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Ecology of the barracudinas (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae), a ubiquitous but understudied mesopelagic predatory fish family, in the Gulf of Mexico

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Date Issued:
2018
Summary:
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 prompted an enormous survey effort to assess the under-studied, deep-ocean ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting samples and datasets afforded a unique opportunity to study the ecology of a poorly known group of mesopelagic fishes, the barracudinas (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae). Here we address several important data gaps regarding the ecology of the Paralepididae. Our results indicate that a majority of barracudina species are efficient at avoiding research-sized nets, suggesting that their overall abundance has been historically underestimated. Notable differences in vertical distribution, seasonal abundances of sizes classes, and diets were observed among the three major sub-groups of the family, with potential implications to ecosystem-based management of deep-pelagic fisheries. This thesis is dedicated to all the fish, squids, and shrimps that gave their lives to make these data and to those that endured the hardship of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Title: Ecology of the barracudinas (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae), a ubiquitous but understudied mesopelagic predatory fish family, in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Name(s): Jones, Richard, author
Moore, Jon, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Center for Environmental Studies
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2018
Date Issued: 2018
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 209 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 prompted an enormous survey effort to assess the under-studied, deep-ocean ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting samples and datasets afforded a unique opportunity to study the ecology of a poorly known group of mesopelagic fishes, the barracudinas (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae). Here we address several important data gaps regarding the ecology of the Paralepididae. Our results indicate that a majority of barracudina species are efficient at avoiding research-sized nets, suggesting that their overall abundance has been historically underestimated. Notable differences in vertical distribution, seasonal abundances of sizes classes, and diets were observed among the three major sub-groups of the family, with potential implications to ecosystem-based management of deep-pelagic fisheries. This thesis is dedicated to all the fish, squids, and shrimps that gave their lives to make these data and to those that endured the hardship of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Identifier: FA00013075 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Barracudinas.
Paralepididae.
Fishes--Mexico, Gulf of.
Fishes--Ecology.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013075
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.