Mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef habitats were compared to test their potential nursery functions. [1] Juvenile fish densities were generally higher in mangroves and seagrass, though this pattern was only seen in 7 of 54 comparisons. [2] Assemblage compositions also differed, with few shared species between habitats. [3] Relative predation rates were lower in mangroves and seagrass, with juvenile fish surviving 2.7 times longer on average than in coral reefs. While some nursery function was observed, results caution against generalizing that all mangroves and seagrass beds equally contribute to fish populations.
1) The study assessed the ecosystem services of the Southern Llano River in Texas by examining fish, invertebrate, and habitat characteristics.
2) A variety of sampling methods found 17 fish species present, with blacktail shiner and Guadalupe bass being most abundant. Invertebrate sampling identified several orders including mayflies and dragonflies.
3) Habitat measurements showed riparian vegetation ranging from 30-100% cover and suitable water quality parameters.
This proposal seeks funding to study encounter rates between predators and prey in various environments. The study will experimentally measure encounter rates between northern pike and roach fish in controlled pools with varying prey densities, enclosures in a pond with varying densities, and 15 natural lakes. Understanding encounter rates could provide insights into population dynamics models and help predict species responses to climate change. The $10,968.26 budget will fund underwater cameras, fish and supplies for the experiments, lake surveys, and vehicle rental.
The document summarizes a study comparing amphibian diversity and abundance in two 30-year-old artificial ponds on a university campus. While both ponds contained the same 7 species, one "open" pond had higher abundances of American Bullfrog and Gray Tree Frog tadpoles, while the other more forested "covered" pond contained more Eastern Tiger Salamander larvae and Plains Leopard Frog tadpoles. Overall, both ponds provided suitable habitat for amphibians but differed in abundances of some species, indicating wetland restoration should aim to create different habitat types.
This study examines the reproductive biology and age structure of Pterygoplichthys armored catfish in Landa Lake, New Braunfels TX. The objectives are to determine when they spawn, evaluate fecundity, determine age by examining otoliths, and compare findings to other studies. Armored catfish were collected monthly from April 2013 to December 2014. Gonads were examined to study reproduction, and otoliths were extracted and examined under a microscope to determine age. The data collected on reproduction and age will be compared to previous studies on armored catfish in the southern US to help understand the impacts and expansion of these invasive species.
The document summarizes a shellfish study conducted at Penny Lane Marina in Margate, NJ to assess the impact of a proposed floating dock system and fixed access dock. No juvenile hard clams were found across 9 square feet sampled. Three adult hard clams were found across 480 square feet sampled, equating to a density of 0.0062 clams per square foot, below the threshold for designation as shellfish habitat. Water quality parameters including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were within suitable ranges for hard clams, indicating they could potentially live in the area but are not currently present at viable densities.
Different records give different curves: comparing deep sea and land-based pa...Graeme Lloyd
This document compares records of coccolithophorid diversity from deep sea and land-based rock records over the last 150 million years. It finds that diversity strongly correlates with the shape of the rock record it is recovered from. However, after accounting for sampling biases, the true underlying diversity appears more uniform over time irrespective of the rock record used. This supports the hypothesis that the rock record, not the underlying biology, is driving patterns in the fossil record.
What the deep sea tells us about sampling biases in the fossil recordGraeme Lloyd
The document discusses biases in the fossil record by comparing deep sea and land-based records of coccolithophores. It finds that coccolithophore diversity correlates strongly with the amount of rock recovered from each record. Modeling suggests a more uniform diversity regardless of record used. It also finds that the ratio of coccolithophore species to genera changes over time in correlation with sampling effort and number of taxonomists, suggesting these factors influence the pattern observed in the fossil record.
This study used radio telemetry to track 37 male wood thrush birds over two breeding seasons in coastal Virginia. The researchers then collected data on prey availability and habitat structure within the birds' home ranges. They developed models to examine how prey availability and habitat structure related to the birds' space use patterns within their home ranges. The best model included both prey and habitat variables. Areas of high wood thrush use were associated with greater biomass of spiders and worms, which correlated with higher soil moisture. Bird use also related positively to forest canopy height and snag basal area, and negatively to red oak count and pine basal area. Evaluation of the models found that habitat structure variables explained more variation in bird space use than prey availability alone. This
1) The study assessed the ecosystem services of the Southern Llano River in Texas by examining fish, invertebrate, and habitat characteristics.
2) A variety of sampling methods found 17 fish species present, with blacktail shiner and Guadalupe bass being most abundant. Invertebrate sampling identified several orders including mayflies and dragonflies.
3) Habitat measurements showed riparian vegetation ranging from 30-100% cover and suitable water quality parameters.
This proposal seeks funding to study encounter rates between predators and prey in various environments. The study will experimentally measure encounter rates between northern pike and roach fish in controlled pools with varying prey densities, enclosures in a pond with varying densities, and 15 natural lakes. Understanding encounter rates could provide insights into population dynamics models and help predict species responses to climate change. The $10,968.26 budget will fund underwater cameras, fish and supplies for the experiments, lake surveys, and vehicle rental.
The document summarizes a study comparing amphibian diversity and abundance in two 30-year-old artificial ponds on a university campus. While both ponds contained the same 7 species, one "open" pond had higher abundances of American Bullfrog and Gray Tree Frog tadpoles, while the other more forested "covered" pond contained more Eastern Tiger Salamander larvae and Plains Leopard Frog tadpoles. Overall, both ponds provided suitable habitat for amphibians but differed in abundances of some species, indicating wetland restoration should aim to create different habitat types.
This study examines the reproductive biology and age structure of Pterygoplichthys armored catfish in Landa Lake, New Braunfels TX. The objectives are to determine when they spawn, evaluate fecundity, determine age by examining otoliths, and compare findings to other studies. Armored catfish were collected monthly from April 2013 to December 2014. Gonads were examined to study reproduction, and otoliths were extracted and examined under a microscope to determine age. The data collected on reproduction and age will be compared to previous studies on armored catfish in the southern US to help understand the impacts and expansion of these invasive species.
The document summarizes a shellfish study conducted at Penny Lane Marina in Margate, NJ to assess the impact of a proposed floating dock system and fixed access dock. No juvenile hard clams were found across 9 square feet sampled. Three adult hard clams were found across 480 square feet sampled, equating to a density of 0.0062 clams per square foot, below the threshold for designation as shellfish habitat. Water quality parameters including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH were within suitable ranges for hard clams, indicating they could potentially live in the area but are not currently present at viable densities.
Different records give different curves: comparing deep sea and land-based pa...Graeme Lloyd
This document compares records of coccolithophorid diversity from deep sea and land-based rock records over the last 150 million years. It finds that diversity strongly correlates with the shape of the rock record it is recovered from. However, after accounting for sampling biases, the true underlying diversity appears more uniform over time irrespective of the rock record used. This supports the hypothesis that the rock record, not the underlying biology, is driving patterns in the fossil record.
What the deep sea tells us about sampling biases in the fossil recordGraeme Lloyd
The document discusses biases in the fossil record by comparing deep sea and land-based records of coccolithophores. It finds that coccolithophore diversity correlates strongly with the amount of rock recovered from each record. Modeling suggests a more uniform diversity regardless of record used. It also finds that the ratio of coccolithophore species to genera changes over time in correlation with sampling effort and number of taxonomists, suggesting these factors influence the pattern observed in the fossil record.
This study used radio telemetry to track 37 male wood thrush birds over two breeding seasons in coastal Virginia. The researchers then collected data on prey availability and habitat structure within the birds' home ranges. They developed models to examine how prey availability and habitat structure related to the birds' space use patterns within their home ranges. The best model included both prey and habitat variables. Areas of high wood thrush use were associated with greater biomass of spiders and worms, which correlated with higher soil moisture. Bird use also related positively to forest canopy height and snag basal area, and negatively to red oak count and pine basal area. Evaluation of the models found that habitat structure variables explained more variation in bird space use than prey availability alone. This
This study examined the reproductive characteristics of invasive lionfish in Bermuda. Researchers collected female lionfish from 2013-2016 and measured their total length, body mass, and gonadosomatic index (GSI). They found that lionfish in Bermuda have similar body sizes to those in Little Cayman. Bermuda lionfish appear to spawn seasonally from June to September when water temperatures are warmest, unlike in Little Cayman where they spawn year-round. Lionfish were only found actively spawning in depths from 45-65 meters during this time period. The study provides new information about seasonal spawning patterns and depth distribution of lionfish in Bermuda.
This study examined painted turtle spatial ecology at three ponds in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Trapping data from 220 turtles showed that 28 (12.73%) migrated between ponds, with most movements occurring in summer and between Kingfisher Pond and other ponds. Radio tracking of 5 turtles in Mallard Pond found they remained there and favored deeper areas. Simulated nests showed 17% predation within a week at 50m from ponds, with predators including dogs, coyotes, and deer.
This study compared the production and profitability of three strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) for small-scale commercial cage farming in Ghana. The three strains studied were the Akosombo strain, Huawei strain, and Fish Reit strain. The Huawei strain showed significantly higher final mean weight, absolute growth rate, yield, and profitability indicators compared to the other two strains. While the Akosombo strain had the lowest feed conversion ratio, it also had the highest mortality and lowest mean yield. Overall, the Huawei strain performed best for small-scale commercial cage farming based on production and economic analyses.
The diversity of freshwater mussels has declined in Midwestern US watersheds. This study examined relationships between mussel and host fish communities in 11 sites in the Upper Big Walnut Creek Watershed in Ohio. Mussels and fish were collected using various techniques. Generalized linear models revealed several significant relationships between mussel and fish metrics. Percentages of certain mussel types correlated with higher fish species richness and abundance, while other mussel metrics correlated negatively or with fewer fish variables. Mussel abundance, size, and growth correlated most strongly with the percentage of headwater fish hosts. Results provide insights into mussel-fish relationships and have implications for mussel conservation focused on larger subwatersheds.
This is the presentation by Dr. Rob Toonen of Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, "What is Connectivity and Why Should you Care?" given during the Spring 2011 session of Ocean Awareness Training on Maui.
Trichiurus lepturus, also known as the largehead hairtail, is a species of cutlassfish found circumglobally in subtropical waters. It can reach up to 234 cm in length and 5 kg in weight. T. lepturus is a benthopelagic fish found from the surface to depths of 589 m, usually between 100-350 m. It is a commercial species marketed fresh, dried, salted, or frozen.
MW Langdon PhD Thesis_The Ecology of the grazing urchin Echinometra mathaei a...Mark Langdon
This PhD thesis investigated the ecology of the grazing sea urchin Echinometra mathaei at Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia. The author characterized coral reef habitats using field surveys and validation of habitat maps. Habitat type was found to have a major influence on urchin distribution, with higher densities in nearshore and lagoonal reefs compared to other habitats. Grazing and bioerosion studies showed that while urchin grazing plays an important ecological role, bioerosion may be more influential in structuring coral reef communities at Ningaloo. Urchin behavior experiments revealed that E. mathaei "gardens" algae within burrows at night and shelters during the day
Age and Growth of Male and Female Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus in Volusia Bl...Jennifer Gooch
This PowerPoint presentation looks at my senior research presentation on the invasive species Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, in Volusia Blue Spring, Florida. I discussed the implications that this species has had on this important ecosystem and addressed the methods which we used to have a greater understanding of how to better manage these species.
1) The study tested the effects of different concentrations of fertilizer runoff on zebrafish embryo development by exposing embryos to control spring water or solutions with fertilizer at concentrations of 2000x, 4000x, 5000x, and 10000x of the EPA safety standard.
2) The results found no dose-dependent relationship between fertilizer concentration and average head width, total body length, or body width, but instead a threshold response occurred after 2000x concentration for body length and width.
3) The conclusion is that a threshold response rather than dose dependency was observed, and future studies should examine impacts on zebrafish maturation and reproduction.
This study evaluated the impact of pumping fresh water into Biscayne Bay near the Deering Estate to address rising salinity levels. Macroalgae and seagrass communities were monitored as indicators of ecological change. After fresh water flooding, sites separated into distinct pre- and post-flooding clusters. Relative frequencies suggested a shift toward more brackish-tolerant species and decline in marine species. Nutrient analysis found higher nitrogen levels in macroalgae like Ulva ohnoi and in seagrasses near fresh water sources, indicating flooding increased nutrient availability. Continued monitoring will compare results to previous studies to further assess flooding impacts.
This study aims to examine the effect of modified longline fishing nets on waved albatross bycatch rates among Ecuadorian fishermen. The critically endangered waved albatross population has sharply declined due to disproportionate deaths of male birds from longline fishing. Providing modified nets to 5 boats and recording interactions with albatrosses will determine if this method can reduce bycatch, as was successful in Chile. Involving fishermen could help restore relationships with scientists and support conservation of this iconic Galapagos species.
A sudden and mass outburst of the epitoky polychaete worm Nereis (Neanthes) virens (Sars)/ Alitta virens was observed of the surface waters of Middle Strait, Baratang, South Andaman Island during July 2014. This polychaeta worm was studied for its morphology and structural characteristics. We have taken nine consecutive seasonal samplings from July 2011 to January 2015, this was the first appearance of these worms in such a huge mass. These epitoky worms were observed in the month of July 2014 during monsoonal season in Andaman Nicobar Islands. Even though detailed studies were carried out on this worm in the world oceans, the present observation was the first report on the tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Habitat selection by the burrowing brittlestar ophiophragmus filograneus in t...kleinkea
The document summarizes a study that investigated the habitat selection and substrate preferences of the burrowing brittlestar Ophiophragmus filograneus. Through a series of laboratory experiments, the study found that O. filograneus preferred very fine sediment over other grain sizes. Subsequent experiments revealed a preference for very fine sediment over fine sediment. Additional tests showed a preference for seagrass habitat over very fine sediment alone, and for artificial seagrass over very fine sediment. The results suggest O. filograneus distribution in natural environments correlates with availability of very fine sediment and seagrass.
This document summarizes a study of the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in the Westport River Estuary in Massachusetts over one annual cycle from April 1980 to November 1980. The key findings were:
1) The phytoplankton community was overwhelmingly dominated by small (<5um) nanoplankton that accounted for over 95% of individuals and carbon.
2) The zooplankton community was primarily composed of copepod nauplii, which made up 24-98% of individuals collected and peaked at over 80,000 individuals/m3 in May.
3) Other dominant zooplankton included various copepod species like Acartia
This study examined predator distribution, habitat use, and diet in a California wilderness area by collecting and analyzing bobcat, mountain lion, bear, coyote, and fox scat. The researchers found 230 scat samples across 5 habitat types and identified predator distributions and prey richness varied between habitats and predator species. Statistical analysis showed predator scat distribution and prey richness in scats differed significantly between habitat types and predator species. Camera traps provided additional evidence that predator activity patterns varied temporally, indicating niche differentiation between species. The study provided insight into trophic interactions and informed conservation recommendations.
The Whittier College ENVS 396 class sampled arthropods in Zuma Canyon using pitfall traps placed in restored, native, and invaded sites. The invaded site had the greatest number and species richness of arthropods, while the native site had the highest diversity. Restored and native sites did not significantly differ in species richness as hypothesized. However, species richness was highest in the invaded site rather than the native site as predicted.
Effect of Stocking Density on the Resistance to Fasting, Growth and Survival ...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
Abstract— After artificial reproduction of African catfish Heterobranchus bidorsalis, larvae of two days old and 2.18 ± 0.35 mg of mean weight were used to perform two experiments in order to assess the effect of stocking density on their fasting resistance, growth and survival. During the first experiment which lasted 11 days with four batches of larvae at densities of 1, 2, 3 and 4 individuals/ml, results showed that density did not significantly affect (p˂0,05) the resistance to fasting of larvae. However, first mortalities were observed at D5 for all the densities, the higher daily mortality was recorded at D10 and the last mortalities were obtained at D12.
Results of the second experiment revealed that the weight and growth performance of larvae decreased with the increasing of the density after 28 days of rearing. In contrast, the larval survival rate increased with the density. The values of survival rate were respectively 30.53 ± 4.32 and 55.30 ± 21.70 % for the densities 1 ind./l and 20 ind./l.
7- LSL-DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL, COST EFFECTIVE variable rate freezing apparatu...Ravindragouda Patil
The document describes the development of a novel, cost-effective variable freezing rate apparatus for cryopreserving fish semen for field use. The apparatus consists of an aluminum rack stand and straw racks that can hold 42 straws each. The racks can freeze samples simultaneously at the same or different rates by adjusting the height in liquid nitrogen. This allows for cryopreservation of endangered mahseer fish species' sperm in field conditions. The apparatus was successfully tested for cryopreserving two threatened mahseer species and provides a portable, inexpensive option for freezing fish genetic material in remote areas.
This study examined three species of aquatic freshwater turtles in Costa Rica for haemogregarine infections. All turtles sampled were positive for intraerythrocytic haemogregarines, representing the first report of these parasites in turtles from Central America. Black river turtles had a significantly higher average parasitemia (0.34%) than white-lipped mud turtles (0.05%). Parasites in the single scorpion mud turtle examined were smaller and did not displace the host cell nucleus like those in the other two species. This is the first report of haemogregarines in the white-lipped mud turtle, scorpion mud turtle, and any Rhinoclemm
This study investigated whether the daytime refuge location of Tenerife geckos (Tarentola delalandii) is associated with proximity to food sources at Poris de Abona. Researchers recorded invertebrate abundance and gecko snout-vent length at rocks where geckos were found refuge and at nearby rocks without geckos. Results showed gecko presence was positively influenced by higher invertebrate abundance, supporting optimal foraging theory. However, larger geckos selected rocks with lower invertebrate abundance, possibly due to disproportionate consumption. The study was limited in scope and further research could provide more insights.
This document summarizes the reproductive biology of the flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). Key points include:
- M. cephalus spawns in marine waters from late January to February after migrating from estuaries for spawning.
- Maturity is reached at 16cm length. Gonad development peaks from October to January as indicated by increasing gonadosomatic index values.
- Fecundity ranges from 0.4 to 8.2 million eggs depending on size, with larger fish producing more eggs.
- Sex ratio in spawning stocks favors males at 1.99:1.
This study examined the reproductive characteristics of invasive lionfish in Bermuda. Researchers collected female lionfish from 2013-2016 and measured their total length, body mass, and gonadosomatic index (GSI). They found that lionfish in Bermuda have similar body sizes to those in Little Cayman. Bermuda lionfish appear to spawn seasonally from June to September when water temperatures are warmest, unlike in Little Cayman where they spawn year-round. Lionfish were only found actively spawning in depths from 45-65 meters during this time period. The study provides new information about seasonal spawning patterns and depth distribution of lionfish in Bermuda.
This study examined painted turtle spatial ecology at three ponds in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Trapping data from 220 turtles showed that 28 (12.73%) migrated between ponds, with most movements occurring in summer and between Kingfisher Pond and other ponds. Radio tracking of 5 turtles in Mallard Pond found they remained there and favored deeper areas. Simulated nests showed 17% predation within a week at 50m from ponds, with predators including dogs, coyotes, and deer.
This study compared the production and profitability of three strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) for small-scale commercial cage farming in Ghana. The three strains studied were the Akosombo strain, Huawei strain, and Fish Reit strain. The Huawei strain showed significantly higher final mean weight, absolute growth rate, yield, and profitability indicators compared to the other two strains. While the Akosombo strain had the lowest feed conversion ratio, it also had the highest mortality and lowest mean yield. Overall, the Huawei strain performed best for small-scale commercial cage farming based on production and economic analyses.
The diversity of freshwater mussels has declined in Midwestern US watersheds. This study examined relationships between mussel and host fish communities in 11 sites in the Upper Big Walnut Creek Watershed in Ohio. Mussels and fish were collected using various techniques. Generalized linear models revealed several significant relationships between mussel and fish metrics. Percentages of certain mussel types correlated with higher fish species richness and abundance, while other mussel metrics correlated negatively or with fewer fish variables. Mussel abundance, size, and growth correlated most strongly with the percentage of headwater fish hosts. Results provide insights into mussel-fish relationships and have implications for mussel conservation focused on larger subwatersheds.
This is the presentation by Dr. Rob Toonen of Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, "What is Connectivity and Why Should you Care?" given during the Spring 2011 session of Ocean Awareness Training on Maui.
Trichiurus lepturus, also known as the largehead hairtail, is a species of cutlassfish found circumglobally in subtropical waters. It can reach up to 234 cm in length and 5 kg in weight. T. lepturus is a benthopelagic fish found from the surface to depths of 589 m, usually between 100-350 m. It is a commercial species marketed fresh, dried, salted, or frozen.
MW Langdon PhD Thesis_The Ecology of the grazing urchin Echinometra mathaei a...Mark Langdon
This PhD thesis investigated the ecology of the grazing sea urchin Echinometra mathaei at Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia. The author characterized coral reef habitats using field surveys and validation of habitat maps. Habitat type was found to have a major influence on urchin distribution, with higher densities in nearshore and lagoonal reefs compared to other habitats. Grazing and bioerosion studies showed that while urchin grazing plays an important ecological role, bioerosion may be more influential in structuring coral reef communities at Ningaloo. Urchin behavior experiments revealed that E. mathaei "gardens" algae within burrows at night and shelters during the day
Age and Growth of Male and Female Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus in Volusia Bl...Jennifer Gooch
This PowerPoint presentation looks at my senior research presentation on the invasive species Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, in Volusia Blue Spring, Florida. I discussed the implications that this species has had on this important ecosystem and addressed the methods which we used to have a greater understanding of how to better manage these species.
1) The study tested the effects of different concentrations of fertilizer runoff on zebrafish embryo development by exposing embryos to control spring water or solutions with fertilizer at concentrations of 2000x, 4000x, 5000x, and 10000x of the EPA safety standard.
2) The results found no dose-dependent relationship between fertilizer concentration and average head width, total body length, or body width, but instead a threshold response occurred after 2000x concentration for body length and width.
3) The conclusion is that a threshold response rather than dose dependency was observed, and future studies should examine impacts on zebrafish maturation and reproduction.
This study evaluated the impact of pumping fresh water into Biscayne Bay near the Deering Estate to address rising salinity levels. Macroalgae and seagrass communities were monitored as indicators of ecological change. After fresh water flooding, sites separated into distinct pre- and post-flooding clusters. Relative frequencies suggested a shift toward more brackish-tolerant species and decline in marine species. Nutrient analysis found higher nitrogen levels in macroalgae like Ulva ohnoi and in seagrasses near fresh water sources, indicating flooding increased nutrient availability. Continued monitoring will compare results to previous studies to further assess flooding impacts.
This study aims to examine the effect of modified longline fishing nets on waved albatross bycatch rates among Ecuadorian fishermen. The critically endangered waved albatross population has sharply declined due to disproportionate deaths of male birds from longline fishing. Providing modified nets to 5 boats and recording interactions with albatrosses will determine if this method can reduce bycatch, as was successful in Chile. Involving fishermen could help restore relationships with scientists and support conservation of this iconic Galapagos species.
A sudden and mass outburst of the epitoky polychaete worm Nereis (Neanthes) virens (Sars)/ Alitta virens was observed of the surface waters of Middle Strait, Baratang, South Andaman Island during July 2014. This polychaeta worm was studied for its morphology and structural characteristics. We have taken nine consecutive seasonal samplings from July 2011 to January 2015, this was the first appearance of these worms in such a huge mass. These epitoky worms were observed in the month of July 2014 during monsoonal season in Andaman Nicobar Islands. Even though detailed studies were carried out on this worm in the world oceans, the present observation was the first report on the tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Habitat selection by the burrowing brittlestar ophiophragmus filograneus in t...kleinkea
The document summarizes a study that investigated the habitat selection and substrate preferences of the burrowing brittlestar Ophiophragmus filograneus. Through a series of laboratory experiments, the study found that O. filograneus preferred very fine sediment over other grain sizes. Subsequent experiments revealed a preference for very fine sediment over fine sediment. Additional tests showed a preference for seagrass habitat over very fine sediment alone, and for artificial seagrass over very fine sediment. The results suggest O. filograneus distribution in natural environments correlates with availability of very fine sediment and seagrass.
This document summarizes a study of the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in the Westport River Estuary in Massachusetts over one annual cycle from April 1980 to November 1980. The key findings were:
1) The phytoplankton community was overwhelmingly dominated by small (<5um) nanoplankton that accounted for over 95% of individuals and carbon.
2) The zooplankton community was primarily composed of copepod nauplii, which made up 24-98% of individuals collected and peaked at over 80,000 individuals/m3 in May.
3) Other dominant zooplankton included various copepod species like Acartia
This study examined predator distribution, habitat use, and diet in a California wilderness area by collecting and analyzing bobcat, mountain lion, bear, coyote, and fox scat. The researchers found 230 scat samples across 5 habitat types and identified predator distributions and prey richness varied between habitats and predator species. Statistical analysis showed predator scat distribution and prey richness in scats differed significantly between habitat types and predator species. Camera traps provided additional evidence that predator activity patterns varied temporally, indicating niche differentiation between species. The study provided insight into trophic interactions and informed conservation recommendations.
The Whittier College ENVS 396 class sampled arthropods in Zuma Canyon using pitfall traps placed in restored, native, and invaded sites. The invaded site had the greatest number and species richness of arthropods, while the native site had the highest diversity. Restored and native sites did not significantly differ in species richness as hypothesized. However, species richness was highest in the invaded site rather than the native site as predicted.
Effect of Stocking Density on the Resistance to Fasting, Growth and Survival ...Agriculture Journal IJOEAR
Abstract— After artificial reproduction of African catfish Heterobranchus bidorsalis, larvae of two days old and 2.18 ± 0.35 mg of mean weight were used to perform two experiments in order to assess the effect of stocking density on their fasting resistance, growth and survival. During the first experiment which lasted 11 days with four batches of larvae at densities of 1, 2, 3 and 4 individuals/ml, results showed that density did not significantly affect (p˂0,05) the resistance to fasting of larvae. However, first mortalities were observed at D5 for all the densities, the higher daily mortality was recorded at D10 and the last mortalities were obtained at D12.
Results of the second experiment revealed that the weight and growth performance of larvae decreased with the increasing of the density after 28 days of rearing. In contrast, the larval survival rate increased with the density. The values of survival rate were respectively 30.53 ± 4.32 and 55.30 ± 21.70 % for the densities 1 ind./l and 20 ind./l.
7- LSL-DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL, COST EFFECTIVE variable rate freezing apparatu...Ravindragouda Patil
The document describes the development of a novel, cost-effective variable freezing rate apparatus for cryopreserving fish semen for field use. The apparatus consists of an aluminum rack stand and straw racks that can hold 42 straws each. The racks can freeze samples simultaneously at the same or different rates by adjusting the height in liquid nitrogen. This allows for cryopreservation of endangered mahseer fish species' sperm in field conditions. The apparatus was successfully tested for cryopreserving two threatened mahseer species and provides a portable, inexpensive option for freezing fish genetic material in remote areas.
This study examined three species of aquatic freshwater turtles in Costa Rica for haemogregarine infections. All turtles sampled were positive for intraerythrocytic haemogregarines, representing the first report of these parasites in turtles from Central America. Black river turtles had a significantly higher average parasitemia (0.34%) than white-lipped mud turtles (0.05%). Parasites in the single scorpion mud turtle examined were smaller and did not displace the host cell nucleus like those in the other two species. This is the first report of haemogregarines in the white-lipped mud turtle, scorpion mud turtle, and any Rhinoclemm
This study investigated whether the daytime refuge location of Tenerife geckos (Tarentola delalandii) is associated with proximity to food sources at Poris de Abona. Researchers recorded invertebrate abundance and gecko snout-vent length at rocks where geckos were found refuge and at nearby rocks without geckos. Results showed gecko presence was positively influenced by higher invertebrate abundance, supporting optimal foraging theory. However, larger geckos selected rocks with lower invertebrate abundance, possibly due to disproportionate consumption. The study was limited in scope and further research could provide more insights.
This document summarizes the reproductive biology of the flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). Key points include:
- M. cephalus spawns in marine waters from late January to February after migrating from estuaries for spawning.
- Maturity is reached at 16cm length. Gonad development peaks from October to January as indicated by increasing gonadosomatic index values.
- Fecundity ranges from 0.4 to 8.2 million eggs depending on size, with larger fish producing more eggs.
- Sex ratio in spawning stocks favors males at 1.99:1.
Morphological adaptation of P. canaliculata shell to the different ecosystems...Open Access Research Paper
Different physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations of Pomacea canaliculata aided them in their survival to different adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, the said adaptations can be very vital in the control and management strategies that can be employed in the areas where their population posed a threat to food security. The study employed an explorative-investigative study design for the gathering of data. Eight hundred seventy-three Golden Apple Snails from different freshwater ecosystems, namely stream, irrigational canal, and rice field were collected, cleaned, and examined. To elucidate the different adaptations of the GAS to the various ecosystems, their shell characteristics were observed, recorded, and examined. Consequently, this study found out that those shells from snails sampled in streams had bigger length, width, width of the aperture, a higher number of bands, and whorls when compared to those shells from irrigational canals and rice fields. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between pH and dissolved oxygen to the height, width, and width of the aperture. There was also a significant correlation between the temperature and width, weight, and the number of bands. It was concluded that to control and manage the population of the GAS the area should have less palatable food sources and less anthropogenic activities so that environmental parameters like high pH, lower temperature, and higher dissolved oxygen can be achieved.
Reproductive biology of the milk shark Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837) ...Sana_haroon
this is my presentation based on research paper title "Reproductive biology of the milk shark Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837) from the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea, Egypt"
This was written by Amgad M. Shaaban et al., 2018
Which have Impact factor: 1.98
This document discusses the use of parasitic biological tags in fish stock identification, biology, and fisheries management studies. It provides examples of parasites that have been used as tags, including their life cycles and hosts. Characteristics of ideal parasitic tags are described. The document summarizes several studies that have used parasites to identify fish stocks and understand fish movements in various parts of the world. Advantages of using parasites as natural tags over artificial tagging are also highlighted.
Introduction for NOAA lesson by Susan Kaiser, TAS 2012: One Fish, Two Fish skaiser4800
This Power Point introduces the work of marine scientists working for FWC and NOAA as they study fish migration patterns and population off the Florida Keys near the Dry Tortugas. The original presentation was written by Danielle Morley and edited by Susan Kaiser Teacher at Sea, 2012 for use with the lesson she developed called One Fish, Two Fish. All of the resources are available at the NOAA TAS website.
Sea cows in the Sahel : research and conservation on the African Manatee in t...Sahara Conservation Fund
Presented during the 17h Annual Sahelo-Saharan Interest Group Meeting organized by the NGO Sahara Conservation Fund in Senegal, from 4 to 6 May 2017. The Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) gathers every year about a hundred people who are interested in the field of Sahelo-Saharan species conservation.
- The study examined differences in crayfish abundance and diet between two habitats in Main Pond at Greenwing Laboratory: a shallow, open North habitat and a deeper, more vegetated West habitat.
- Crayfish abundance was higher in the North habitat and at intermediate distances (10m) from shore, but diet did not differ between habitats.
- While vegetative cover and other factors like depth and temperature affected crayfish distribution, diet was similar possibly because the same food sources were available throughout the pond.
One Fish, Two Fish, Blue Crab, Pompano- An Analysis of Marine and Estuarine S...Cody Gramlin
This document analyzes marine and estuarine species sampled along South Carolina's Atlantic coast. Samples were collected from three locations at Hunting Island State Park using fyke and seine nets between August 8-14, 2016. A variety of fish and crab species were identified. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was calculated for each net deployment to analyze sampling effectiveness. The six most commonly caught species were identified for each sample location.
Evidence for impacts by jellyfish on north searatupura
This study examines the potential impact of jellyfish on North Sea herring recruitment. It analyzes data on jellyfish and herring larval abundance in the North Sea from 1971-1986, excluding 1984. The study finds a positive correlation between jellyfish and herring larval abundance, indicating concurrence that could lead to competition. It also finds a negative relationship between survival of herring to age 0 and abundance of the jellyfish Aurelia aurita, suggesting this species may adversely impact herring populations. Finally, the study suggests climate variability, as measured by the North Atlantic Oscillation Index, may influence the impact of jellyfish on herring survival and recruitment through effects on jellyfish abundance.
This document summarizes a study on the reproductive biology of male pipefish (Trachyramphus bicoarctatus) in Lake Qarun, Egypt. The study found that the sex ratio was male to female of 1:1.37, significantly different than the expected 1:1 ratio. Males reached sexual maturity at a length of 7.9cm. Mature males and those brooding eggs were found from December to April. Male fecundity ranged from 42 to 111 eggs and was correlated to fish length. The reproductive period extended from December to April, peaking in February.
Microplastic Ingestion in Grunt (Orthopristis chrysoptera) Along the Texas Gu...Savannah Tarpey
This study examined the ingestion of microplastics by grunt fish along the Texas Gulf Coast. A total of 122 grunt were collected from four locations and examined. The key findings were:
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- Ingested microplastics were primarily blue threads.
- The presence of microplastics in grunt was not correlated with fish size.
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Ratio « number of males on number of females » for the mass production of Sar...Innspub Net
The appropriate proportion of male and female parents that give a highest number of juveniles is a major concern in tilapia culture Sarotherodon melanotheron due to the oral incubation by males. A study of the ratio “number of males to number of females” on fingerlings production has been performed in order to determine the optimal ratio for S. melanotheron. Five ratios were tested : R1 (1 male to 2 females), R2 (1 male to 3 females), R3 (2 males to 2 females), R4 (2 males to 4 females) and R5 (2 males to 6 females). The experimental device consists of five concrete tanks (1m x 1m x 60cm) filled to 2/3, about 0.17m3 of water. The fish are fed three times a day with a diet containing 35% crude protein. Once a week, the fertilized eggs are collected and incubated in a tank. The hatching rate and larval growth are followed. The experiment was duplicated and lasted 6 weeks to harvest eggs and 40 days to track the growth of larvae. The results show that the number of egg laying is significantly different from a ratio to each other (p ˂ 0.05) and increases with the number of males and females. The highest number of egg laying is obtained with R5 ratio “2 males to 6 females” that seems best for the mass production of juveniles of S. melanotheron. These results provide a basis for the intensive production of S. melanotheron for the aquaculture development in lagoon.
Small differences in collection site, only 15 meters apart, resulted in large differences in the palatability of macroalgal species to herbivorous fish. An experiment found that consumption of Sargassum mangarevense collected from the intertidal reef was nearly six times greater than conspecifics collected from the adjacent subtidal reef. Similarly, intraspecific palatability of Padina boryana appeared to vary between collection sites, though the difference was not statistically significant. This demonstrates that algal palatability can vary substantially over very small spatial scales, and researchers should carefully consider collection locations when setting up herbivory experiments.
This document summarizes a study that tested the fish feeding deterrent properties of selected aldehydes using field assays. Model aldehyde compounds and an extract from two species of nudibranchs were incorporated into fish food pellets at different concentrations. The pellets were then offered to reef fish underwater and the rejection rates were recorded. Pellets treated with higher doses of model compounds and the nudibranch extract had higher rejection rates. The dialdehyde benzene-1,2-dicarboxaldehyde showed deterrent effects even at lower doses. Future studies aim to further test model compounds, determine effective doses, and synthesize derivatives to analyze structure-activity relationships.
ABSTRACT- Order siluriformes, Bagridae family of four number of catfish species provides information on the diets of
Mystus bleekeri, Mystus cavasius, Mystus tengara, Mystus vittatus in Lower Manair reservoir. The total of 1021 fish
species examined and their stomach content was analyzed. The frequency of occurrence and numerical methods were
employed in this study. In the numerical analysis, crustaceans and insect parts (85.91%) constituted the most important
diet of Mystus bleekeri followed by fish remains (78.40%), plant materials (69.01%), algae/ protozoan (64.79%), molluscs
(63.38%), detritus (56.81%) and sand grains (33.80%). The number of food items were enumerated for the crustaceans
and insect parts in Mystus bleekeri have been contained the maximum percentage (34.84%) of the content under
frequency of occurrence method followed by algae and protozoan with 20.76%, Molluscs with 18.37%, plant materials
with 15.60% and sand grains with 10.44%. The result of the analysis showed that Mystus cavasius, Mystus tengara,
Mystus vittatus fed on similar food items. These were mainly crustaceans, molluscans, fish remains and macrophytes.
Other food items include algae, detritus, sand grains. These four species are omnivorous and occupy the same ecological
niche.
Key-words- Cat fish, Food and feeding, Frequency, Numerical method
Growth and protein content of mud crabs (Scylla serrata) fed with different n...Innspub Net
Mud crab (Scylla serrata) farming is one of the main sources of livelihood in Calauag, Quezon. Commonly, they use trash fish as their major source of feeds for mud crabs. However, fluctuation on its prices happen because of supply and demand, thus the use of other natural feeds were conceptualized. This aimed to determine if there are significant differences on the weight, protein content and meat characteristics of mud crabs fed with different natural feeds. It also aimed to assess the profitability of mud crab farming in plastic cages using different natural feeds. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design with three treatments replicated thrice: T1 – trash fish, T2 – horn snail meat and T3 – yellow corn. Results revealed that mud crabs fed with horn snail had the highest weight and protein content as compared to the other treatments. Hence, had the highest ROI. While, in the sensory analysis of its meat characteristics, mud crabs fed with yellow corn had the highest mean which was rated as very much juicy, flavorful and very much acceptable.
Belize Poster with current and DO temp.pptxShannon Dexter
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FINAL TITLE DEFENSE FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF SUBJECT FISH 230.pptxjoriel4
This document contains summaries of three separate studies:
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3. The third study evaluates an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system combining seaweed, shrimp, and mussels to boost production while reducing environmental
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
This presentation was provided by Steph Pollock of The American Psychological Association’s Journals Program, and Damita Snow, of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), for the initial session of NISO's 2024 Training Series "DEIA in the Scholarly Landscape." Session One: 'Setting Expectations: a DEIA Primer,' was held June 6, 2024.
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Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
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An import error occurs when a program fails to import a module or library, disrupting its execution. In languages like Python, this issue arises when the specified module cannot be found or accessed, hindering the program's functionality. Resolving import errors is crucial for maintaining smooth software operation and uninterrupted development processes.
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This is part 1 of my Java Learning Journey. This Contains Custom methods, classes, constructors, packages, multithreading , try- catch block, finally block and more.
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
it describes the bony anatomy including the femoral head , acetabulum, labrum . also discusses the capsule , ligaments . muscle that act on the hip joint and the range of motion are outlined. factors affecting hip joint stability and weight transmission through the joint are summarized.
4. KEY WORDS
• Assemblage: A collection of gathering things.
• Nursery: A place or habitat that breeds or supports animals.
• Mangrove/Seagrass Beds: Mangroves and seagrass beds are shallow-water
habitats that often have greater abundance of juvenile fishes to coral reefs.
They have been referred to as nursery habitats because of the apparent
increase in the survival of young individuals that these abundance patterns
suggest.
5. BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
• Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in nursery function among mangrove, seagrass
and shallow reef habitat as measured by: (a) patterns of juvenile and adult density, (b) assemblage
composition, and (c) relative predation rates.
• The results in this research suggested, that although both mangrove and seagrass showed
characteristics of nursery habitats, this pattern was weak.
• Very few species showed patterns that were significant. They were half of the mangrove and
seagrass sites which appeared to hold higher numbers of juvenile fish.
• Only four of the six most abundant and commercially important species (on research paper)
showed higher numbers of juvenile fish in mangrove and/or seagrass habitats relative to coral reefs.
• Although mangrove and seagrass had very low predation risk, this was not the case for all of them.
• The results caution against generalization that all mangrove and seagrass have nursery function.
6. PURPOSE OF
INVESTIGATION
• Coastal habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses beds are amongst the most diverse.
• Coastal habitats have very important scientific and economic reasons in vital ecosystem services:
✓ Nutrient cycling
✓ Waste treatment
✓ Disturbance regulation
• This study was to decide whether mangrove and seagrass beds of the Caribbean are more important for reef fish
species by testing the null hypothesis that there was no difference in nursery value among mangrove, seagrasses and
coral reef habitats.
• It is important to understand that there are many factors that affect the distribution and abundance of organisms among
coastal habitats.
• This investigation informs how these factors affect the distribution of species.
7.
8. INTRODUCTION OF
INVESTIGATION
• Mangrove and seagrass are characterized in having shallow habitats that are often to observe to have
greater abundance of juvenile fishes compared to coral reefs.
• These habitats that are referred as nurseries have the following characteristics:
• They have an increase in juvenile survival.
• There are several factors that need to be considered in evaluating the value of a nursery:
✓ Growth
✓ Survival
✓ Density
✓ Movement
9. • There are factors that affect organism survival that is mention numerously in
this investigation:
• Competition
• Predation
• This factors will vary to which the organism settles.
• These factors increases the probability of an organism’s survival due to the
supply of food and shelter as well as the supplement of nearby populations.
10. SITES OF
EXPERIMENTATION
• They conducted this study in
three locations:
• Lee Stocking Island,
Great Exuma
• Bahamas
• Mahahual, Mexico
• Turneffe Atoll, Belize
12. PROCEDURE
1. One site from each habitat type was visually censused to find the abundances of juvenile and adult fishes.
✓ The juvenile and adult status was determined from a combination of size range and color patterns based on
published life history data.
✓ Fishes that were within 30 m2 of the transects were recorded.
1. The proportional abundance of juveniles among habitats was compared to test the null hypothesis of no differences among
habitats in terms of nursery potential.
✓ The proportional abundance of juveniles among habitats at the assemblage level was compared and then, the
proportional abundance of juveniles among habitats for each of the most abundant and commercially important
species were compared.
1. The null hypothesis of no difference in relative predation rates between habitats was tested by examining the removal times
of tethered fish.
✓ A live , juvenile smallmouth grunt (ranging in sizes from 3 to 6 cm total length) was used as baitfish in timed
experiments within mangrove and seagrass beds.
✓ A fish was tethered to active the stopwatch tethered timers to assess the relative rates of predation: a) between
habitats b) between morning and afternoon c) between sites
✓ 8 tethered baitfish were placed in an area of devoid predators
13. PROCEDURE
1. DENSITY
• The proportional abundance of juveniles among habitats was compared using:
✓ Univariate ANOVA was used to compare proportional abundance of juveniles among all three habitats at
each site.
✓ If necessary, this was followed up by Bonferroni post-hoct tests.
• Two levels of biological resolution were investigated:
1. Proportional abundance of juveniles among habitats at the assemblage level
2. Comparisons of the proportional abundance of juveniles among habitats for each of the most abundant and
commercially important species
14. 2. ASSEMBLAGE COMPOSITION
• Using Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity, the null hypothesis that species are not shared
among habitats was tested.
15. 3. RELATIVE PREDATION RATES
• The null hypothesis of no difference in relative predation rates between habitats was examined by
analyzing the removal times of tethered fish:
✓ A smallmouth grunt: used as baitfish in timed experiments within
mangrove/seagrass beds and coral reefs at each of two sites.
➡ Several smallmouth grunt were collected using a gill net, monitored for stress for 20 minutes and then attached to a tether
timer by placing a hook through the dorsal musculature.
➡ The length for each fish was recorded.
3. The tether timer was started and the timer with the batifish was placed in a given habitat.
➡ A stopwatch with a chronometer was fixed inside a 30 ml nalgene container and a magnetic switch was attached
to the start/stop function of the watch.
➡ Fish were tethered with a monofilament line, which in turn was connected to the start/stop switch.
➡ If a fish was taken the switch would open, causing the watch to stop.
➡ At the end of 90 minutes, experiments were concluded and the tether timers were collected.
16. Control - Relative Predation Rates Preliminary
Exam
Conducted to ensure that the movement
of the baitfish would not accidentally stop
the clock.
✓ Eight tethers, each with baitfish that were 6 cm in total length, were placed in
an area devoid of predators.
✓ The baitfish were visually monitored for 10 minutes with an observer 3 m
away.
✓ Observations confirmed that batfish removals or clock stoppages
were not the result of fish behavior.
Independant Variable - Amount of time (90
Minutes)
Dependant Variable - The survival of the fish
17. MATERIALS
• Univariate ANOVA (computer program)
• Tethered fish (Haemulon chrysargyreum or smallmouth grunt)
• Gill net
• Hook
• Stopwatches tethered timers
• Container
• Statistical software package
18. DATA PROCESSING & COLLECTION
The collection of data, how to process the data and the analysis.
19. ASSEMBLAGE
COMPOSITION
• If mangrove and seagrass habitats are
nurseries, then they are expected to
share species
• Tested null hypothesis:
‣ species not shared between
habitats ≈ lack of nursery potential
20. W THEY DID IT:
1. Used transect sampling to record all the
fishes if observed within 30 cm 2
2. Tested the null hypothesis by examining
similarity in assemblage structure among
habitats (censuses)
21. JACCARD’S COEFFICIENT OF
SIMILARITY
number of species that are in both
C habitats
c number of species present in habitat
Sj = A A
(a+b+c) number of species present in habitat
B B
22. • 7,200 fishes - 82 species
• Few species in common
• Between reef and mangrove:
• Sj = 0.22 +/- 0.18
• Between reef and seagrass:
• Sj = 0.23 +/- 0.20
23.
24. RELATIVE PREDATION RATES
• If tethered fish was taken = switch would open, watch would stop
• Timers were started and placed in a given habitat
• Placed 3-8 replicate tether timers
• Experiments concluded at end of 90 min.
• Tethering experiments constrain behavior of the baitfish = can only assess
relative risk of predation
27. DENSITY
Null hypothesis was rejected:
There is a difference in nursery function among mangrove, seagrass
and coral reef habitat
BUT it doesn’t mean that mangroves & seagrass provide nursery function.
Turneffe Atoll Site #6 higher abundance of juveniles in
mangroves
Turneffe Atoll Site #3 higher abundance of juveniles in reef
and seagrass
Analysis says: only 7/54 occasions demonstrated that there
was a higher abundance of juveniles in mangroves and/or
seagrass than coral reefs
28. ASSEMBLAGE
COMPOSITION
Null hypothesis was rejected:
Only 11 of the most abundant species were considered
Jaccard’s Coefficient of Similarity
→ few species were in common between:
Reef and Mangrove (0.22) Reef and seagrass (0.23)
Then, only the most abundant AND commercially important species were
considered
Jaccard’s Coefficient of Similarity
→ few species were in common between:
Reef and Mangrove (0.25) Reef and seagrass (0.20)
29. RELATIVE PREDATION
RATES
Null hypothesis was rejected:
Average survival rate of baitfish in mangrove/seagrass beds: 42%
Average survival rate of baitfish in coral reefs: 15%
(after 90 minutes of being tethered)
SITE 3
Morning Afternoon
Mangrove/Seagrass - 33% morality within 90 minutes Mangrove/Seagrass - 100% within 78 minutes
Coral reefs - 100% mortality within 80 minutes Coral reefs - no significant change between morning
and afternoon results
Evaluation: Tethering experiments contain behavior of baitfish
30. DISCUSSION
Juvenile survivorship =
2.7 times greater in mangrove/seagrass habitats than coral reefs
Mortality of individuals varied
between sites and time of the day.
Evaluation:
Conclusion identifies the need of similar studies to be conducted that
replicate habitats and thus better assesses nursery function
Results:
Population density, assemblage composition and relative rates of predation show that not
all mangrove and seagrass offer nursery function (generalization must be avoided)
Evaluation:
A more cautious and explicit analysis of ecological roles of such
habitats is required