Spatial and temporal patterns of distribution and abundance were exami
ned for postsettlement sciaenids collected from seagrass meadows in th
e Aransas Estuary, Texas. Overall, 5443 sciaenid larvae and early juve
niles were identified from biweekly epibenthic sled collections taken
from August 1994 to August 1995. Eight species were present in seagras
s meadows, with five accounting for over 99.9% of sciaenids collected:
silver perch (Bairdiella chrysoura), spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebu
losus), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias u
ndulatus), and red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Settlement to seagrass
meadows was partitioned temporally with little overlap among the five
species. Postsettlers from inshore spawners (B. chrysoura, C. nebulosu
s, S. ocellatus) inhabited seagrass meadows during the spring and summ
er, while individuals from offshore spawners (L. xanthurus, M. undulat
us) were present in the late fall and winter. Densities of B. chrysour
a, C. nebulosus, S. ocellatus were highest for small individuals (4-8
mm SL) and these taxa remained in seagrass sites through the early juv
enile stage. Conversely, L. xanthurus and M. undulatus maintained long
er pelagic periods and generally entered seagrass meadows at larger si
zes (10-14 mm SL). Moreover, these taxa were only temporary residents
of selected seagrass meadows, apparently migrating to alternative habi
tats shortly after arrival. During peak settlement, mean and maximum d
ensities among species ranged from 0.1 m(-2) to 0.8 m(-2) and 0.7 m(-2
) to 23.8 m(-2), respectively. Density and mean size of postsettlement
sciaenids differed significantly between seagrass species (Halodul wr
ightii, Thalassia testidinum) and among sites within the estuary.