查看文章

Understanding how endangered marine species rely on coastal habitats is vital for recovery planning. The smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) is one of several critically endangered sawfishes worldwide known to use coastal habitats during their early life history. In a Florida estuary, juveniles were monitored to characterize seasonality, recruitment, and habitat use. Sawfish were captured year round. Captures of neonates allowed determination of the size at birth and the timing of parturition which peaked between April and May. Although sampling occurred throughout the estuary, five locations called hotspots had the greatest catch rates. Most juveniles had an affinity for water< 1 m deep, water> 30 C, dissolved oxygen concentrations> 6 mg L-1, and salinities between 18 and 30 psu.