Species profiles - life histories and environmental requirements (Gulf of Mexico): brown shrimp

Technical Report · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5918349

Lassuy, D R

Species profiles are literature summaries on the taxonomy, morphology, range, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic species. They are designed to assist in environmental impact assessment. The brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, is the major species in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery, the most valuable ($302 million in 1980) commercial fishery in the United States. It is heavily preyed on by many fishes. Spawning occurs offshore from about September to May and most postlarvae move into estuaries from February through April. Within the estuary they occupy shallow water near marshes with soft substrate. Juveniles emigrate from estuaries to offshore areas from May through August. They grow as fast as 3.3 mm per day in estuaries. Adults concentrate around the 55-m contour offshore. Postlarval and juvenile shrimp are normally taken in water temperatures above 10/sup 0/C and rapid growth occurs above 18/sup 0/C. Few shrimp are collected below 5 ppt salinity. Brown shrimp are benthic feeders and prefer soft substrates. High populations are associated with coastal marshes.

• Research Organization: Fish and Wildlife Service, Slidell, LA (USA). National Coastal Ecosystems Team
• OSTI ID: 5918349
• Report Number(s): FWS/OBS-82/11.1; ON: DE83902494
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGY
CARIBBEAN SEA
CRUSTACEANS
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DECAPODS
DISTRIBUTION
ECOLOGY
ESTUARIES
FISHING INDUSTRY
GULF OF MEXICO
HABITAT
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
NUMERICAL DATA
REPRODUCTION
SEAS
SHRIMP
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE WATERS
TAXONOMY