Reproductive Ecology of Dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae) in the Gulf of Mexico Alex D
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Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations HCNSO Student Work 7-25-2016 Reproductive Ecology of Dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae) in the Gulf of Mexico Alex D. Marks Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd Part of the Marine Biology Commons, and the Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Alex D. Marks. 2016. Reproductive Ecology of Dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae) in the Gulf of Mexico. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, . (422) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/422. This Thesis is brought to you by the HCNSO Student Work at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HALMOS COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND OCEANOGRAPHY REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY OF DRAGONFISHES (FAMILY: STOMIIDAE) IN THE GULF OF MEXICO By Alex D. Marks Submitted to the Faculty of Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science with a specialty in: Marine Biology Nova Southeastern University July 2016 Thesis of Alex D. Marks Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science: Marine Biology Alex D. Marks Nova Southeastern University Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography Month Year Approved: Thesis Committee Major Professor :______________________________ Tracey Sutton, Ph.D. Committee Member :___________________________ David Kerstetter, Ph.D. Committee Member :___________________________ Patricia Blackwelder, Ph.D. Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................... ii Keywords ........................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures .................................................................................................................vi Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 Systematics .......................................................................................................... 1 Physical Characteristics and Ecological Importance ........................................... 2 Reproductive Ecology .......................................................................................... 3 Histology and Gametogenesis.............................................................................. 4 Objectives ............................................................................................................ 6 Materials and Methods .................................................................................................. 6 Study Location ..................................................................................................... 6 Sample Acquisition .............................................................................................. 9 Specimen Processing ........................................................................................... 9 Histology ............................................................................................................. 11 Histological Analysis .......................................................................................... 14 Statistical Analysis .............................................................................................. 19 Results ............................................................................................................................ 20 Sampling ............................................................................................................. 20 Gonad Development of All Dragonfishes Examined ......................................... 24 Spawning Patterns ............................................................................................... 35 Sex and Biomass Ratios ...................................................................................... 43 Size at Maturity ................................................................................................... 45 Size Distributions of Separated Sexes ................................................................ 49 Size Distributions by Gear Type ......................................................................... 55 Discussion....................................................................................................................... 61 Histology and Life History ................................................................................. 61 Sex Ratio ............................................................................................................. 63 Biomass Ratio ..................................................................................................... 64 Size at Maturity ................................................................................................... 65 Size Distributions ................................................................................................ 66 Future Work ........................................................................................................ 69 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 70 Appendix I: List of Acronyms ..................................................................................... 72 References ...................................................................................................................... 73 i Abstract The most speciose group of fishes in the Gulf of Mexico is the dragonfishes (Family: Stomiidae). These fishes are dominant mesopelagic predators occurring throughout the world’s oceans, including the Antarctic seas. Little is known regarding their reproductive ecology, a consequence attributed to insufficient sample sizes of mature adults due to inadequacies of sampling gear; larger, sexually mature stomiid adults are more adept at net avoidance, thereby obfuscating synoptic reproductive biology studies. Between 2010-2011, the Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program was initiated in the northern Gulf of Mexico over all four seasons using a discrete-depth sampling system (MOCNESS) and a large, commercial-sized midwater trawl (Irish herring trawl). Gonads were dissected from 714 individuals belonging to 47 species of stomiids, of which the most 12 abundant species were subjected to detailed analysis. Female ovaries possessed an asynchronous oocyte development, suggesting that females are iteroparous. Males exhibited a similar pattern. Chauliodus sloani had an overall sex ratio that favored females, and was the only species in which the overall sex ratio significantly differed from the expected 1:1 ratio (male:female) (P < 0.05). Considering just mature specimens, Aristostomias xenostoma, Malacosteus niger, Eustomias fissibarbis, and Eustomias schmidti had sex ratios that favored males, and were the only species in which the sex ratio significantly differed from even (P < 0.05). Eustomias hypopsilus was the only species in which mean biomass significantly differed between sexes. Histological analysis and binomial regression indicated that females of the 12 most abundant species matured at larger lengths than males. Generally, only females were present in the larger size classes, suggesting that females also become larger than males. Size distribution plots by gear type to assess gear selectivity revealed two patterns: the MOCNESS caught fewer specimens per species than the Irish herring trawl, and the MOCNESS caught predominantly smaller specimens. These data are essential for ecosystem-based modeling of global deep-pelagic ecosystems, which contain the overwhelming majority of Earth’s fish biomass. Keywords: Sex ratio, gonadal histology, reproduction, maturity, size distribution ii Acknowledgments First and foremost, I would like to thank my major advisor, Dr. Tracey Sutton, for giving me the opportunity to work under his tutelage. Thank you for your unwavering support, enthusiasm, and providing me with a wealth of knowledge on deep-sea fishes. You have given me a newfound interest in studying the deep-sea realm, one that I (hopefully) intend to pursue. I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. David Kerstetter for his guidance with statistics and invaluable insight throughout this thesis project, and Dr. Patricia Blackwelder for her advice, as well as use of her lab to photograph slides. Thank you Dr. Abby Renegar and Josh Stocker for letting me use the histology lab and teaching me how to properly stain tissue. Furthermore, I would like to thank David Wyanski for helping me learn to read slides and explaining reproduction in fishes. I am truly grateful for Lacey Malarky and Dr. Zan Boyle assisting me in navigating through the complexities of R. Thank you to my other labmates in the Oceanic Ecology Lab, both past and present: April Cook, Katie Bowen, Kendall Lord, Mike