[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

SEMINAR: MBF 602 Seminar- Evan D'Alessandro Friday, February 26th, 2010 4:00pm S/A seminar room

From: Cary Rios <crios@rsmas.miami.edu>
Subject: SEMINAR: MBF 602 Seminar- Evan D'Alessandro Friday, February 26th, 2010 4:00pm S/A seminar room
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:17:40 -0500

Evan D’Alessandro

2/26/2010

 

 

Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Growth of Larval Snapper (Lutjanidae) along a Transect across the Straits of Florida

 

Snappers are one of the most economically important groups of fish in the western Atlantic. Management of snappers is essential, however, very little is known about the early life history of most species. Progress in this area has been hampered by the difficulty involved in collecting and identifying young snapper larvae to species. In this study morphological and molecular techniques were used to identify 1500 snapper larvae collected during 23 monthly, ship-based paired multiple opening closing net and environmental sampling system (MOCNESS) and neuston tows at 17 fixed stations along a transect spanning the Straits of Florida (SOF; latitude 25.5º N) in 2003 and 2004. All but 3% of larvae were successfully identified and species-specific abundance and distribution data indicated that larvae of all species of snapper occurred from spring through fall with peak abundance during summer months and almost entirely in the upper 50 m of the water column. Of the seven most abundant species (n > 100), only Etelis oculatus was distributed evenly across the SOF. Rhomboplites aurorubens, Pristipomoides aquilonaris, Lutjanus synagris, and Ocyurus chrysurus were all more abundant on the west side of the SOF while Lutjanus apodus and Lutjanus analis were more abundant on the east. Otolith-based growth analysis of the four most abundant shallow water reef-associated snappers revealed a pattern of higher larval growth in the western SOF, which was closely related to the distribution of their zooplankton prey.  

 

 

Co-Advisors:

 

 

 

Su Sponaugle

 

 

Joe Serafy

 

 

Entered PhD program 2005

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cary Rios
Office of the Dean
University of Miami
Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy
Atrium A VK
P. 305.421.4920
F. 305.421.4711
http://www.rsmas.miami.edu

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” Maya Angelou