Bioaccumulation of mercury in pelagic fishes from the northern Gulf of Mexico

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Cai ◽  
Jay R Rooker ◽  
Gary A Gill ◽  
Jason P Turner
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Thunnus Albacares ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Pelagic Fishes ◽  
Makaira Nigricans ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Greater Amberjack ◽  
King Mackerel ◽  
The Relationship

Total mercury (Hg) concentration was determined in the tissues of 10 pelagic fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and dietary tracers (stable isotopes and fatty acids) were used to evaluate the relationship between Hg and feeding history. Highest Hg levels were observed in blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), carcharhinid sharks (Carcha rhinus spp.), and little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), ranging from 1.08 to 10.52 ppm. Moderate to low concentrations (<1.0 ppm) were observed in blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), dolphinfish (Cory phaena hippurus), greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla), wahoo (Acantho cybium solandri), and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). For the majority of species examined, Hg concentrations did not vary significantly between location (Texas vs. Louisiana) or collection period (2002 and 2003). Significant positive relationships between Hg concentration and body size and (or) weight were detected for 6 of the 10 taxa examined. Hg concentration was also positively associated with trophic position. Three natural associations were identified using stable isotope and fatty acid signatures. Still, no connection between these natural trophic associations and Hg concentration was observed, suggesting that Hg concentration in pelagic fishes was more closely linked to trophic position and size than feeding history.

Biotelemetry based estimates of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) post-release mortality in the northern Gulf of Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 239-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Stone Jackson ◽  
J. Marcus Drymon ◽  
T. Reid Nelson ◽  
Sean P. Powers
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Seriola Dumerili ◽  
Greater Amberjack

scholarly journals The Northern Gulf of Mexico During OAE2 and the Relationship Between Water Depth and Black Shale Development

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 1316-1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Lowery ◽  
Robert Cunningham ◽  
Craig D. Barrie ◽  
Timothy Bralower ◽  
John W. Snedden
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Black Shale ◽  
Water Depth ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) foraging habitat and trophic position in the Gulf of Mexico based on intrinsic isotope tracers

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246082
Author(s):  
Meliza Le-Alvarado ◽  
Alfonsina E. Romo-Curiel ◽  
Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki ◽  
Oscar Hernández-Sánchez ◽  
Leticia Barbero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Trophic Ecology ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Yellowfin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Albacares ◽  
Important Species ◽  
One Year

Yellowfin tuna (YFT, Thunnus albacares) is a commercially important species targeted by fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico (GM). Previous studies suggest a high degree of residency in the northern GM, although part of the population performs movements to southern Mexican waters. Whether YFT caught in southern waters also exhibit residency or migrate to the northern gulf is currently uncertain, and little is known regarding their trophic ecology. The isotopic composition (bulk & amino acids) of YFT muscle and liver tissues were compared to a zooplankton-based synoptic isoscape from the entire GM to infer feeding areas and estimate Trophic Position (TP). The spatial distribution of δ15Nbulk and δ15NPhe values of zooplankton indicated two distinct isotopic baselines: one with higher values in the northern GM likely driven by denitrification over the continental shelf, and another in the central-southern gulf, where nitrogen fixation predominates. Based on the contribution of the two regional isotopic baselines to YFT tissues, broad feeding areas were inferred, with a greater contribution of the northern GM (over a one-year time scale by muscle), and to a lesser extent in the central-southern GM (over the ca. 6-month scale by liver). This was corroborated by similarities in δ15NPhe values between YFT and the northern GM. TP estimates were calculated based on stable isotope analysis of bulk (SIA) and compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA-AA) of the canonical source and trophic amino acids. Mean TP based on SIA was 4.9 ± 1.0 and mean TP based on CSIA-A was 3.9 ± 0.2. YFT caught within the Mexican region seem to feed in northern and in central and southern GM, while feeding in the northern GM has a temporal component. Thus, management strategies need to consider that YFT caught in US and Mexican waters are a shared binational resource that exhibit feeding migrations within the GM.

Effects of hypoxia on habitat quality of pelagic planktivorous fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico

2014 ◽  
Vol 505 ◽  
pp. 209-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Zhang ◽  
DM Mason ◽  
CA Stow ◽  
AT Adamack ◽  
SB Brandt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico

Isotopic characterization of lifetime movement by two demersal fishes from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 657 ◽  
pp. 161-172
Author(s):  
JL Vecchio ◽  
JL Ostroff ◽  
EB Peebles
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Eye Lens ◽  
Outer Continental Shelf ◽  
Red Grouper ◽  
Lens Diameter ◽  
Isotopic Characterization

An understanding of lifetime trophic changes and ontogenetic habitat shifts is essential to the preservation of marine fish species. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) recorded within the laminar structure of fish eye lenses, reflecting both diet and location over time, to compare the lifetime trends of 2 demersal mesopredators. Tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps inhabit burrows on the outer continental shelf, which results in exceptional site fidelity. Red grouper Epinephelus morio are spawned on the middle to outer continental shelf, move to the inner shelf for the juvenile period, and return offshore upon sexual maturity. Both species inhabit the eastern Gulf of Mexico, a region with a distinctive offshore-inshore gradient in background δ13C values. Within individual tilefish (n = 36), sequences of δ13C values and δ15N values had strong, positive correlations with eye-lens diameter, and strong correlations between the 2 isotopes (mean Spearman r = 0.86), reflecting an increase in trophic position with growth and little lifetime movement. In red grouper (n = 30), δ15N values positively correlated with eye-lens diameter, but correlations between δ15N and δ13C were weak (mean Spearman r = 0.29), suggesting cross-shelf ontogenetic movements. Linear mixed model results indicated strong relationships between δ15N and δ13C values in tilefish eye lenses but no convergence in the red grouper model. Collectively, these results are consistent with previously established differences in the life histories of the 2 species, demonstrating the potential utility of eye-lens isotope records, particularly for investigating the life histories of lesser-known species.

EAARL Coastal Topography - Northern Gulf of Mexico, 2007: Bare Earth

Data Series ◽  
10.3133/ds400 ◽  
2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E.L. Smith ◽  
Amar Nayegandhi ◽  
C. Wayne Wright ◽  
Jamie M. Bonisteel ◽  
John C. Brock
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Northern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Coastal Topography
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