1 / 1

Impact of Weather and Diet on Postlarval Gag Grouper Growth in Northwest Florida Waters

This study assesses the growth rate of postlarval gag grouper in relation to local weather conditions and diet variability in Northwest Florida waters. The research involves continuous monitoring of environmental factors and sampling postlarvae to determine growth rates based on age and length. The study aims to provide ecological insights crucial for managing the threatened gag grouper species, particularly focusing on the effects of weather variability on postlarval development. Results will be beneficial for NOAA Fisheries in enhancing species management strategies.

judith-williamson
Télécharger la présentation

Impact of Weather and Diet on Postlarval Gag Grouper Growth in Northwest Florida Waters

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Does the growth rate of postlarval gag grouper vary with local weather and diet? S. Bourgoin*, D. Thistle*, C. Koenig*, and S. Harter# *Florida State University, #NOAA Fisheries • 1. Context • Gag are commercially important. • Gag are threatened by over fishing. • Stations • St. George Sound – two sites. • St. Andrew Bay – three sites. 2. Life cycle • 6. Approach • Continuous measurement of temperature, salinity, and light at the seabed at each station. • Since 18 Apr 2008, we have sampled for postlarvae 3 times each week in St. George Sound and once each week in St. Andrew Bay. • We will measure gag age via the “growth rings” on their otoliths (ear bones). Age together with length when collected will allow us to calculate the growth rate of each individual. • We will determine gag diet by quantifying the prey types in their guts. E. Peebles photo 7. Hypothetical results • 3. Issues • NOAA needs more ecological information to manage the species. • Ecology of postlarvae is little known. • Postlarvae are particularly exposed to weather variability. Assume weather differences between years 1 and 2 of importance to gag growth. • 4. Our questions • Does growth of postlarvae correlate with local weather? • Does it correlate with aspects of diet? • 8. Larger contexts • The FSU NGI effort in meteorology and physical oceanography will provide a climate context for our results • We are partnered with NOAA Fisheries Panama City Laboratory.

More Related