Behavioral condition of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus fingerlings exposed to habitat structures and predators in rearing ponds
| dc.contributor.advisor | Withers, Kim | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Vega, Robert R. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Schacht, Tyler Hans | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Scarpa, John | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Proffitt, Charles | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-11-01T19:41:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-11-01T19:41:57Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017-08 | |
| dc.description | A thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in FISHERIES AND MARICULTURE from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas. | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Stock enhancement programs strive to propagate fish similar to their wild counterparts, but hatchery-reared fish are often deficient in their ability to detect and avoid predation. The objective of this study was to determine if the provision of complexly structured habitat would improve post-stocking survival of hatchery-reared red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, when exposed to free-roaming predators. Experiments were conducted in 0.2 ha rearing ponds between July and December 2016 at the Coastal Conservation Association Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Three habitat treatments (non-vegetated [normal rearing], artificial seagrass, and artificial seagrass with predator exclusion cages) were used to assess if habitat complexity influenced growth and condition. Fish growth (TL) was affected by trial (i.e., seasonality; P < 0.0001) but not by treatment (P = 0.178). After rearing to the fingerling stage (36 days post-hatch), survival from predation was assessed by exposing red drum to free-roaming predators (pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides) in experimental “wild” ponds (0.2 ha) with artificial seagrass for 24 hours. In two trials, fish condition (K) differed significantly among treatments (P<0.0001) and was lower in the artificial seagrass treatment with predator exclusion cages compared to the other treatments. Red drum may have been more active and vigilant (“leaner”) when exposed to caged predators, while the fish in the unstructured habitat led a more sedentary life (“fat”). Overall, when exposed to free-roaming predators in a “wild simulation” fish reared in ponds with the addition of structured, complex habitat survived better. The results of this study suggest that the provision of complexly structured habitat improved behavioral mechanisms (i.e., foraging, predator-avoidance) that may increase post-release survival of hatchery-reared red drum. | en_US |
| dc.description.college | College of Science and Engineering | en_US |
| dc.description.department | Life Sciences | en_US |
| dc.format.extent | 39 pages. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/5617 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
| dc.rights | This material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher. | en_US |
| dc.rights.holder | Schacht, Tyler Hans | |
| dc.subject | Behavioral | en_US |
| dc.subject | Conditioning | en_US |
| dc.subject | habitat | en_US |
| dc.subject | Predators | en_US |
| dc.subject | red drum | en_US |
| dc.title | Behavioral condition of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus fingerlings exposed to habitat structures and predators in rearing ponds | en_US |
| dc.type | Text | en_US |
| dc.type.genre | Thesis | en_US |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Fisheries & Mariculture | en_US |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Texas A & M University--Corpus Christi | en_US |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | en_US |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science | en_US |