Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (south Florida)

Technical Report · Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5608469

Jory, D E; Iversen, E S ^[1]

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1. Miami Univ., FL (USA). Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

Black, red, and Nassau groupers (Mycteroperca bonaci, Epinephelus morio, and E. striatus, respectively) are widely distributed on rocky bottoms and reefs along the south Florida coast. They are the most valuable marine finfish group in Florida, comprising about 25% of the total value of landings in 1984. The three species can be distinguished by morphometric, meristic, and body color characteristics. Younger fish are typically found in shallow, inshore grass beds, and larger, older fish are generally restricted to deep waters. The three species are protogynous hermaphrodites. Sexual transition can occur at any length over about 300 mm SL. An offshore movement apparently coincides with the onset of sexual maturity. Spawning aggregations have been observed throughout the year, but occur mostly between late spring and early summer. Fecundity estimates range from about 800,000 to 5,000,000 eggs per female. Both the eggs and the larvae are planktonic. Their early life history is poorly known. Larvae probably leave the plankton and become benthic at around 20--30 mm SL. Growth rates range from about 2 to 10 mm/month. The three species are unspecialized carnivores, feeding on a variety of fishes, crustaceans, and mollusks. Interspecific competition for food and shelter may be common because of the overlap in distribution, habitat, size, and food habitats. For the three species, a number of predators and parasites have been reported. Both the black and red groupers have been implicated in ciguatera poisonings in south Florida. 70 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (USA); National Wetlands Research Center, Slidell, LA (USA); Miami Univ., FL (USA). Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
• Sponsoring Organization: DOI
• OSTI ID: 5608469
• Report Number(s): BR-82(11.110); TR-EL-82-4/82(11.110); ON: TI90001471
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FISHES
BASELINE ECOLOGY
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
ANIMAL GROWTH
ATLANTIC OCEAN
COASTAL WATERS
ESTUARIES
FEEDING
FISHERIES
HABITAT
LIFE CYCLE
MIGRATION
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
REPRODUCTION
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ECOLOGY
GROWTH
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)