Sampling of Nekton and Associated Plants

The engine was turned off once the airboat approached the sampling site to minimize site disturbance prior to sampling. The boat was permitted to drift about 25 m before trap deployment to minimize disturbance. Immediately after trap deployment, field personnel checked to insure the bottom of the sampler was set into the sediment to prevent escape of animals. If submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) was enclosed in the sampler, an estimate was made of how much of the bottom area was covered by SAV (0-100%).