ESR SPECIAL PrePrint (2009) - Abstract

Early life history stages of goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara (Pisces: Serranidae) from Ten Thousand Islands, Florida

Monica R. Lara^1,*, Jennifer Schull², David L. Jones³, Robert Allman⁴

¹St. Petersburg College Dept. of Natural Sciences, 2465 Drew St., Clearwater, Florida 33763, USA
²NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Dr., Miami, Florida 33149, USA
³University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy., Miami, Florida 33149, USA
⁴NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, Florida 32408, USA

*Email: lara.monica@spcollege.edu

ABSTRACT: From September through December 2001 to 2004, goliath grouper juveniles (15 to 87 mm standard length [SL]) were collected from tributary mouths in the Ten Thousand Islands region of southwest Florida’s Gulf coast. These juveniles represent the smallest individuals of this species collected to date. These individuals were newly settled and showed only minor pigmentation. Descriptions and illustrations of juveniles between 15 and 38 mm SL are provided herein. Otolith analyses revealed a pelagic larval duration of 30 to 80 d with the potential for delayed larval metamorphosis. Based on back-calculation of daily rings, spawning generally occurred around the full moon, with settlement times irrespective of lunar phase. Length and age data provided the basis for the growth curve.

KEY WORDS: Fish · Larvae · Juvenile · Identification · Settlement · Meristics · Pigmentation ·Spawning

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This article appears in ESR SPECIAL:
Range-wide status and conservation of the Goliath grouper

ESR SPECIAL PrePrint (2009) - Abstract

Early life history stages of goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara (Pisces: Serranidae) from Ten Thousand Islands, Florida

Monica R. Lara1,*, Jennifer Schull2, David L. Jones3, Robert Allman4

Monica R. Lara^1,*, Jennifer Schull², David L. Jones³, Robert Allman⁴