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“Fishing Down the Food Web”: A Case Study from St. Augustine, Florida, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Elizabeth J. Reitz
Elizabeth J. Reitz*
Affiliation:
Georgia Museum of Natural History, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-1882
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Abstract

Comparing zooarchaeological data for Native American, Spanish, and British occupations with modern fisheries data from St. Johns County, Florida (USA) shows differences in the use of marine resources from 1450 B.C. through A.D. 2000. Changes in biomass contribution, diversity, types of fishes used, and trophic levels of sharks, rays, and bony fishes suggest that the pattern described as “fishing down marine food webs” (Pauly et al. 1998) may have been present in the St. Johns County area as early as the eighteenth century. A change in the size and growth habits of Atlantic croaker (Sciaenidae: Micropogonias undulatus) occurred early in this sequence, indicating an impact on this specific fish. However, overharvesting of fishes is not the only explanation for these observations. Climate and cultural changes are additional explanations for the patterns observed that should receive closer attention. Exploring these alternative explanations is made possible by a zooarchaeological record that permits us to study fishing habits and fish behavior before large-scale industrial fishing began.

Resumen

Resumen

Un análisis comparativo realizado con datos zooarqueológicos y recientes de pesquerías del condado de St. Johns (Florida, USA), ha detectado diferencias en el uso de los recursos marinos durante el periodo comprendido entre el 1450 A.C. y el 2000 D. C. Cambios tanto en los aportes de las biomasas, como de las especies de peces implicadas, su diversidad y niveles troficos apuntan a que el modelo denominado “fishing down marine food webs” podria haber entrado en acción en las comunidades marinas del condado de St. Johns County a partir del siglo dieciocho. Cambios en el tamaño y en el patrón de crecimiento de la corvina Micropogonias undulatus (Pisces, Sciaenidae) se detectan en el inicio de la secuencia, lo cual indicaría un temprano impacto del esfuerzo pesquero sobre esta especie. A pesar de ello, la sobrepesca podría no ser la única explicación de tales patrones los cuales también pudieron haber sido debidos a fenómenos de tipo cultural o a cambios climáticos que deberian recibir más atención por parte de los investigadores en el futuro. Explorar tales alternativas resulta cada vez más factible gracias a que el registro zooarqueológico proporciona ahora información precisa acerca de los peces y de las pesquerías anteriores al inicio de la pesca industrial a gran escala.

Type
Articles
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 69 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 63 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2004

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