Characterization and Ecology of Carboxymethylcellulase-Producing Anaerobic Bacterial Communities Associated with the Intestinal Tract of the Pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides

Carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase)-producing obligate anaerobes were isolated from the intestinal tract contents but not the feeding habitat of seagrass-consuming pinfish. Taxonomic characterization of these CMCase-producing strains revealed four taxonomic clusters; three were clostridial and one was of unknown taxonomic affinity. Our results demonstrated that the CMCase-producing obligate anaerobe community from pinfish differed from functionally similar microbial communities in terrestrial herbivores.     

A major developmental defect observed in several Biscayne Bay,Florida, fish species

Synopsis Stunted or missing dorsal spines or rays, sometimes accompanied by a depression in the dorsal profile, were found in 10 fish species in six families from North Biscayne Bay. The same morphological abnormality occurred inHaemulon sciurus, H. parrai, H. plumieri, Lagodon rhomboides, Archosargus rhomboidalis, Diplodus argenteus, Lutjanus griseus, Kyphosus sectatrix, Sphoeroides testudineus, andLactrophyrys quadricornis. Another morphological abnormality, scale disorientation, was found in six species:H. parrai, L. rhomboides, A. rhomboidalis, L. griseus, andAbudefduf saxatilis. Pugheadedness, jaw deformities, and other abnormalities also were observed. The occurrence of similar deformities across such a spectrum of fishes from the same location suggests the deformity was induced by something in the environment common to all these species. Although there could be other explanations for the unusual cluster of abnormalities, it is suspected that the same environmental contaminant or group of contaminants is adversely affecting a common developmental pathway of these fishes. Biscayne Bay is an urban estuary that receives agricultural, industrial, and residential run off.     

Diel and seasonal activity patterns of adult tautog, Tautoga onitis, in lower Chesapeake Bay, inferred from ultrasonic telemetry

Recent advances in ultrasonic telemetry have enabled researchers to simultaneously collect telemetry data on numerous tagged individuals without remaining in direct contact with them. We present a low cost, commercially available automated acoustic receiver system from which presence/absence data can be used to infer diel activity patterns. We monitored a large, temperate labrid, Tautoga onitis, but the methods and analyses presented here have direct application to other marine species. Data were analyzed using graphical analysis, harmonic analysis, and empirical eigenfunction analysis. Diel activity patterns were expressed in the context of photoperiod, water temperature, and tidal flow. Detection periodicity was strongly diel (24-h cycle), with detection predominantly during daylight hours only (diurnal). Diurnal detection persisted throughout the study. Daily detection was greatest in the morning or afternoon during slack tide. Daily detection varied seasonally with ambient water temperature and was greatest between 13–20°C, corresponding to the primary fishing seasons for Tautoga onitis in spring and fall. This study represented the first use of automated acoustic receivers to investigate seasonal changes in diel activity patterns of adult tautog and only the second application of ultrasonic telemetry to study this species. This study was also the first to address diel activity patterns of adult tautog in the southern range of this species' distribution.Senior author     

Land use disturbance indicators and water quality variability in the Biscayne Bay Watershed,Florida

Rapid land use transformations due to extensive agricultural and urban development in south Florida (USA) threaten water resources such as Biscayne Bay, an oligotrophic estuary draining the Miami metropolitan complex and South Dade Agricultural Area. Biscayne Bay is sensitive to nutrient inputs and this study evaluated watershed land use-water quality relationships from 1995 to 2004. Using eight monitoring sites, three spatial extents were considered: sub-basins, canal buffers, and site buffers. Selected sites represented agricultural, urban, and mixed land use classes. Disturbance indicators (landscape metrics; Landscape Development Intensity (LDI) index; percent imperviousness), nutrient loads (nitrate/nitrite-nitrogen (NO_X-N); total ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N); total phosphorus (TP)), and multivariate regression models were used to determine land use factors influencing water quality variability. The sub-basin regression model was the best predictor of annual NO_X-N loads in the watershed. Both LDI and largest patch index variables were included in this model, indicating that the relative distribution of dominant land use classes influences NO_X-N loads. There were no significant regression models for total inorganic nitrogen (NO_X-N plus NH₃-N) loads. Total phosphorus loads were more closely related to disturbance indicators at a smaller spatial extent (1000 m canal buffer), which is a function of watershed nutrient transport processes. The relative proportion of directly connected impervious areas (DCIA) was not identified as a significant land use variable for regression models. Positive correlations between LDI and DCIA values suggested both indicators provided similar information regarding the intensity of human disturbance. However, the LDI index incorporates anthropogenic intensity associated with a broad range of land uses while DCIA primarily reflects the impact of watershed urbanization. Watershed managers can use the LDI index with landscape metrics that evaluate spatial patterns to link land use development to water quality parameters.     

The role of environmental calcium in freshwater survival of the marine teleost, Lagodon rhomboides.

(1) The marine teleost fish, Lagodon rhomboides, can only tolerate fresh water (5 mM Na) if Ca is also present (10 mM). Transfer to Ca-free fresh water is followed by a substantial increase in radioactive Na efflux with little or no change in the transepithelial potential. Addition of the chelating agent EDTA (2 mM) further increases Na efflux. Fish left in Ca-free fresh water for 2-5 h die with a total body Na less than 50% of that found in animals acclimated to Ca-supplemented fresh water. (2) Rates of Na uptake were measured on either sea-water-acclimated or Ca-supplemented fresh water-acclimated fish transferred to various low Na media. In both cases Na uptake has a high Km, is saturable, inhibited by external NH4, H and amiloride, and is not related to changes in the trans-epithelial potential. (3) It is suggested that L. rhomboides is dependent upon external Ca to decrease diffusional Na loss in low salinities so that a relatively inefficient Na uptake can balance diffusional and urinary Na loss.     

Site fidelity, home range, and tidal migrations of juvenile pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, in salt marsh creeks

We conducted a series of experiments to determine the movements and fidelity of juvenile pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, in salt marsh creeks within North Inlet Estuary, SC. In Experiment 1, we investigated the fidelity of pinfish (40–100mm SL) at four subtidal locations (9–617m apart) along the axis of a major creek. We trapped and marked 2,297 individuals and recaptured 15–22% of the fishes released at each site, almost all of which (99.7%) had been marked at the same location of recapture up to 3 months earlier. In Experiment 2, we investigated pinfish movements between subtidal and intertidal areas. In the 8 weeks prior to sampling 2 intertidal creeks, we marked 950 juveniles in the adjacent subtidal areas. Sampling of the 2 flooded intertidal creeks showed that 9–20% of the pinfish collected bore marks, and all had been previously marked at the subtidal site immediately adjacent to the intertidal creek. Gut analysis of 60 individuals revealed that juveniles collected from the intertidal areas at high tide had consumed about ten times more food than those collected at the subtidal sites at low tide. In Experiment 3, we determined the fidelity of recently settled pinfish (<35mm SL) and showed that 15% of the 434 marked pinfish remained in the same area; some were at liberty up to 7 weeks. In Experiment 4, we determined home range by tagging and recapturing juvenile pinfish at sites separated by 20m along a 200m subtidal transect. We estimated that during periods when the intertidal zone was not accessible, the average home range was 9.4m with only 10% of tagged fish moving greater than 20m during the 4 month study. Our results indicate that soon after recruitment to the estuary, pinfish establish strong fidelity for sites within salt marsh creeks and exhibit tidal periodicity in both movements and feeding.     

Comparison between the trypanorhynchid cestode infections of Penaeus duorarum and Penaeus brasiliensis in Biscayne Bay,Florida

Penaeus brasiliensis and P. duorarum from Biscayne Bay, Florida, were both found to be infected with four species of trypanorhynchid cestode larvae: Parachristianella monomegacantha, P. heteromegacanthus, Prochristianella penaei, and Renibulbus penaeus. The two shrimp species contained the cestodes in significantly different proportions and female P. duorarum had different proportions of cestodes than males. Three linear regressions of cestode infection on host size were also significant. The incidence and intensity of infection is given for each species of shrimp and cestode. This is the first record of P. heteromegacanthus and R. penaeus infecting Penaeus duorarum and modifies earlier information of P. duorarum infections in the bay.     

Ecology and distribution of diatoms in Biscayne Bay,Florida (USA): Implications for bioassessment and paleoenvironmental studies

The spatial and temporal distribution of planktonic, sediment-associated and epiphytic diatoms among 58 sites in Biscayne Bay, Florida was examined in order to identify diatom taxa indicative of different salinity and water quality conditions, geographic locations and habitat types. Assessments were made in contrasting wet and dry seasons in order to develop robust assessment models for salinity and water quality for this region. We found that diatom assemblages differed between nearshore and offshore locations, especially during the wet season when salinity and nutrient gradients were steepest. In the dry season, habitat structure was primary determinant of diatom assemblage composition. Among a suite of physicochemical variables, water depth and sediment total phosphorus (STP) were most strongly associated with diatom assemblage composition in the dry season, while salinity and water total phosphorus (TP) were more important in the wet season. We used indicator species analysis (ISA) to identify taxa that were most abundant and frequent at nearshore and offshore locations, in planktonic, epiphytic and benthic habitats and in contrasting salinity and water quality regimes. Because surface water concentrations of salts, total phosphorus, nitrogen (TN) and organic carbon (TOC) are partly controlled by water management in this region, diatom-based models were produced to infer these variables in modern and retrospective assessments of management-driven changes. Weighted averaging (WA) and weighted averaging partial least squares (WA-PLS) regressions produced reliable estimates of salinity, TP, TN and TOC from diatoms (r² = 0.92, 0.77, 0.77 and 0.71, respectively). Because of their sensitivity to salinity, nutrient and TOC concentrations diatom assemblages should be useful in developing protective nutrient criteria for estuaries and coastal waters of Florida.     

Temporal and spatial dynamics of macroalgal communities along an anthropogenic salinity gradient in Biscayne Bay (Florida,USA)

The seasonal and spatial dynamics of two groups of macroalgae, drift algae and rhizophytes, commonly found in tropical seagrass meadows were studied. The aim of this study was to provide insight into how freshwater discharges may be altering seagrass-dominated nearshore tropical habitats. Species composition, biomass, and percent cover of macroalgae were collected at six Thalassia testudinum König dominated sites within Biscayne Bay, Florida, representing three salinity regimes: canal-influenced, natural sheet-flow, and oceanic conditions. Mean annual salinities in these three regimes correspond to 10, 25 and 35 psu, respectively, with much greater variability in the canal and sheet-flow regimes, than in the oceanic condition. There were distinct changes in the composition of the macroalgal community along this salinity gradient. Drift algae (Chondria spp., Laurencia spp.) were most commonly found at canal-disturbed sites (10–85 g m⁻²), while rhizophytic calcareous green algae (Halimeda spp., Penicillus spp.) were most abundant at the higher salinity oceanic sites (20–105 g m⁻²). Seasonal patterns exhibited by the two groups differed also, with drift algae being more abundant in the cooler dry-season months, while rhizophytic algae were more abundant during the warmer wet-season months. These periods of higher abundance correlated with higher growth rates (drift = 2.3% day⁻¹, rhizophytes = 0.85% day⁻¹) measured in representative species for each group. Grazing rates on drift algae were found to be low for tropical habitats and did not differ much between canal (0.44% h⁻¹) and oceanic sites (0.42% h⁻¹).     

LIDAR optical rugosity of coral reefs in Biscayne National Park,Florida

The NASA Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL), a temporal waveform-resolving, airborne, green wavelength LIDAR (light detection and ranging), is designed to measure the submeter-scale topography of shallow reef substrates. Topographic variability is a prime component of habitat complexity, an ecological factor that both expresses and controls the abundance and distribution of many reef organisms. Following the acquisition of EAARL coverage over both mid-platform patch reefs and shelf-margin bank reefs within Biscayne National Park in August 2002, EAARL-based optical indices of topographic variability were evaluated at 15 patch reef and bank reef sites. Several sites were selected to match reefs previously evaluated in situ along underwater video and belt transects. The analysis used large populations of submarine topographic transects derived from the examination of closely spaced laser spot reflections along LIDAR raster scans. At all 15 sites, each LIDAR transect was evaluated separately to determine optical rugosity (Ro_tran), and the average elevation difference between adjacent points (Av(E_ap)). Further, the whole-site mean and maximum values of Ro_tran and Av(E_ap) for the entire population of transects at each analysis site, along with their standard deviations, were calculated. This study revealed that the greater habitat complexity of inshore patch reefs versus outer bank reefs results in relative differences in topographic complexity that can be discerned in the laser returns. Accordingly, LIDAR sensing of optical rugosity is proposed as a complementary new technique for the rapid assessment of shallow coral reefs.     

Influence of salinity, competition and food supply on the growth of Gobiosoma robustum and Microgobius gulosus from Florida Bay, U. S. A.

The code Gobiosoma robustum and clown Microgobius gulosus gobies were grown in the laboratory over 27 days at two salinities (5 and 35), two food levels [low (a fixed proportion of initial mass) and high (saturation)] and both with and without the presence of the other species. Both species exhibited greatest growth at the high food level and the low (5) salinity. Neither species was affected by the presence of the other species, and there were no overall differences in growth between the two species. Thus, the observed competitive superiority of G. robustum over M. gulosus does not seem to confer an advantage relative to feeding success. Furthermore, as growth of G. robustum was greater at the lower salinity, it is clear that some factor other than salinity is restricting this species from north‐eastern Florida Bay. Additional work on the importance of predation and food resources in various regions of Florida Bay is needed to further evaluate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the bay‐wide distribution of these species.     

Seasonal cycles of zooplankton from San Francisco Bay

The two estuarine systems composing San Francisco Bay have distinct zooplankton communities and seasonal population dynamics. In the South Bay, a shallow lagoon-type estuary, the copepods Acartia spp. and Oithona davisae dominate. As in estuaries along the northeast coast of the U.S., there is a seasonal succession involving the replacement of a cold-season Acartia species (A. clausi s.l.) by a warm-season species (A. californiensis), presumably resulting from the differential production and hatching of dormant eggs. Oithona davisae is most abundant during the fall. Copepods of northern San Francisco Bay, a partially-mixed estuary of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers, organize into discrete populations according to salinity distribution: Sinocalanus doerrii (a recently introduced species) at the riverine boundary, Eurytemora affinis in the oligohaline mixing zone, Acartia spp. in polyhaline waters (18–30\%), and neritic species (e.g., Paracalanus parvus) at the seaward boundary. Sinocalanus doerrii and E. affinis are present year-round. Acartia clausi s.l. is present almost year-round in the northern reach, and A. californiensis occurs only briefly there in summer-fall. The difference in succession of Acartia species between the two regions of San Francisco Bay may reflect differences in the seasonal temperature cycle (the South Bay warms earlier), and the perennial transport of A. clausi s.l. into the northern reach from the seaward boundary by nontidal advection.Large numbers (>10⁶ m^–3) of net microzooplankton (>64 µm), in cluding the rotifer Synchaeta sp. and three species of tintinnid ciliates, occur in the South Bay and in the seaward northern reach where salinity exceeds about 5–10 Maximum densities of these microzooplankton are associated with high concentrations of chlorophyll. Meroplankton (of gastropods, bivalves, barnacles, and polychaetes) constitute a large fraction of zooplankton biomass in the South Bay during winter-spring and in the northern reach during summer-fall.Seasonal cycles of zooplankton abundance appear to be constant among years (1978–1981) and are similar in the deep (>10 m) channels and lateral shoals (<3 m). The seasonal zooplankton community dynamics are discussed in relation to: (1) river discharge which alters salinity distribution and residence time of plankton; (2) temperature which induces production and hatching of dormant copepod eggs; (3) coastal hydrography which brings neritic copepods of different zoogeographic affinities into the bay; and (4) seasonal cycles of phytoplankton.     

The influence of oral anatomy on prey selection during the ontogeny of two percoid fishes,Lagodon rhomboides and Centropomus undecimalis

Synopsis Ontogenetic increases in mouth size and changes in dentition of percoid fishes may affect the size and species of prey selected, thus influencing the fundamental trophic niche. To examine the influence of oral anatomy on prey selectivity by pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, and snook, Centropomus undecimalis, two co-occurring percoid fishes with contrasting mouth morphologies, the mouth size, dentition, stomach contents, and available prey during ontogeny were quantified. Based on the presence of prey fragments in stomach contents and direct behavioral observation, prey were categorized by the feeding mode used during capture (suction/ramfeeding or biting). Centropomus has a larger size-specific gape than Lagodon during all ontogenetic stages. Although both feeding modes were used by Lagodon during ontogeny, the amount of prey captured using suction/ram-feeding declined and the amount of prey captured by biting increased with standard length. This change in feeding mode was associated with a change in incisor shape and width: Lagodon < 39 mm SL possessed narrow, pointed incisors and strongly selected amphipods, which are captured using suction/ram-feeding; Lagodon> 40 mm SL possessed wide, flat-topped incisors and significantly increased their selectivity for polychaetes, which are captured by biting. Centropomus used ram-feeding to capture prey at all ontogenetic stages. Size-selective feeding by Centropomus was apparent but could not be due to gape-limitation alone, because average prey body depth was only 45% of gape and was not proportional to absolute mouth size increase during ontogeny. Dietary diversity was greatest during the transition from suction/ram-feeding to biting in Lagodon. Lagodon had a higher dietary diversity at all ontogenetic stages than Centropomus, due in part to Lagodon's use of multiple feeding modes.     

Routine metabolism of juvenile spot, Leiostomus xanthums (Lacépède), as a function of temperature, salinity and weight

Routine oxygen consumption rates of juvenile spot, Leiostomus xanthums , were measured over a range of temperatures, salinities and fish weights. As predicted, Q O₂ increased with temperature and decreased with body weight. However, Q O₂ decreased with decreasing salinity and did not show the expected minimum at isosmotic concentrations. The data are best described by the relationship: log₁₀ Q O₂ (mg O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹) = 0.129 log_lo salinity (%0) + 1.604 log₁₀ temperature (°C)-0.1401og₁₀(g)-2.767.     

A Nosema-type microsporidian infection in larvae of Culicoides spp. from salt marshes in Florida

Field-collected third- and fourth-instar larvae of salt marsh Culicoides spp. were found infected with a microsporidium. Larvae were prepared for electron microscopy by fixation in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1% acrolein buffered in 0.17 m cacodylate, pH 7.5. Based upon the evidence obtained by light and electron microscope examination, this pathogen appears to be a Nosema-type microsporidium. This evidence includes (1) persistence of nuclei in diplocaryotic configuration; (2) a maximum of four nuclei within each sporont; and (3) development of two sporoblasts from each sporont.     

Protracted volitional spawning of pinfish Lagodon rhomboides and changes in egg quality and fatty‐acid composition throughout the spawning season

Spawning performance of pinfish Lagodon rhomboides without use of hormonal aids was monitored over an extended season. Nearly three million eggs were obtained from 75 spawns collected over a 90‐day consecutive period from a single population of four brood fish (1M:1F). A mean ± s.d. batch fecundity of 30·27 ± 22·64 eggs g^?1 female was estimated with 98·0 ± 0·06% of the batch composed of floating eggs which were 1·04 ± 0·04 mm in diameter and 85·71 ± 27·59% fertile. Floating eggs successfully hatched 54·65 ± 29·13% of the time which yielded larvae that were 2·59 ± 0·24 mm in length. Fatty acids within floating eggs were largely represented by polyunsaturated fatty acids (45·30 ± 2·14% of total fatty acids) of which linoleic acid [(c18:2n‐6cis) 3·49 ± 1·69% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)] and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [(c22:6n‐3) 28·47 ± 1·48% TFA] represented the majority of fatty acids for n‐6 and n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. The strongest correlations between fatty acids and hatching success and larval survival to first feeding were observed for the DHA:EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid; c20:5n‐3) ratio and total n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty‐acids levels, respectively. These data demonstrate potential for producers to rely on natural spawns for extensive egg production and provide a baseline for future development of natural spawning protocols of captive L. rhomboides.     

Annual cycle of blood chemistry parameters in striped mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides L.) from the Gulf of Mexico

Annual cycle measurements were made on serum sodium, potassium, chloride, iron, magnesium, calcium, carbon dioxide, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, inorganic phosphorus, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase in the striped mullet ( Mugil cephalus L.) and the pinfish ( Lagodon rhomboides L.). For each parameter, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation (C.V.) are reported. The lowest C.V.s were associated with the electrolytes and the greatest C.V.s with serum enzymes. The lowest variability for most parameters was observed in the vitellogenic and prespawning period.