Fish data collected during 2015 and 2016 at 9 sites at the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Field sampling occurred at locations within Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge on three transects along the natural salinity gradient of increasing salinity to the coastal south. We used three replicates per tier (east-west) for a total of nine sampling sites. Sites were approximately 1300 m apart in all directions. Sampling events occurred every 3–4 weeks from January to May for 7 sampling events in 2015 and 5 in 2016. These dates were selected to capture signals of the natural variation in water levels and salinity that occur during the transition from the wet season to the dry season. Fish traps were deployed at each of the nine sites and then retrieved the following day, allowing 24 hours soak time. Two minnow traps (Gee Minnow Trap; 22.9 x 44.5 cm, 0.6 cm mesh, 1.9 cm diameter opening) and two Breder traps (15 cm x 15 cm x 30 cm, 12 mm opening width, 15 cm opening height) were placed at each sampling site because the two trap types have the potential to catch different fish species.