DOCSLIB.ORG

Pronotogrammus Martinicensis (Serranidae), in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Richard S

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pronotogrammus Martinicensis (Serranidae), in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Richard S Gulf of Mexico Science Volume 27 Article 4 Number 1 Number 1 2009 Age, Growth, Mortality, and Reproduction of Roughtongue Bass, Pronotogrammus martinicensis (Serranidae), in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Richard S. McBride Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Kenneth J. Sulak U.S. Geological Survey Paul E. Thurman Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Adam K. Richardson Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission DOI: 10.18785/goms.2701.04 Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/goms Recommended Citation McBride, R. S., K. J. Sulak, P. E. Thurman and A. K. Richardson. 2009. Age, Growth, Mortality, and Reproduction of Roughtongue Bass, Pronotogrammus martinicensis (Serranidae), in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Gulf of Mexico Science 27 (1). Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol27/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf of Mexico Science by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. McBride et al.: Age, Growth, Mortality, and Reproduction of Roughtongue Bass, Pro Gulf of Mexico Science, 2009(1), pp. 30–38 Age, Growth, Mortality, and Reproduction of Roughtongue Bass, Pronotogrammus martinicensis (Serranidae), in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico RICHARD S. MCBRIDE,KENNETH J. SULAK,PAUL E. THURMAN, AND ADAM K. RICHARDSON The inaccessibility of outer continental shelf reefs has made it difficult to investigate the biology of Pronotogrammus martinicensis, a small sea bass known to be numerous and widely distributed in such habitat. This study takes advantage of a series of cruises in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico that collected 1,485 individuals. Fish were collected over or in the vicinity of reef habitats with hook and line, otter trawl, and rotenone. We present a preliminary validation of an otolith ageing method and report that P. martinicensis reached a maximum size of 143 mm standard length (SL), grew to about 50% of this size within their first year, and lived to a maximum age of 15 yr. Size at age data (n = 490) fitted to the von Bertalanffy growth model yielded the predictive [20.641{t20.646}] equation: SLt = 106.3(1 2 e ), where t = age in years. Gonad histology (n = 333) was examined to confirm that P. martinicensis is a protogynous, monandric hermaphrodite. We found no evidence of simultaneous hermaphroditism, which had been tentatively proposed in a previous study. Most P. martinicensis matured as females in their second year (age 1), primary oocytes developed asynchronously into secondary oocytes, and females were batch spawners. Males were postmaturational. Seminiferous tissue formed as early as age 1, but, although the rate of sex change is unknown, most fish did not function as a male until age 3 or age 4. These data provide age-based benchmarks of a common reef fish species living on the outer continental shelf of the tropical western North Atlantic Ocean. oughtongue bass, Pronotogrammus (Ho- males are secondary). Left unclear, however, was R lanthias) martinicensis (Guichenot), is a whether P. martinicensis is capable of simulta- widely distributed and numerically dominant neous egg and spermatozoa production, because species inhabiting outer continental shelf reefs Coleman (1981:893) refers to a specimen in (50 to 230 m) of the Gulf of Mexico, western which ‘‘both spermatogenesis and oogenesis North Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea appear to be occurring simultaneously.’’ There [Bullock and Smith, 1991 (and references are, however, several steps in the process of therein); Koenig et al., 2000]. It is an important gametogenesis, and Coleman’s singular observa- trophic link between secondary production and tion did not directly state that this individual secondary consumers, feeding on small zoo- appeared capable of functioning as a male and plankton and preyed upon by fishery species female at the same time. such as red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and This study characterizes the life history of P. larger grouper species (Serranidae) (Bullock martinicensis from material collected in the and Smith, 1991). Pronotogrammus martinicensis drowned reef zone of the northeastern Gulf of is also part of a small marine ornamental fishery Mexico. Size and sex data are compared with because it is brightly colored and valuable to data from Coleman (1981), and the age data, aquarium hobbyists (C. Cole, Chris’s Marine, which are new for this species, are used to LLC, pers. comm.; F. Young, Dynasty Marine describe growth, longevity, and mortality. Associates, pers. comm.). Samples were collected during a series of Coleman (1981) reported that P. martinicensis cruises by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is a protogynous hermaphrodite, on the basis of from 1997 to 2002. These cruises were designed evidence that females were smaller than males to develop a holistic understanding of shelf-edge and transitional individuals were intermediate in deep-reef communities that exist in areas of size. Although such size structure data can be ongoing or potential hydrocarbon exploration confounded by variable growth rates (Sadovy and and development (Weaver et al., 2002). In this Shapiro, 1987), Coleman (1981) also reported context, abundant and ubiquitous components that that all testes examined (n 5 54) showed of the fauna, such as P. martinicensis, may serve as evidence of an ‘‘ovarian’’ lumen, leaving little important indicators of the health, stability, and doubt that this species is monandric (i.e., all resilience to disturbance of shelf-edge reef E 2009 by the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium of Alabama Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 2009 1 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 27 [2009], No. 1, Art. 4 MCBRIDE ET AL.—LIFE HISTORY OF ROUGHTONGUE BASS 31 communities. Therefore, the data in this study TABLE 1. The disposition of 1,485 roughtongue bass, establish a biological reference point for man- Pronotogrammus martinicensis, collected in the agement of this ecosystem as well. northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Year and month refer to cruise dates. The number of fish are tabulated as to whether only standard length (SL only, n 5 704), only MATERIALS AND METHODS SL and age (SL + age, n 5 448), only SL and sex (SL + USGS cruises sampled fish over and near reefs sex, n 5 291), or SL, age, and sex (All data, n 5 42) 5 about 50–200 m deep and within an area of the were determined. ND no cruise dates recorded for these fish. northeastern Gulf of Mexico bounded by lati- tudes 29u11.39 and 29u42.09N and longitudes Year Month SL only SL + age SL + sex All data 85u40.79and 88u20.39W. Most fish were collected by small unbaited rigs [i.e., SabikiE, PiscatoreE 1997 8 6 48 rigs, referred to herein as H & L (5 hook and 1998 8 17 line)] while anchored in association with reef 10 25 39 habitat at 12 different locations within this area. 1999 2 88 145 These rigs were dropped to the bottom with 545622 6 88 131 29 weights (6–16 ounces [170–455 g] depending on 2000 3 78 13 71 water current and depth) and fished vertically 95921 just off the substrate to imitate zooplankton. A 2001 5 231 34 29 25 variety of hook sizes (3, 4, 6, 8, 10) were used and 2002 8 4 3 42 17 all hook sizes collected P. martinicensis. Addition- ND ND 80 53 al fish were collected with a small-mesh (3.8-cm mesh body and a 0.6-cm mesh liner), 4.9-m semiballoon otter trawl, which was towed over single reader (AKR), and the the presence or soft substrates adjacent to these reefs. Finally, absence of an annulus on the margin was also collections were augmented using a remote- operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with a pump recorded. and suction tube (38.1-mm inner diameter) Periodicity of annulus formation was exam- filled with rotenone; the contents of the tube ined using two related analyses. In both cases, were released near the bottom and dead fish only otoliths with three or four completely were immediately vacuumed up and brought to formed annuli were used, so as to minimize the surface. age-specific results. First, those individuals with The disposition of these samples varied (Ta- an incomplete, opaque annulus on the otolith ble 1). Most fish were either frozen or fixed in edge were plotted, as a percentage of all 10% phosphate-buffered formalin while at sea. individuals examined, by sampling month. Sec- Frozen fish were measured to the nearest ond, the marginal increment (MI) distance was millimeter standard length (SL), weighed to plotted as an average value 6 95% confidence the nearest 0.01 g total body weight (BW), and limits (c.l.) by sampling month. For MI analysis, the sagittal otoliths were removed, cleaned, and MI 5 sectioned otolith radius–sectioned margin- stored dry in vials. Fixed fish were measured to al distance (SOR-SMD)/SOR, where SOR 5 the the nearest millimeter SL, weighed to the nearest distance from the otolith core to the outer edge 0.01 g BW and gonad weight (GW), and the along the transverse groove, and SMD 5 the gonad was removed, rinsed, and stored in 70% distance from the core to the middle of the last ethyl alcohol (EtOH). Fish from two cruises were complete annulus along the same axis. These processed directly, while at sea: measured to the measurements were determined to the nearest nearest millimeter SL, weighed to the nearest 1 g micrometer using a dissecting microscope BW, and both the gonads and otoliths were equipped with a video system and image analysis removed and processed (as above). A weight– software. These edge or MI values were not length relationship was fitted to the nonlinear available for all months, so demonstrating an model, BW 5 a 3 SLb, by least-squares regres- unambiguous annual pattern was not possible.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pacific Plate Biogeography, with Special Reference to Shorefishes
    Pacific Plate Biogeography, with Special Reference to Shorefishes VICTOR G. SPRINGER m SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 367 SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoo/ogy Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world cf science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny of the Epinephelinae (Teleostei: Serranidae)
    BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, 52(1): 240-283, 1993 PHYLOGENY OF THE EPINEPHELINAE (TELEOSTEI: SERRANIDAE) Carole C. Baldwin and G. David Johnson ABSTRACT Relationships among epinepheline genera are investigated based on cladistic analysis of larval and adult morphology. Five monophyletic tribes are delineated, and relationships among tribes and among genera of the tribe Grammistini are hypothesized. Generic com- position of tribes differs from Johnson's (1983) classification only in the allocation of Je- boehlkia to the tribe Grammistini rather than the Liopropomini. Despite the presence of the skin toxin grammistin in the Diploprionini and Grammistini, we consider the latter to be the sister group of the Liopropomini. This hypothesis is based, in part, on previously un- recognized larval features. Larval morphology also provides evidence of monophyly of the subfamily Epinephelinae, the clade comprising all epinepheline tribes except Niphonini, and the tribe Grammistini. Larval features provide the only evidence of a monophyletic Epine- phelini and a monophyletic clade comprising the Diploprionini, Liopropomini and Gram- mistini; identification of larvae of more epinephelines is needed to test those hypotheses. Within the tribe Grammistini, we propose that Jeboehlkia gladifer is the sister group of a natural assemblage comprising the former pseudogrammid genera (Aporops, Pseudogramma and Suttonia). The "soapfishes" (Grammistes, Grammistops, Pogonoperca and Rypticus) are not monophyletic, but form a series of sequential sister groups to Jeboehlkia, Aporops, Pseu- dogramma and Suttonia (the closest of these being Grammistops, followed by Rypticus, then Grammistes plus Pogonoperca). The absence in adult Jeboehlkia of several derived features shared by Grammistops, Aporops, Pseudogramma and Suttonia is incongruous with our hypothesis but may be attributable to paedomorphosis.
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.Deepwater Fish Assemblages at Isla Del Coco National Park And
    Revista de Biología Tropical ISSN: 0034-7744 [email protected] Universidad de Costa Rica Costa Rica Starr, Richard M.; Green, Kristen; Sala, Enric Deepwater fish assemblages at Isla del Coco National Park and Las Gemelas Seamount, Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical, vol. 60, núm. 3, noviembre-, 2012, pp. 347-362 Universidad de Costa Rica San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44958803023 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Deepwater fish assemblages at Isla del Coco National Park and Las Gemelas Seamount, Costa Rica Richard M. Starr1, Kristen Green2 & Enric Sala3,4 1. University of California Sea Grant Program and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California 95039, USA; [email protected] 2. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 304 Lake Street, Room 103, Sitka, Alaska 99835; [email protected] 3. National Geographic Society, 20036 Washington, DC, USA; [email protected] 4. Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes, CSIC, 17300 Blanes, Spain Received 05-III-2012. Corrected 15-VI-2012. Accepted 24-IX-2012. Abstract: The deepwater faunas of oceanic islands and seamounts of the Eastern Tropical Pacific are poorly known. From 11-22 September 2009 we conducted an exploration of the deepwater areas of the Isla del Coco Marine Conservation Area, Costa Rica and a nearby seamount using a manned submersible.
    [Show full text]
  • Hotspots, Extinction Risk and Conservation Priorities of Greater Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Marine Bony Shorefishes
    Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations Biological Sciences Summer 2016 Hotspots, Extinction Risk and Conservation Priorities of Greater Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Marine Bony Shorefishes Christi Linardich Old Dominion University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, and the Marine Biology Commons Recommended Citation Linardich, Christi. "Hotspots, Extinction Risk and Conservation Priorities of Greater Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Marine Bony Shorefishes" (2016). Master of Science (MS), Thesis, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/hydh-jp82 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/13 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HOTSPOTS, EXTINCTION RISK AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES OF GREATER CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO MARINE BONY SHOREFISHES by Christi Linardich B.A. December 2006, Florida Gulf Coast University A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE BIOLOGY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY August 2016 Approved by: Kent E. Carpenter (Advisor) Beth Polidoro (Member) Holly Gaff (Member) ABSTRACT HOTSPOTS, EXTINCTION RISK AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES OF GREATER CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO MARINE BONY SHOREFISHES Christi Linardich Old Dominion University, 2016 Advisor: Dr. Kent E. Carpenter Understanding the status of species is important for allocation of resources to redress biodiversity loss.
    [Show full text]
  • Mycteroperca Tigris (Valenciennes, 1833) MKT Frequent Synonyms / Misidentifications: None / None
    click for previous page Perciformes: Percoidei: Serranidae 1359 Mycteroperca tigris (Valenciennes, 1833) MKT Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Tiger grouper; Fr - Badèche tigre; Sp - Cuna gata. Diagnostic characters:Body depth contained 3.1 to 3.6 times, head length 2.5 to 2.8 times in standard length (for fish 19 to 43 cm standard length). Rear nostrils of adults 3 to 5 times larger than front nostrils. Teeth large, canines well developed. Preopercle without a projecting bony lobe at ‘corner’. Gill rakers on first arch short, 8 (including 5 or 6 rudiments) on upper limb, 15 to 17 (including 7 to 9 rudiments) on lower limb, total 23 to 25. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays, the interspinous membranes distinctly in- dented; anal fin with 3 spines and 11 soft rays; soft dorsal and anal fins pointed, with middle rays elon- gate in large adults; caudal fin rounded in juveniles, truncate to emarginate with exserted rays in fish 60 to 80 cm; pectoral-fin rays 17. Midlateral body scales ctenoid in juveniles, smooth in adults; lateral-line scales 82 or 83;lateral-scale series about 120.Colour: adults greenish brown to brownish grey with close-set, small, brown or orange-brown spots, the interspaces forming a pale green or whitish network; head and body darker dorsally, with 9 to 11 alternating oblique pale stripes and broader dark bars; median fins with irregular pale spots and stripes; pectoral fins pale yellow distally; inside of mouth reddish orange or dusky orange-yel- low.
    [Show full text]
  • Phuket Mar. Biol. Cent. Res. Bull. 68: 5–9 (2007) MEGANTHIAS FILIFERUS, a NEW SPECIES of ANTHIINE FISH (PERCIFORMES
    Phuket mar. biol. Cent. Res. Bull. 68: 5–9 (2007) MEGANTHIAS FILIFERUS, A NEW SPECIES OF ANTHIINE FISH (PERCIFORMES: SERRANIDAE), FROM THE ANDAMAN SEA OFF SOUTHWESTERN THAILAND John E. Randall1 and Phillip C. Heemstra2 1Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817-2794, USA 2South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa ABSTRACT: Meganthias filiferus is described as a new species of fish of the serranid subfamily Anthiinae from one 293-mm specimen collected from 150 m in the Andaman Sea off the southwestern coast of Thailand. Three other species are known in the genus: M. natalensis (Fowler) from the western Indian Ocean, M. kingyo (Kon, Yoshino and Sakurai) from Okinawa, and M. carpenteri Anderson from West Africa. M. filiferus is most closely related to M. natalensis, differing in having a larger head, more angular corner of the preopercle, crenulate instead of serrate lower margin of the preopercle, a longer soft dorsal filament, and in life color. INTRODUCTION noted differences in color from what is now Odontanthias chrysostictus. They published an The colorful fishes of the serranid excellent color photograph of the fish, which we subfamily Anthiinae are mostly found on deep reefs, reproduce here (Fig. 1). Because no more hence are not often caught by trawls. Most are specimens have been found, we provide here the too small to be taken by hook and line by fishermen description of the species. It is not unusual for seeking food fishes, such as groupers of the genus anthiine fishes to be named from single specimens. Epinephelus and snappers of the genera Etelis and Dactylanthias aplodactylus was described by Pristipomoides.
    [Show full text]
  • Annotated Checklist of the Fish Species (Pisces) of La Réunion, Including a Red List of Threatened and Declining Species
    Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde A, Neue Serie 2: 1–168; Stuttgart, 30.IV.2009. 1 Annotated checklist of the fish species (Pisces) of La Réunion, including a Red List of threatened and declining species RONALD FR ICKE , THIE rr Y MULOCHAU , PA tr ICK DU R VILLE , PASCALE CHABANE T , Emm ANUEL TESSIE R & YVES LE T OU R NEU R Abstract An annotated checklist of the fish species of La Réunion (southwestern Indian Ocean) comprises a total of 984 species in 164 families (including 16 species which are not native). 65 species (plus 16 introduced) occur in fresh- water, with the Gobiidae as the largest freshwater fish family. 165 species (plus 16 introduced) live in transitional waters. In marine habitats, 965 species (plus two introduced) are found, with the Labridae, Serranidae and Gobiidae being the largest families; 56.7 % of these species live in shallow coral reefs, 33.7 % inside the fringing reef, 28.0 % in shallow rocky reefs, 16.8 % on sand bottoms, 14.0 % in deep reefs, 11.9 % on the reef flat, and 11.1 % in estuaries. 63 species are first records for Réunion. Zoogeographically, 65 % of the fish fauna have a widespread Indo-Pacific distribution, while only 2.6 % are Mascarene endemics, and 0.7 % Réunion endemics. The classification of the following species is changed in the present paper: Anguilla labiata (Peters, 1852) [pre- viously A. bengalensis labiata]; Microphis millepunctatus (Kaup, 1856) [previously M. brachyurus millepunctatus]; Epinephelus oceanicus (Lacepède, 1802) [previously E. fasciatus (non Forsskål in Niebuhr, 1775)]; Ostorhinchus fasciatus (White, 1790) [previously Apogon fasciatus]; Mulloidichthys auriflamma (Forsskål in Niebuhr, 1775) [previously Mulloidichthys vanicolensis (non Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1831)]; Stegastes luteobrun- neus (Smith, 1960) [previously S.
    [Show full text]
  • 61661147.Pdf
    Resource Inventory of Marine and Estuarine Fishes of the West Coast and Alaska: A Checklist of North Pacific and Arctic Ocean Species from Baja California to the Alaska–Yukon Border OCS Study MMS 2005-030 and USGS/NBII 2005-001 Project Cooperation This research addressed an information need identified Milton S. Love by the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center and the Marine Science Institute University of California, Santa Barbara to the Department University of California of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service, Pacific Santa Barbara, CA 93106 OCS Region, Camarillo, California. The resource inventory [email protected] information was further supported by the USGS’s National www.id.ucsb.edu/lovelab Biological Information Infrastructure as part of its ongoing aquatic GAP project in Puget Sound, Washington. Catherine W. Mecklenburg T. Anthony Mecklenburg Report Availability Pt. Stephens Research Available for viewing and in PDF at: P. O. Box 210307 http://wfrc.usgs.gov Auke Bay, AK 99821 http://far.nbii.gov [email protected] http://www.id.ucsb.edu/lovelab Lyman K. Thorsteinson Printed copies available from: Western Fisheries Research Center Milton Love U. S. Geological Survey Marine Science Institute 6505 NE 65th St. University of California, Santa Barbara Seattle, WA 98115 Santa Barbara, CA 93106 [email protected] (805) 893-2935 June 2005 Lyman Thorsteinson Western Fisheries Research Center Much of the research was performed under a coopera- U. S. Geological Survey tive agreement between the USGS’s Western Fisheries
    [Show full text]
  • SERRANIDAE Groupers and Sea Basses (Also, Soapfishes, Anthiines, Etc.) by P.C
    click for previous page 2442 Bony Fishes SERRANIDAE Groupers and sea basses (also, soapfishes, anthiines, etc.) by P.C. Heemstra and J.E. Randall iagnostic characters: Body variable in shape, from deep-bodied to elongate and little compressed D(at least anteriorly) to notably compressed (size from a few to 250 cm). Opercle with 3 (rarely 2) flat spines; margin of preopercle nearly always serrate (but serrae rudimentary in adults of a few species) or with 1 to 4 spines. Mouth large, terminal; maxilla exposed when mouth is closed; lower jaw usually projecting; bands of small, slender teeth in jaws; canines usually present at front of jaws and sometimes at side; small teeth present on vomer and palatines of most species; no molars or incisiform teeth. Gill membranes separate, with 7 branchiostegal rays. Dorsal fin single or divided into spinous and soft portions, with IV to XIII spines and 9 to 25 soft rays; anal fin with III (rarely II)spines and 6 to 24 soft rays; last dorsal and anal-fin rays usually split to their base but counted as a single ray; caudal fin with 12 to 15 branched rays, the fin varying in shape from rounded to lunate; pelvic fins with I spine and 5 soft rays, inserted below or slightly anterior or posterior to base of pectoral fins; no scaly axillary process at base of pelvic fins. Scales small to moderate, adherent, ctenoid (or secondarily cycloid). A single complete lateral line (except Pseudogrammini and some species of Plectranthias), extending on caudal fin less than 1/2 length of middle caudal-fin rays.
    [Show full text]
  • Below the Mesophotic C
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Below the Mesophotic C. C. Baldwin1, L. Tornabene2 & D. R. Robertson3 Mesophotic coral ecosystems, which occur at depths of ~40 to 150 m, have received recent scientifc attention as potential refugia for organisms inhabiting deteriorating shallow reefs. These ecosystems merit research in their own right, as they harbor both depth-generalist species and a distinctive reef-fsh Received: 31 August 2017 fauna. Reef ecosystems just below the mesophotic are globally underexplored, and the scant recent literature that mentions them often suggests that mesophotic ecosystems transition directly into Accepted: 12 February 2018 those of the deep sea. Through submersible-based surveys in the Caribbean Sea, we amassed the most Published: xx xx xxxx extensive database to date on reef-fsh diversity between ~40 and 309 m at any single tropical location. Our data reveal a unique reef-fsh assemblage living between ~130 and 309 m that, while taxonomically distinct from shallower faunas, shares strong evolutionary afnities with them. Lacking an existing name for this reef-faunal zone immediately below the mesophotic but above the deep aphotic, we propose “rariphotic.” Together with the “altiphotic,” proposed here for the shallowest reef-faunal zone, and the mesophotic, the rariphotic is part of a depth continuum of discrete faunal zones of tropical reef fshes, and perhaps of reef ecosystems in general, all of which warrant further study in light of global declines of shallow reefs. Studies of deep tropical-reef ecosystems have surged during the past decade1–10. This is due in part to the global decline of shallow coral reefs having sparked interest in the potential for deep reefs to act as refugia for shallow-water organisms stressed by warming surface waters or deteriorating reefs.
    [Show full text]
  • Sedar50-Rd09
    Fish species associated with shipwreck and natural hard-bottom habitats from the middle to outer continental shelf of the Middle Atlantic Bight near Norfolk Canyon Steve W. Ross, Mike Rhode, Stephen T. Viada, and Rod Mather SEDAR50-RD09 29 April 2016 45 NOAA First U.S. Commissioner National Marine Fishery Bulletin established 1881 of Fisheries and founder Fisheries Service of Fishery Bulletin Abstract—Fish species of the Middle Fish species associated with shipwreck and Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf are well known; however, spe- natural hard-bottom habitats from the middle cies occupying hard-bottom habitats, particularly on the outer shelf, are to outer continental shelf of the Middle Atlantic poorly documented. Reef-like habi- Bight near Norfolk Canyon tats are relatively uncommon on the MAB shelf; therefore, shipwrecks may represent a significant habi- Steve W. Ross1 tat resource. During fall 2012 and Mike Rhode1 spring 2013, 9 sites (depths: 42–126 Stephen T. Viada2 m) near Norfolk Canyon were sur- 3 veyed by using remotely operated Rod Mather vehicles. One site consisted of sand bottom, one consisted of predomi- Email address for contact author: [email protected] nantly natural hard bottom, and 7 sites included 8 large shipwrecks. Of 1 Center for Marine Science 38 fish taxa identified, 33 occurred University of North Carolina at Wilmington on hard bottom and 25 occurred on 5600 Marvin Moss Lane soft substrata. Fourteen fish taxa Wilmington, North Carolina 28409 occurred almost exclusively on hard 2 CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. bottom, and 6 species were observed 8502 SW Kansas Avenue only on soft bottom.
    [Show full text]
  • NOAA Fish Species Associated with Shipwreck and Natural Hard-Bottom
    45 NOAA First U.S. Commissioner National Marine Fishery Bulletin established 1881 of Fisheries and founder Fisheries Service of Fishery Bulletin Abstract—Fish species of the Middle Fish species associated with shipwreck and Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf are well known; however, spe- natural hard-bottom habitats from the middle cies occupying hard-bottom habitats, particularly on the outer shelf, are to outer continental shelf of the Middle Atlantic poorly documented. Reef-like habi- Bight near Norfolk Canyon tats are relatively uncommon on the MAB shelf; therefore, shipwrecks may represent a significant habi- Steve W. Ross1 tat resource. During fall 2012 and Mike Rhode1 spring 2013, 9 sites (depths: 42–126 Stephen T. Viada2 m) near Norfolk Canyon were sur- 3 veyed by using remotely operated Rod Mather vehicles. One site consisted of sand bottom, one consisted of predomi- Email address for contact author: [email protected] nantly natural hard bottom, and 7 sites included 8 large shipwrecks. Of 1 Center for Marine Science 38 fish taxa identified, 33 occurred University of North Carolina at Wilmington on hard bottom and 25 occurred on 5600 Marvin Moss Lane soft substrata. Fourteen fish taxa Wilmington, North Carolina 28409 occurred almost exclusively on hard 2 CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. bottom, and 6 species were observed 8502 SW Kansas Avenue only on soft bottom. The most abun- Stuart, Florida 34997 dant taxa, especially on reef habitat, 3 were the chain dogfish (Scyliorhinus Applied History Lab retifer), a scorpionfish (Scorpaena Department of History sp.), the yellowfin bass (Anthias University of Rhode Island nicholsi), the red barbier (Baldwi- 80 Upper College Road nella vivanus), the black sea bass Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 (Centropristis striata), unidentified anthiine serranids, and the deep- body boarfish (Antigonia capros).
    [Show full text]