DOCSLIB.ORG

CURAÇAO Biology of the Graysby, Cruentatus, of the Coral Reef of Curaçao

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
CURAÇAO Biology of the Graysby, Cruentatus, of the Coral Reef of Curaçao STUDIES ON THE FAUNA OF CURAÇAO AND OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS: No. 186 Biology of the Graysby, Epinephelus cruentatus, of the coral reef of Curaçao by W.P. Nagelkerken (Cara'ibisch Marien-Biologisch Instituut, Curasao) Page Figure Table I. INTRODUCTION 1. General remarks 3 2. Nomenclature, relationship and description (PI. I-II) 5 3. Geographicrange 6 1 4. Localities and habitat description 8 2-3 1 II. VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF EPINEPHELUS CRUEN- TATUS ON THE CORAL REEF AT THE SOUTHWEST COAST OF CURASAO 1. Introduction 12 14 3-36 2. Vertical distribution, transects from m. 13 4—5 2—5 3. Vertical distributionin relation to coral cover . 20 6-7 4. Vertical distributionin relation and 24 to length sex. 8-9 6 5. Vertical distribution duringthe seasons 27 7 6. Vertical distribution duringa day 28 10 7. Vertical distribution in relation to Chromis mul- tilineata (PI. Ilia) 30 11-12 III. AGE DETERMINATION 1. Introduction 33 2. Material and methods 34 13 3. Results 37 a. Proportional growth of the otolith 37 14 b. to Number of rings in relation total length . 38 15 c. Ring-formationwith time (PI. Ill b) 39 16-17 8 d. Back-calculation of length on basis of ring- formation 45 9-10 e. Conclusions 47 4. Discussion 47 18 2 IV. GROWTH 1. Introduction 52 2. Material and methods 52 3. Results 53 a. Seasonal growth 53 19 b. Annual growth 54 20-21 c. Growth of females and males 56 22 d. Annual increase in body weight 56 23 e. total - standard 57 24 Relationship length length. f. Length-weightrelationship 58 25 g. Mortality 59 26 4. Discussion 61 V. REPRODUCTION 1. Introduction 64 2. Material and methods 65 3. Results 66 General remarks structures. 66 27 a. on gonadal ... b. Oogenesis (PL IV-VI) 67 c. Spermatogenesis 68 Gonad classes 68 d. development (PI. VII-X) ... to e. Maturation in relation length 71 28-32 33 11 f. Maturation in relation to age 76 Maturation in the of the 77 34 g. course year h. Sex-ratio 79 35 12-13 i. Fecundity 81 36 14 4. Discussion 83 a. Spawning season 83 b. and of 83 Length age spawningpartners c. Transitionals and sex-ratio 83 VI. FEEDING AND FOOD 1. Introduction 88 2. Material and methods 88 3. Results 89 15 a. Food composition of the Graysbys 89 to b. Food composition in relation length .... 92 16 and c. Relation between length predator weight of 92 37—38 prey d. Dial variation in feeding 94 39 e. Seasonal variation in feeding 95 40 4. Discussion 96 VII. SUMMARY - RESUMEN 98 VIII. REFERENCES 102 PLATES I-X I INTRODUCTION 1. GENERAL REMARKS carnivorous fishes in Groupers (family Serranidae) are important tropical and subtropical areas. They are excellent food fishes and in form of the commercial and many areas they an important portion catch. MOE ranked sport According to (1969), groupers were sec- ond highest in pounds landed (8,446,443) of the food fishes in Flori- da in 1965. However, little is known of their biology. SMITH (1958, 1961, has studied the Serranidae the and of 1971) to define genera species the American groupers, and to trace the evolutionary trends in the Epinephelines. His studies give extensive, mainly taxonomic data the American Another contribution is the on groupers. important study by MOE (1969) on the biology of the Red grouper, Epinephe- lus He studied several of this morio. aspects species such as age structure, reproduction and growth. Also THOMPSON & MUNRO (1974) gave many data of several grouper species in Jamaica. How- ever, they could not determine the age of these fishes. MCERLEAN (1963) studied the biology of the Gag, Mycteroperca microlepis. He used otoliths for the of this Some determining age grouper species. general data on groupers are given by BARDACH (1958a, 1958b), LONGLEY & HILDEBRAND (1941), RANDALL & BROCK (1960), and CLARK (1965). SMITH (1959, 1965, 1967) and SMITH & YOUNG (1966) made extensive studies on hermaphroditism and reproduction in 4 in done several grouper species. Tagging experiments groupers were by RANDALL (1961, 1962), SPRINGER & MCERLEAN (1962), TOPP (1963), BEAUMARIAGE & WITTICH (1966) and MOE (1966, 1967). habits of studied RANDALL Food groupers were by (1965, 1967). In the coral reef the south- Cura9ao most grouper species on at west coast are very scarce probably because of heavy spear-fishing. However, two species are still abundant, namely the Coney, Epine- phelus fulvus and the Graysby, Epinephelus cruentatus, both relati- small with maximum of about vely groupers a length (TL) 30 cm. Of these two species the Graysby was chosen for study object be- abundance in both and cause of its great the vertical horizontal dis- and also because rather tribution on the coral reef it was easy to collect by speargun. In the above mentioned studies little attention has been paid to distribution of in relation to the in contrast the groupers habitat, and with such aspects as reproduction, age growth. The present study deals with the following aspects of the Graysby: I. General aspects such as: description, relationship, geographic localities and of the habitat. II. Vertical distri- range, description bution in relation to the habitat. III. of IV. Determining age. Growth. V. Reproduction. VI. Feeding habits. This at study wasperformed the Caribbean Marine Biological Institute in Curafao from October and (Netherlands Antilles) January 1973 to 1975 was supported by the Netherlands Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO). to Prof. Dr. L. Dr. I am indebted VLIJM (Amsterdam), J. J. ZIJLSTRA (Texel, Dr. C. M. VOOREN their the Holland) and (Cura5ao) for ciritical review of manus- cript. Thanks are furthermore due to Dr. I. KRISTENSEN, director of the Caribbean Marine BiologicalInstitute at Cura?ao, for his hospitality, Dr. R. P. M. BAK for his stimulating discussions, and I. VISSER, T. FRANK and R. OVERBERG for their help duringthe field-work. Thanks are also due to TH. VAN LEEUWEN and his assistants of the at Laboratorium voor Volksgezondheid Cura9ao, where sectioning and staining was performed, to Dr. L. B. HOLTHUIS of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie in Leiden (Holland) for determination of the Crustacea, to Mrs. L. BREHAUT for correction of the English text and to R. H. J. LOURENTS for the translation of the into the I to summary Spanish language. Finally may express my special gratitude the R. C. Central School Board (R. K. Centraal Schoolbestuur) and the Executive Council of the Island Territory of Curasao for the special leave granted to me, thus enabling me to work continuously on the completion of the manuscript. 5 2. NOMENCLATURE, RELATIONSHIP AND DESCRIPTION For the nomenclature of Epinephelus cruentatus [= Petrometopon I refer the of SMITH the cruentatum] (Plates I—II) to paper (1971) on American SMITH has classified this with the sub- groupers. species and genus Cephalopholis noted as: Epinephelus (Cephalopholis) cruentatus (Lacépède, 1802). According to SMITH (1971) Epinephelus cruentatus and E. pana- mensis, formerly known with the genus name Petrometopon, are geminate forms, which have evolved as a result of the isolation caus- of the Middle American Isthmus. SMITH noted ed by the emergence color but that they are well separated on the basis of pattern, struc- tural differences are not very important. the is related Of the groupers at Curasao Graysby most closely to the Coney, Epinephelus fulvus. However, the color patterns of both similar. also are not very Vertical distribution and habitat are somewhat different. Coneys occur in more shallow water than Grays- associated with coral bys, the latter being more closely the reef. The is small with Graysby (Plate I) a species of Epinephelus a robust body, rounded preopercle, and large median canine teeth in Dorsal and anal and the posterior row. spines rays IX, 14 ; spines 16. Gill rakers 18-21. Ground color varies rays III, 8; pectoral rays from light gray or brown to olive green with numerous smallreddish- The of of brown spots. nuance the red color the dots depends on the depth, at which the fish is caught. In general the deeper the place where the fish is caught, the lighter the red color of the dots. A clear white stripe is sometimes found from the tip of the lower jaw, con- the and the of the dor- tinuing across upper jaw snout to near origin sal fin. There are usually four pairs of spots along the base of the of which from white dorsal fin, the color can vary to dark. One spe- cimen in showed which an aquarium 4 pairs of white dots, changed, into black color however, a when it was frightened. For other features I refer to the description of SMITH (1971). also banded Some specimens may show a pattern with vertical bars the and bars the from the and on body some on head,running eye the tip of the snout in the direction of the pectoral fin (Plate Ila). This pattern again becomes indistinct when the fish is frightened. 6 uniform with dark the head Juveniles are grey-brown spots on and especially on the lower part of the body (Plate lib). They always the have above mentioned white stripe on the snout. 3. GEOGRAPHIC RANGE Data in the literature the distribution of on Epinephelus cruentatus: are from (Fig. 1): Bermuda : (BÒHLKE & CHAPLIN, 1968); West Caicos (SMITH, 1971). Bahamas : Little Bahama, Great Bahama, Cay Sal Banks, Hogsty Reef (BÒHLKE & CHAPLIN, 1968); Bimini (SMITH, 1959); Bimini, Exuma, Green Cay, New Pro- vidence, Rum Cay, Hawks Nest, Turks Island (SMITH, 1971) ; (TAYLOR& BRIGHT, 1973). Florida ; Tortugas (LONGLEY & HILDEBRAND, 1941); (RIVAS, 1949); (BRIGGS, 1958); (BÒHLKE & CHAPLIN, 1968); Key West, Alligator Reef Light, Triumph Reef, Miami, Cape Florida, Tortugas (SMITH, 1971) ; Florida Middle Ground (SMITH et al., 1975; SMITH, 1976) ; Central West Florida Shelf off Sarasota (SMITH, 1976) ; Alligator Reef (STARCK & DAVIS, 1966).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Megan E
    University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School November 2017 Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Megan E. Hepner University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Biology Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Hepner, Megan E., "Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary" (2017). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7408 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by Megan E. Hepner A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Resource Assessment College of Marine Science University of South Florida Major Professor: Frank Muller-Karger, Ph.D. Christopher Stallings, Ph.D. Steve Gittings, Ph.D. Date of Approval: October 31st, 2017 Keywords: Species richness, biodiversity, functional diversity, species traits Copyright © 2017, Megan E. Hepner ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to my major advisor, Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, who provided opportunities for me to strengthen my skills as a researcher on research cruises, dive surveys, and in the laboratory, and as a communicator through oral and presentations at conferences, and for encouraging my participation as a full team member in various meetings of the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and other science meetings.
    [Show full text]
  • Fauna Atingida Por Acidentes Ambientais Envolvendo Produtos Químicos
    Universidade de São Paulo Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz Departamento de Ciências do Solo Curso de Especialização em Gerenciamento Ambiental Sérgio Greif FAUNA ATINGIDA POR ACIDENTES AMBIENTAIS ENVOLVENDO PRODUTOS QUÍMICOS Orientadora: Biól. Iris Regina Fernandes Poffo (PhD.) São Paulo 2017 Universidade de São Paulo Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz Departamento de Ciências do Solo Curso de Especialização em Gerenciamento Ambiental Sérgio Greif FAUNA ATINGIDA POR ACIDENTES AMBIENTAIS ENVOLVENDO PRODUTOS QUÍMICOS Orientadora: Biól. Iris Regina Fernandes Poffo (PhD.) Trabalho apresentado como pré-requisito para a obtenção de Certificado de Conclusão de Curso de Especialização em Gerenciamento Ambiental São Paulo 2017 iii “Nós nos tornamos, pelo poder de um glorioso acidente evolucionário chamado inteligência, mordomos da continuidade da vida na Terra. Não pedimos este papel, mas não podemos renegá-lo. Podemos não ser adequados para isso, mas aqui estamos." — Stephen Jay Gould iv SUMÁRIO SUMÁRIO......................................................................................................... iv . ......................................................................................... DEDICATÓRIA................................................................................................. vi ... ......................................................................................... AGRADECIMENTOS....................................................................................... vii . RELAÇÃO DE
    [Show full text]
  • Modeling Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca Microlepis
    Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Master's Theses Graduate School 2009 Modeling gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) in the Gulf of Mexico: exploring the impact of marine reserves on the population dynamics of a protogynous grouper Robert D. Ellis Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses Part of the Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons Recommended Citation Ellis, Robert D., "Modeling gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) in the Gulf of Mexico: exploring the impact of marine reserves on the population dynamics of a protogynous grouper" (2009). LSU Master's Theses. 4146. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/4146 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Master's Theses by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MODELING GAG GROUPER (MYCTEROPERCA MICROLEPIS) IN THE GULF OF MEXICO: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF MARINE RESERVES ON THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF A PROTOGYNOUS GROUPER A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in The Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences by Robert D. Ellis B.S., University of California Santa Barbara, 2004 August 2009 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the State of Louisiana Board of Regents for funding this research with an 8G Fellowship. My research and thesis were greatly improved by the comments and assistance of many people, first among them my advisor Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Book (PDF)
    e · ~ e t · aI ' A Field Guide to Grouper and Snapper Fishes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Family: SERRANIDAE, Subfamily: EPINEPHELINAE and Family: LUTJANIDAE) P. T. RAJAN Andaman & Nicobar Regional Station Zoological Survey of India Haddo, Port Blair - 744102 Edited by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata Zoological Survey of India Kolkata CITATION Rajan, P. T. 2001. Afield guide to Grouper and Snapper Fishes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Published - Director, Z.5.1.) Published : December, 2001 ISBN 81-85874-40-9 Front cover: Roving Coral Grouper (Plectropomus pessuliferus) Back cover : A School of Blue banded Snapper (Lutjanus lcasmira) © Government of India, 2001 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. • This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise disposed of without the publisher'S consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. • The correct price of this publication is the price printed on this page. Any revised price indicated by a rubber stamp or by a sticker or by any other means is incorrect and should be unacceptable. PRICE Indian Rs. 400.00 Foreign $ 25; £ 20 Published at the Publication Division by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, 234/4, AJe Bose Road, 2nd MSO Building, (13th Floor), Nizam Palace, Calcutta-700 020 after laser typesetting by Computech Graphics, Calcutta 700019 and printed at Power Printers, New Delhi - 110002.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean Volume
    ISBN 0-9689167-4-x Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean (Davis Strait, Southern Greenland and Flemish Cap to Cape Hatteras) Volume One Acipenseriformes through Syngnathiformes Michael P. Fahay ii Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean iii Dedication This monograph is dedicated to those highly skilled larval fish illustrators whose talents and efforts have greatly facilitated the study of fish ontogeny. The works of many of those fine illustrators grace these pages. iv Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean v Preface The contents of this monograph are a revision and update of an earlier atlas describing the eggs and larvae of western Atlantic marine fishes occurring between the Scotian Shelf and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (Fahay, 1983). The three-fold increase in the total num- ber of species covered in the current compilation is the result of both a larger study area and a recent increase in published ontogenetic studies of fishes by many authors and students of the morphology of early stages of marine fishes. It is a tribute to the efforts of those authors that the ontogeny of greater than 70% of species known from the western North Atlantic Ocean is now well described. Michael Fahay 241 Sabino Road West Bath, Maine 04530 U.S.A. vi Acknowledgements I greatly appreciate the help provided by a number of very knowledgeable friends and colleagues dur- ing the preparation of this monograph. Jon Hare undertook a painstakingly critical review of the entire monograph, corrected omissions, inconsistencies, and errors of fact, and made suggestions which markedly improved its organization and presentation.
    [Show full text]
  • Perciformes: Epinephelidae)
    NOTE BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY, 57(2):145-147, 2009 FIRST RECORD OF PARTIAL MELANISM IN THE CONEY CEPHALOPHOLIS FULVA (PERCIFORMES: EPINEPHELIDAE) Thiony Simon 1; Jean-Christophe Joyeux 2 and Raphael Mariano Macieira 3 Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo Departamento de Oceanografia e Ecologia - Laboratório de Ictiologia (Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, ES, Brasil) [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Many abnormalities in the coloration of during sampling. None, however, presented any type fishes have been recorded, including albinism, of coloration abnormality. The frequency of melanism and ambicoloration (e.g . DAHLBERG, occurrence of the anomaly was therefore estimated to 1970). Melanism, according to Gould and Pyle (1896), be 0.68 %. The specimen was photographed still fresh is characterized by the presence of an excessive (Fig. 1a) and maintained frozen until fixation in 10 % amount of pigment in tissues and skin. In fishes, formaldehyde and preservation in 70 % ethanol. The melanism may occur in varying degrees of intensity area of the melanic part of the body was estimated (PIGG, 1998) and can, in some cases, result from from a digital photography of the right side of the fish injury (DAHLBERG, 1970), genetic inheritance (Fig. 1a). A 1300-square grid was digitally overlaid (HORTH, 2006), intergeneric hybridization (ELWIN, onto the photography to determine the proportion of 1957) or parasite infestation (HSIAO, 1941). squares over melanic skin. As both sides displayed the The coney Cephalopholis fulva (Linnaeus, some pattern and extent of melanosis, there was no 1758) is distributed in the Western Atlantic from need for measuring the area on the left side, and the South Carolina, USA, to Southeastern Brazil result obtained for the right side was extrapolated for (FIGUEIREDO; MENEZES, 1980).
    [Show full text]
  • Epinephelus Chlorostigma, Brownspotted Grouper
    The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ ISSN 2307-8235 (online) IUCN 2008: T118358386A100463851 Scope: Global Language: English Epinephelus chlorostigma, Brownspotted Grouper Assessment by: Fennessy, S., Choat, J.H., Nair, R. & Robinson, J. View on www.iucnredlist.org Citation: Fennessy, S., Choat, J.H., Nair, R. & Robinson, J. 2018. Epinephelus chlorostigma. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T118358386A100463851. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T118358386A100463851.en Copyright: © 2018 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission from the copyright holder. For further details see Terms of Use. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London. If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown in this document, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided. THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Animalia Chordata Actinopterygii Perciformes Epinephelidae Taxon Name: Epinephelus chlorostigma (Valenciennes, 1828) Synonym(s): • Serranus areolatus ssp.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet Composition of Juvenile Black Grouper (Mycteroperca Bonaci) from Coastal Nursery Areas of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
    BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, 77(3): 441–452, 2005 NOTE DIET COMPOSITION OF JUVENILE BLACK GROUPER (MYCTEROPERCA BONACI) FROM COASTAL NURSERY AREAS OF THE YUCATÁN PENINSULA, MEXICO Thierry Brulé, Enrique Puerto-Novelo, Esperanza Pérez-Díaz, and Ximena Renán-Galindo Groupers (Epinephelinae, Epinephelini) are top-level predators that influence the trophic web of coral reef ecosystems (Parrish, 1987; Heemstra and Randall, 1993; Sluka et al., 2001). They are demersal mesocarnivores and stalk and ambush preda- tors that sit and wait for larger moving prey such as fish and mobile invertebrates (Cailliet et al., 1986). Groupers contribute to the ecological balance of complex tropi- cal hard-bottom communities (Sluka et al., 1994), and thus large changes in their populations may significantly alter other community components (Parrish, 1987). The black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci Poey, 1860) is an important commercial and recreational fin fish resource in the western Atlantic region (Bullock and Smith, 1991; Heemstra and Randall, 1993). The southern Gulf of Mexico grouper fishery is currently considered to be deteriorated and M. bonaci, along with red grouper (Epinephelus morio Valenciennes, 1828) and gag (Mycteroperca microlepis Goode and Bean, 1880), is one of the most heavily exploited fish species in this region (Co- lás-Marrufo et al., 1998; SEMARNAP, 2000). Currently, M. bonaci is considered a threatened species (Morris et al., 2000; IUCN, 2003) and has been classified as vul- nerable in U.S. waters because male biomass in the Atlantic dropped from 20% in 1982 to 6% in 1995 (Musick et al., 2000). The black grouper is usually found on irregular bottoms such as coral reefs, drop- off walls, and rocky ledges, at depths from 10 to 100 m (Roe, 1977; Manooch and Mason, 1987; Bullock and Smith, 1991; Heemstra and Randall, 1993).
    [Show full text]
  • 011706 Status Report on the Goliath Grouper
    Status report on the continental United States distinct population segment of the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) January 2006 National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of all who contributed to the contents of this report. In particular, we wish to recognize Lew Bullock, Felicia Coleman, Chris Koenig, and Rich McBride for reviewing the draft document. The participation and considerable contributions to the contents of the report by Andy Strelcheck and Peter Hood are also greatly appreciated. The team responsible for compiling this report included: Michael Barnette, Stephania Bolden, Jennifer Moore, Clay Porch, Jennifer Schull, and Phil Steele. This document should be cited as: NMFS. 2006. Status report on the continental United States distinct population segment of the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara). January 12, 2006. 49 pp. Cover: goliath grouper illustration courtesy of Diane Peebles. ii Table of Contents List of Tables.................................................................................................................... iv Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................................................................................... vi Summary ............................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny of the Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) and Patterns of Asymmetrical Diversification in Body Size and Feeding Ecology
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.07.430149; this version posted February 8, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. Phylogeny of the damselfishes (Pomacentridae) and patterns of asymmetrical diversification in body size and feeding ecology Charlene L. McCord a, W. James Cooper b, Chloe M. Nash c, d & Mark W. Westneat c, d a California State University Dominguez Hills, College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, 1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747 b Western Washington University, Department of Biology and Program in Marine and Coastal Science, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 c University of Chicago, Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, and Committee on Evolutionary Biology, 1027 E. 57th St, Chicago IL, 60637, USA d Field Museum of Natural History, Division of Fishes, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605 Corresponding author: Mark W. Westneat [email protected] Journal: PLoS One Keywords: Pomacentridae, phylogenetics, body size, diversification, evolution, ecotype Abstract The damselfishes (family Pomacentridae) inhabit near-shore communities in tropical and temperature oceans as one of the major lineages with ecological and economic importance for coral reef fish assemblages. Our understanding of their evolutionary ecology, morphology and function has often been advanced by increasingly detailed and accurate molecular phylogenies. Here we present the next stage of multi-locus, molecular phylogenetics for the group based on analysis of 12 nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences from 330 of the 422 damselfish species.
    [Show full text]
  • Academic Paper on “Restricting the Size of Groupers (Serranidae
    ACADEMIC PAPER ON “RESTRICTING THE SIZE OF GROUPERS (SERRANIDAE) EXPORTED FROM INDONESIA IN THE LIVE REEF FOOD FISH TRADE” Coastal and Marine Resources Management in the Coral Triangle-Southeast Asia (TA 7813-REG) Tehcnical Report ACADEMIC PAPER ON RESTRICTING THE SIZE OFLIVE GROUPERS FOR EXPORT ACADEMIC PAPER ON “RESTRICTING THE SIZE OF GROUPERS (SERRANIDAE) EXPORTED FROM INDONESIA IN THE LIVE REEF FOOD FISH TRADE” FINAL VERSION COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE CORAL TRIANGLE: SOUTHEAST ASIA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES (TA 7813-REG) ACADEMIC PAPER ON RESTRICTING THE SIZE OFLIVE GROUPERS FOR EXPORT Page i FOREWORD Indonesia is the largest exporter of live groupers for the live reef fish food trade. This fisheries sub-sector plays an important role in the livelihoods of fishing communities, especially those living on small islands. As a member of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under RETA [7813], Indonesia (represented by a team from Hasanuddin University) has compiled this academic paper as a contribution towards sustainable management of live reef fish resources in Indonesia. Challenges faced in managing the live grouper fishery and trade in Indonesia include the ongoing activities and practices which damage grouper habitat; the lack of protection for grouper spawning sites; overfishing of groupers which have not yet reached sexual maturity/not reproduced; and the prevalence of illegal and unreported fishing for live groupers. These factors have resulted in declining wild grouper stocks. The Aquaculture sector is, at least as yet, unable to replace or enable a balanced wild caught fishery, and thus there is still a heavy reliance on wild-caught groupers.
    [Show full text]
  • Fish Assemblages Associated with Red Grouper Pits at Pulley Ridge, A
    419 Abstract—Red grouper (Epineph- elus morio) modify their habitat by Fish assemblages associated with red grouper excavating sediment to expose rocky pits, providing structurally complex pits at Pulley Ridge, a mesophotic reef in the habitat for many fish species. Sur- Gulf of Mexico veys conducted with remotely op- erated vehicles from 2012 through 2015 were used to characterize fish Stacey L. Harter (contact author)1 assemblages associated with grouper Heather Moe1 pits at Pulley Ridge, a mesophotic 2 coral ecosystem and habitat area John K. Reed of particular concern in the Gulf Andrew W. David1 of Mexico, and to examine whether invasive species of lionfish (Pterois Email address for contact author: [email protected] spp.) have had an effect on these as- semblages. Overall, 208 grouper pits 1 Southeast Fisheries Science Center were examined, and 66 fish species National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA were associated with them. Fish as- 3500 Delwood Beach Road semblages were compared by using Panama City, Florida 32408 several factors but were considered 2 Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute to be significantly different only on Florida Atlantic University the basis of the presence or absence 5600 U.S. 1 North of predator species in their pit (no Fort Pierce, Florida 34946 predators, lionfish only, red grou- per only, or both lionfish and red grouper). The data do not indicate a negative effect from lionfish. Abun- dances of most species were higher in grouper pits that had lionfish, and species diversity was higher in grouper pits with a predator (lion- The red grouper (Epinephelus morio) waters (>70 m) of the shelf edge and fish, red grouper, or both).
    [Show full text]