The Role of Sea-Whip Coral (Leptogorgia sp.) as Habitat of Temperate Near-Shore Fish of Gulf of Mexico Jetties

Many fish species use intercoastal jetties throughout their life cycle to migrate to and from the ocean into bays and estuaries. During migration, fish may encounter rock, algae, sand, sea-grass, and coral. Anecdotal information indicates that some migrating fish of intercoastal jetties preferentially select colonies of gorgonian coral (Leptogorgia spp.) vs. any other habitat when encountering a predator.  Since very little information exists regarding Leptogorgia, we focused our study in determining the importance of such coral as fish habitat.  Stationary field sampling was conducted seasonally to determine the abundance of these coral, the type of migrating fish, and the habitat they associated with.  Mesocosm studies were then conducted to determine whether Leptogorgia habitats are important to fish in the presence or absence of a predator.  Five different habitats were compared (rock, algae, sand, Leptogorgia, and seagrass) and 6 species of fish (sergeant major, pinfish, mangrove snapper, spotfin mojarra, pigfish, and red drum). In the field study component, more than 600 colonies of Leptogorgia were observed and 17 different fish species.  The most commonly observed fish were sergeant major, pinfish, mangrove snapper, and spotfin mojarra, however, sergeant majors were the most abundant species using coral as habitat.  The use of mesocosms showed that all fish species significantly selected for structured habitat over non-structured habitat (e.g. sand), but that the fish commonly called ‘sergeant major’ significantly (ANOVA; p ≤ 0.001) selected for Leptogorgia.

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Tropical seaweed beds as important habitats for juvenile fish

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf16153 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (10) ◽

pp. 1921 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

S. A. Tano ◽

M. Eggertsen ◽

S. A. Wikström ◽

C. Berkström ◽

A. S. Buriyo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Fish Habitat ◽

Juvenile Fish ◽

Visual Census ◽

Seagrass Meadows ◽

Commercially Important ◽

Fish Habitats ◽

Habitat Variables

Seaweed beds within tropical seascapes have received little attention as potential fish habitat, despite other vegetated habitats, such as seagrass meadows and mangroves, commonly being recognised as important nurseries for numerous fish species. In addition, studies of vegetated habitats rarely investigate fish assemblages across different macrophyte communities. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of tropical seaweed beds as fish habitat, particularly for juvenile fish, by comparing their fish assemblages with those of closely situated seagrass beds. Fish assemblages were assessed by visual census in belt transects, where fish were identified and their length estimated, and habitat variables were estimated for each transect. The abundance of juvenile fish in seaweed beds was twice as high as that in seagrass meadows, whereas there was no difference in total, subadult or adult fish abundance. In addition, the abundance of commercially important and coral reef-associated juveniles was higher in seaweed beds, as was fish species richness. Fish assemblages differed between habitats, with siganids being more common in seagrass meadows and juvenile Labridae and Serranidae more common in seaweed beds. These results highlight that tropical seaweed beds are important juvenile fish habitats and underscore the need to widen the view of the shallow tropical seascape.

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Mosquito Vector Production across Socio-Economic Divides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041420 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1420

Author(s):

Rebeca de Jesús Crespo ◽

Madison Harrison ◽

Rachel Rogers ◽

Randy Vaeth

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Baton Rouge ◽

Habitat Preferences ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Mosquito Larvae ◽

Mosquito Vector ◽

Mosquito Vectors ◽

Low Income Groups ◽

Socio Economic Factors

We investigated the role of socio-economic factors in the proliferation of mosquito vectors in two adjacent but socio-economically contrasting neighborhoods in Baton Rouge, LA, USA. We surveyed mosquito larvae habitat, mosquito larvae, and adult mosquitoes during the summer of 2020. We also evaluated the number of requests for mosquito abatement services in the years preceding the study for each area. While we did not find differences in terms of the most abundant species, Culex quinquefasicatus (F1,30 = 0.329, p = 0.57), we did find a higher abundance of mosquito habitats, particularly discarded tires, as well as larvae (z = 13.83, p < 0.001) and adults (F1,30 = 4.207, p = 0.049) of the species Aedes albopictus in the low-income neighborhood. In contrast, mosquito abatement requests were significantly higher in the high socio-economic neighborhood (z = −8.561, p < 0.001). This study shows how factors such as adjudicated properties, discarded tires and pest abatement requests can influence the abundance of mosquito vectors, disproportionately affecting low-income groups. This study also highlights how Aedes spp. may be better indicators than Culex spp. of socio-economic differences between nearby neighborhoods, due to their short flight range and habitat preferences, and this should be considered in future studies attempting to detect such disparities in the future.

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Deep-Water Cartilaginous Fishes in the Central Mediterranean Sea: Comparison between Geographic Areas with Two Low Impact Tools for Sampling

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9070686 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 686

Author(s):

Angela Carluccio ◽

Francesca Capezzuto ◽

Porzia Maiorano ◽

Letizia Sion ◽

Gianfranco D’Onghia

Keyword(s):

Adriatic Sea ◽

Fish Habitat ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Cartilaginous Fish ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Ionian Sea ◽

Central Mediterranean ◽

The North ◽

North Western

Baited lander represents a low impact technique, an alternative to the traditional trawl sampling for collecting data on fish diversity and abundance, especially for threatened species such as Chondrichthyes living in sensitive habitats. In this study, distribution and abundance of cartilaginous fish were compared between two geographic areas, the southern Adriatic Sea and the north-western Ionian Sea, with two low impact sampling gears, an experimental bottom longline and a baited lander. Species diversity was evaluated by applying ecological indices and difference in mean abundances were tested using multivariate analysis. A total of 13 species of cartilaginous fish were collected. Significant differences in the assemblage recorded in the same area using different sampling tools were detected and no significant differences were detected among different areas explored with the same method. Using longline, the most abundant species collected in both areas was Galeus melastomus, while using lander, the most observed species were Dalatias licha in the southern Adriatic Sea and Hexanchus griseus in the north-western Ionian Sea. According to IUCN classification, of the 13 species collected, 2 are near threatened and 5 are threatened. A better governance of sensitive habitats coinciding with the essential fish habitat for these species would ensure them a better conservation status.

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Species functional traits and abundance as drivers of multiplex ecological networks: first empirical quantification of inter-layer edge weights

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2020.2127 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 287 (1939) ◽

pp. 20202127

Author(s):

S. Hervías-Parejo ◽

C. Tur ◽

R. Heleno ◽

M. Nogales ◽

S. Timóteo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Traits ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Modular Organization ◽

Vertebrate Species ◽

Multilayer Network ◽

Functional Roles ◽

Different Types ◽

Seed Dispersers ◽

Natural Communities

Many vertebrate species act as both plant pollinators and seed-dispersers, thus interconnecting these processes, particularly on islands. Ecological multilayer networks are a powerful tool to explore interdependencies between processes; however, quantifying the links between species engaging in different types of interactions (i.e. inter-layer edges) remains a great challenge. Here, we empirically measured inter-layer edge weights by quantifying the role of individually marked birds as both pollinators and seed-dispersers of Galápagos plant species over an entire year. Although most species (80%) engaged in both functions, we show that only a small proportion of individuals actually linked the two processes, highlighting the need to further consider intra-specific variability in individuals' functional roles. Furthermore, we found a high variation among species in linking both processes, i.e. some species contribute more than others to the modular organization of the multilayer network. Small and abundant species are particularly important for the cohesion of pollinator seed-dispersal networks, demonstrating the interplay between species traits and neutral processes structuring natural communities.

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Diversity and abundance of cichlids in Ikere Gorge Reservoir, Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria

Zoologist (The) ◽

10.4314/tzool.v18i1.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 52-56

Author(s):

S.O. Ajagbe ◽

R.O. Ajagbe ◽

O.S. Ariwoola ◽

F.I. Abdulazeez ◽

O.O. Oyewole ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Riparian Forest ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Freshwater Ecosystems ◽

Freshwater Species ◽

Fishing Villages ◽

Gorge Reservoir ◽

Commercially Important ◽

Sarotherodon Galilaeus ◽

Fish Species Diversity

Cichlids are highly abundant and commercially important fish in freshwater ecosystems in Nigeria. This study examined the diversity and abundance of cichlids in Ikere Gorge Reservoir. Four fishing villages were randomly selected from 12 fishing villages in Ikere Gorge Reservoir as sampling sites. Cichlids were sampled randomly and examined from fishermen catch in each selected fishing village; were identified with appropriate keys; the weight and abundance of the catches were recorded. The data obtained was subjected to descriptive statistical analysis using SPSS (Version 20.0) software to determine the abundance of fish species. Fish species diversity was carried out by using Palaeontological Statistics (PAST). Eight species of cichlids were sampled in Ikere Gorge but Sarotherodon galilaeus was the most abundant species while the least abundant species was Pelmatolapia mariae. It was observed that, cichlids were abundant in rainy season than in the dry season. Likewise, cichlids were abundant in Ikere-gorge reservoir but they have low diversity. This may be as a result of unsustainable fishing pressure and deforestation of riparian forest and sedimentation in Ikere-gorge reservoir. Therefore, to maintain sustainable fishing activities and improve cichlids population in Ikeregorge reservoir, unsustainable activities in and around Ikere Gorge reservoir should be put under control. Keywords: Cichlidae; freshwater species; dominant; Sarotherodon galilaeus; Pelmatolapia mariae.

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Siphonophora from the coast of Brazil (17ºS to 24ºS)

Boletim do Instituto Oceanográfico ◽

10.1590/s0373-55241991000100004 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 61-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Catarina Ramis Nogueira ◽

Sérgio dos Reis Oliveira Jr

Keyword(s):

East Coast ◽

Coastal Upwelling ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Factorial Analysis ◽

The Other ◽

Trophic Interaction ◽

Principal Axes ◽

Bank System

This work is based on the analysis of 99 zooplankton samples collected during the Oceanographic Expedition "ESPÍRITO SANTO I", held along the east coast of Brazil, between Cabo Frio and Abrolhos Archipelago, an area characterized by the occurrence of coastal upwelling, from July to September 1984. Zooplankton was collected with vertical plankton net hauls of 250 µm mesh size in the upper 200 meters layer. A total of twenty one species of Siphonophora was observed, two of which were identified as being physonect and the other as calycophorans. Specific diversity close to the shore and at the neighborhood of the Vitória-Trindade Bank System, showed smaller values, in comparison with those in the oceanic regions. Factorial analysis was used in order to access the changes observed in the population of the eleven most abundant species. The first two principal axes represented the influence of the nearshore - offshore gradient and the role of trophic interaction, accounted for 60% of the total variance of the data.

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The hydraulic management of the Barra Bonita reservoir (SP, Brazil) as a factor influencing the temporal succession of its fish community

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842007000300008 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 433-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

ML. Petesse ◽

M. Petrere Jr. ◽

RJ. Spigolon

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Fish Community ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Anthropogenic Stress ◽

Reservoir Level ◽

Species List ◽

Adaptation Capacity ◽

Reproductive Structures ◽

Temporal Succession ◽

Reproductive Compensation

The temporal succession of fish communities allows evaluating the environmental conditions and the adaptation capacity of the fish species to anthropogenic stress in reservoirs. The fish community at Barra Bonita reservoir was sampled in two different periods of the year (dry and rainy) and in three different areas of the reservoir (fluvial, transition, and lentic). The species list was compared to another four lists, trying to detect the transformations of the fish community for the last 15 years. In order to evaluate the adaptation of the present fish community to the hydraulic management of reservoir, the trophic and reproductive structures were studied. Temporal succession analysis shows little change in fish richness of the communities. The number of fish species varies between 23 and 39 for a total of 68 registered species. From this, 27 can be considered constant, 14 accessory and 27 accidental; the main differences observed were for Anostomidae, Loricariidae and Characidae families. In relation to the hydraulic management, we found a fish community stabilized and adapted to environmental stress. This is characterized by the dominance of small-sized fish species of opportunistic diet and high reproductive compensation (r-strategists). The overlap of biological cycles of the most abundant species with the reservoir level fluctuations points to the period from September to March-April as critical for reproductive success and only the species with partial reproductive strategy or parental care are best succeeded. These results, interpreted in the context of the reservoir aging process, indicate that Barra Bonita reservoir is entering a transition phase, between the colonization and aging stages.

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The role of the geophysical template and environmental regimes in controlling stream-living trout populations

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2014-0377 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (6) ◽

pp. 893-901 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Brooke E. Penaluna ◽

Steve F. Railsback ◽

Jason B. Dunham ◽

Sherri Johnson ◽

Robert E. Bilby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Habitat ◽

Spatiotemporal Variability ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Low Flow ◽

Aquatic Biota ◽

Relative Role ◽

Oncorhynchus Clarkii ◽

Environmental Regimes ◽

Multiple Processes

The importance of multiple processes and instream factors to aquatic biota has been explored extensively, but questions remain about how local spatiotemporal variability of aquatic biota is tied to environmental regimes and the geophysical template of streams. We used an individual-based trout model to explore the relative role of the geophysical template versus environmental regimes on biomass of trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii). We parameterized the model with observed data from each of the four headwater streams (their local geophysical template and environmental regime) and then ran 12 simulations where we replaced environmental regimes (stream temperature, flow, turbidity) of a given stream with values from each neighboring stream while keeping the geophysical template fixed. We also performed single-parameter sensitivity analyses on the model results from each of the four streams. Although our modeled findings show that trout biomass is most responsive to changes in the geophysical template of streams, they also reveal that biomass is restricted by available habitat during seasonal low flow, which is a product of both the stream’s geophysical template and flow regime. Our modeled results suggest that differences in the geophysical template among streams render trout more or less sensitive to environmental change, emphasizing the importance of local fish–habitat relationships in streams.

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Polyculture in fish farming as a method of preventing fish diseases

Rybovodstvo i rybnoe hozjajstvo (Fish Breeding and Fisheries) ◽

10.33920/sel-09-2109-03 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 30-40

Author(s):

Grigory Emelyanovich Servetnik

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Fish Habitat ◽

Fish Farming ◽

Natural Food ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Fish Farms ◽

Fish Diseases ◽

Host Body ◽

Contagious Diseases

Methods of prevention of fish diseases are aimed at destroying parasites in the host body and in the fish habitat — in the reservoir (chemoprophylaxis, increasing fish resistance), at preventing parasites from entering the reservoir (limiting the import of fish, import of healthy fish, quarantine measures, etc.), as well as preventing their spread and entry into the host body. It is shown that polyculture is not only the most effective method of using the natural forage base of the reservoir and, as a result, increasing fish productivity, but also a means of preventing mass infectious and other fish diseases. To prevent mass infectious diseases of fish and death from them both in safe and unfavorable ponds of carp fish farms, it is advisable to grow other fish species together with carp that do not suffer from diseases peculiar to carp. As a result, so-called sparse species plantings of fish are created in the ponds, while the total biomass remains high. At the same time, the natural food supply of ponds is most fully used and a kind of biological buffer is created that prevents the emergence and spread of contagious diseases. Polyculture can play a particularly important role in pond farms that already have certain problems with rubella, filometroidosis, botryocephalosis, carp pox, etc. Long-term studies of breeding herds in pond farms have shown that most of them have single foci of diseases, which, if there are optimal conditions for the pathogen, are ready to immediately respond with an outbreak of the disease or are generally quarantined for a particular fish disease. When determining the objects of polyculture, it is necessary to reduce the proportion of fish species that have a significant number of common diseases.

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