Marine Biology Commons^™

Energy Utilization In Bay Anchovy And Black Sea Bass Eggs And Larvae Contrasting Ecological Roles, John Wotring Tucker Jr

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The objective of this study was a comparison of developmental changes and energy utilization in eggs, unfed larvae, and fed larvae of two marine fish species that both have pelagic early stages, but differ in phylogeny and early life ecology. The bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), a clupeiform, spawns in estuaries and shallow coastal waters. The black sea bass (Centropristis striata striata), a perciform, spawns offshore at 15-50 m depths. Densities of zooplankton eaten by first-feeding fish larvae are normally higher in coastal waters than offshore. An important determinant of survival of larval fishes is their ability to fulfill nutritional requirements …