Marine Science Faculty Publications
Gag Grouper Larvae Pathways on the West Florida Shelf
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2014
Keywords
circulation, gag grouper, models and observations, west florida shelf
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2014.06.003
Abstract
A numerical circulation model, quantitatively assessed against in situ observations, is used to describe the circulation on the West Florida Continental Shelf during spring 2007 when pre-settlement gag (Mycteroperca microlepis) were present in the surf zone near Tampa Bay, Florida. The pre-settlement fish were found to be isotopically distinct from settled juveniles in the area, which is consistent with recent arrival at near shore nursery habitats from offshore spawning grounds. Simulated particle trajectories are employed to test hypotheses relating to either a surface or a near-bottom route of across-shelf transport. The surface-route hypothesis is rejected, whereas the bottom-route hypothesis is found to be consistent with the location of pre-settlement fish and their co-occurrence with macroalgae of offshore, hard-bottom origin. We conclude that gag larvae are transported to the near shore via the bottom Ekman layer and that such transport is facilitated by remote forcing associated with Gulf of Mexico Loop Current interactions with the shelf slope near the Dry Tortugas. Being that such remote forcing occurs inter-annually and not always in phase with the preferred spawning months (late winter through early spring), gag recruitment success should similarly vary with year and location.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Continental Shelf Research, v. 88, p. 11-23
Scholar Commons Citation
Weisberg, Robert H.; Zheng, Lianyuan; and Peebles, Ernst B., "Gag Grouper Larvae Pathways on the West Florida Shelf" (2014). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 283.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/283
