Distribution, Growth, and Transport of Larval Fishes and Implications for Population Dynamics

Distribution, Growth, and Transport of Larval Fishes and Implications for Population Dynamics PDF Author: Christina Maria Hernández (Ph. D.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 135

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Book Description
The early life stages of marine fishes play a critical role in population dynamics, largely due to their high abundance, high mortality, and ease of transport in ocean currents. This dissertation demonstrates the value of combining larval data, collected in the field and the laboratory, with model simulations. In Chapter 2, analyses of field observations of ontogenetic vertical distributions of coral reef fish revealed a diversity of behaviors both between and within families. In Caribbean-wide particle-tracking simulations of representative behaviors, surface-dwelling larvae were generally transported longer distances with greater population connectivity amongst habitat patches, while the evenly-distributed vertical behavior and downward ontogenetic vertical migration were similar to one another and led to greater retention near natal sites. However, hydrodynamics and habitat availability created some local patterns that contradicted the overall expectation. Chapter 3 presents evidence of tuna spawning inside a large no-take marine protected area, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Despite variation in temperature and chlorophyll, the larval tuna distributions were similar amongst years, with skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and Thunnus spp. tunas observed in all three years. Backtracking simulations indicated that spawning occurred inside PIPA in all 3 study years, demonstrating that PIPA is protecting viable tuna spawning habitat. In Chapter 4, several lines of larval evidence support the classification of the Slope Sea as a major spawning ground for Atlantic bluefin tuna with conditions suitable for larval growth. The abundance of bluefin tuna larvae observed in the Slope Sea aligns with typical observations on the other two spawning grounds. Age and growth analyses of bluefin tuna larvae collected in the Slope Sea and the Gulf of Mexico in 2016 did not show a growth rate difference between regions, but did suggest that Slope Sea larvae are larger at the onset of exogenous feeding. Collected larvae were backtracked to locations north of Cape Hatteras and forward tracked to show that they would have been retained within the Slope Sea until the onset of swimming. As a whole, this thesis presents valuable contributions to the study of larval fishes and the attendant implications for marine resource management.

Distribution, Growth, and Transport of Larval Fishes and Implications for Population Dynamics

Distribution, Growth, and Transport of Larval Fishes and Implications for Population Dynamics PDF Author: Christina Maria Hernández (Ph. D.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 135

Get Book Here

Book Description
The early life stages of marine fishes play a critical role in population dynamics, largely due to their high abundance, high mortality, and ease of transport in ocean currents. This dissertation demonstrates the value of combining larval data, collected in the field and the laboratory, with model simulations. In Chapter 2, analyses of field observations of ontogenetic vertical distributions of coral reef fish revealed a diversity of behaviors both between and within families. In Caribbean-wide particle-tracking simulations of representative behaviors, surface-dwelling larvae were generally transported longer distances with greater population connectivity amongst habitat patches, while the evenly-distributed vertical behavior and downward ontogenetic vertical migration were similar to one another and led to greater retention near natal sites. However, hydrodynamics and habitat availability created some local patterns that contradicted the overall expectation. Chapter 3 presents evidence of tuna spawning inside a large no-take marine protected area, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). Despite variation in temperature and chlorophyll, the larval tuna distributions were similar amongst years, with skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and Thunnus spp. tunas observed in all three years. Backtracking simulations indicated that spawning occurred inside PIPA in all 3 study years, demonstrating that PIPA is protecting viable tuna spawning habitat. In Chapter 4, several lines of larval evidence support the classification of the Slope Sea as a major spawning ground for Atlantic bluefin tuna with conditions suitable for larval growth. The abundance of bluefin tuna larvae observed in the Slope Sea aligns with typical observations on the other two spawning grounds. Age and growth analyses of bluefin tuna larvae collected in the Slope Sea and the Gulf of Mexico in 2016 did not show a growth rate difference between regions, but did suggest that Slope Sea larvae are larger at the onset of exogenous feeding. Collected larvae were backtracked to locations north of Cape Hatteras and forward tracked to show that they would have been retained within the Slope Sea until the onset of swimming. As a whole, this thesis presents valuable contributions to the study of larval fishes and the attendant implications for marine resource management.

Population Connectivity in a Dynamic Coastal System

Population Connectivity in a Dynamic Coastal System PDF Author: Kathryn Shulzitski
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Population connectivity (i.e., the exchange of individuals among geographically distinct subpopulations) is an issue of particular relevance in the marine environment, as the majority of benthic marine organisms have complex life cycles and dispersal events occurring in the early life stages are nearly impossible to track. As the magnitude and direction of larval dispersal are shaped ultimately by larval distributions, growth, mortality, and transport to adult habitat, this dissertation examined these processes for larval reef fishes in the Straits of Florida (SOF) to contribute to the understanding of patterns of population connectivity along a continental coastline. An analysis of spatially and temporally extensive ichthyoplankton collections and associated environmental data demonstrated that environmental variation through the vertical water column was most important in structuring larval assemblages in the SOF and that horizontal patterns in larval assemblages were only weakly related to oceanographic features (i.e., mesoscale eddies, ME, and the Florida Current). However, otolith analysis revealed that residence in MEs enhanced larval growth for four out of the five reef fish species examined, and this increased growth was consistent across three sampling periods and two years. These results indicate that MEs provide enhanced feeding environments for larval reef fishes. Additional otolith analysis of cohorts of two reef fishes tracked from the pelagic environment to the reef (i.e., settlement-stage), demonstrated that for one species (Cryptotomus roseus) slow-growing larvae were selectively removed from the population just prior to settlement. In this same species, slow-growing larvae from offshore waters did not contribute to the surviving population of settlement-stage larvae, suggesting that for at least some species and settlement events, upstream Caribbean fish populations are not well-connected to populations in the SOF. Finally, several lines of evidence, including temporal changes in larval assemblages and patterns of larval abundance and age across water masses, are consistent with the existence of nearshore retention of locally-spawned larvae in the SOF and, thus, the potential for self-recruitment in reef fish populations of the Florida Keys.

Population Production and Regulation in the Sea

Population Production and Regulation in the Sea PDF Author: D. H. Cushing
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521384575
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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Book Description
How do fish populations regulate themselves? Why do some fish stocks flourish and then die away? These questions have fascinated fisheries scientists for decades, and in the last twenty years answers have begun to emerge. In this comprehensive 1995 account, David Cushing shows how the fate of fish larvae which live close to the centres of production in the sea has a crucial effect on population regulation. He shows how the timing and development of tidal fronts in particular regions has profound implications for fish and plankton production, which in turn affects fish recruitment. If recruitment of fish larvae into the pool of adult fish is insufficient, stocks may fail. It is only by understanding these processes that we can hope to recognise the implications of global climate change on marine populations. This book will be essential reading for all those interested in marine ecology and fisheries biology.

Dynamics of Plankton and Larval Fish Populations on Georges Bank, the North Atlantic U.S. GLOBEC Study Site

Dynamics of Plankton and Larval Fish Populations on Georges Bank, the North Atlantic U.S. GLOBEC Study Site PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fishes
Languages : en
Pages : 412

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Marine Metapopulations

Marine Metapopulations PDF Author: Jacob P. Kritzer
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080454712
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 573

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Book Description
Technological improvements have greatly increased the ability of marine scientists to collect and analyze data over large spatial scales, and the resultant insights attainable from interpreting those data vastly increase understanding of poplation dynamics, evolution and biogeography. Marine Metapopulations provides a synthesis of existing information and understanding, and frames the most important future directions and issues. - First book to systematically apply metapopulation theory directly to marine systems - Contributions from leading international ecologists and fisheries biologists - Perspectives on a broad array of marine organisms and ecosystems, from coastal estuaries to shallow reefs to deep-sea hydrothermal vents - Critical science for improved management of marine resources - Paves the way for future research on large-scale spatial ecology of marine systems

Ecology of Marine Invertebrate Larvae

Ecology of Marine Invertebrate Larvae PDF Author: Larry McEdward
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429610548
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 485

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Book Description
This is the first book to provide a detailed treatment of the field of larval ecology. The 13 chapters use state-of-the-art reviews and critiques of nearly all of the major topics in this diverse and rapidly growing field. Topics include: patterns of larval diversity, reproductive energetics, spawning ecology, life history theory, larval feeding and nutrition, larval mortality, behavior and locomotion, larval transport, dispersal, population genetics, recruitment dynamics and larval evolution. Written by the leading new scientists in the field, chapters define the current state of larval ecology and outline the important questions for future research.

Fish Reproductive Biology

Fish Reproductive Biology PDF Author: Tore Jakobsen
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118752740
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 500

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Book Description
Fish recruitment is a key process for maintaining sustainable fish populations. In the marine environment, fish recruitment is carried out in many different ways, all of which have different life history strategies. The objective of this book is to argue for greater linkages between basic and applied research on fisheries recruitment, and assessment and management of exploited fish stocks. Following an introductory chapter, this second edition of Fish Reproductive Biology is organized into 3 main sections: Biology, Population Dynamics and Recruitment Information Critical to Successful Assessment and Management Incorporation of Reproductive Biology and Recruitment Considerations into Management Advice and Strategies The authors collectively bring a wide range of diverse experience in areas of reproductive biology, fisheries oceanography, stock assessment, and management. Fully updated throughout, the book will be of great interest to a wide audience. It is useful as a textbook in graduate and undergraduate courses in fisheries biology, fisheries science, and fisheries resource management and will provide vital information for fish biologists, fisheries scientists and managers.

NOAA Technical Report NMFS.

NOAA Technical Report NMFS. PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fisheries
Languages : en
Pages : 550

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Growth and Survival of Larval Fishes in Relation to the Trophodynamics of Georges Bank Cod and Haddock

Growth and Survival of Larval Fishes in Relation to the Trophodynamics of Georges Bank Cod and Haddock PDF Author: Geoffrey C. Laurence
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Codfish
Languages : en
Pages : 170

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Marine Research

Marine Research PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Marine biology
Languages : en
Pages : 764

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