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Gulf and Caribbean Research

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Full-Text Articles in Marine Biology

Vegetation Species And Bed Position May Drive Epifaunal But Not Nekton Habitat Use In Estuarine Submerged Vegetation In The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, Steven Vroljik, Kathryn O'Shaughnessy, Ashley Mcdonald, Zoey Hendrickson, Bethany Kiley, Anna Reimer, Sierra Robertson, Samantha Smith, Edward Sullivan, Charles Martin Jan 2026

Vegetation Species And Bed Position May Drive Epifaunal But Not Nekton Habitat Use In Estuarine Submerged Vegetation In The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, Steven Vroljik, Kathryn O'Shaughnessy, Ashley Mcdonald, Zoey Hendrickson, Bethany Kiley, Anna Reimer, Sierra Robertson, Samantha Smith, Edward Sullivan, Charles Martin

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) supports nekton and epifaunal macroinvertebrates, sustaining food webs and ecosystem services in estuaries. Invasive SAV can alter these dynamics by displacing native vegetation and restructuring communities. In Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta (MTD), Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) is rapidly expanding and outcompeting native wild celery (Vallisneria americana). This study compared nekton and epifaunal assemblages between M. spicatum and V. americana, focusing on edge versus interior positions. Nekton surveys identified 22 taxa (M. spicatum, n = 13; V. americana, n = 18), but assemblages did not differ significantly between vegetation types …


The Critical Role Of Near-Surface Dynamics In Identifying Spawning Areas Of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna In The Gulf Of Mexico, Donald R. Johnson, William J. Teague, Harriet Perry, James S. Franks Jan 2026

The Critical Role Of Near-Surface Dynamics In Identifying Spawning Areas Of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna In The Gulf Of Mexico, Donald R. Johnson, William J. Teague, Harriet Perry, James S. Franks

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus thynnus (ABFT), migrate long distances to broadcast spawn in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) basin, the Mediterranean Sea and the Slope Sea (NW Atlantic). These areas have commonalities including a highly dynamic upper ocean eddy environment that draws nutrients from shallow thermoclines and adjacent continental shelves and can provide temporal sanctuaries from some larval predators. In the GOM basin, the Loop Current (LC) and its energetic spin—off eddies sweep weak swimming predators such as jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca) into lines and aggregations, leaving relatively open areas as temporal sanctuaries for ABFT larvae during the vulnerable …


Oyster Drill (Stramonita Haemastoma Complex) Habitat Preferences In A Shallow Coastal Estuary, Coen Mcgarrah, Cynthia Lupton, Eric Sparks, Jennifer L. Debose Jan 2026

Oyster Drill (Stramonita Haemastoma Complex) Habitat Preferences In A Shallow Coastal Estuary, Coen Mcgarrah, Cynthia Lupton, Eric Sparks, Jennifer L. Debose

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Southern oyster drill snails (Stramonita haemastoma complex) are nuisance organisms within the Gulf of Mexico. This is due to their damaging impact on recovering and farmed oyster (Crassostrea virginica) populations, which are one of the drills’ main food sources. Oyster reef recovery and increased aquaculture production are priorities for Mississippi and the wider northern Gulf coast. The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) hosts multiple oyster reef restoration sites within its boundaries, yet no comprehensive survey of oyster drill abundance has been conducted in this area to date. Additionally, knowledge of oyster drill preferences for sediment …


Pollutant Load Reduction In Sarasota Bay, Florida (Usa): Target Development, Implementation, And Outcomes, David Tomasko, Mike Wessel, Jon Perry, Chris Anastasiou, Ryan Gandy Jan 2026

Pollutant Load Reduction In Sarasota Bay, Florida (Usa): Target Development, Implementation, And Outcomes, David Tomasko, Mike Wessel, Jon Perry, Chris Anastasiou, Ryan Gandy

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Between 2006 and 2012, seagrass coverage across Sarasota Bay expanded by 1,108 ha, a 28% increase. During the subsequent years of 2012−2020, 830 ha of seagrass were lost, a 16% decline. In response to these findings, resource management efforts focused on determining the likely reason(s) why those 2 periods had such contrasting trends, to come up with strategies to reverse these losses. Based on results from the seagrass data, the 7—y period of 2006−2012 was designated a “reference period” and water quality data were compared against the subsequent 7—y designated “degraded period” of 2013−2019. Annual average chlorophyll-a (chl-a …


Non-Native Seagrass, Halophila Stipulacea, Reaches Northern Caribbean, Elizabeth R. Whitman, Elizabeth W. Stoner, Stephanie K. Archer Jan 2026

Non-Native Seagrass, Halophila Stipulacea, Reaches Northern Caribbean, Elizabeth R. Whitman, Elizabeth W. Stoner, Stephanie K. Archer

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Halophila stipulacea, a seagrass native to the western Indian Ocean, has become an established invader throughout the western Atlantic, where it often outcompetes native seagrass species across diverse environmental conditions. Here, we report its presence in the northern Bahamas, ca. 2300 km northwest of the first Caribbean record in Grenada and 304 km northeast of the recent observation in Florida, USA. This range expansion represents the northernmost Caribbean record to date and highlights the species’ capacity for long-distance dispersal and continued spread within the region. Our observation underscores the need for coordinated monitoring efforts to track the trajectory of …


Notes On The Ichthyofauna Associated With Artisanal Fishing In A Severely Impacted Estuary In The Southwestern Gulf Of Mexico During The Rainy Season, Rodrigo Vivanco-Cadena, César Meiners-Mandujano, Roberto Martín Cruz-Castán Jan 2026

Notes On The Ichthyofauna Associated With Artisanal Fishing In A Severely Impacted Estuary In The Southwestern Gulf Of Mexico During The Rainy Season, Rodrigo Vivanco-Cadena, César Meiners-Mandujano, Roberto Martín Cruz-Castán

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.


A Marine Science Career In The Eastern Caribbean: Witnessing Four Decades Of Change, Hazel A. Oxenford Jan 2026

A Marine Science Career In The Eastern Caribbean: Witnessing Four Decades Of Change, Hazel A. Oxenford

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Reflecting back on a long and rewarding career from 1980—2023 at the University of the West Indies, based on the small island of Barbados, this paper tracks the many and often remarkable changes in the marine environment, in attitudes and policies, and available opportunities that have influenced my journey as a marine scientist in an ever—changing but resilient Caribbean. From free—access fisheries to degraded stocks, from coral to algal dominated reefs, from flyingfish to Almaco Jacks, from sandy beaches and clear water to a Sargassum crisis — these are just some of the fundamental changes in the marine environment that …


Evaluating Donor Site Recovery Following Halodule Wrightii Harvest For Restoration In Northwest Florida, Katie M. Konchar, Becca A. Hatchell, Colin P. Shea, Bradley T. Furman, Kent Smith Jan 2026

Evaluating Donor Site Recovery Following Halodule Wrightii Harvest For Restoration In Northwest Florida, Katie M. Konchar, Becca A. Hatchell, Colin P. Shea, Bradley T. Furman, Kent Smith

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Bare‑root harvesting of Halodule wrightii is widely used to supply donor material for seagrass restoration, yet the capacity of donor meadows to recover in near‑temperate systems remains poorly documented. We evaluated donor‑site recovery following bare‑root harvesting in St. Andrew Bay, northwest Florida—an estuary at the northern extent of Tropical Atlantic Bioregion 2 where H. wrightii exhibits strong seasonal senescence and a shortened growing season. Thirty harvest impact sites were monitored for 388 days to quantify changes in shoot density, percent frequency, and sediment elevation relative to nearby reference conditions. Shoot density and percent frequency at harvested sites converged with reference …


Macroinvertebrate Community Dynamics In A Recovering, Hypersaline Estuary, Catherine M. Eckert, Claudia A. Tamez, Erin E. Easton, David W. Hicks Jan 2025

Macroinvertebrate Community Dynamics In A Recovering, Hypersaline Estuary, Catherine M. Eckert, Claudia A. Tamez, Erin E. Easton, David W. Hicks

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The Bahia Grande is a 6,500—acre tidal basin located at the southernmost tip of Texas. Tidal flow into this coastal estuary was cut off in the 1930s, causing the basin to dry up for ~70 y. A pilot channel connecting the Bahia Grande to tidal waters was constructed in 2005, allowing flooding of the basin to occur. Throughout the period reported herein (2005–2019), the system remained characterized by persistent spatial and temporal episodes of extreme hypersalinity (>70)—a critical factor influencing estuarine community composition and driving key ecological processes. With additional rehabilitation actions forthcoming, characterization of the estuary is essential …


Lack Of Consistent Diurnal Trends In Acoustic Metrics From Restored Coral Reefs, Jeremy Velázquez-Alvarado, Valentina Pérez-García, Javier S. Tellechea, Joni T. Backstrom, Alex Mercado-Molina Jan 2025

Lack Of Consistent Diurnal Trends In Acoustic Metrics From Restored Coral Reefs, Jeremy Velázquez-Alvarado, Valentina Pérez-García, Javier S. Tellechea, Joni T. Backstrom, Alex Mercado-Molina

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Once vibrant ecosystems, coral reefs are degrading at unprecedented rates due to natural and human—induced disturbances, necessitating immediate restoration and conservation efforts. Evaluating the success of these projects often involves assessing changes in reef biodiversity. Bioacoustics has emerged as a promising, non—invasive method for such evaluations, though its efficacy remains debated. This study aimed to determine whether the diurnal soundscapes of restored coral reefs are consistent across different time frames (months) and spatial scales (reefs), which is crucial for developing reliable monitoring tools for reef health. To achieve this, 2 commonly used acoustic indices, the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI) and …


The Effects Of A River Closure On A Snook (Centropomus Spp.) Nursery Community In The Rio Grande River, Texas, Ethan Getz, Perry Trial, Catherine Eckert, Joel Anderson Jan 2025

The Effects Of A River Closure On A Snook (Centropomus Spp.) Nursery Community In The Rio Grande River, Texas, Ethan Getz, Perry Trial, Catherine Eckert, Joel Anderson

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Snook (Centropomus spp.) support important fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and populations are increasing in Texas. However, a primary snook nursery, the Rio Grande River, remains one of the most imperiled rivers in North America. In 2001—2002, low flows led to the formation of a sandbar and the complete blockage of the Rio Grande, eliminating exchange with coastal waters. Here, data collected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department were used to determine how the Rio Grande closure affected juvenile and subadult snook and the estuarine community. Seine and trawl samples were collected prior to (1992—1997) and during …


The Macroalgal Composition Differs Among Depths And Zones In Cuban Mesophotic Coral Reef Eosystems, Beatriz Martínez-Daranas, Dennis Hanisak, Partricia M. González-Sánchez, Stephanie Farrington, John K. Reed Jan 2025

The Macroalgal Composition Differs Among Depths And Zones In Cuban Mesophotic Coral Reef Eosystems, Beatriz Martínez-Daranas, Dennis Hanisak, Partricia M. González-Sánchez, Stephanie Farrington, John K. Reed

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Previously the algal community of Cuban mesophotic coral reef ecosystems (MCEs) has not been characterized quantitatively. The objective of this study was to explore the distribution of macroalgae around Cuba and their depth profiles within the mesophotic zone (30−150 m). Data on the algal community were obtained in 2017 during 43 ROV (remotely operated vehicle) dives around Cuba’s shelf. Scientists specializing in algal taxonomy watched the live ROV video on board the ship and recorded algal presence every ~5—10 min in a database. Algae were identified to the lowest possible taxa, and algal presence/absence was analyzed in 20 m depth …


Presence Of Potential Nursery Habitat For The Lemon Shark In Mississippi Coastal Waters, Lindsay K. Bomgardner, P. O. Grammer, Angie Hoover, Anna Millender, Jeremy Higgs, Jill M. Hendon, Michael J. Andres Jan 2025

Presence Of Potential Nursery Habitat For The Lemon Shark In Mississippi Coastal Waters, Lindsay K. Bomgardner, P. O. Grammer, Angie Hoover, Anna Millender, Jeremy Higgs, Jill M. Hendon, Michael J. Andres

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.


Ina Scuba: Mobilization Of French West Indies Scuba Diving Clubs To Rapidly Improve Knowledge On Threatened Marine Species. Case Of The White-Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus Narinari)., Océane Beaufort, Rocio Prieto González Jan 2025

Ina Scuba: Mobilization Of French West Indies Scuba Diving Clubs To Rapidly Improve Knowledge On Threatened Marine Species. Case Of The White-Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus Narinari)., Océane Beaufort, Rocio Prieto González

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The White—Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari), listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2021, is experiencing alarming population declines, underscoring the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts. This species, which plays a vital ecological role in marine food webs, has biological and ecological characteristics that make it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation and anthropogenic pressures, particularly fishing, tourism, and maritime traffic. In the French West Indies (FWI), the paucity of data on the White—Spotted Eagle Ray remains a major obstacle to the development of effective, island—specific conservation strategies. To address this gap, the INA Scuba participatory …


Oyster Horizons: Spatial Prioritization For Oyster Restoration At Alabama Living Shorelines, Trinity Henry-Jack, Aaron Bland, Christa Russell, Ronald Baker Jan 2025

Oyster Horizons: Spatial Prioritization For Oyster Restoration At Alabama Living Shorelines, Trinity Henry-Jack, Aaron Bland, Christa Russell, Ronald Baker

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.


3d-Printed Polylactide Structures Do Not Affect The Demography Of The Threatened Coral Acropora Cervicornis, Gabriela Baerga-Jiménez, Alex E. Mercado-Molina Jan 2025

3d-Printed Polylactide Structures Do Not Affect The Demography Of The Threatened Coral Acropora Cervicornis, Gabriela Baerga-Jiménez, Alex E. Mercado-Molina

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The development of artificial structures using emerging 3D printing technology has been proposed as a possible strategy to promote the recovery of degraded coral reef ecosystems. Current technologies allow 3D printers to faithfully replicate the morphology of coral reef attributes (e.g., substrate and coral colonies). Thus, 3D printing can be used to create artificial structures that replicate microhabitats resembling those found by reef organisms in nature. However, the use of 3D printing technology for reef conservation and restoration purposes is still in its early developmental stages. Consequently, the potential benefits or detriments of the technology on coral reef health and …


Temporal And Spatial Changes In Phytoplankton Communities In A Shallow Coastal Estuary, Justin Osborne, Jeneil Patel, Jennifer L. Debose Jan 2025

Temporal And Spatial Changes In Phytoplankton Communities In A Shallow Coastal Estuary, Justin Osborne, Jeneil Patel, Jennifer L. Debose

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.


Use Of Light Traps To Assess The Taxonomy And Seasonality Of Early Life Stages Of Fishes Recruiting To Upper Matagorda Bay In Texas, Polly Hajovsky, Joel Anderson, Damon Williford Jan 2025

Use Of Light Traps To Assess The Taxonomy And Seasonality Of Early Life Stages Of Fishes Recruiting To Upper Matagorda Bay In Texas, Polly Hajovsky, Joel Anderson, Damon Williford

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Detecting the ingress of larval and early juvenile fishes into estuaries is crucial for understanding the early life stages and population dynamics of species—specific recruitment seasonality. However, monitoring these early life stages presents challenges due to their small size, seasonal variability, spatial patchiness, and their use of structurally complex habitats. Although plankton nets have been widely used to sample larval fishes, light traps have been found to have more flexibility, durability, and cost—effective. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of light traps for sampling larval and early juvenile fishes in a Texas estuary. The objectives of this study were …


Short-Term Temporal Trends Of A Coral Reef In Samana (Dominican Republic): The Value Of A Permanent Monitoring Program To Identify Drivers Of Rapid Change, Aldo Croquer, Someira Zambrano, D. Yasmín Evangelista-Perez, Samuel King, Sergio Guendulain-Garcia, Maria F Villalpando, Rita Sellares-Blasco Jan 2024

Short-Term Temporal Trends Of A Coral Reef In Samana (Dominican Republic): The Value Of A Permanent Monitoring Program To Identify Drivers Of Rapid Change, Aldo Croquer, Someira Zambrano, D. Yasmín Evangelista-Perez, Samuel King, Sergio Guendulain-Garcia, Maria F Villalpando, Rita Sellares-Blasco

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Permanent monitoring programs are valuable to identify drivers of ecosystem trends. For example, in 2021, we reported the first record of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (sctld) along the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, affecting major reef—building coral species with a prevalence above 30%. However, a few sites such as Carenero remained unaffected by sctld for almost 2 years. The average coral cover in this site was about 18—25% (mean 18.3% ± sd 1.5), and disease prevalence did not exceed 7% in the coral community. During the first quarter of 2022, a few colonies (


A Preliminary Investigation Of Adherence To Shell Length Regulations And Adaptive Capacity Of The Turneffe Atoll Queen Conch (Aliger Gigas) Fishery, Belize, Elsa M. K. Brenner, Vincent Sollitto, Vincent Baribeau, Rebecca Branconi, Paul Simonin Jan 2024

A Preliminary Investigation Of Adherence To Shell Length Regulations And Adaptive Capacity Of The Turneffe Atoll Queen Conch (Aliger Gigas) Fishery, Belize, Elsa M. K. Brenner, Vincent Sollitto, Vincent Baribeau, Rebecca Branconi, Paul Simonin

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.


Lessons From An Iconic Grouper: Sex, Science, And Serendipity, Yvonne J. Sadovy De Mitcheson Jan 2024

Lessons From An Iconic Grouper: Sex, Science, And Serendipity, Yvonne J. Sadovy De Mitcheson

Gulf and Caribbean Research

From a common little damselfish and spectacular grouper aggregations, to disappearing reef fishes and the dark side of the international seafood trade, my journey has passed through a fascinating and worrying period of change in the way we view and treat our oceans. Although much of my career has been in the Indo—Pacific, I focus here mainly on my professional ‘roots’ in the Caribbean and on the Nassau Grouper Epinephelus striatus, a species that kept me curious, taught me patience, never to assume and always to stay hopeful. This fish is almost an obsession; why can we not better safeguard …


An Aggregation Of The Pandalid Shrimp, Heterocarpus Ensifer, On Deep Reef Habitats Of The West Florida Slope, Eastern Gulf Of Mexico, Steve W. Ross Jan 2024

An Aggregation Of The Pandalid Shrimp, Heterocarpus Ensifer, On Deep Reef Habitats Of The West Florida Slope, Eastern Gulf Of Mexico, Steve W. Ross

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Heterocarpus ensifer A. Milne—Edwards (1881) (Crustacea: Pandalidae), armed nylon shrimp, is widely distributed in the western and eastern North Atlantic Ocean. In the western Atlantic this shrimp occurs from off North Carolina to Brazil and in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), western Bahamas, and Caribbean Sea at depths of 170—885 m. Despite its widespread occurrence, ecology or biology information for this species are sparse, and in situ observations of abundance, behavior and habitat preferences are particularly lacking. During extensive submersible and ROV observations on and near deep—reefs in the north—central and eastern GOM, a remarkably large aggregation of H. ensifer …


Seasonal Abundance Of The Nudibranch Dondice Jupiteriensis On The Colonial Hydroid Eudendrium Carneum, Erika Molina, Daniela Gutierrez-Andrade, Samantha Schlegel, Julia Piper, Louis J. Ambrosio, Michael L. Middlebrooks Jan 2024

Seasonal Abundance Of The Nudibranch Dondice Jupiteriensis On The Colonial Hydroid Eudendrium Carneum, Erika Molina, Daniela Gutierrez-Andrade, Samantha Schlegel, Julia Piper, Louis J. Ambrosio, Michael L. Middlebrooks

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Benthic colonial hydroids often serve as a host to a large variety of invertebrate taxa. The colonial hydroid Eudendrium carneum Clarke, 1882 is host to a variety of epifauna, including the recently described nudibranch Dondice jupiteriensis García—Méndez & Valdés, 2022. Like many species of heterobranch sea slugs, little is known about the natural history and population biology of D. jupiteriensis. Here we describe a year—long study recording the population density and size structure of D. jupiteriensis on E. carneum colonies in Tampa Bay, FL USA. We found that the D. jupiteriensis population persists year—round but is the densest during …


Benthic And Epibenthic Invertebrate Assemblages Associated With Estuarine Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Differ Between Native And Invasive Plants, Marissa Hall, Kathryn O'Shaughnessy, Bethany Kiley, Ashley Mcdonald, Taber Faurie, Zoey Hendrickson, Anna Reimer, Samantha Smith, Charles Martin Jan 2024

Benthic And Epibenthic Invertebrate Assemblages Associated With Estuarine Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Differ Between Native And Invasive Plants, Marissa Hall, Kathryn O'Shaughnessy, Bethany Kiley, Ashley Mcdonald, Taber Faurie, Zoey Hendrickson, Anna Reimer, Samantha Smith, Charles Martin

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Estuarine submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) provides vital habitat for macroinvertebrate communities that support diverse food webs and subsequent ecosystem services. Invasive SAV, however, has the potential to alter estuarine food webs through competition with native SAV, resulting in different associated biological communities. In the Mobile-Tensaw Delta (Alabama, USA), the invasive Eurasian milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum, is fast becoming the dominant SAV, out-competing native SAV such as wild celery, Vallisneria americana. This study investigated the above- and belowground macroinvertebrate assemblages associated with these SAV habitats. We found significantly different assemblages between the SAV, with V. americana supporting more even and …


Assessment Of Living Shorelines For Restoring Fish Habitats: A Case Study From Coastal Alabama, Claire Legaspi, Matheus De Barros, Alexandra Rodriguez, Ronald Baker Jan 2023

Assessment Of Living Shorelines For Restoring Fish Habitats: A Case Study From Coastal Alabama, Claire Legaspi, Matheus De Barros, Alexandra Rodriguez, Ronald Baker

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.


A Preliminary Assessment Of The Spawning Potential Ratio Of Five Target Species Of The Coastal Gillnet Fishery In Guyana And Suriname, Tomas Willems, Elford Liverpool, Michael Hiwat Jan 2023

A Preliminary Assessment Of The Spawning Potential Ratio Of Five Target Species Of The Coastal Gillnet Fishery In Guyana And Suriname, Tomas Willems, Elford Liverpool, Michael Hiwat

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Data—limited stock assessment methods have the potential to positively impact livelihoods of fishermen around the world by providing management recommendations that aim to optimize sustainable yields from fisheries. Some years ago, a novel length— based (LB) method was developed for the assessment of spawning potential ratio (SPR), a measure of the reproductive capacity of fish stocks. We applied the LB—SPR method to 5 important target species of the coastal gillnet fishery in Guyana and Suriname. Nebris microps (Smalleye Croaker; 32% SPR) and Macrodon ancylodon (King Weakfish; 34% SPR) had the highest spawning potential, but remained below the 40% target level …


Microdebris Abundance, Distribution, And Ingestion By Sargassum-Associated Juvenile Fishes In The Gulf Of Mexico, Olivia L. Lestrade, Frank Hernandez Jan 2023

Microdebris Abundance, Distribution, And Ingestion By Sargassum-Associated Juvenile Fishes In The Gulf Of Mexico, Olivia L. Lestrade, Frank Hernandez

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Holopelagic Sargassum is a critical nursery habitat for the early life stages of many marine fishes, including several federally managed species in the United States and Caribbean. Sargassum is often aggregated along surface convergence features where microdebris (synthetic, semi—synthetic, and naturally—derived particles size) have also been found in relatively high concentrations. In this study, we collected microdebris from Sargassum and adjacent open water habitats (in 2018), and juvenile fishes from Sargassum (in 2017 and 2018) in the northern Gulf of Mexico to quantify habitat—specific microdebris concentrations and the degree to which Sargassum—associated juvenile fishes ingest microdebris. Microdebris concentrations within …


Biomass And Productivity Of Thalassia Testudinum In Estuaries Of The Florida Panhandle, Laura A. Yarbro, Paul R. Carlson, Ken L. Heck, Dorothy Byron, Sandra Brooke, Linda Fitzhugh, Sheila Scolaro, Barbara Albrecht, Rachel Presley, Jane M. Caffrey Jan 2023

Biomass And Productivity Of Thalassia Testudinum In Estuaries Of The Florida Panhandle, Laura A. Yarbro, Paul R. Carlson, Ken L. Heck, Dorothy Byron, Sandra Brooke, Linda Fitzhugh, Sheila Scolaro, Barbara Albrecht, Rachel Presley, Jane M. Caffrey

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Thalassia testudinum often dominates seagrass meadows of the Florida panhandle but few measurements of productivity, biomass, density, turnover or leaf area index in this region have been made. We targeted 5 estuaries located at similar latitudes, 30⁰ ± 0.3⁰N: Big Lagoon, Santa Rosa Sound, St. Andrew Bay, St. Joseph Bay, and St. George Sound. This study was one component of a collaborative partnership of state and local researchers examining factors preventing recovery in panhandle estuarine areas that had historically contained seagrass in the 1940s and 1950s. Measurements were made twice in 2016, once in June and then again in summer …


Dynamics Of The Benthic Communities Of Pigeon Islets (Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles) From 2012 To 2021 Monitored By A Photo-Quadrats Technique, Hanna-May Malahel, Camille Freschet, Simone Mège, Claude Bouchon Jan 2023

Dynamics Of The Benthic Communities Of Pigeon Islets (Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles) From 2012 To 2021 Monitored By A Photo-Quadrats Technique, Hanna-May Malahel, Camille Freschet, Simone Mège, Claude Bouchon

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Since 2012, the benthic communities of the Pigeon Islets (Guadeloupe Island, Lesser Antilles) have been monitored biannually by the National Park of Guadeloupe using photo—quadrats. This monitoring was carried out at 12 coral reef stations distributed around the islets. The data collected from 2012 to 2021 highlight the significant events that disrupted the coral communities of Guadeloupe. Among these remarkable phenomena, an episode of coral bleaching occurred in 2019, followed by the appearance of a new coral disease, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), in 2020. As a result of these threats, a drop of 54% of coral cover was …


Jonathan Franco López 1955 – 2023, Angel Moran-Silva, Rafael Chávez-López, Sergio Cházaro-Olvera Jan 2023

Jonathan Franco López 1955 – 2023, Angel Moran-Silva, Rafael Chávez-López, Sergio Cházaro-Olvera

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.