Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates South Florida, Ladyfish and Tarpon

Abstract

Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, morphology, distribution, life history, habitats, and environmental requirements of coastal species of fishes and aquatic invertebrates. They are designed to assist in environmental impact assessment. The tarpon and ladyfish are popular gamefishes. Adults spawn offshore. Larval and juvenile stages inhabit coastal marshes and mangroves. Both species are thermophilic (preferring warm water), euryhaline (tolerant of a wide range of salinity), and are capable of surviving at low oxygen concentrations. Wetlands destruction and degradation negatively affect these species by reducing nursery areas. Keywords: Fishes; Estuaries; Feeding habits; Growth physiology; Fisheries; Temperature; Salinity; Oxygen; Life cycles; Tarpon; Megalops atlanticus; Ladyfish; Elops saurus; Trophic ecology; Spawning; Environmental requirements. (kt)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA213081

Entities

People

  • Alexander V. Zale
  • Susan G. Merrifield

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cells
  • Fish
  • Fisheries
  • Habitats
  • Wildlife

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology