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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI26072252/00001
Notes
- Abstract:
- We present results of recent studies on distribution, habitat, and relative
abundance of larvae and juveniles of the four most popular gamefish species
in Everglades National Park, (spotted seatrout, red drum, gray snapper,
snook). National Park Service and National Marine Fisheries Service
personnel sampled larvae from 1982 to 1985 in passes and creeks bordering
the park and sampled juveniles from 1973 to 1976 and from 1982 to 1985 in
mangrove creeks, channels, shorelines, banks, basins, and bays.
We collected larvae of spotted seatrout and red drum and juveniles of all
four species. Spotted seatrout were found to spawn in park waters,
predominantly in western Florida Bay. We caught spotted seatrout larvae in
mesohaline and marine salinities during every month but January with peaks
in June to September. Catches (larvae/100m3) varied by station and year
but approximated those taken 20 years ago. We collected juvenile spotted
seatrout in euryhaline seagrass beds of mixed species composition
(Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii, and siringodfun- f ilif orme).
Juveniles were most abundant in western Florida Bay mixed species seagrass
beds of 1,000-4,000 shoots/m2, where the percent organic matter and density
and biomass of - S. filiforme were higher than in areas without spotted
seatrout.
Red drum and gray snapper were found to spawn outside of park waters. Red
drum entered the park from September to January as larvae and inhabited
shallow brackish waters near mangrove shorelines and in creeks. Larval red
drum catches were lower than those taken 20 years ago. Gray snapper
entered park waters as post larvae and small juveniles, inhabiting
euryhaline seagrass beds in banks, basins and channels, and mangrove prop
roots. Juvenile gray snapper were most abundant in Florida Bay mixed
seagrass beds 1,000-4,000 shoots/m2 of higher densities and biomass of
Halodule wrightii and Syringodium f ilif orme than other areas sampled.
Adult spawning areas and habitat of young snook remain unknown as few
young-of-year were collected. Juvenile snook 1-2 years old were present in
euryhaline mangrove shorelines and creeks.
We estimated monthly mortality rates of juvenile spotted seatrout 16-144 mm
S .L. (Ax34. 7%) and juvenile gray snapper 72-116 mm S .L. (A=39.5%) using
catch curve analysis. ( English )
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Florida International University
- Holding Location:
- South Florida Natural Resource Center
- Rights Management:
- Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the user's responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.
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