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Oceanic Transport And Life History Of The Tropical Western Atlantic Opossum Pipefish, Microphis Brachyurus Lineatus, Sarah Frias-Torres

Theses and Dissertations

The opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus lineatus, is a tropical migratory syngnathid. Adults live and breed in freshwater tributaries in specific emergent vegetative habitats. Juveniles associate with pelagic Sargassum in the tropical western Atlantic. Reproduction occurs during the wet season (May-November). Juvenile recruitment occurs during the dry season (December-April). The objective of this dissertation is to study the east Florida breeding population in the freshwater tributaries of the Indian River Lagoon and focus on: 1) Larval drift to the Gulf Stream and, 2) recruitment of pelagic juveniles from the Gulf Stream onto the freshwater breeding habitat. Pouch released larvae face sharp …