Deepwater Program: Studies of Gulf of Mexico lower continental slope communities related to chemosynthetic and hard substrate habitats (original) (raw)
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Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2020
Studies have demonstrated that environmental conditions affect the richness, diversity, and abundance of fish communities. Depth is an important variable with many species showing preferences for specific depth ranges. Here, we present a functional analysis of the fish community in the Perdido Fold Belt (PFB), Gulf of Mexico. The sampling design was structured across a depth range of 40-3500 m, using 20 oceanographic stations. The aims of our study were: (1) to determine the functional arrangement of the fish community in the PFB; and (2) to describe the effect of the environmental variables on fish richness and functional diversity. A total of 232 species were identified; 195 were grouped into 42 functional groups (FGs). Thirty-seven species did not group with any others and are referred to as ''functionally independent species'' (FIS). According to our results, depth changes in physicochemical variables allow us to segregate three vertically stratified zones: shelf, slope, and deep. Temperature was the most important environmental variable constraining functional distribution of fishes. The highest FG diversity, species diversity, and biomass were found in the shelf/slope zone (SSo), while the highest diversity of FIS was found in the shelf zone. As the SSo displays its highest diversity, and since greater diversity has been linked with greater resilience and stability of fish communities, the SSo may be the most resilient zone of the PFB. Our study provides the first description of the diversity and resilience of the PFB fish community and helps our understanding of the factors constraining the distribution and functional diversity of fishes across depth gradients. Keywords Fish functional groups Á Gulf of Mexico Á Depth profile Á Transition zone Rev Fish Biol Fisheries
Ichthyofaunal list of the continental slope of the southern Gulf of Mexico
ZooKeys
Four oceanographic cruises were carried out between April 2011 and May 2013 on the continental slope of the southern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in a depth range of 290 to 1200 m on board the R/V JUSTO SIERRA. A total of 91 trawls covered a total swept area of 170.49 hectares. We recorded 177 fish species belonging to 80 families. Fifteen species extended their distribution into the south of the gulf and 37 increased their depth ranges. Five species could have commercial importance: Aphanopuscarbo Lowe, 1839; Hydrolagusmirabilis (Collett, 1904); Helicolenusdactylopterus (Delaroche, 1809); Lophiusgastrophysus Miranda Ribeiro, 1915, and Merlucciusalbidus (Mitchill, 1818). The most abundant species were Polymixialowei Günther, 1859; Parasudistruculenta (Goode & Bean, 1896); M.albidus, Chlorophthalmusagassizi Bonaparte, 1840; Dibranchusatlanticus Peters, 1876; Nezumiaaequalis (Günther, 1878); Yarrellablackfordi Goode & Bean, 1896; and Laemonemabarbatulum Goode & Bean, 1883. High values of fish...
Frontiers in Marine Science
Biodiversity enhances the productivity and stability of marine ecosystems and provides important ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to characterize larval fish assemblages in pelagic waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) and identify oceanographic conditions associated with areas of increased taxonomic richness (T F) and Shannon diversity (H'). Summer ichthyoplankton surveys were conducted in the NGoM in 2015 and 2016 using neuston net (surface layer; upper 1 m) and oblique bongo net (mixed layer; 0-100 m) tows. Over 17,000 fish larvae were collected over the two-year study, and 99 families of fish larvae were present. Catch composition in the surface layer was relatively similar to the mixed-layer catch, with carangids (jacks), scombrids (mackerels, tunas), and exocoetids (flyingfishes) being numerically dominant, while deep-pelagic species, including myctophids (lanternfishes), gonostomatids (bristlemouths), and sternoptychids (marine hatchetfishes), were present almost exclusively in the mixed layer samples. Generalized additive models were used to evaluate the effect of oceanographic conditions on ichthyoplankton abundance and biodiversity. Salinity and sea surface height (SSH) were the most influential oceanographic conditions, with higher occurrence, higher T F , and higher H' all present in areas of lower salinity, and lower SSH. This study highlights the ecological importance of cyclonic mesoscale features and areas of upwelling as areas of increased biodiversity for larval fishes, and also indicates that the mixed layer in the NGoM is essential habitat for deep-pelagic fishes during the early life interval.
Marine and Coastal Fisheries
We analyzed the results of the first comprehensive, systematic, fishery-independent survey of Gulf of Mexico (GoM) continental shelves using data collected from demersal longline sampling off the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. In total, 166 species were sampled from 343 longline sets during 2011-2017, which deployed 153,146 baited hooks, catching 14,938 fish. Abundance, species richness, and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices by station were highest in mid-shelf depths (~100 m), declining by about half in deeper waters. Six spatial assemblages were identified by testing the results of cluster analysis using similarity profile analysis and then plotting the geographic location of identified station clusters. A high degree of depth-related and horizontal zonation was evident for demersal fish species. Multispecies CPUE (number per 1,000 hookhours) was highest off the north-central (NC) and northwestern (NW) GoM and lower on the West Florida Shelf (WFS), Cuba (CUB), Yucatan Peninsula (YP), and southwestern (SW) GoM. Snappers and groupers were most abundant in the WFS and CUB, while elasmobranchs were the dominant taxa in the NC and NW GoM. Pelagic species were relatively rare everywhere (owing to the use of demersal longline gear), but were most dense off CUB. Species richness was highest in the NC and WFS subareas and lowest in the NW and CUB. Slopes of multispecies size spectra, which integrated mortality, recruitment, growth, and species interactions among size-groups, were shallowest in the NW and NC GoM and steepest off the WFS and YP. These results provide a basis for evaluating the relative resiliency potential of species assemblages across the continental shelves of the GoM, and thus for identifying subareas that are most vulnerable to acute and chronic perturbations from cumulative effects of fishing, climate change, pollution (including oil spills), habitat loss, and invasive species.
1992
editor). 1992. Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in Gulf of l^exico estuaries, Volume I: data summaries. ELMR Rep. No. 10. NOAA/NOS Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, Rockville, f^/ID. 273 p. Distribution and Abundance ofFisties and Invertebrates in Gulf of Mexico Estuaries Volume I: Data Summaries • Reasonable inference: Little or no sampling data available. Information on distributions, ecology, and preferred habitats documented in similar estuaries. The quality and quantity of available data vary by species, life stage, and estuary. For example, a large amount of information is available on the blue crab because it is highly valued both commercially and recrealionally. The least amount of information available and poorest quality of data occur for the spawning, egg, and larval life stages. Except for a few species (e.g., blue crab), very little data has been generated on specific habitat preferences and in situ environmental ranges. This is particularly true for the smaller forage and/or non-commercial fishes and invertebrates. Gear selectivity, inability to correctly identify larval stages, and difficulty of sampling various habitats limits the development and reliability of this information. In addition, life history data are lacking on some of the commercially important sciaenid and pelagic species. Data reliability was also based on experimental design and whether the studies were relatively recent. In the case of limited studies, information was occasionally inferred. An opportunity exists to refine the data presented based on additional reviews. Given that the amount and quality of available information vary by species, by life stage, between estuaries, and even within an estuary, considerable scientific judgment is required to derive or infer spatial and temporal distributions from existing data and available literature. Unfortunately, even the most informed judgment is far from perfect due to the complexity of estuarine systems. Consequently, information on the level of certainty associated with each data element must be presented when synthesizing multiple data sets (Table 6). Appendices 2, 3, and 4 provide a complete summary of the personal communications and primary references used so that readers can track and obtain additional information efficiently. Analysis of data content and quality. To assess the overall certainty of the ELf\/IR Gulf of t^exico data, mean data reliability was calculated by estuary, salinity zone, species, and life stage. In this analysis, "highly certain" = 3, "moderately certain" = 2, and "reasonable inference" = 1. Mean data reliability was calculated using values for only those species and life stages known to occur within an estuary, i.e., those with a relative abundance of at least "rare" during some part of the year. This was because species and life stages known to be absent were typically scored as highly certain. This analysis identified estuaries, species, and life stages that have the most reliable information, and those with the least. This information suggests species, life stages, and estuaries that could be the focus of research efforts. Future research should include a comprehensive and consistent sampling program to quantify species distributions and abundances within and across estuaries. In addition, life history requirements need to be determined, especially for those species that may not have economic value, but are ecologically important. Mean data reliability of fish and invertebrate data ranged from a high of 2.08 for Florida Bay to a low of 1 .00 for Brazos River, with an overall average of 1 .86 (Figure 5). In general, the reliability scores reflect the amount of fisheries research that has been conducted within an estuary. Reliability scores were especially high for Florida Bay, Tampa Bay, Barataria Bay, and Galveston Bay, all of which are fairty large coastal Literature Cited
Revista de biología marina y oceanografía, 2014
Resumen.-Se estudiaron los factores ambientales que afectan las asociaciones de larvas de peces en el sur del Golfo de México. Las muestras se obtuvieron con redes Bongo de superficie a 200 m, en 46 estaciones, en primavera 2006. A cada taxón de larvas se le asignó el hábitat de sus adultos. Las asociaciones de larvas se definieron por el índice de Bray-Curtis. Se registró un total de 182 taxones, la mayoría oceánicos, de plataforma media y arrecifales. Se definieron 3 comunidades, Yucatán (YA), Tabasco-Campeche (TCA) y Oceánica (OA). YA se ubicó sobre el Banco de Campeche, en la amplia plataforma de Yucatán, donde el proceso hidrodinámico más importante es una rama de la corriente de Yucatán. TCA ocupó la plataforma de Tabasco y suroeste de la plataforma de Campeche, caracterizada por la descarga de aguas continentales. OA ocupó el área oceánica de la Bahía de Campeche, donde el proceso hidrodinámico dominante es un giro ciclónico casi permanente. Como resultado de diferentes hechos hidrográficos, sean corrientes oceánicas, presencia de giros o descargas de aguas dulces, y la topografía; la plataforma de Tabasco, el Banco de Campeche (plataforma de Yucatán) y la Bahía de Campeche constituyen regiones con escenarios ambientales claramente contrastantes. La distribución geográfica de las 3 asociaciones de larvas se ajusta bien con estas 3 áreas de diferente hidrodinámica. La estructura y distribución espacial de las asociaciones de larvas está determinada en primer lugar por el hábitat y áreas de desove de sus adultos, siendo después modulada por las forzantes hidrográficas que caracterizan cada área.