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Item Age, growth, and mortality of King Mackerel in the western Gulf of Mexico(Marine and Coastal Fisheries, 2023-11-07) Kesley G. Banks; Matthew K. Streich; Gregory W. StunzObjective Temporal and spatial variation in growth can have significant implications for the assessment and management of exploited populations. Therefore, the age and growth of King Mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla were estimated for the western Gulf of Mexico, where there are large gaps in the available data. Methods A total of 727 sagittal otoliths from 411 females, 248 males, and 68 individuals of unknown sex were collected from headboats, private recreational anglers, tournaments, and fishery-independent sampling and aged. Result Ages ranged from 0 to 17 years with lengths ranging from 13 to 147 cm fork length. The distribution of lengths and ages differed marginally for fishing sector (i.e., tournament vs. headboat vs. private). The fish that were collected from tournaments were larger than those collected from headboats and private anglers. The distribution of lengths and ages did vary by sex, with females obtaining larger sizes than males. However, there was no difference in mean age by sex. Using the multimodel approach, the Richards model improved the fit for both the youngest and oldest fish in the sample relative to the other growth models that were evaluated. Sex-specific differences in the Richards model were detected, with females growing larger than males but more slowly. Although peak catch was observed at age 5, King Mackerel were not fully recruited to the recreational fishery until age 6. The Chapman-Robson Peak Plus estimate of Z was 0.37. Conclusion These data provide a contemporary snapshot of size structure, age, growth, and mortality for King Mackerel from an undersampled region of the Gulf of Mexico and highlight several key considerations for upcoming stock assessments.Item An Analysis of Artificial Reef Fish Community Structure along the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Shelf: Potential Impacts of “Rigs-to-Reefs” Programs(PLoS ONE, 2015-05-08) Ajemian, Matthew J.; Wetz, Jennifer J.; Shipley-Lozano, Brooke; Shively, J. Dale; Stunz, Gregory W.Artificial structures are the dominant complex marine habitat type along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shelf. These habitats can consist of a variety of materials, but in this region are primarily comprised of active and reefed oil and gas platforms. Despite being established for several decades, the fish communities inhabiting these structures remain poorly investigated. Between 2012 and 2013 we assessed fish communities at 15 sites using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Fish assemblages were quantified from standing platforms and an array of artificial reef types (Liberty Ships and partially removed or toppled platforms) distributed over the Texas continental shelf. The depth gradient covered by the surveys (30–84 m) and variability in structure density and relief also permitted analyses of the effects of these characteristics on fish richness, diversity, and assemblage composition. ROVs captured a variety of species inhabiting these reefs from large transient piscivores to small herbivorous reef fishes. While structure type and relief were shown to influence species richness and community structure, major trends in species composition were largely explained by the bottom depth where these structures occurred. We observed a shift in fish communities and relatively high diversity at approximately 60 m bottom depth, confirming trends observed in previous studies of standing platforms. This depth was also correlated with some of the largest Red Snapper captured on supplementary vertical longline surveys. Our work indicates that managers of artificial reefing programs (e.g., Rigs-to-Reefs) in the GOM should carefully consider the ambient environmental conditions when designing reef sites. For the Texas continental shelf, reefing materials at a 50–60 m bottom depth can serve a dual purpose of enhancing diving experiences and providing the best potential habitat for relatively large Red Snapper.Item Assessing ecological connectivity of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) in the Gulf of Mexico using stable isotope analysis of multiple tissues(Fisheries Research, 2023-08-30) Addie L. Binstock; Travis M. Richards; Kesley Gibson-Banks; J. Marcus Drymon; R.J. David Wells; John A. MohanEffective management of blacktip sharks relies on a comprehensive understanding of population distribution and stock structure. Previous stock separations and the implementation of regional quotas have proven successful in maintaining the sustainable harvest of blacktip sharks in both the Western North Atlantic and United States Gulf of Mexico (US GoM), in commercial and recreational fisheries. Within the US GoM, finer scale biological separation between blacktips in western and eastern regions has been supported through tagging, genetic, and diet data. This study provides additional evidence of unique ecological isotopic niche areas and δ15N and δ13C values for blacktip sharks from the western, central, and eastern US GoM across muscle and vertebral tissues that reflect different isotope turnover rates. Blacktip sharks from western and central regions exhibited isotope values and niches that were significantly smaller compared to eastern sharks, with enriched δ13C and depleted δ15N west of 88ºN. Ontogenetic shifts were noted for most regions and there was no crossover or overlap in average isotope values from early to recent life between regions. These spatiotemporal patterns suggest that in the year following birth and prior to the time of capture, blacktip sharks on the central and western shelves have separated ecologically from blacktips on the eastern US GoM Florida shelf.Item An assessment of two visual survey methods for documenting fish community structure on artificial platform reefs in the Gulf of Mexico(Elsevier B.V., 2020-01-07) J. Wetz, Jennifer; J. Ajemian, Matthew; Shipley, Brooke; W. Stunz, GregoryNon-extractive visual survey methods are commonly used to assess a variety of marine habitats. The use of Underwater Visual Census (UVC) by SCUBA divers is predominant; however, remotely acquired video data (e.g., cameras systems, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), submersibles) are becoming more frequently used to acquire community data. Both remote and diver-based surveys are currently used to survey artificial reef habitat in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and have associated error due to inherent method bias. Because survey methods that most accurately document the occurrence and estimated abundance of several important fisheries species are greatly needed in the GOM, we compared data collected on the same days and sites from both Roving Diver Surveys (RDS) and micro-ROV surveys conducted on reefed oil and gas platforms. The combined datasets identified a total of 56 species from 22 families, and there was no significant difference in measured species richness between a comprehensive 30 min ROV survey and RDS. Five species of federally managed fish in the GOM were more frequently detected by ROV, as were the majority of species in the Lutjanid and Carangid families. However, abundance estimates from RDS surveys were up to an order of magnitude greater. Multivariate analyses indicated that method choice affected community composition, with Lutjanids and Carangids driving the differences. These two fish families in particular are subject to method bias, probably due to inflated abundance estimates with RDS, or alternatively, deflated estimates from ROV. Although our ROV surveys more frequently detected important fisheries species and produced conservative abundance estimates, a further examination of species distributions on these high-relief platform reefs is needed to fully determine the most accurate survey method. In addition, the attraction and/or gear avoidance of certain species to underwater vehicles deserves further investigation. Overall, our data indicate these methods are viable but the choice of survey method can have implications for the management of certain species, and that careful consideration of methodology is necessary to most accurately document species of interest.Item Behavior and Ecology of Silky Sharks Around the Chagos Archipelago and Evidence of Indian Ocean Wide Movement(Frontiers in Marine Science, 2020-12-16) Curnick, David J.; Andrzejaczek, Samantha; Jacoby, David M. P.; Coffey, Daniel M.; Carlisle, Aaron B.; Chapple, Taylor K.; Ferretti, Francesco; Schallert, Robert J.; White, Timothy; Block, Barbara A.; Koldewey, Heather J.; Collen, BenSilky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) represent a major component of global shark catch, both directly and as bycatch, and populations are declining as a result. An improved understanding of their movement ecology is needed to support conservation efforts. We deployed satellite and acoustic tags (2013–2018) and analyzed historical fisheries records (1997–2009), to investigate the spatial ecology of silky sharks in the central Indian Ocean and a large Marine Protected Area (MPA; 640,000 km2) around the Chagos Archipelago. We observed high fidelity to the MPA, and a sustained diurnal association with a seamount complex, with individuals moving off at night and returning at sunrise. Yet, we also observed large-scale divergent movements in two satellite tagged individuals and documented the furthest recorded displacement distance for a satellite tagged silky shark to date, with one individual moving from the MPA to the Kenyan coast—a displacement distance of 3,549 km (track distance ∼4,782 km). Silky sharks undertook diel vertical migrations and oscillatory diving behavior, spending > 99% of their time in the top 100 m, and diving to depths of greater than 300 m, overlapping directly with typical deployments of purse seine and longline sets in the Indian Ocean. One individual was recorded to a depth of 1,112 m, the deepest recorded silky shark dive to date. Individuals spent 96% of their time at liberty within water temperatures between 24 and 30°C. Historic fisheries data revealed that silky sharks were a major component of the shark community around the archipelago, representing 13.69% of all sharks caught by longlines before the fishery closed in 2010. Over half (55.88%) of all individuals caught by longlines and purse seiners were juveniles. The large proportion of juveniles, coupled with the high site fidelity and residence observed in some individuals, suggests that the MPA could provide considerable conservation benefits for silky sharks, particularly during early life-history stages. However, their high mobility potential necessitates that large MPAs need to be considered in conjunction with fisheries regulations and conservation measures in adjacent EEZs and in areas beyond national jurisdiction.Item A Comparison of Fish Community Structure at Mesophotic Artificial Reefs and Natural Banks in the Western Gulf of Mexico(Taylor & Francis, 2017-04-11) Streich, Matthew K.; Ajemian, Matthew J.; Wetz, Jennifer J.; Stunz, Gregory W.Oil and gas platforms along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shelf have served as artificial reefs since oil and gas exploration intensified in the 1950s. As these structures are decommissioned, they must be removed; however, some are converted to permanent artificial reefs. Despite the potential effects these artificial habitats may have on marine fisheries, investigations that assess the fish communities inhabiting these structures relative to natural habitats are rare. During fall 2012, we used remotely operated vehicle surveys to compare fish communities between artificial reefs (i.e., reefed platforms; n = 5) and adjacent natural banks (n = 5) in the western GOM. Our surveys successfully documented 79 species representing 28 families. Multivariate analyses suggested that fish communities at artificial reefs were distinct from those at natural banks. Post hoc analyses indicated that the differences were driven by high abundances of transient, midwater pelagics and other gregarious species at artificial reefs. Many fisheries species, like the Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus, were found in both habitat types, with density at artificial reefs estimated to be nearly eight times greater than at natural banks. Despite lower densities at natural banks, the disproportionately large areas of these habitats resulted in relatively high total abundance estimates—approximately 5% of the 2012 GOM Red Snapper annual catch limit (3.67 million kg [8.08 million lb])—a finding that has significant implications for Red Snapper and artificial reef management in the GOM. Our study suggests that although fish community structure may differ between these two habitats, artificial reefs serve as important habitat for species like Red Snapper by potentially diverting fishing pressure from natural habitats; however, future studies that address species-specific life history traits will be needed to better understand the function and performance of artificial reefs in supporting fisheries productivity.Item A Comparison of Private Recreational Fishing Harvest and Effort for Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper during Derby and Extended Federal Seasons and Implications for Future Management(North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2019-09-23) Topping, Tara S.; Streich, Matthew K.; Fisher, Mark R.; Stunz, Gregory W.Fisheries managers often use regulations such as bag, size, and season limits to manage recreational anglers and prevent overharvest, and this has been the case for the Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus fishery, which has been highly regulated for over 20 years. During this period, the federal season for private recreational anglers has decreased from year-round in 1996 to only 3 d in 2017. However, in 2017 the private recreational season was reopened for an additional 39 d. This scenario allowed us to examine a very short, derby-style initial season with an unexpected extended season and make comparisons with longer-term data sets from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's angler-intercept program, where we hypothesized that harvest and effort may not be directly related to season length. Our data indicated that there were higher harvest and effort rates during the initial season than during the extended season, and these differences were a function of extended season length (i.e., future access) and weather. The harvest and effort rates of the extended season were not proportional to the initial season, suggesting that recreational anglers compensated for reductions in season length by compressing their effort into the shortened season. While our results suggest that an extended season results in a reduction of daily harvest and effort rates, it is important to have programs in place to closely monitor the total harvest in a timely manner to prevent overharvest.Item Conceptual Framework for Assessing Ecosystem Health(Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2019-03-25) Harwell, Mark A.; Gentile, John H.; McKinney, Larry D.; Tunnell Jr., John W.; Dennison, William C.; Kelsey, R. Heath; Stanzel, Kiersten M.; Stunz, Gregory W.; Withers, Kim; Tunnell, JaceOver the past century, the environment of the Gulf of Mexico has been significantly altered and impaired by extensive human activities. A national commitment to restore the Gulf was finally initiated in response to the unprecedented Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Consequently, there is a critical need for an assessment framework and associated set of indicators that can characterize the health and sustainability of an ecosystem having the scale and complexity of the Gulf. The assessment framework presented here was developed as an integration of previous ecological risk–and environmental management–based frameworks for assessing ecosystem health. It was designed to identify the natural and anthropogenic drivers, pressures, and stressors impinging on ecosystems and ecosystem services, and the ecological conditions that result, manifested as effects on valued ecosystem components. Four types of societal and ecological responses are identified: reduction of pressures and stressors, remediation of existing stressors, active ecosystem restoration, and natural ecological recovery. From this conceptual framework are derived the specific indicators to characterize ecological condition and progress toward achieving defined ecological health and sustainability goals. Additionally, the framework incorporates a hierarchical structure to communicate results to a diversity of audiences, from research scientists to environmental managers and decision makers, with the level of detail or aggregation appropriate for each targeted audience. Two proof‐of‐concept studies were conducted to test this integrated assessment and decision framework, a prototype Texas Coastal Ecosystems Report Card, and a pilot study on enhancing rookery islands in the Mission‐Aransas Reserve, Texas, USA. This Drivers–Pressures–Stressors–Condition–Responses (DPSCR4) conceptual framework is a comprehensive conceptual model of the coupled human–ecological system. Much like its predecessor, the ecological risk assessment framework, the DPSCR4conceptual framework can be tailored to different scales of complexity, different ecosystem types with different stress regimes, and different environmental settingsItem Designing Cost-Effective Artificial Reefs: Fine-Scale Movement and Habitat Use of Red Snapper around a Nearshore Artificial Reef Complex(American Fisheries Society, 2021-09-18) Banks, Kesley Gibson; M. Curtis, Judson; A. Williams, Jason; J. Wetz, Jennifer; W. Stunz, GregoryArtificial reefs are commonly used to provide structured habitat in areas with limited natural habitat to enhance the environment. Creating artificial reefs is expensive, and materials are often limited; thus, discussions are needed regarding the best material and design to maximize reefing efficiency while best meeting the goal of reefing programs. We tracked Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus, an economically important and reef-dependent species, by using a Vemco Positioning System to determine fine-scale movements and habitat use around a nearshore reef comprised of three types of reefing structure: concrete reef pyramids, concrete culverts, and a sunken ship. Habitat use (core volume and home range, or the probability of a fish being absent 50% or 5% of the time, respectively) was significantly different by month, with the largest movements during summer months. Mean depth values also differed by study month (February–August), with Red Snapper residing deepest in the water column during August and shallowest during April. In the summer months, differences among structure types were observed in core volume use but not home range, suggesting that Red Snapper used similar-sized areas on all three structure types. A high reported recapture rate (77%; 10 of 13 fish) indicated that these easily accessible nearshore reefs undergo heavy fishing pressure. Half of the recaptures were reported as recaptured on a structure other than their tagging structure; however, tagged fish spent the greatest percentage of time on their tagging structure. Red Snapper habitat use was influenced more by the presence of structure than by the type of reefing structure. Using the results from this study combined with a cost comparison of reef types, we argue that use of the least expensive reefing material that covers the largest area may be the best policy in designing future artificial reefs.Item Diel Vertical Habitat Use Observations of a Scalloped Hammerhead and a Bigeye Thresher in the Northern Gulf of Mexico(MDPI, 2022-06-24) Anderson, Taylor; Meese, Emily N.; Drymon, J. Marcus; Stunz, Gregory W.; Falterman, Brett; Menjivar, Elias; Wells, R. J. DavidUnderstanding habitat use of elasmobranchs in pelagic environments is complicated due to the mobility of these large animals and their ability to move great distances in a three-dimensional environment. The Gulf of Mexico is a region where many highly migratory pelagic shark species occur, while in close proximity to coastal, anthropogenic activity including recreational and commercial fisheries. This study provides summary information on the vertical habitat use for a single male scalloped hammerhead and a single male bigeye thresher that were each caught and tagged with an archiving satellite tag. The scalloped hammerhead occupied shallow depths (<100 m) over the continental shelf during the 90 d deployment. The bigeye thresher exhibited strong patterns of diel vertical migrations by occupying depths below the thermocline (>350 m) during the day, then occupying shallower depths (50–100 m) during the night. By providing summary information, this note urges future research to provide scientific information on pelagic, highly migratory species for management efforts in the Gulf of Mexico region.Item Diel vertical habitat use observations of a scalloped hammerhead and a bigeye thresher in the northern Gulf of Mexico(Fishes, 2022-06-24) Anderson, T; Meese, E.N.; Drymon, J.M.; Stunz, G.W.; Falterman, B.; Menjivar, E.; Wells, R.J.D.Understanding habitat use of elasmobranchs in pelagic environments is complicated due to the mobility of these large animals and their ability to move great distances in a three-dimensional environment. The Gulf of Mexico is a region where many highly migratory pelagic shark species occur, while in close proximity to coastal, anthropogenic activity including recreational and commercial fisheries. This study provides summary information on the vertical habitat use for a single male scalloped hammerhead and a single male bigeye thresher that were each caught and tagged with an archiving satellite tag. The scalloped hammerhead occupied shallow depths (<100 m) over the continental shelf during the 90 d deployment. The bigeye thresher exhibited strong patterns of diel vertical migrations by occupying depths below the thermocline (>350 m) during the day, then occupying shallower depths (50–100 m) during the night. By providing summary information, this note urges future research to provide scientific information on pelagic, highly migratory species for management efforts in the Gulf of Mexico region.Item Effects of a New Artificial Reef Complex on Red Snapper and the Associated Fish Community: an Evaluation Using a Before–After Control–Impact Approach(Taylor & Francis, 2017-09-21) Streich, Matthew K.; Ajemian, Matthew J.; Wetz, Jennifer J.; Shively, J. Dale; Shipley, J. Brooke; Stunz, Gregory W.Artificial reefs are commonly created with the goal of enhancing fish populations. However, many studies evaluating their effects on these populations have been hindered by a lack of preconstruction data from existing natural habitats and temporal comparisons with control areas. Here, we present findings from a before–after control–impact study designed to assess the effects of a new artificial reef on fish populations in the western Gulf of Mexico. Vertical line and fish traps were used to sample the reef site and a paired control site with soft bottom substrates for 1 year before and 2 years after reef construction. Prior to reef construction in October 2013, and over bare substrates in general, infrequent catches of sea catfishes and small coastal sharks were observed. With the exception of rare occurrences of juvenile Gray Triggerfish Balistes capriscus and Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus, which were observed only during the summer recruitment season, the control site exhibited a lack of reef species. In contrast, we documented dramatic increases in the frequency of occurrence and abundance of multiple reef species at the reef site following the addition of structured habitat. Distinct cohorts of Red Snapper could be followed through time suggesting site fidelity, and few fish greater than age 2 years were captured indicating limited migration of older fish from other areas. Given that the reef supported high densities of juvenile Red Snapper that were in good condition, growing quickly, and protected from potential shrimp trawl mortality, export of juveniles (i.e., production) to the adult population was evident and likely greater on a per-unit-area basis than for the control site. Our study highlights the potential benefits of artificial reefs to species like Red Snapper; however, future studies should investigate the relative roles of emigration and fishing mortality to better understand the effects of these structures on reef fish population dynamics.Item Gulf‐Wide Decreases in the Size of Large Coastal Sharks Documented by Generations of Fishermen(Taylor & Francis, 2013-06-18) Powers, Sean P.; Fodrie, F. Joel; Scyphers, Steven B.; Drymon, J. Marcus; Shipp, Robert L.; Stunz, Gregory W.Large sharks are top predators in most coastal and marine ecosystems throughout the world, and evidence of their reduced prominence in marine ecosystems has been a serious concern for fisheries and ecosystem management. Unfortunately, quantitative data to document the extent, timing, and consequences of changes in shark populations are scarce, thwarting examination of long‐term (decadal, century) trends, and reconstructions based on incomplete data sets have been the subject of debate. Absence of quantitative descriptors of past ecological conditions is a generic problem facing many fields of science but is particularly troublesome for fisheries scientists who must develop specific targets for restoration. We were able to use quantitative measurements of shark sizes collected annually and independently of any scientific survey by thousands of recreational fishermen over the last century to document decreases in the size of large sharks from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Based on records from fishing rodeos in three U.S. coastal states, the size (weight or length) of large sharks captured by fishermen decreased by 50–70% during the 20 years after the 1980s. The pattern is largely driven by reductions in the occurrence and sizes of Tiger Sharks Galeocerdo cuvier and Bull Sharks Carcharhinus leucas and to a lesser extent Hammerheads Sphyrna spp. This decrease occurred despite increasing fishing effort and advances in technology, but it is coincident with the capitalization of the U.S. commercial shark long‐line fishery in the GOM.Item Habitat-Specific Reproductive Potential of Red Snapper: A Comparison of Artificial and Natural Reefs in the Western Gulf of Mexico(American Fisheries Society, 2018-07-16) Downey, Charles H.; Streich, Matthew K.; Brewton, Rachel A.; Ajemian, Matthew J.; Wetz, Jennifer J.; Stunz, Gregory W.Energy exploration in the Gulf of Mexico (hereafter, Gulf) has resulted in the addition of numerous oil and gas pro-duction platforms that create structurally complex habitat in an area otherwise dominated by barren mud/sand bottom. How these artificial structures affect fish populations is largely unknown, and there is ongoing debate regarding their value as surrogate habitats for ecologically and economically important reef fish species. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize trends in Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus reproductive potential in the western Gulf at oil and gas platform reefs relative to reproductive potential at natural banks. Red Snapper (n=1,585) were collected during 2013–2015 from standing platforms, decommissioned platform artificial reefs, and natural banks by using standardized vertical line gear. Comparisons of gonadosomatic index, male : female ratios, batch fecundity, annual fecundity, spawning frequency, and number of spawning-capable individuals indicated that Red Snapper reproductive biology was similar among natural bank, standing platform, and artificial reef habitats. These results suggest that in terms of reproductive output, fish inhabiting artificial reefs are functionally similar to similar-aged fish on natural banks. This work can be used to make informed management decisions and suggests that there are benefits to converting decommissioned platforms into designated artificial reefs. Future studies should consider site-specific characteristics, such as depth, vertical relief, and proximity to other structures, to elucidate how habitat characteristics may influence reproduction, ultimately improving future artificial reef deployments for fisheries enhancement in the western Gulf.Item Importance of low-relief nursery habitat for reef fishes.(Ecosphere, 2021-06-08) Dance, M.A.; Rooker, J.R.; Kline, R.J.; Quigg, A.; Stunz, G.W.; Wells, R.J.D.; Lara, K.; Lee, J.; Suarez, B.Coastal restoration projects to mitigate environmental impacts have increased global demand for sand resources. Unfortunately, these resources are often extracted from sand/shell banks on the inner continental shelf, resulting in significant alteration or loss of low-relief reefs in coastal oceans. Experimental reefs (oyster shell, limestone rubble, composite) were deployed in the western Gulf of Mexico to assess their potential value as nurseries for newly settled reef fishes. Occurrence, abundance, and species richness of juvenile fishes were significantly higher on all three types of low-relief reefs compared with unconsolidated sediment. Moreover, reefs served as nursery habitat for a range of reef fish taxa (angelfishes, grunts, sea basses, snappers, and triggerfishes). Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) was the dominant species present on all experimental reefs (100% occurrence), and mean density of this species was markedly higher on each of the three low-relief reefs (>40.0 individuals/reef) relative to comparable areas over unconsolidated sediment (0.2 individuals). Our results suggest creation or restoration of structurally complex habitat on the inner shelf has the potential to markedly increase early life survival and expedite the recovery of exploited reef fish populations, and therefore may represent a critical conservation tool for increasing recruitment and maintaining reef fish diversity.Item The importance of newly-opened tidal inlets as spawning corridors for adult Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)(Elsevier B.V., 2018-12-05) Hall, Quentin A.; Curtis, Judson M.; Williams, Jason; Stunz, Gregory W.The ability to emigrate from estuarine nursery areas to spawning grounds is essential for the persistence of estuarine dependent species such as Red Drum, (Sciaenops ocellatus). Typically in this region, tidal inlets are the only mechanism for this transfer. Cedar Bayou, a natural tidal inlet, was deliberately closed in 1979 but was recently dredged and reopened. The inlet allows for direct water exchange between the Gulf of Mexico and Mesquite Bay, Texas, USA, and represents a unique opportunity to study estuarine dependent species’ migration processes. Adult Red Drum were implanted with acoustic transmitters that allowed us to track their movement patterns before and after the reopening of Cedar Bayou. The goals of this study were to: 1) determine if Red Drum choose migration routes opportunistically in Texas waters; and 2) elucidate general movement patterns and residency estimates for Red Drum in Texas bays. Red Drum showed relatively little movement during the pre-opening period and summer, even after the inlet was restored. Once open, fish actively traversed through Cedar Bayou during the months commonly associated with spawning migrations and coincident with a drop in water temperature. These results demonstrate that Red Drum choose migration corridors opportunistically, thus opening tidal inlets such as Cedar Bayou can provide maturing Red Drum with greater connectivity between estuaries and spawning grounds in the open Gulf of Mexico.Item Influence of Hurricane Activity on Acoustic Array Efficiency: A Case Study of Red Snapper within an Artificial Reef Complex(Marine and Coastal Fisheries, 2022-09-27) Banks, Kesley Gibson; Streich, Matthew K.; Curtis, Judson M.; Stunz, Gregory W.Meteorological disturbances, such as hurricanes, can cause wide distributional changes to fish populations, but studies documenting fish movement in response to these disturbances are rare and serendipitous. We opportunistically examined how a hurricane influenced behavior of Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus at an artificial reef complex in the western Gulf of Mexico. Red Snapper had a variety of responses, with some fish emigrating and some remaining on site during Hurricane Harvey—a category 4 storm. Hurricane-induced destruction or alteration of habitat may alter space use behavior of fish. However, caution should be used when interpreting behavior without the inclusion of array performance, which may change due to environmental conditions. Importantly, when acoustic array efficiency was not accounted for in space use analyses, mean kernel utilization distribution (m3) was marginally different among the periods before, during, and after Hurricane Harvey. However, when mean daily array efficiency was included as a covariate, space use among the three periods was not significantly different. Hurricanes can affect the movement and residency of marine species and can be an important driver in the displacement of populations and degradation of habitats, but array efficiency should be incorporated to prevent misinterpreting the behaviors of tagged fish.Item Interspecific variation in juvenile snapper otolith chemical signatures in the northern Gulf of Mexico(Inter-Research, 2014-06-03) Patterson III, William F.; Barnett, Beverly K.; Zapp Sluis, Michelle; Cowan Jr., James H.; Shiller, Alan M.The objective of this study was to evaluate whether age-0 lane snapper Lutjanus synagris otolith chemical signatures could serve as accurate proxies for those of its congener, red snapper L. campechanus, among northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) nursery regions. Red (n = 90) and lane (n = 53) snappers were sampled from 3 regions of the northern GOM in fall 2005, and their otolith chemistry was analyzed with sector field-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Ba:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Sr:Ca, Li:Ca) or stable isotope ratio-mass spectrometry (δ13C and δ18O). Chemical signatures were significantly different among regions (MANOVA, p < 0.001) and between species (MANOVA, p = 0.029), with the species effect being driven by significant differences in 4 of the 7 constituents analyzed (ANOVA, p < 0.036). The significant region effect persisted (MANOVA, p < 0.001), but the species effect was non-significant (MANOVA, p = 0.964) when constituent values were normalized to species-specific means. Mean regional classification accuracies from linear discriminant functions computed with otolith constituent data were 84% for lane snapper and 80% for red snapper whether data were normalized or not. Maximum likelihood models parameterized with normalized lane snapper otolith chemistry data estimated red snapper regional composition reasonably well among mixed-region samples (mean error = 9.7% among models). Therefore, it appears age-0 lane snapper otolith chemical signatures can serve as accurate proxies for those of red snapper in the northern GOM. These results have broader implications for deriving natural tags based on otolith chemistry for fishes that may have low abundance in parts of their range.Item Landscape pattern influences nekton diversity and abundance in seagrass meadows(Inter-Research, 2014-07-17) Hensgen, Geoffrey M.; Holt, G. Joan; Holt, Scott A.; Williams, Jason A.; Stunz, Gregory W.We studied how spatial qualities and configuration of seagrass patches influence the diversity and abundance of resident nekton. Shallow landscapes of equal area (4225 m2) in 2 bays were mapped and sampled in the summer and fall to identify different qualities of landscape structure and the abundance and diversity of nekton. Two suites of characteristics were found to describe the natural landscape structure: (1) habitat area, connectivity, patch proximity and patch density; and (2) patch shape complexity and edge length. These were used to quantitatively distinguish between 3 naturally occurring seagrass landscape patterns: (1) small, isolated patches; (2) reticulated edge patches; and (3) continuous cover. Species evenness (Pielou’s J’) was significantly lower in small, isolated patches and reticulated edge patches compared to continuous cover. This pattern was temporally consistent despite significant seasonal differences in total nekton density and seasonal shifts in the distribution of individual species among landscape patterns. Nekton species density (no. of species per 61.2 m2 of seagrass) and species richness (no. of species per 1683 ind. sampled) did not differ significantly among landscape patterns; however, a landscape structure threshold may exist for species evenness between 45 and 85% cover. High densities of shrimp in small, isolated patches and reticulated edge patches during summer drove species evenness levels lower and overall nekton density levels higher than in continuous cover. Large expanses of continuous seagrass harbor more stable nekton communities across time. They may provide enough space for different species to feed and reproduce without depleting food resources to the point that nekton populations become unstable.Item Movement patterns and habitat use of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) across ontogeny in the Gulf of Mexico(PlosONE, 2020-07) Ajemian, Matthew J.; Drymon, J. Marcus; Hammerschlag, Neil; Wells, R. J. David; Street, Garrett; Falterman, Brett; McKinney, Jennifer A.; Driggers III, William B.; Hoffmayer, Eric R.; Fischer, Christopher; Stunz, Gregory W.The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is globally distributed with established coastal and open-ocean movement patterns in many portions of its range. While all life stages of tiger sharks are known to occur in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), variability in habitat use and movement patterns over ontogeny have never been quantified in this large marine ecosystem. To address this data gap we fitted 56 tiger sharks with Smart Position and Temperature transmitting tags between 2010 and 2018 and examined seasonal and spatial distribution patterns across the GoM. Additionally, we analyzed overlap of core habitats (i.e., 50% kernel density estimates) among individuals relative to large benthic features (oil and gas platforms, natural banks, bathymetric breaks). Our analyses revealed significant ontogenetic and seasonal differences in distribution patterns as well as across-shelf (i.e., regional) and sex-linked variability in movement rates. Presumably sub-adult and adult sharks achieved significantly higher movement rates and used off-shelf deeper habitats at greater proportions than juvenile sharks, particularly during the fall and winter seasons. Further, female maximum rate of movement was higher than males when accounting for size. Additionally, we found evidence of core regions encompassing the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration designated Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (i.e., shelf-edge banks) during cooler months, particularly by females, as well as 2,504 oil and gas platforms. These data provide a baseline for future assessments of environmental impacts, such as climate variability or oil spills, on tiger shark movements and distribution in the region. Future research may benefit from combining alternative tracking tools, such as acoustic telemetry and genetic approaches, which can facilitate long-term assessment of the species’ movement dynamics and better elucidate the ecological significance of the core habitats identified here.