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Molecular Phylogenetics Of Perciform Fishes Using The Nuclear Recombination Activating Gene 1, Andrew R. Mahon

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The order Perciformes contains one-third of all extant fishes in twenty different suborders and over 10,000 species. Few systematic investigations have been performed on this large group of fishes at the suborder level and their evolutionary history is widely recognized as problematic. This dissertation presents three studies: a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the putative suborders of the order Perciformes, an analysis of interrelationships of the families of the perciform suborder Percoidei, and a multi-gene investigation of the percoid superfamily Sparoidea.

The taxa sampled in this dissertation represent one of the most inclusive molecular datasets, to date, testing the monophyly of …

The Effect Of A Predator Gradient On Female Oviposition Site Selection And Larval Performance, Josef F. Rieger

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Patterns of larval amphibian distribution and abundance have historically been ascribed to direct predation. However, adult oviposition site selection is an alternative mechanism that can produce identical patterns and significantly influence community assembly. Although such behavioral habitat selection has been documented in several amphibian species whose larvae lack particular anti-predator defenses, the sensitivity of adult amphibians in detecting predator cues and avoiding these habitats has not yet been determined. If larval survivorship is greatly reduced in sites containing predatory fish, selection to detect and avoid habitats with low fish densities should be strong. I conducted three experiments which, (1) evaluated …

Age And Growth Of The Tautog, Tautoga Onitis (Pisces: Labridae), From Lower Chesapeake Bay And Coastal Waters Of Virginia, E. Brian Hostetter

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The tautog, Tautoga onitis (Pisces: Labridae), is rapidly gaining popularity in Virginia by anglers, spearfishermen and specialized commercial interests. In Virginia, tautog are seasonally abundant on hard bottom substrates in nearshore (ca. 2-10 m) habitats and inhabit offshore wrecks and reef areas (ca. 10-30 m) year round. Habitat restriction and slow growth of the species coupled with recent technological advances in marine electronics which simplify locating tautog populations by user groups may contribute to overexploitation of tautog within the region.

Tautog were collected over a two year period from the lower Chesapeake Bay and nearshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean …

A Molecular Phylogeny Of The Grunts (Perciformes: Haemulidae) Inferred From Nuclear Rag1 Gene Sequences, Millicent D. Sanciangco

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Species and genera of Haemulidae have undergone various taxonomic revisions, however, there is no study that infers the phylogeny of the haemulid genera using morphological or molecular data. The purpose of this study was to use approximately 1386 base pairs of the nuclear Recombination Activation Gene-I (RAG1) from 35 haemulid species representing 13 genera, one species of the closely related Inermiidae, and two species of the outgroup Sparidae to infer an intrafamilial phylogeny of Haemulidae. This analysis is corroborated using approximately 650 base pairs of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and RAG I-COI combined gene analyses of27 haemulids, …

The Effect Of Crowding On Growth Of The Cichlid Fish, Oreochromis Mossambicus, Bonnie A. Barrows

OES Theses and Dissertations

It has been reported that the Java tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, displays hypersensitivity to a substance it produces when biomass levels in a flow-through culture system exceed 20 g/1, resulting in reduced growth and high mortality. Experiments on the growth of this species in small tanks were conducted in order to determine whether O. mossambicus produces a growth-inhibiting compound under crowded conditions. This species was successfully maintained at biomass levels of 38 g/1 and 57 g/1 with a total mortality of only 4.5%.

The Java tilapia can grow rapidly in small aquaria, as indicated by the data taken during Experiment …

The Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of Fish Eggs And Larvae In Hempstead Bay Estuary, Joseph Adelard Lessard

OES Theses and Dissertations

The ichthyoplankton of Hempstead Bay estuary was sampled from December 1972 to mid March 1974. Eleven stations were sampled by towing a 0.5 meter diameter plankton net. Eggs were most abundant during June and July with an average concentration calculated to be above 5,500/100m³. Egg densities were the lowest during the fall and winter. Larvae were most frequently taken from March through July with densities varying greatly among the samples. The eggs of Brevoortia tyrannus, Anchoa mitchilli, Tautoga onitis, Tautogolabrus adspersus, and Scophthalmus aguosus and the larvae of Menidia menidia, Ammodvtes hexapterus and Pseudopleuronectes americanus constituted most …

Description Of The Larval Development Of Squilla Empusa Say (Crustacea Stomatopoda) With Aspects Of Larval Ecology In Chesapeake Bay, Steven Gaines Morgan

OES Theses and Dissertations

Larvae of Sguilla empusa were collected from the plankton and were reared in the laboratory to describe the pelagic larval development and the postlarval stage. Nine pelagic stages are passed through before the postlarval stage is attained.

The larvae reared for descriptive purposes were subjected to sixteen combinations of temperature and salinity to determine their tolerance to the two parameters. Larvae survived longer and molted more frequently when reared at 25°/oo and 20°C or 25°C, which corresponds to the natural conditions of the Chesapeake Bay when the larvae were collected.

A three year planktonic survey conducted in the lower region …

Feeding Ecology Of Black Sea Bass Centropristis Striata On An Artificial Reef Off Virginia (Perciforms: Serranidae), Ping K. Chee

OES Theses and Dissertations

The feeding ecology of the black sea bass, Centropristis striata, associated with artificial reefs shows seasonal and size-related changes. Monthly collections totaling 520 black sea bass taken from an artificial reef near the Chesapeake Light Tower, Virginia, between August 1975 and May 1976, were analyzed for food habits as revealed by number, volume, frequency of occurrence and a modified Index of Relative Importance.

The black sea bass feeds on the artificial reef as well as the adjacent areas. When food was abundant on the reef, food items from the reef and the surrounding area were consumed. Upon depletion of the …

The Food Habits Of Ictalurus Natalis, Centrarchus Macropterus And Perca Flavescens In Lake Drummond In The Dismal Swamp Of Virginia, Steven C. Russell

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The food habits of yellow bullhead catfish (Ictalurus natalis), yellow perch (Perea flavescens), and fliers (Centrarchus macropterus) in Lake Drummond in the Dismal Swamp were examined. Seventy yellow bullheads (42 mm to 255 mm), 136 yellow perch (41 mm to 280 mm), and 110 fliers (81 mm to 140 mm), were collected with gill nets, traps, seins, and electro-fishing gear from June through November of 1975. Frequency of occurrence and volumentric data were used to evaluate the relative importance of food items. Spearman's rank correlation coef­ficient was determined from the data to test differences …