Life Sciences Commons^™

Variability In Estimating Abundance Of Postlarval Brown Shrimp, Farfantepenaeus Aztecus (Ives), Migrating Into Galveston Bay, Texas, Geoffrey A. Matthews

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Three sets of monitoring data were used to examine the variability associated with abundance estimation of postlarval brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus (Ives) in Bolivar Roads, Texas—the main connection between the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. Abundance of postlarvae (PL) caught with Renfro beam trawl varied greatly in different years on the same dates. A “spring peak” of brown shrimp PL migrating into Galveston Bay was found for 2 April with a quadratic regression fit to 6-day moving averages of daily mean abundance from 22 yrs of monitoring data: Ln(PL+1) = 0.8736 + 0.09037Day - 0.0004934Day² (adj-R² = …

Range Extensions And Review Of The Caprellid Amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Caprellidae) From The Shallow, Coastal Waters From The Suwanee River, Florida, To Port Aransas, Texas, With An Illustrated Key, John M. Foster, Brent P. Thoma, Richard W. Heard

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Eight species of the amphipod family Caprellidae sensu Myers and Lowry, 2003 are currently known to occur in the shallow, near shore waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), from the Suwannee River, Florida, to Port Aransas, Texas, and to depths of 10 m. They include: Phtisica marina, Hemiaegina minuta, Paracaprella pusilla, Paracaprella tenuis, Deutella incerta, Caprella equilibra, Caprella penantis, and Caprella scaura. Another species, Caprella andreae, is also suspected to occur in this region due to its close association with sea turtles, which nest on the sand beaches of …

Utilization Of Saltmarsh Shorelines By Newly Settled Sciaenids In A Texas Estuary, Bert W. Geary, Jay R. Rooker, James W. Webb

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Post-settlement patterns of habitat use along saltmarsh shorelines of Galveston Bay, Texas were examined for three sciaenids; spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Collections were made summer through fall of 1997 and 1998 using a 1.5-m beam trawl hand-towed along the outside edge of salt marshes. Sciaenids were collected from tidal pass, bay, and remote tidal creek areas to assess large-scale (bay-wide) patterns of distribution and abundance. Cynoscion nebulosus were smaller and most numerous at bay stations, with densities peaking in June. Conversely, S. ocellatus were collected …

Food Habits And Dietary Overlap Of Newly Settled Red Drum (Sciaenops Ocellatus) And Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias Undulatus) From Texas Seagrass Meadows, M. Andres Soto, G. Joan Holt, Scott A. Holt, Jay Rooker

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Food habits and dietary overlap of newly settled larval and juvenile red drum and Atlantic croaker were examined during the period when the two species co-occur in seagrass nurseries. A total of 274 red drum (4.00 - 19.99 mm SL) and 205 Atlantic croaker (8.00 - 17.99 mm SL) were used for this analysis. Of the red drum stomachs examined, 8.4% were empty while 28.8% of Atlantic croaker stomachs contained no food. Major prey items identified for both species were calanoid copepods, harpacticoid copepods and mysid shrimp across all size classes. Ontogenetic trophic niche shifts were detected for red drum …

Seedling Establishment Of Spartina Alterniflora And Spartina Patens On Dredged Materials In Texas, James W. Webb, J.D. Dodd, B.H. Koerth, A.T. Weichert

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Effects of fertilizer, elevation, and tidal inundation on seedling establishment of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens were tested at a wave-protected sandy dredged material site, Galveston Bay, Texas. No seedlings that grew from sown seeds became established at elevations below 36 cm (msl) while the greatest number established in the upper tier. Seedlings of S. alterniflora were more numerous than S. patens in the upper and middle tiers. Naturally occurring seedlings of S. alterniflora, which apparently germinated from seeds produced on transplants in adjacent plots, established at all elevations of the site during winter. The average time of tidal …

Trends In Ex-Vessel Value And Size Composition Of Reported May - August Catches Of Brown Shrimp And White Shrimp From The Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, And Alabama Coasts, 1960-1978, Charles Wax Caillouet, Dennis Brian Koi

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Exponential models were used to characterize (1) ex-vessel value (in dollars) per shrimp by size category (count; i.e., number of shrimp per pound, heads off); (2) size composition (expressed as cumulative weight of the catch in pounds, heads off, by size category); and (3) ex-vessel value composition (expressed as cumulative ex-vessel value, in dollars, of the catch by size category) for reported May-August catches (inshore and offshore combined) of brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) and white shrimp (P. setiferus) from the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coasts (statistical areas 10-21) from 1960 to 1978. Exponents of the …

Occurrence Of The Brackish Water Asellote Isopod Munna (Uromunna) Reynoldsi In Texas, Betty J. Callahan, Scott T. Clark, Philip B. Robertson

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The asellote isopod Munna (Uromunna) reynoldsi Frankenberg and Menzies, previously known from coastal swamps a t Sapelo Island, Georgia, is reported from Texas. Several specimens were collected in grab samples from Fence Lake, a small brackish marsh lake (salinity 0 to 2.7 ppt) in Sca Rim State Park, and in a nearby coastal marsh (salinity 4.4 ppt). The present records indicate that the species is a brackish water form.

The Effect Of Depth On Survival And Growth Of Oysters In Suspension Culture From A Petroleum Platform Off The Texas Coast, John Ogle, Sammy M. Ray, W.J. Wardle

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The effect of depth on oysters in suspension culture from a petroleum platform off the Texas coast was monitored for 20 months. Growth and condition was similar for adult oysters cultured at five levels down to 8 m. Oysters had a growth rate of 1.2 mm (level 3) to 1.4 mm (level 1) per month,representing an increase in length of 94% to 150% for the 20 months. The condition was best in June 1973 after five months placement offshore (condition index of 14.8, 15.5, 14.7, 13.5 and 13.2 for levels 1 through 5, respectively). The condition was lowest in June …

Protozoan Symbionts From The Anemone Bunodosoma Cavernata From Galveston Island, Texas, Philip J. Phillips

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The anemone Bunodosoma cavernata is a common inhabitant of the Texas coast and cursory observation revealed a large complement of protozoan associates. These included Saprodinium, Euplotes, Paraeuplotes, Vorticella, Cohnilembus, Anophrys, Uronema and Vahlkampfia.

Approximately forty anemones were collected from jetty rocks on Galveston Island on 3 November 1970. Note was made within one day of protozoans found on the external surfaces, in the coelenteron and in surrounding sea water. The anemones were kept until 7 December 1970 under varying conditions and bi-weekly note was made of the associated protozoan fauna.

Observations On The Stone Crab, Menippe Mercenaria Say, In The Vicinity Of Port Aransas, Texas, Earnest H. Powell Jr., Gordon Gunter

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Observations on the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria Say, were started on December 16, 1947. The purpose of these observations was to study the natural history and behavior of this crab, with special reference to its importance as an oyster predator. Plans called for some simple laboratory experimentation and monthly field observations. Although the regularity of the observations was interrupted for various reasons, some information gained which may interest workers is herewith presented.