scholarly journals Distribution and Age Composition of Red Snapper across the Inner Continental Shelf of the North-Central Gulf of Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 147 (5) ◽  
pp. 791-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean P. Powers ◽  
J. Marcus Drymon ◽  
Crystal L. Hightower ◽  
Trey Spearman ◽  
George S. Bosarge ◽  
...  
1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Carter Watterson ◽  
William F. Patterson ◽  
Robert L. Shipp ◽  
James H. Cowan

<em>Abstract.</em>—Video estimation of the relative abundance of fishes is a noninvasive method commonly used to assess fish densities. This technique can be used to characterize habitat use patterns either of fish assemblages or of a particular species of interest. The objectives of this study were to quantify relative abundance of red snapper, <em>Lutjanus campechanus</em>, and to characterize with video methodology the associated fish assemblages over different habitat types. Fishes were enumerated over sand, shell, and natural hard bottom reef habitats in the north-central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) off Alabama on quarterly cruises over a two-year period with a baited stationary underwater video camera array. Red snapper showed both significantly higher abundance and larger size over the reef habitat; however, no seasonal effects were observed, indicating temporal abundance patterns were consistent among seasons. Fish assemblages differed among habitats, with significant differences between reef and shell assemblages. Efforts to identify the species that most contributed to these differences indicated that the red snapper accounted for 59% of the overall similarity within the reef fish assemblage and 20% of the total dissimilarity between the shell and reef fish assemblages. This study highlights the utility of applying video techniques to identify the importance of sand, shell, and reef habitat types both to different life stages of red snapper, and to the different fish assemblages occupying distinct habitats in the north-central GOM.


<em>Abstract.</em>—Red snapper, <em>Lutjanus campechanus</em>, is a heavily exploited reef fish that is harvested in the Gulf of Mexico from both natural and artificial reefs. Since regulations were imposed in 1990, the stock has begun to recover; this recovery has also been attributed in part to an increase in artificial habitats/reefs. However, little is known about the role artificial reefs play in the trophic dynamics of the species. To this end, the seasonal and size-specific diet of red snapper was examined through stomach content analysis of individuals collected from artificial reefs in the north-central Gulf of Mexico off Alabama between May 1999 and April 2000. Diet information was subsequently combined with data from the literature to obtain a first-order estimate of prey demand of the red snapper population on artificial reefs off Alabama. Results indicate both that diet varied with season and red snapper size and that the overall diet was comprised primarily of demersal crustaceans, fish, and pelagic zooplankton. Annual prey demand of the red snapper population on Alabama artificial reefs was estimated to be over 31 million kg. Red snapper derived most of their nutrition from sand/mud- and water column-associated organisms, not from organisms associated with reefs. Based on these results, and the results from other red snapper studies off Alabama, Alabama artificial reefs may be attracting, not producing red snapper.


2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Cesar SANTOS ◽  
Roberto SCHWARZ JUNIOR ◽  
Helen Audrey PICHLER ◽  
Olímpio Rafael CARDOSO ◽  
Marcelo Renato LAMOUR ◽  
...  

The composition and structure of fish assemblages in the inner continental shelf of the Paraná State are affected by cold fronts and the rainfall regime. Data from fishing activities in this region, as well as the analysis of environmental characteristics, are the main tools available for understanding fish dynamics, under influence of increasing human activities. In order to better understand patterns and temporal variations in fish assemblages in the inner continental shelf of the Paraná State, a total of 24 double trawls were performed with an otter trawl between August 2000 and July 2001, in two sampling areas, the North area in front of the northern mouth of the Paranaguá Estuary Complex, and the South area, in front of the Leste beach. A total of 45,277 fish specimens belonging to 35 families and 97 species were caught. Sciaenidae was the most abundant family, with 37.1% of the total number of individuals caught, and with the highest richness (18 species). Statistical analyses evidenced significant differences in environmental characteristics and in fish fauna, and that both areas disturbances were observed in the fish assemblages during the dry and wet season, being more intense in the Southern area, disturbances that would be related to the shrimp fishing present in the two areas sampled in this study.


1973 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas T. Tieh ◽  
Thomas E. Pyle ◽  
David H. Eggler ◽  
Ronald A. Nelson

2018 ◽  
Vol 147 (5) ◽  
pp. 996-1010
Author(s):  
Trevor Moncrief ◽  
Nancy J. Brown-Peterson ◽  
Mark S. Peterson

<em>Abstract.</em>—Trawl surveys were conducted to measure patterns of habitat use by newly settled red snapper <em>Lutjanus campechanus </em>at three natural banks on the inner continental shelf of Texas. Digital side-scan sonar and multibeam bathymetric data were used to define inshore (mud), ridge (shell), and offshore (mud) habitats for Freeport Rocks, Heald Bank, and Sabine Bank. Otter trawls were conducted July through September in 2003 (Heald Bank, Sabine Bank) and in 2004 (Freeport Rocks) during the settlement period of red snapper. Freeport Rocks had markedly higher densities of red snapper (91 ha<sup>⁻1</sup>) in 2004 than Heald Bank (6 ha<sup>⁻1</sup>) or Sabine Bank (<1 ha<sup>⁻1</sup>) in 2003. A significant habitat effect was observed at Heald Bank and densities were higher at offshore mud habitats; no habitat effect was detected for Freeport Rocks or Sabine Bank. Growth rates varied from 0.86 mm‧d<sup>⁻1</sup> at Sabine Bank up to 1.12 mm‧d<sup>⁻1</sup> at Freeport Rocks, and rates were higher on inshore and offshore mud than ridge habitats. Otolith-based estimates of age indicated that settlers were first detected at 22–28 d and the majority of individuals were 30–60 d. Hatch dates peaked from early June to early July in both 2003 and 2004. Results from this study indicate that both shell and inshore and offshore mud habitats associated with these natural banks serve as settlement habitat of red snapper, and all three habitats have the potential to function as nursery areas of this species.


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