Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (31)
- Animal Sciences (22)
- Aquaculture and Fisheries (14)
- Biodiversity (13)
- Biology (11)
-
- Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology (11)
- Population Biology (9)
- Zoology (9)
- Physical Sciences and Mathematics (8)
- Plant Sciences (6)
- Behavior and Ethology (5)
- Botany (5)
- Earth Sciences (4)
- Oceanography (4)
- Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (4)
- Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (4)
- Environmental Sciences (3)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
- Environmental Health (2)
- Genetics and Genomics (2)
- Geology (2)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health (2)
- Animal Studies (1)
- Architecture (1)
- Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (1)
- Business (1)
- Environmental Design (1)
- Environmental Law (1)
- Keyword
-
- Gulf of Mexico (63)
- Mississippi (42)
- Mexico (21)
- Florida (19)
- Mississippi Sound (18)
-
- Northern Gulf of Mexico (14)
- Veracruz (14)
- Caribbean Sea (12)
- Louisiana (11)
- Salinity (10)
- Tanaidacea (10)
- Texas (10)
- Penaeus vannamei (9)
- Bibliography (8)
- Caribbean (8)
- Estuary (8)
- Crassostrea virginica (7)
- Estuaries (7)
- Georgia (7)
- Gulf Coast (7)
- Turks and Caicos (7)
- Amphipods (6)
- Growth (6)
- Invasive species (6)
- Reproduction (6)
- Salt marsh (6)
- Taxonomy (6)
- Alabama (5)
- Brown shrimp (5)
- Coral reef (5)
- Publication Year
Articles 121 - 150 of 554
Full-Text Articles in Marine Biology
Do Small, Patchy, Constructed Intertidal Oyster Reefs Reduce Salt Marsh Erosion As Well As Natural Reefs?, Alix G. Stricklin, Mark S. Peterson, John D. Lopez, Christopher A. May, Christina F. Mohrman, Mark S. Woodrey
Do Small, Patchy, Constructed Intertidal Oyster Reefs Reduce Salt Marsh Erosion As Well As Natural Reefs?, Alix G. Stricklin, Mark S. Peterson, John D. Lopez, Christopher A. May, Christina F. Mohrman, Mark S. Woodrey
Gulf and Caribbean Research
One ecological service that oyster reefs provide is stabilization of shorelines through reduced wave energy and erosion from boat traffic, storms, and predominant wind direction. Additionally, increasing sedimentation can enhance the growth of emergent marsh vegetation which further stabilizes unconsolidated sediments. A 21 mo study of constructed (with only 30-35% coverage) and natural oyster reefs in 3 bayous in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) suggested constructed reefs benefit this retrograding deltaic ecosystem. The marsh edge adjacent to all constructed reefs was less eroded (mean = 0.043 m) than edges adjacent to natural reefs (mean = 0.728 m), …
Observations Of A Black Grouper (Mycteroperca Bonaci) Spawning Aggregation In Bermuda, Brian E. Luckhurst
Observations Of A Black Grouper (Mycteroperca Bonaci) Spawning Aggregation In Bermuda, Brian E. Luckhurst
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Diving observations at a black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) spawning aggregation site on Bermuda’s reef platform revealed many similarities to observations of this species obtained at multi-species spawning aggregation sites in Belize. In addition to similarities in body sizes, color patterns and some behavior, the principal spawning period in the days after the full moon was also similar. Although spawning was not observed in this study, there was ample indirect evidence of spawning at the site, i.e. courtship behavior by males, females with distended abdomens, and color changes. The formation of temporary spawning territories by males and courtship behavior …
Effects Of Hurricane Katrina On An Incipient Population Of Giant Salvinia Salvinia Molesta In The Lower Pascagoula River, Mississippi, Pam L. Fuller, Mike G. Pursley, Dale Diaz, Wesley Devers
Effects Of Hurricane Katrina On An Incipient Population Of Giant Salvinia Salvinia Molesta In The Lower Pascagoula River, Mississippi, Pam L. Fuller, Mike G. Pursley, Dale Diaz, Wesley Devers
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The objectives of this study were to: 1) survey the lower Pascagoula River Basin and determine the post–storm distribution and abundance of giant salvinia; 2) control any remaining giant salvinia through physical and/or chemical means; 3) determine the fate of the bio–control agents; and 4) determine if re–introduction of salvinia weevils is needed and if so, to decide where best to release them.
Endohelminths Of A Snake Mackerel, Gempylus Serpens (Trichiuroidea: Gempylidae), From The Gulf Of Mexico, Charles K. Blend, Norman O. Dronen, James S. Franks, George W. Benz
Endohelminths Of A Snake Mackerel, Gempylus Serpens (Trichiuroidea: Gempylidae), From The Gulf Of Mexico, Charles K. Blend, Norman O. Dronen, James S. Franks, George W. Benz
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Endohelminths are reported from a female snake mackerel, Gempylus serpens (Trichiuroidea: Gempylidae), captured from a depth of 61 m in the Gulf of Mexico 140 km south of the mouth of Mobile Bay, AL, in August 1998. A diverse endohelminth parasite fauna was found: 29 plerocercoid type I tetraphyllideans from the lower intestine; 4 didymozoid metacercariae allocated to the collective group Monilicaecum and one didymozoid metacercaria of the collective group Torticaecum from the pyloric cecum; one juvenile Gonocerca phycidis from the stomach; and 5 larvae (L3 stage) comprising 3 species of Anisakis from the pyloric cecum. These nematodes were identified …
Recruitment And Colonization Of Macroalgae To A Newly Constructed Rocky Intertidal Habitat In The Northwest Gulf Of Mexico, Ryan L. Fikes, Roy L. Lehman
Recruitment And Colonization Of Macroalgae To A Newly Constructed Rocky Intertidal Habitat In The Northwest Gulf Of Mexico, Ryan L. Fikes, Roy L. Lehman
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Marine macroalgal assemblages on artificial structures play an important ecological role in coastal and estuarine ecosystems and may supplement natural communities in nearby waters. The rocky jetties of Packery Channel, located near Corpus Christi, Texas represent a recent addition of hard structure for colonization in the northwest Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this research was to monitor the initial immigration of macroalgal species during the first year of colonization and determine the effects of wave energy on recruitment. Ten sampling sites were established along the offshore portion of the new Packery Channel jetties. Samples were taken bimonthly from along …
Observations On The Kalliapseudid Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Peracarida) From The Northwestern Atlantic, With An Illustrated Key To The Species, David T. Drumm, Richard W. Heard
Observations On The Kalliapseudid Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Peracarida) From The Northwestern Atlantic, With An Illustrated Key To The Species, David T. Drumm, Richard W. Heard
Gulf and Caribbean Research
New information for the kalliapseudid Tanaidacea occurring in the northwestern Atlantic is presented and discussed, including data on range extensions and new depth ranges for 4 species. The taxa studied came from the shelf and coastal waters of the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico and Trinidad. The occurrence of Mesokalliapseudes bahamensis Sieg is extended from the Bahamas and Belize to the coastal waters of East and Gulf coasts (South Carolina to West Florida). The range of Psammokalliapseudes granulosus Brum is expanded northward into the eastern Gulf of Mexico and new locality records for this species are established for Tobago and …
Evaluating Management Actions For Spotted Seatrout, Cynoscion Nebulosus, In Mississippi With An Age-Structured Projection Model, Richard S. Fulford, J. Read Hendon
Evaluating Management Actions For Spotted Seatrout, Cynoscion Nebulosus, In Mississippi With An Age-Structured Projection Model, Richard S. Fulford, J. Read Hendon
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, is an important recreational fishery in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and is the most sought after gamefish in coastal Mississippi. The management of C. nebulosus is state-specific, and unlike other similarly managed species, data on both population structure and movement support the existence of local sub-stocks. It is important for each state to clearly examine its own sub-stock in the context of its own state fishery in order to properly manage for local sustainability. We used an age-structured assessment model to examine the status (1993–2005) of the Mississippi C. nebulosus population …
Notes On The Biology Of An Adult Female Chimaera Cubana Captured Off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, William B. Driggers Iii, Jill M. Hendon, Michael J. Andres, Stephen S. Curran, Christopher T. Gledhill, Mark A. Grace, Michael D. Hendon, Christian M. Jones, Brandi T. Noble, Kevin R. Rademacher
Notes On The Biology Of An Adult Female Chimaera Cubana Captured Off St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, William B. Driggers Iii, Jill M. Hendon, Michael J. Andres, Stephen S. Curran, Christopher T. Gledhill, Mark A. Grace, Michael D. Hendon, Christian M. Jones, Brandi T. Noble, Kevin R. Rademacher
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Within the western North Atlantic Ocean there are at least 4 genera and 5 species of chimaeroids occurring in deep waters generally associated with outer continental slopes or areas of high bathymetric relief (Didier 2002; Didier 2004). Two chimaeroids, Chimaera cubana and Hydrolagus alberti, are known to be indigenous to the Caribbean Sea in waters associated with the Greater and Lesser Antilles. While H. alberti occurs throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, C. cubana is thought to be endemic to an area bounded by Cuba and Colombia (IUCN 2009). These two chimaeras are readily differentiated by …
The Influence Of Habitat And Fishing On Reef Fish Assemblages In Cuba, Gaspar Gonzalez-Sanson, Consuelo Aguilar, Ivet Hernandez, Yureidy Cabrera, R. Allen Curry
The Influence Of Habitat And Fishing On Reef Fish Assemblages In Cuba, Gaspar Gonzalez-Sanson, Consuelo Aguilar, Ivet Hernandez, Yureidy Cabrera, R. Allen Curry
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The abundance of selected fish species was estimated using the stationary visual census technique in the northwestern region of the Cuban shelf. A total of 26,809 individuals of 32 species were counted in 1,172 stationary point censuses made at 10 reef sites along the coast. We found that the abundance patterns were most probably the consequence of the presence/absence of mangroves and seagrass beds in adjacent lagoon areas. A second factor influencing the spatial variation appeared to be overfishing on an east-west gradient, with lower abundances of commercially targeted species near Havana City in the east.
Abundance And Distribution Of Two Species Of Squilla (Crustacea: Stomatopoda: Squillidae) In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Jennifer L. Wortham
Abundance And Distribution Of Two Species Of Squilla (Crustacea: Stomatopoda: Squillidae) In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Jennifer L. Wortham
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Stomatopods (mantis shrimps) are predatory benthic crustaceans. Mantis shrimp in the genus Squilla are frequent bycatch animals unintentionally collected in conjunction with the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Their carcasses are discarded instead of being retained for human consumption, fish meal, or other protein-based food products. The size, depth, salinity, and temperature distributions of these species, as well as their abundance based on gender, were examined to gain biological information that would be necessary if a fishery were to develop in the GOM. I collected samples (n = 2,854) of Squilla empusa and Squilla chydaea in the …
Seagrass Loss In Belize: Studies Of Turtlegrass (Thalassia Testudinum) Habitat Using Remote Sensing And Ground-Truth Data, Gary R. Gaston, Cole Easson, Greg Easson, Justin Janaskie, M.A. Ballas
Seagrass Loss In Belize: Studies Of Turtlegrass (Thalassia Testudinum) Habitat Using Remote Sensing And Ground-Truth Data, Gary R. Gaston, Cole Easson, Greg Easson, Justin Janaskie, M.A. Ballas
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Spatial and temporal change in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) habitat of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR) in Belize were analyzed using satellite images backed up with ground-truth data. We had two pri-mary objectives. First, we wanted to determine areal expanse of seagrass across a large area (~12 km by 3 km) of the SWCMR, and address its change over time. We used paired satellite images taken during 2001 and 2005 to determine coverage by seagrass and measure temporal variables. These analyses recorded an overall seagrass loss of 1.8% (52.3 ha) during the 4 yr period. Secondly, we …
Determining Salinity-Tolerance Of Giant Salvinia Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Patrick D. Biber
Determining Salinity-Tolerance Of Giant Salvinia Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Patrick D. Biber
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Salvinia molesta Mitchell, a floating invasive aquatic plant, is one of the top 10 worst invasive aquatic weeds in the world. It was discovered in the lower Pascagoula River in 2005 and evidence suggests that this non-native species is spreading along the northern Gulf of Mexico. These plants exhibit rapid growth and nutrient uptake rates, allowing them to out compete other plants in similar habitats. Distributional observations suggest that non-native S. molesta is able to survive in salinities of up to 7 ppt in the lower Pascagoula River. The response of S. molesta to three salinity levels (0, 5, 10 …
First Records Of The Seagrass Parasite Plasmodiophora Diplantherae From The Northcentral Gulf Of Mexico, Allison K. Walker, Jinx Campbell
First Records Of The Seagrass Parasite Plasmodiophora Diplantherae From The Northcentral Gulf Of Mexico, Allison K. Walker, Jinx Campbell
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Plasmodiophora diplantherae is known to occur throughout the pantropical distribution of its host, the seagrass genus Halodule. However, records in the subtropical region are limited to Tampa Bay, FL where it was detected once during an examination of herbar-ium specimens of H. beaudettei collected in December 1951 (den Hartog 1965) and to Fort Pierce, FL where it was collected once infecting H. wrightii (Braselton and Short 1985). This communication represents the first report of this parasite from Mississippi and Louisiana in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
A Comparison Of Fish Populations In Shallow Coastal Lagoons With Contrasting Shoalgrass (Halodule Wrightii) Cover In The Northcentral Gulf Of Mexico, Just Cebrian, Glenn A. Miller, Jason P. Stutes, Adrienne L. Stutes, Mairi E. Miller, Kate L. Sheehan
A Comparison Of Fish Populations In Shallow Coastal Lagoons With Contrasting Shoalgrass (Halodule Wrightii) Cover In The Northcentral Gulf Of Mexico, Just Cebrian, Glenn A. Miller, Jason P. Stutes, Adrienne L. Stutes, Mairi E. Miller, Kate L. Sheehan
Gulf and Caribbean Research
A number of studies have examined the effects of reduced seagrass cover on local fish populations (e.g., Heck et al. 1989, Ferrell and Bell 1991, Hughes et al. 2002 and more), but few of those studies have focused on shoalgrass (e.g., Tolan et al. 1997, Rydene and Matheson 2003). We present a preliminary comparison of fish populations in three shallow coastal lagoons in the northcentral GOM that have varying levels of shoalgrass cover. Namely, we compare (1) abundances of individual species and the entire fish population, (2) fish population diversity, and (3) length-frequency distributions of the most abundant species.
Age Estimates Of Two Large Misty Grouper, Epinephelus Mystacinus (Serranidae) From Bermuda With A Comparison Of The Age Of Tropical Groupers In The Western Atlantic, Brian E. Luckhurst, John M. Dean
Age Estimates Of Two Large Misty Grouper, Epinephelus Mystacinus (Serranidae) From Bermuda With A Comparison Of The Age Of Tropical Groupers In The Western Atlantic, Brian E. Luckhurst, John M. Dean
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Misty grouper are known to attain at least 54 kg and 115 cm total length (TL) (Heemstra and Randall 1993) although a maximum size of 160 cm TL is reported (Appeldoorn et al. 1987, cited in www.FishBase.com). Recently, two specimens (152 and 157 mm TL) were landed by commercial fisherman from the edge of the Bermuda platform, providing documentation of the maximum size which may be attained by this species. There are no age and growth studies on misty grouper (Heemstra and Randall 1993; www.FishBase.com). Therefore, the age data presented here, although not validated, represent the first estimates of maximum …
Macrofauna Associate With Ungrounded Prop Roots Of Rhizophora Mangle In Veracruz And Quintana Roo, Mexico, Kathryn D. Tunnell, Kim Withers
Macrofauna Associate With Ungrounded Prop Roots Of Rhizophora Mangle In Veracruz And Quintana Roo, Mexico, Kathryn D. Tunnell, Kim Withers
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The prop roots of the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) provide a solid substrate for diverse assemblages of marine organisms in areas typically characterized by soft bottoms (Bingham 1992, Farnsworth and Ellison 1996). Macrobenthic communities of mangroves have received little attention compared with other components of the ecosystem, largely due to sampling difficulties (Lee 2008). Mangrove root epifauna are likely used by predatory fish, especially juveniles. Thus, these organisms have the potential of being important links between mangroves and adjacent ecosystems. The fauna associated with red mangrove prop roots along Mexican Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and Caribbean shorelines has …
Morphological Characteristics Of Early Life History Stages Of The Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus Rathbun, From The Northern Gulf Of Mexico With A Comparison Of Studies From The Atlantic Seaboard, Kenneth Stuck, Harriet Perry, Darcie Graham, Richard W. Heard
Morphological Characteristics Of Early Life History Stages Of The Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus Rathbun, From The Northern Gulf Of Mexico With A Comparison Of Studies From The Atlantic Seaboard, Kenneth Stuck, Harriet Perry, Darcie Graham, Richard W. Heard
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Zoeae, megalopae, and early crab stages of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 were described from the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). Observations during this study were based on larvae reared in the laboratory through the early crab stages and on megalopae and early crab stages collected in the wild. Gulf of Mexico data are compared with similar information for the southeast Atlantic coast of the United States. Size and setation of C. sapidus larvae reared from nGOM stocks were different than those in published descriptions of larvae reared from Atlantic populations. Seasonal differences in size were noted in both reared and …
Note On The Natural And Cultural History Of Hurricane Balls, Joyce M. Shaw
Note On The Natural And Cultural History Of Hurricane Balls, Joyce M. Shaw
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Hurricane balls are natural phenomena of tropical storms and hurricane winds and waves and are found along the shoreline. Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) is home to a small collection of hurricane balls which were found along the shore lines of barrier islands and marsh beaches by GCRL staff over the years. Hurricane balls come in many sizes, and large balls can be slightly larger than a standard basketball of 24.8 cm diameter (USA Basketball 2001). Large balls in the Gunter Library collection range from 34.5 cm diameter (from 1969 Hurricane Camille) to 53.5 cm diameter …
Coral Reefs Of Miskitus Cays, Nicaragua, Ana C. Fonseca
Coral Reefs Of Miskitus Cays, Nicaragua, Ana C. Fonseca
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The Miskitus Cays, on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, consist of eighty mangrove and two sand and gravel cays, surrounded by seagrass beds, octocoral gardens, patch reefs, reef crests, extended algae platforms, short reef walls, and two marginal reefs around the sand cays. Seventy sites were inspected and eighteen sites were selected for rapid assessments in order to determine the status of the coral reefs. Linear transects and the intercept point methods were used to determine the relative benthic cover, and the density, size and health of coral colonies was estimated following the AGRRA protocol. Water was highly turbid due …
Seagrass Distribution In The Pensacola Bay System, Northwest Florida, Michael A. Lewis, Richard Devereux, Pete Bourgeois
Seagrass Distribution In The Pensacola Bay System, Northwest Florida, Michael A. Lewis, Richard Devereux, Pete Bourgeois
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Aerial surveys of seagrass coverage in the Pensacola Bay system (PBS) have been conducted during 1960, 1980, 1992 and 2003. This report summarizes the results for the 2003 survey and compares the results to those previously reported for other surveys. The estimated coverage of seagrass for the PBS during 2003 was 1,654 ha. Continuous and patchy coverages ranged from 0 to 684 ha and 11 to 543 ha, respectively, for five PBS subsystems. In 2003, the majority of seagrass coverage occurred in Santa Rosa Sound (76%). Declines in total coverage occurred for East Bay (93%) and Escambia Bay (75%) whereas …
Variability In Estimating Abundance Of Postlarval Brown Shrimp, Farfantepenaeus Aztecus (Ives), Migrating Into Galveston Bay, Texas, Geoffrey A. Matthews
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 = …
Occurrence Of Larval And Juvenile Fish In Mangrove Habitats In The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Matthew Campbell, Kim Withers, James Tolan
Occurrence Of Larval And Juvenile Fish In Mangrove Habitats In The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Matthew Campbell, Kim Withers, James Tolan
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Mangrove forests are ubiquitous in low lying coastal areas of tropical and subtropical zones of the world, including the lagoons of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Mangroves are habitat for juvenile fish of both oceanic and estuarine origin (Vásquez-Yoemans 1992, Vásquez-Yoemans et al. 1992, Laegdsgaard and Johnson 1995). Development of the Caribbean coast of Mexico north and south of the Sian Ka’an Reserve is in large part focused on tourism-related endeavors such as destination resorts, scuba diving and fishing. While some of the development is innocuous, land acquisition for development of resorts has fragmented mangrove habitats in …
Carpoapseudes Heardi N. Sp. (Tanaidacea: Apseudomorpha) From Caribbean Waters Near Tobago, Tom Hansknecht, Katia Christol Dos Santos
Carpoapseudes Heardi N. Sp. (Tanaidacea: Apseudomorpha) From Caribbean Waters Near Tobago, Tom Hansknecht, Katia Christol Dos Santos
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Carpoapseudes heardi n. sp. is described from samples collected from depths of 421 and 537 m off Tobago and is the first Caribbean record for the genus. The new species bears a resemblance to Carpoapseudes serratospinosus Lang, 1968 and other related species in the shortened dactylus unguis combination of pereopod 1, but has parallel eyespines like Carpoapseudes bacescui Guţu, 1975 and Carpoapseudes simplicirostris (Norman and Stebbing, 1886). Other diagnostic characters include pereopods 2 and 3 with basal spurs, labrum with paired lobes, labial palp with two terminal setae, maxillipedal bases with outer crenulations, and pleopods with 1-articled rami. It was …
Habitat Condition And Associated Macrofauna Reflect Differences Between Protected And Exposed Seagrass Landscapes, Chet F. Rakocinski, Cynthia A. Moncreiff, Mark S. Peterson, Katherine E. Vanderkooy, Todd A. Randall
Habitat Condition And Associated Macrofauna Reflect Differences Between Protected And Exposed Seagrass Landscapes, Chet F. Rakocinski, Cynthia A. Moncreiff, Mark S. Peterson, Katherine E. Vanderkooy, Todd A. Randall
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Seagrass landscape configurations associated with different physical settings can affect habitat-structure and plant-animal relationships. We compared shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) habitat and macrofaunal variables between two fragmented seagrass landscapes at barrier-island locations subject to different disturbance regimes. Five seagrass habitat variables including above ground biomass (AGB), shoot number, per shoot biomass, epiphyte biomass and below ground biomass (BGB), differed significantly between the island landscapes. Per shoot biomass and epiphyte biomass also varied significantly over the seagrass growing season; and epiphyte biomass showed a strong landscape-time interaction. Abundances of microgastropods normalized to AGB differed significantly between landscapes. An inverse …
Seasonal Patterns Of Juvenile Fish Abundance In Seagrass Meadows In Teague Bay Bank Barrier Reef Lagoon, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ivan Mateo, William J. Tobias
Seasonal Patterns Of Juvenile Fish Abundance In Seagrass Meadows In Teague Bay Bank Barrier Reef Lagoon, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ivan Mateo, William J. Tobias
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Considerable knowledge has been gained regarding fish use of nearshore habitats such as seagrass meadows or mangrove lagoons in the Caribbean (e.g., evaluation of nursery value, trophic linkages). However, few studies have been conducted on fish recruitment to seagrass habitat around the Caribbean. Juvenile reef fish in seagrass meadows at Teague Bay, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands were surveyed from October 1998 through September 1999 using a visual census technique. Grunts (Haemulidae) were the most abundant juveniles observed (60% of all fish), followed by wrasses (Labridae, 20%) and parrotfishes (Scaridae, 13%). French grunt, Haemulon flavolineatum, were the most numerous …
An Unusual Reaction And Other Observations Of Sperm Whales Near Fixed-Wing Aircraft, Mari A. Smultea, Joseph R. Mobley Jr., Dagmar Fertl, Gregory L. Fulling
An Unusual Reaction And Other Observations Of Sperm Whales Near Fixed-Wing Aircraft, Mari A. Smultea, Joseph R. Mobley Jr., Dagmar Fertl, Gregory L. Fulling
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Reported behavioral reactions by sperm whales to aircraft are sparse, highly variable, and largely anecdotal as summarized below. Observers since the whaling era began have noted that sperm whales tend to be skittish (Whitehead 2003). When documented, sperm whale reactions to both planes and helicopters range from no reaction (Clarke 1956, Gambell 1968, Green et al. 1992) to reactions such as increased surface intervals and dramatic behavioral changes (Clarke 1956, Fritts et al. 1983, Mullin et al. 1991, Würsig et al. 1998, Richter et al. 2003, 2006). Given the lack of supporting data for either case, it is important that …
Documentation Of A Gulf Sturgeon Spawning Site On The Yellow River, Alabama, Usa, Brian R. Kreiser, J. Berg, M. Randall, F. Parauka, S. Floyd, B. Young, K. Sulak
Documentation Of A Gulf Sturgeon Spawning Site On The Yellow River, Alabama, Usa, Brian R. Kreiser, J. Berg, M. Randall, F. Parauka, S. Floyd, B. Young, K. Sulak
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The Gulf Sturgeon Recovery Plan (USFWS, GSMFC and NMFS 1995) stressed the need to provide maximum protection to Gulf sturgeon spawning habitat. The approach employed by various Gulf sturgeon researchers, including ourselves, to document spawning has been to identify potential spawning habitat on the basis of physical characteristics and/or tracking data, collect eggs, and then raise the eggs in the laboratory until the point where the larval fish can be identified (e.g., Marchant and Shutters 1996, Sulak and Clugston 1998, 1999). However, collecting eggs in any appreciable number is usually difficult, and these eggs may not always be viable upon …
Preliminary Survey Of Fish Community Composition In Seagrass Habitat In Two Back-Reef Lagoons Of The Southern Mexican Caribbean, Lauren A. Yeager, J. Ernesto Arias-Gonzalez
Preliminary Survey Of Fish Community Composition In Seagrass Habitat In Two Back-Reef Lagoons Of The Southern Mexican Caribbean, Lauren A. Yeager, J. Ernesto Arias-Gonzalez
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Little is known about seagrass fish communities in the southern Mexican Caribbean. Diurnal and nocturnal fish community structure in seagrass habitat were compared between back-reef lagoons using a visual census technique in a natural protected area within a national park (Xcalak) and an unprotected area (Mahahual). Seagrass fish communities differed significantly between the two locations in the daytime and Xcalak supported greater total fish densities. Species richness did not differ statistically between locations. Observed nighttime fish communities were characterized by low species richness and low fish abundance when compared to diurnal communities. Heavy tourist use and coastal development may have …
Shell Utilization Pattern By The Hermit Crab Isocheles Sawayai Forest And Saint Laurent, 1968 (Anomura, Diogenidae) From Margarita Island, Caribbean Sea, Venezuela, Lee A. Galindo, Juan A. Bolanos, Fernando L. Mantelatto
Shell Utilization Pattern By The Hermit Crab Isocheles Sawayai Forest And Saint Laurent, 1968 (Anomura, Diogenidae) From Margarita Island, Caribbean Sea, Venezuela, Lee A. Galindo, Juan A. Bolanos, Fernando L. Mantelatto
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Isocheles sawayai is a hermit crab that is occasionally mentioned in the literature, and recently its distribution was extended to Venezuelan waters. Because no information on the biology and shell use patterns of this species inhabiting Caribbean waters is available, we provide the first information on shell occupation patterns of I. sawayai from Venezuela. Specimens were collected monthly from January to December 2000 along the sandy shore of Margarita Island, Venezuela. The 942 specimens collected showed different shell use patterns between the sexes and according to the reproductive condition of the females. The gastropods Leucozonia nassa (37.37%), Engoniophos unicinctus (25.37%), …
First Record Of Ceratapsis Monstrosa, A Larval Oceanic Penaeoid Crustacean, From The Gulf Of Mexico, James S. Franks, Adrienne Russell Flowers
First Record Of Ceratapsis Monstrosa, A Larval Oceanic Penaeoid Crustacean, From The Gulf Of Mexico, James S. Franks, Adrienne Russell Flowers
Gulf and Caribbean Research
The genus Cerataspis (Gray, 1838) (Crustacea, Decapoda), assigned to the Penaeoidea by Burkenroad (1936) and Heegaard (1966), has circumglobal distribution between 40ºN and 40ºS (Morgan et al. 1985) and is represented in the Atlantic Ocean by two rarely collected species, C. monstrosa and C. petiti. Descriptions of both species are based on the larval forms since their adult form remain undescribed (Morgan et al. 1985). Although the larval development of Cerataspis is described by five mysis stages (I-V) (Heegaard 1966), the large larva is very un-mysid like and appears more like that of a megalops with the abdomen bend …