Intertidal rivulets and creekbanks: corridors between tidal creeks and marshes

We sampled rivulets and creekbanks of tidal freshwater creeks (Virginia, USA) with flume nets between June and October 1986 to determine whether fishes preferentially use rivulets to reach the marsh surface. The average number of fishes collected in rivulets was more than 3 times that taken on creekbanks. Average total fish biomass was more than 14 times greater in rivulets. We estimated that rivulets occupied only 3 % of the area along our study creeks. Therefore, despite a preference for rivulets as corridors, most fishes (88 %) reach the marsh surface via creekbanks. Depositional creekbanks are the primary corridors between tidal creeks and the marsh surface.