) across harbor regions, we applied the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's post-hoc test. Seasonal variations in CPUE were examined by comparing monthly catch data for each species. K-means clustering revealed distinct environmental zones within the harbor, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified the key environmental drivers shaping spatial patterns of water quality and species distribution.
Recommended Citation
Savatorova, Viktoria; Kieft, Aidan; Spiller, Nicole C.; and Burns, Kasey
(2025)
"Linking Water Quality and Climate Change to Long-Term Trends in Species Abundance in Norwalk Harbor,"
Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics: Vol. 11, 48–63.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61403/2473-5493.1100
Available at:
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/spora/vol11/iss1/5
Included in
Applied Statistics Commons, Biostatistics Commons, Data Science Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Statistical Models Commons
