Juvenile spot Leiostomus xanthurus age and growth in tidal creek nursery habitats (North Inlet estuary, SC)
Presentation Type
Presentation
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Juliana Harding, Marine Science
Major
Marine Science
Presentation Abstract
Estuaries are geomorphologically complex habitats and productive nurseries for fishes. Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) are seasonally abundant and ecologically relevant in U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coast estuaries. Juvenile spot initially occupy and forage on infaunal invertebrates in smaller tidal creeks with abundant soft-sediment subtidal habitats. Both diet and feeding habitat change ontogenetically with larger, older spot moving into deeper estuary habitats during the end of their first year. Spot that grow quickly may better suited for successful transition to offshore habitats at the end of their first year, potentially increasing year-class survival. Juvenile spot age and growth rates were quantified for young of the year fish collected in July 2022 from two southeastern tidal creeks to evaluate potential creek-specific growth differences. Spot (n=58) were collected using seines and cast nets. Individual standard lengths (mm) were measured when lapilli were extracted. Age (days) estimates from lapilli will be used to estimate age-at-standard length and calculate individual growth rates. Spot standard lengths ranged from 34 mm to 67 mm. Creek specific age estimates and daily growth rates recorded in the lapilli will be compared to length-based growth rates in the same creeks from summer 2006.
Start Date
12-4-2023 3:20 PM
End Date
12-4-2023 3:40 PM
Disciplines
Oceanography
Recommended Citation
Hura, Emily, "Juvenile spot Leiostomus xanthurus age and growth in tidal creek nursery habitats (North Inlet estuary, SC)" (2023). Undergraduate Research Competition. 62.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2023/fullconference/62
Juvenile spot Leiostomus xanthurus age and growth in tidal creek nursery habitats (North Inlet estuary, SC)
Estuaries are geomorphologically complex habitats and productive nurseries for fishes. Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) are seasonally abundant and ecologically relevant in U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coast estuaries. Juvenile spot initially occupy and forage on infaunal invertebrates in smaller tidal creeks with abundant soft-sediment subtidal habitats. Both diet and feeding habitat change ontogenetically with larger, older spot moving into deeper estuary habitats during the end of their first year. Spot that grow quickly may better suited for successful transition to offshore habitats at the end of their first year, potentially increasing year-class survival. Juvenile spot age and growth rates were quantified for young of the year fish collected in July 2022 from two southeastern tidal creeks to evaluate potential creek-specific growth differences. Spot (n=58) were collected using seines and cast nets. Individual standard lengths (mm) were measured when lapilli were extracted. Age (days) estimates from lapilli will be used to estimate age-at-standard length and calculate individual growth rates. Spot standard lengths ranged from 34 mm to 67 mm. Creek specific age estimates and daily growth rates recorded in the lapilli will be compared to length-based growth rates in the same creeks from summer 2006.