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Mesopelagic

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Age And Growth For Three Members Of The Family Gempylidae: Escolar (Lepidocybium Flavobrunnuem), Oilfish (Ruvettus Pretiosus), And Snake Mackerel (Gempylus Serpens), Sydney N. Daniels Apr 2023

Age And Growth For Three Members Of The Family Gempylidae: Escolar (Lepidocybium Flavobrunnuem), Oilfish (Ruvettus Pretiosus), And Snake Mackerel (Gempylus Serpens), Sydney N. Daniels

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunnuem (Smith, 1849), Oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus (Cocco, 1829), and Snake Mackerel, Gempylus serpens (Cuvier, 1829) belong to the family Gempylidae and are bycatch of the tuna-targeting pelagic longline fishery. There is limited know life-history information on these mesopelagic fishes, especially regarding growth rates. Age estimates were assigned by counting pairs of increment bands formed on the sagittal otoliths of Escolar (n = 133), Oilfish (n = 49), and Snake Mackerel (n = 46) collected between 2007 and 2022. Marginal increment analyses were used to validate age estimates and periodicity of increment formation, but no significant trends were observed …


The Deep-Pelagic Sergestid Shrimp Assemblage In The Gulf Of Mexico In The Vicinity Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Erik W. Hine Apr 2022

The Deep-Pelagic Sergestid Shrimp Assemblage In The Gulf Of Mexico In The Vicinity Of The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Erik W. Hine

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on the geographical (near-slope vs. offshore) and temporal analyses (2011 – 2018) of the Sergestidae assemblage, the crustacean family with the fourth highest total biomass, in the Gulf of Mexico near the location of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The abundance and biomass of the assemblage were analyzed to determine if statistical differences were present between the near-slope and offshore environments. In addition, this study analyzed the vertical distributions of sergestid species in the epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic zones to determine the extent of the migratory behavior of these species. Lastly, the abundance and biomass in the …


Assemblage Composition And Vertical Distributions Of Deep-Sea Anglerfishes (Suborder: Ceratioidei) Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Kimberly S. Schmutz Apr 2022

Assemblage Composition And Vertical Distributions Of Deep-Sea Anglerfishes (Suborder: Ceratioidei) Of The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Kimberly S. Schmutz

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The bathypelagic zone, despite being the largest cumulative ecosystem on the planet, represents the largest data gap in biological oceanography. In a deep environment with no solar light and pressures so high that survival is impossible for most marine organisms, some species have been able to adapt and overcome these challenges to radiate into diverse and successful taxa. Among the most notable of these successful taxa are the deep-sea anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Ceratioidei). Ceratioid anglerfishes possess unique adaptations such as a symbiotic bioluminescent lure (females) and extreme dwarfism (males) that make them a particularly interesting group to study. Despite this research …


Trophic Ecology Of A Dominant Mesopredatory Fish Family (Alepisauridae) In The Western North Atlantic Revealed By Stomach Content And Stable Isotope Analysis, Ellyn Willse Apr 2022

Trophic Ecology Of A Dominant Mesopredatory Fish Family (Alepisauridae) In The Western North Atlantic Revealed By Stomach Content And Stable Isotope Analysis, Ellyn Willse

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The mesopelagic zone of the ocean is gaining increased notice due to its potential for commercial value and the lack of knowledge of its ecosystems. Lancetfishes, Alepisaurus spp., are large mesopelagic predators and common bycatch species in commercial fishing operations that potentially play a role in connecting epipelagic and mesopelagic waters and may be a source of carbon from near the surface to the mesopelagic. While little is known about the behavior and biology of Lancetfishes, they share many food sources, and are themselves a food source for important commercial fisheries species such as tuna and swordfish. This study examines …


Age And Growth Of Predatory Mesopelagic Fishes In A Low-Latitude Oceanic Ecosystem, Natalie Slayden Jul 2020

Age And Growth Of Predatory Mesopelagic Fishes In A Low-Latitude Oceanic Ecosystem, Natalie Slayden

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Mesopelagic and bathypelagic fishes provide important global ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration via the biological pump and provision of food for economically important (billfishes and tuna) and federally protected (cetaceans and seabirds) species. These attributes are becoming increasingly recognized, while simultaneously mesopelagic fisheries are becoming of interest for direct harvest as coastal fisheries have become overexploited. Additionally, climate change, ocean acidification, and seabed mining threaten deep-sea fishes. With increasing interest in deep-sea fisheries and anthropogenic threats, age and growth information on these fishes is necessary for management and conservation. Currently ecosystem models lack data such as sexual maturity and …