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GULF 

RESEARCH 

REPORTS 


Vol. 6, No. 2 
December 1978 
ISSN: 0072-9027 



Published by the 

GULF COAST RESEARCH LABORATORY 

Ocean Springs, Mississippi 


I 


Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Activities of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory During Fiscal Year 1 977-78: A 
Summary Report 

Harold D. Howse 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI; 10.18785/grr.0602.13 

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Recommended Citation 

HowsC; H. D. 1978. Activities of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory During Fiscal Year 1977-78: A Summary Report. Gulf Research 
Reports 6 (2): 189-208. 

Retrieved from http:// aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/13 


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Gulf Research Reports. Vol. 6, No. 2, 189-208, 1978 


ACTIVITIES OF THE GULF COAST RESEARCH LABORATORY 
DURING FISCAL YEAR 1977-78: A SUMMARY REPORT 

HAROLD D. HOWSE 

Director. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 
Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 


ADMINISTRATION 

During the year, the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 
(GCRL) was llie recipient of several significanl gifts. These 
were the following; a 26-foot LafitLe skiff, powered by a 
6'Cylinder, 135-horsepower Palmer engine, valued at $7,000 
and donated by Mr. Cyril R, Laan of Ocean Springs and 
New Orleans; 33 acres of Sioux Bayou marsh lands valued 
at $11,000 and donated by Tri-Land Development, Inc., 
Pascagoula; and a small wooden building valued at $10,000 
from Keesler Air Force Base donated by the U.S. Department 
of Health, Education and Welfare. Additionally, two and 
one-half acres of properly adjaceni to the campus was pur- 
chased, including a small, wood-frame house. 

The annual State appropriation for the general support 
of the Laboratory was $1,780,500. An additional $25,000 
was received through a Special Library Improvement Allo- 
cation by the 1977 State Legislature and $672,468 was 
generated through sponsored research. 

BOAT OPERATIONS 

The boats that provide essential services include the 
65-foot R/V GULF RESEARCHER, used in both the 
Laboratoiy’s research and educational programs; the 38- 
foot steel trawler HERMES, used principally in the 
educational program; three diesel-powered cabin work- 
boats; and some half-dozen Boston Whalers and other 
miscellaneous smaller boats operated on a part-time basis 
by scientists and technicians to meet the needs of Labor- 
atory research projects. 

During the year ended June 30, 1978, R/V GULF 
RESEARCHER was at sea for 61 days and 24 nights. 
HERMES spent 59 days at sea and the smaller boats made 
innumerable trips over the same period. 

RESEARCH 

ANADROMOUS FISHES SECTION, Dr. Thomas D. Mdlwain. Head 

Rearing and Stocking Striped Bass - Mississippi Gulf 
Coast (Funded by National Marine Fisheries Services [NMFS] , 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and GCRL): The second seg- 
ment of the project dealing with the rearing and stocking of 
striped bass was begun in September 1977. The objectives 
of this program arc to establish, by stocking, a striped bass 
population in Biloxi Bay; to stock sea-run striped bass and 
determine their success; and to establish a source of fry 
from Mississippi brood fish. 


Approximately 582,000 striped bass of South Carolina 
origin were reared to a size of 2 inches and stocked into 
Biloxi Bay. Some 145,400 of these fish were reared from 
eggs taken from Mississippi brood I'ish. These brood fish 
were taken front Pearl River near Jackson, Mississippi, by 
Mississippi Game and Fish Commission (MGFC) personnel 
and transported to GCRL for spawning. Out of eight eligible 
females, four were tank spawned, three successfully. The 
successful spawn resulted in 1.7 million fry. One million 
were returned to MGFC for rearing and the remaining 
700,000 were retained at GCRL for rearing. 

No sea-run striped bass were stocked in this segment due 
to the unavailability of fry from sea-run slocks. 

A total of 66 striped bass which were slocked in previous 
years were returned to project personnel. These fish ranged 
in weight from one-half pound to 19 pounds. 

A sampling program is in progress to check for natural 
reproduction of previously stocked bass and for occurrence 
of juvenile striped bass, and to monitor previously slocked 
striped bass in order In continue assessing the results of all 
bass-stocking programs previously carried out in this area. 

Bait Fish Rearing (Funded by Mississippi Marine Resources 
Council [MMRCJ): A handbook was developed detailing 
the techniques for rearing bullminnows in closed systems 
and in ponds to supply the live-bait industry along the coast. 
The bullminnow is a favorite live-bait wlien available to 
coastal sport fishermen. Supplies are quickly depleted in 
lale fall when the spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebuhsus) 
are running. 

Sporting Analysis of St. Louis Bay (Funded by E. 1. 
duPont de Nemours & Company, Inc. (Du Pont]): This 
program began in December 1977 and will continue for one 
year. The work entails gathering data on the total effort 
expended and total harvest of sport fish caught in St. Louis 
Bay. Data gathered will detail species composition, seasonal 
and nun.erical abundance, as well as size composition and 
method of capture and catch per unit of effort. 

A Proposed Mississippi Marine Fin fish (Selected) Fishery 
Management Plan (Funded by Mississippi-Alabaina Sea 
Grant Program [M-ASGP] ); As one of the five Gulf of 
Mexico states, Mississippi plays an integral role in the Gulf 
slates fisheries. With a shoreline of only 70 miles, Mississippi 
ranks second in the total volume of seafood landed in these 
five states. Because of increasing national and international 
emphasis on fisheries and fishery management plans being 
developed, it has become more and more important for the 


189 



190 


HOWSE 


slates to improve their management technique in this area. 
In essence, the states are the key to the regional and national 
success of our fisheries from all standpoints— biological, 
economic, social, environmental, administrative, etc. An 
improved finfish management system in Mississippi will not 
only improve the Mississippi output and conservation of the 
resource, but will contribute to improving both the Gulf 
regional fishery and the national fishery. A carefully devel- 
oped and organized management plan for Mississippi does 
not exist at this time. 

ANAL YTICAL CHEMISTR Y SECTION, Dr. Viotnas F. Lyile, Head 

Heavy Metals in St, Louis Bay (Funded by Du Pont): 
Because heavy metals pose a potential threat to estuarine 
water, whether coastal areas are developed industrially or 
residentially, an assessment of heavy metals is being con- 
ducted in St. Louis Bay where very little of cither type 
development exists. Heavy metals are being examined in as 
many of the environmental components of the bay as pos- 
sible. Because heavy metals may exist in the water column 
cither in the soluble form or as particulate, both forms are 
being analyzed. The eventual repository for heavy metals is 
the sedimentary bed; sediments which will reflect a combined 
history of heavy metal input for asionga period as sampling 
will allow are good candidates for monitoring past exposure 
to heavy metals. Organisms may concentrate heavy metals 
either by absorption or ingestion from water or sediments. 
These concentrations may escalate to levels that are harmful 
to the organism, to its predator or man. The concentralion 
of heavy metals in the tissuesoforganisms does not fluctuate 
quite, so drastically as in the water nor remain as stable as 
in the sediments. However, because any grossly elevated 
levels of heavy metals would be of more immediate harm to 
organisms than to sediments, we need to know more about 
the heavy metal budget in the Bay. 

A survey, to adequately describe heavy metals in bay 
waters, should include a constant monitoring of metals in 
many locations for a period of several years. This approach 
is presently not feasible even on a small scale; therefore, we 
must be satisfied to collect water samples that will give at 
least typical values for the Bay. Eight stations have been 
selected for heavy metal collections from among 11 stations 
used for nutrient studies. These stations are being occupied 
once every second month for the purpose of making a 
collection sufficiently large to measure the following 17 
metals: copper, chromium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, cadmium, 
iron, titanium, vanadium, mercury, arsenic, selenium, 
antimony, strontium, molybdenum, beryllium, and lead, 
plus cyanide. Ihe sampling does not coincide with any other 
sampling effort in order to avoid any contamination from 
the research boats in the Bay. The samples have been filtered, 
preserved and frozen, then transported to the Laboratory 
for analysis. Sediments from these eight stationsand six more 
have also been collected. An assortment of resident species 
of fish and invertebrates are being collected for dissection 


and analysis. Marsh soils and plants will also be analyzed. 

Of prime concern has been the construction of a ^‘clean” 
laboratory for trace metal analysis. All metallic objects were 
removed if feasible, and ifnot, coated with epoxy. Separated 
from the hall by an outer office, the clean area was sealed 
with epoxy paints and other plastic sealants and is supplied 
with constant, positive-pressure, ultrafiltered air. A Teflon- 
clean bench-hood for critical sample treatments and a fused- 
quaftz still for final water distillations were installed. Ceiling 
tiles were replaced with plastic panels cemented in place. 
Since debris from corroded surfaces or dust from any source 
could seriously compromise trace metal results, all efforts 
are being made to prevent these from occurring in the 
laboratory. 

When analyses are complete, the present load of heavy 
metals in St, Louis Bay should be known with a fair degree 
of certainty. 

Nutrients in St. Louis Bay (Funded by Du Pont); A pro- 
gram was designed to determine the levels and distribution 
of nutrients in St. Louis Bay. Later it was decided that the 
term nutrients was misleading; therefore, the measurements 
are now referred to as water quality parameters (WQP). 
Envisioned originally as measurements to support other 
studies in the Bay, this concept was soon abandoned because 
of the difficulties of coordinating all possible interests with 
the WQP samples. Because it appeared that productivity 
measurements would suffer most from lack of synopticity 
with that collection, samples for WQP were collected in a 
manner to achieve results that might be directly correlated. 
The parameters chosen were: orthophosphate, total phos- 
phorus, nitrate, nit rite, ammonia, chloride, sulfate, suspended 
solids, turbidity, alkalinity and silica. In addition, samples 
were also collected for total inorganic and organic carbon 
and distributed to the Environmental Chemistry Section. 

The methods used for analysis were those in the Federal 
Register, December 1976. Though these methods have 
proved defective in .some respects, matrix modifications in 
samples and standards have almost without exception proven 
them to be reliable. The only measurement remaining an 
enigma is that of total phosphorus. Water samples are 
collected once monthly in a manner to preserve the integrity 
of the samples for all WQP. Initially, samples for all param- 
eters were collected and preserved individually. However, 
this procedure proved very time-consuming and inept. 
Therefore, to collect samples as quickly as possible (to 
remove the time factor in station comparisons), one sample 
bottle is now used for all parameters. These samples, pre- 
served on ice, are rushed back to the Water Analysis Labor- 
atory for processing. This sampling procedure has worked 
belter than a field-based procedure. 

Eleven stations are sampled in this study including some in 
the Bay proper, others near residential areas, in large bayous 
and both the Jourdan and Wolfe rivers. Surface samples are 
collected at all stations each month; in addition, at half 
of the stations, vertical profiles of water quality parameters 



A Summary Report 


191 


are made when depths pennit. Correlations of the various 
parameters are being made; nutrient budgets are being estab- 
lished and overall water quality evaluated in St. Louis Bay. 

Techniques Development for OH Pollution Assessment 
(Funded by GCRL and the Bureau of Land Management); 
This is a continued study designed to find the best procedures 
both to chemically analyze geological and biological samples 
and to assess the proper parameters by which to designate 
whether or not the samples are polluted with petroleum 
hydrocarbons. Sediment samples, taken before emplacement, 
during drilling and after drilling, were collected from 25 
strategic locations at a Texas oil rig site chosen by the 
Bureau of Land Management. These unique sampling and 
analyses offered enougli hydrocarbon data to apply various 
computer programming techniques to ascertain the most 
effective parameters in assessing oil pollution. 

BOTANY SECTION, Dr. Lionel N. Eleuterius, Head 

Salt Marsh Vegetation of Davis Bay (Funded by GCRL): 
Quantitative information is being accumulated on the rela- 
tionship of marsh acreage versus open water in this produc- 
tive estuarine system. In addition, the total area drained by 
the marsh and the amount of rainfall will be determined in 
order to study an entire estuarine ecosystem from the plant 
ecology viewpoint. A detailed vegetative map is being pre- 
pared as well as a map of the standing crop of all marshes 
surrounding Davis Bay. This information is basic to further 
detailed botanical and ecological .studies in the area around 
GCRLand should provide information for students, scientists 
and others within the State. 

Popiilational Studies on Salt Marsh Species (Funded by 
GCRL); This ongoing research is presently concentrated on 
the salt marsh rush,7w«cw.? rnenierUmus. Considerable popu- 
lation infoinialion has been gathered on the species and a 
portion of it is now In manuscript form. The ultimate goal 
is to document the distribution and the vegetative growth 
pattern of the major salt marsh species inhabiting the tidal 
marshes in Mississippi. Such popiilational studies are of 
considerable importance in relation to ecological work since 
ecotypes (single sexes) may dominate or compose large 
tracts of tidal marsh. Similar work has been imtiated on 
Scirpus olneyi and Distichlis spicata. 

Ecological Studies on Seagrasses and Sait Marsh Species 
(Funded by GCRL); Ecological studies on salt marsh species 
will entail synccoiogica! studies where more than one species 
compose the vegetation. Included in this study is consider- 
ation of the hydraulic aspects of flooding of various salt 
marsh zones to be done in cooperation with the Physical 
Oceanography Section. Grand Bayou, a high-salinity marsh 
dominated hyjuncus romerianus on Deer Island, Mississippi, 
has been tentatively selected for this portion of the study. 

Studies of other ecological aspects of this tidal marsh 
have been initiated. Tidal inundation and discharge rales 
can be easily established because of the smalU contained 
ecosystem represented in Grand Bayou. Quantitative data 


on plant productivity and the nutritive discharge of detritus 
and other water quality parameters will be assessed on the 
discharge and on the rising tide. 

Autecological Studies on Vascular Plants of Mississippi 
Salt Marshes (Funded by GCRL): This project is essentially 
an extension of population studies in that ecological param- 
eters such as soil nutrients, soil-water salinity, elevation, 
other chemical and physical aspects of the habitats (i.e., soil 
texture, evaporation), and the life history of the plants will 
be considered. 

Progeny and Genetic Studies on the Salt Marsh Rush, 
Jurtcus roemeriarms (Funded by GCRL); This work is 
ongoing research that has been carried out over a number of 
years. Plants have been grown for several years from seed to 
obtain Mcndelian ratios establishing the genetic mechanism 
responsible for the sexual distribution found in this rush 
species. The work constitutes an effort to obtain basic infor- 
mation on this species which dominates Mississippi marshes. 
During the past year, controlled cro.sses between known- 
parental types have been achieved and their seeds are 
presently being germinated. Hopefully, they will produce 
mature plants in less than the 2 years required under field 
conditions. 

An apparatus has been constructed in the greenhouse 
that will extend or shorten the day to induce flowering. 
Also, experiments have been conducted dealing with the 
physiological requirement of a cold period, known as verna- 
lization, to induce llowcring in this rush. If flowering can 
be induced, the growthand flowering cycle can be accelerated. 

An Illustrated Guide and Key to Salt Marsh Plants 
(Funded by M-.ASGP and GCRL); The purpose of this work 
is to prepare an illustrated guide and key to the salt marsh 
plants of Mississippi. It entails about 180 line drawings and 
scientific descriptions of local species of vascular plants. 
Keys to families, genera and species are being prepared. 

A Phytosociological Study of Horn and Petit Rois Islands 
(Funded by National Park Service, U.S. Department of 
Interior): During the First year of this two-year study, a 
large number of exclosurcs were established to assess the 
effect of animals such as nutria, hogs, and rabbits on the 
vegetation. Concurrently, phytosociological sampling was 
initiated to obtain information on community composition 
and successional patterns and interrelationships between 
the plant communities on these islands. Major products 
resulting from the work will be maps of large format that 
will accommodate many detailed vegetal ional features of 
Petit Bois and Horn islands. Hopefully, these will be pre- 
pared in color. Such color preparations will be of consid- 
erable value in the proper management of the islands and 
invaluable as baseline data for future scientific studies. 
Considerable effort has been made to obtain information 
on insular marshes which will be part of general ecological 
studies on salt marshes in Mississippi. A detailed report, 
pointing out the special features of these islands, is in 
preparation. 



192 


Howse 


St. Louis Bay - Botanical Survey and Plant Ecology of 
Salt Marshes and Submerged Meadows (Funded by Du Pont): 
Vegetaiional and community-composition mapping of salt 
marshes and submerged grass beds as documentation of 
standing crop, annual production and chemical characteri- 
zation of indicator plants and associated soils is in progress 
as part of a baseline environmental study. Continuous 
recordingsof soil-water salinity (isohalines)arebeing obtained 
by in situ soil-water salinity sensors. Concurrent continuous 
recordings of light energy from underwater and aerial sen- 
sors are also being obtained. 

ECOLOGY SECTION, Dr. Robert A. Woodmansee, Head 

Phytoplankton Productivity in St. Louis Bay (Funded 
by Du Pont): Phytoplankton productivity is a fundamental 
community process of primary significance to the aquatic 
food chain. It is sensitive to a variety of unnatural environ- 
mental perturbations and is affected by a number of natur- 
ally occurring variables. Phytoplankton productivity is being 
measured at six locations in St. Louis Bay by both dissolved 
oxygen and radioactive carbon techniques and is being 
related to light intensity, temperature, nutrients, chloro- 
phyll, phytoplankton and grazing pressure. 

Environmental Baseline Survey of St. Louis Bay: Benthic 
Study (Funded by Du Pont): Monthly sampling of benthic 
infauna and epifauna was initiated in December 1977 as 
part of an overall effort by the Laboratory to conduct an 
environmental baseline study in St. Louis Bay. Prior to 
sampling, equipment was purchased and modified as needed. 
It was also necessary to hire and train two additional techni- 
cians. Beginning in December, 39 infauna and 14 epifauna 
samples were collected each month and transported to the 
Laboratory' for processing. 

Seasonal and Spatial Changes in the Macrobenthos of 
Simmons Bayou, Mississippi (Funded by GCRL): A benthic 
study conducted in Simmons Bayou was concluded during 
this reporting period. From this study, a paper entitled 
“First Gulf of Mexico Coast Record o^Manayunkiaspeciosd'' 
by Walter T. Brehm, was accepted by Northeast Gulf Science 
for publication. Another paper entitled “Seasonal and 
Spatial Changes in the Macrobenthos of Simmons Bayou, 
Mississippi,'’ was prepared for presentation at the October 
meeting of the Gulf Estuarine Research Society. 

A Study of the General Plankton and Floating Compo- 
nents of the Water Column from the Surface to 1 .200 Meters 
at Two OTEC Sites in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Funded 
by Department of Energy, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion 
[OTECJ Program, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory): Bi- 
monthly cruises aboard the NOAA boat, VIRGINIA KEY, 
to OTEC sites for the purpose of collecting plankton and 
general hydrographic data were initiated in June 1978. A 
sampling program was established to determine the quantity 
and position within the water column of planktonic species. 
This project should provide the OTEC Program with some of 
the necessary biological data for proper design and imple- 


mentation of an offshore thermal energy conversion plant. 
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY SECTION, Dr. Julia S. Lytle, Head 

Sediment High Molecular Weight Hydrocarbons in Bay 
St. Louis (Funded by Du Pont): During the past decade 
there has been an increasing concern over the possible 
effects of petroleum hydrocarbons in the marine environ- 
ment. Because of this concern, a great amount of research 
on ihe biogeochemisty of these compounds is in progress. 
National agencies are initiating hydrocarbon baseline studies 
to be made on areas ol potential oil pollution which would 
be subjecl to economical and environmental stress. With the 
building of a large Du Pont plant on the shore of the Bay, 
hydrocarbon baseline information was essential. Todocument 
Ihe present levels of hydrocarbons (aliphatic and aromatic) 
in St. Louis Bay, 13 sampling stations were used in assessing 
the hydrocarbon levels from the rivers and from known sites 
of possible hydrocarbon inputs and also correlated with 
other sediment studies made at these same stations. Sedi- 
ments were collected during the first month of the study 
and hydrocarbon analyses made. These same stations will 
be sampled during September, nine months after the first 
collection, and again analyzed. 

Ill ail effort to use hydrocarbon data to detect the pres- 
ence of petroleum pollution, parameters have been derived 
from gas chromatographic data that indicate the presence of 
petroleum hydrocarbons. Thirteen of these parameters were 
measured in all sediments analyzed. Changes can be detected 
by measuring the same parametersat any later lime, thereby 
establishing both qualitatively and quantitatively theaddition 
of petroleum influx to these sediments. 

Studies of Chemical Constituents of Primitive Plants 
(Funded by GCRL): Chemo taxonomic and geochemical 
studies continued on primitive plants. Similar studies have 
been completed previously on ferns, mosses, fungi and lichens. 
The present study has been extended to include lilies, rushes, 
sedges and grasses. This study has two purpo.ses. One 
purpose is to investigate the distribution of biosynthetically 
related compounds, hydrocarbons and fatty acids, to relate 
them to a series of ancient plants and to determine what 
chemical changes took place in the evolution of plants. The 
other purpose is to establish hydrocarbon and fatly acid 
distribution patterns that can help in identifying natural- 
source materials and their environments, and distinguishing 
them from pollutant sources. 

The Fate of Organic Pollutants in Estuaries and Rivers 
Emptying into the Mississippi Sound (Funded by GCRL 
and Du Pont): This study is a cooperative effort with the 
Analytical Chemistry Section. The organic pollutants are 
isolated and characterized by the Environmental Chemistry 
Section, and trace metals and nutrients are examined by the 
Analytical Chemistry Section. Tlie object of the .study thus 
far has been to document the hydrocarbon and total organic 
carbon levels in St. Louis Bay, Biloxi River and Bay, and 
the Pascagoula River Systems. 



A Summary Report 


193 


In view of the evei-expanding development of coastal 
zones, a continuing pollution assessment study is proposed 
to deal with the following issues of environmental concern; 

1. The present condition of Mississippi Sound and adjacent 
bays and rivers needs careful documentation. Following 
this, future monitoring efforts can then be determined. 

2. The sources of pollutants should be located and dispersal 
of these pollutants documented. The mechanism respon- 
sible for transport and deposition of pollutants in any 
area of the Sound must be known for various environ- 
mental conditions. Fate predictions of materials dis- 
charged into the Sound system may then be possible. 

3. The public needs to be made aware of present and future 
dangers of pollution to water resources of the Slate. 
Only an informed public can take action to prevent 
future detriment to the environment and insist upon 
clean-up procedures. 

4. Guidelines for proper development of the coastal zone 
should be facilitated by a thorough knowledge of impact 
potential of pollutants at any location in Mississippi 
Sound. 

There will be two distinctly related areas of research. 
Trace metals to include such elements as copper, cadmium, 
zinc, nickel, manganese, silver, cobalt, lead and iron will be 
examined in all sample types used in the study. Their known 
toxic nature, stability and numerous sources warrant 
attention in any study. Hopefully, the data gained here will 
also be useful in predicting the fate of radionuclides as well. 
Among the organic pollutants to be studied will be hydro- 
carbons that can result from petroleum pollution. Fatty 
acids and alcohols, not occurring extensively in petroleum, 
may be used as tracers of natural organics in the Sound as 
well as providing additional information on the composition 
of organic constituents of sediments and water. 

Both water samples (surface and bottom) and surface 
sediments will be collected routinely at each sample site. 
Since trace metals and organics both are generally associated 
with fine-grain materials when in a nondissolved state, sus- 
pended material will be examined separately from dissolved 
components and grain-size analysis of sediments conducted. 
This may provide correlations to clarify sources of deposited 
pollutants and assess the importance of suspended materials 
in transporting pollutants. Other studies have indicated the 
importance of trace metal-organic associations in water and 
sediments; therefore, this relationship will be examined as 
closely as possible. Where more appropriate, laboratory 
conditions will replace natural ones in trying to elucidate 
the character of this relationship. 

Accumulation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Gams 
Taken Near Dredging Operations (Funded by U.S. Corps of 
Engineers, subcontracted from Micro-Methods, Pascagoula, 
Mississippi); In order to assess the damage of petroleum 
hydrocarbons on clams, a study was made to determine the 
extent of accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons in clams 
from two areas, one area off the Florida west coast and the 


other near Puerto Rico. In doing so, clams from “clean 
waters” defined the background hydrocarbon distributions 
while clams from dredging areas defined the input due to 
mobilization of hydrocarbons from the deposited dredge 
spoil. Sixty-four samples of clam tissue were analyzed for 
both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Total hydrocar- 
bons in clams were extremely low (less than 1 part per 
million). Various gas chromatographic parameters were 
used to help distinguish between biogenic hydrocarbons 
and those of petroleum origin. 

It was apparent that clams taken from various locations 
accumulated different types of hydrocarbon pollutants 
according to types of pollutants in the dredging muds. 
Information concerning sediments and their hydrocarbon 
distributions is essential to the understanding of the uptake 
and resuspension of hydrocarbons. We were not given access 
to this information, thus complete interpretation could not 
be made. 

FISHERIES MANA CEMENT SECTION, Mr. William J.Demoran,Head 

Oyster Resource Assessment and Monitoring Segment of 
the St. Louis Ray Baseline Survey (Funded by Du Pont): 
The study involves the mapping of existing oyster reefs to 
determine their present condition as to productivity, natural 
mortality, spawning and setting, and predators with empha- 
sis on the incidence of one known disease that affects 
oysters along the Gulf coast. Historical and recent salinity 
data are being analyzed ia order to determine what effect 
they have had and are having on oyster growth in the Bay. 

An Economic, Environmental, Engineering and Legal 
Assessment of Oyster Depuration in Mississippi (Funded by 
M-ASGP): This study deals with the managerial aspects of 
the oyster resource as they might pertain to harvesting and 
monitoringofoystersasthey are processed in the depuration 
plant. 

FISHERIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SECTION, 

Mr. J. Y. Christmas, Head 

Fishery Resources Monitoring and Assessment (Funded 
by NMFS and GCRL): The completion report and manu- 
script for the original monitoring and assessment project 
(ciilininaled in September 1 976) were finalized and approved 
by NMFS. The manuscript includes papers covering the 
principal species in each fishery. The following were con- 
sidered for each species; immigration; growth; size distri- 
bution and abundance collected by various gear types; 
distribution by habitat, estuarine area, temperature and 
salinity,, seasonal trends in abundance; prediction of abun- 
dance; length-weight relationship and condition; and age at 
maturity. 

The current monitoring and assessment project is on 
schedule. Cooperative efforts to provide data leading to 
achievement of optimum yield from fishery resources are 
continuing. Appropriate segments of this work have been 
closely coordinated with NMFS research in Gulf waters. 



194 


HOWSE 


Continuing liaison with the Mississippi Marine Conservation 
Commission (MMCC), M-ASGP. numerous other Slate and 
Federal agenices and industry representatives has provided 
fgr a progressively improved scientific base for fishery 
management. 

The Mississippi brown shrimp crop for 1 978 was adversely 
influenced by the occurrence of a high -salinity, low-temper- 
ature and low-dissolved oxygen waiermass that moved 
Ihrougli the island passes just before the MMCC opened the 
Mississippi shrimp season. It was opened in accordance with 
recommendations based on project data collected for them 
by GCRL, Catch data were not available but preliminary 
estimates indicated a good average year for brown shrimp 
with improved catches expected in July based on the abun- 
dance of postlarvac on the nursery grounds. 

Wliile shrimp followed typical patterns of abundance 
with a good crop predicted for late summer and fall harvest. 
Postlarvac and early juveniles appearing in estuarine nursery 
areas and available catch data for pink shrimp indicated 
increasing harvests from Mississippi waters. 

Blue crabs were abundant throughout this period and a 
very large year-class of juveniles were in the sampling area 
during the 1978 sampling period, indicating that the blue 
crab population can continue to provide as many hard-shell 
crabs as processors can handle. However, changes in harvest- 
ing regulations may adversely affect production from Missis- 
sippi waters. 

While total 1977 Gulf menhaden landings were appre- 
ciably below those of 1976, landings in Mississippi increased 
27% from 1976. Fishing effort in the Gulf purse-seine 
fishery in 1977 was 8% less than in J976. Predictions based 
on juvenile abundance and a 6% increase in elTort indicated 
a good season in 1978. Preliminary catch data indicate that 
predicted harvest volume will be accomplished. 

As expected from the abundant year-classes reported last 
year, spotted seatrout and redfish provided excellent fishing 
in Mississippi waters in 1978. After a decrease in numbers 
cauglit from the 1976—77 year-class of croakers there was a 
sharp increase in the 1977—78 year-class moving inshore. 
Survival of croakers to recruitment in the offshore fishable 
population continued to be low. Other finfish species 
followed typical patterns of movement with no evidence of 
serious problems. 

Fisheries Planning (Funded by GCRL); Active partici- 
pation in fishery planning activities of NMFS, Gulf States 
Marine Fisheries Commission, the Commission’s Technical 
Coordinating Committee and subcommittees, Gulf Stale- 
Federal Fisheries Management Board, Sea Grant Association, 
MMRC, MMCC, Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management 
Council and several professional societies provided for 
effective input of Mississippi’s position in practically all 
Gulf of Mexico fishery planning activities. Project pei^onnel 
served as a member of the MMCC. 

A regional management plan for Gulf menhaden, com- 
pleted and published by GCRL last year, was implemented 


by the Gulf Slate-Federal Fisheries Management Board. 
Laboratory personnel served on the menhaden management 
committee. SciciUific and statistical committees for plans 
being developed by the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Manage- 
ment Council included several members of the GCRL staff 
who have acquired expertise in specific fisheries. 

Development of a Regional Fishery Management Plan 
for Gulf Shrimp (Funded by NMFS); The Shrimp Fishery 
of the Gulf of Mexico United States: A Regional Manage- 
ment Plan was completed and published in August 1977. 
The 128-page document was developed in a series of 11 
workshops. The Gulf Shrimp Management Task Force 
included specialists from each of the five Gulf states and 
open-meeting workshops were held in each stale to facilitate 
fisherman and industry participation in the planning 
process, A comprehensive summary of this plan (20 pp) was 
developed and published in November 1977. The plan was 
implemented by the Gulf State-Federal Fisheries Manage- 
ment Board early in 1978. Laboratory personnel served on 
the Board’s Shrimp Management Committee. 

A Proposed Mississippi Marine Finfish (Selected) Fishery 
Management Plan (Funded by M-ASGP); This project pro- 
vides for development of a proposed management plan for 
selected Mississippi marine finfish in a cooperative effort 
with the University of Southern Mississippi. A working 
group comprised of personnel from GCRL, USM, MMCC and 
Sea Grant Advisory Service, held workshop sessions each 
month. The MMCC selected ten species for inclusion in the 
plan and appointed a 12-person Advisory Committee to 
provide input from recreational and commercial fishermen, 
processors and consumers. Work is proceeding on schedule. 

Environmental Baseline Survey of Bay St. Louis, Nektonic 
Macrofauna (Funded by Du Pont); This segment of the 
multidisciplinary study of St. Louis Bay provides for collec- 
tion and study of the nektonic macrofauna in the Bay. 
Sampling was started in October 1977 and by the end of 
June 1978, a total of 252 biological samples and 1,080 
physico-chemical measurements had been completed. All 
samples were processed on schedule and verified data were 
stored in the Laboratory computer files. About 200 species 
have been identified from biological samples. 

GEOLOGY SECTION, Dr, Ervin G. Otvos, Head 

Offshore Barrier Island Study (Funded by GCRL): This 
is a study of the geologic history, genetic conditions and 
present state of six Mississippi-Alabama barrier islands. 
Drilling on western Petit Bois Island was completed in the 
summer of 1977, Two coreholcs drilled in 1978 on western 
Dauphin Island completed that island’s subsurface geological 
exploration. Five coreholes were drilled in a transect 
between the mainland and Horn Island. The U.S. Coast 
Guard and the Mississippi National Guard provided periodic 
photo coverage of certain critical island sections, allowing 
the monitoring of changes over a short period of time. 
Processing of previously acquired core material progressed 



A Summary report 


195 


in the sedimentation laboratory. Part of the accumulated 
findings on this island have been organized for a later 
presentation at a professional meeting as well as for 
publication. 

Santa Rosa Island (Funded by GCRL): Study of this 
island has started with the acquisition of U.S. Corps of 
Engineers' drill core material from Birmingham, Alabama, 
and island drill core material from a testing laboratory in 
Pensacola, Florida. Comparison between this island and the 
Alabama-Mississippi barrier islands has major signincance in 
understanding their fnimalionand development conditions. 

Origins of Lake Pontchartrain and Surrounding Holocene 
Areas (Funded by GCRL): Collection and organization of 
available material continued with the view of publishing in 
the fall of 1978. 

Holocene Geology of Hancock County Marshland 
(Funded by GCRL). A paper was prepared in conjunction 
with the Botany Section, based on available data involving 
florislio aspects of the study area. 

Chenier Genesis in the U.S. and Worldwide (Funded by 
GCRL): A paper has been prepared with the collaboration 
of Dr. W. A. Price, Corpus Christi, Texas, and accepted 
for publication in Marine Geology. 

Beach Sand Analysis (Funded by GCRL): Granulometric 
analysis was performed on numerous samples for the 
Physical Oceanography Section. 

Shoreline Erosion- Mitigation Assessment and Planning 
for the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Funded by MMRC): This 
project was performed jointly with the Physical Oceanog- 
raphy Section. A report on partial results was submitted, 
but the second stage was not funded. 

Pleistocene Development in Southeastern Louisiana 
(Funded by GCRL): Field and laboratory work continued. 
Special attention was paid to the Bayou Sara area’s 
(Mississippi-Louisiana) Pleistocene chronological problems. 

St. Louis Bay (Funded by Du Pout); Monthly sediment 
analyses of collecled Bay samples were performed on this 
project. 

MICROBIOLOGY SECTION. Dr. David W. Cook. Head 

Evaluation of Methods for Long-Term Freezer Storage 
of Blue Crabs for Use in Picking Plants (Funded by MMRC): 
An evaluation was made of two procedures for freezing and 
storing blue crabs until they could be picked. In one proce- 
dure, the crabs were given a short cook and then frozen 
whole with a final cook before picking, In the second 
process, the crabs were cooked and packed with only the 
crab cores being frozen, Included in the evaluation were 
pickability test, lump and total meat yields, bacteriological 
quality, palalability test, and shelf-life of the picked crab- 
meal. 

Meat picked from crabs which had been frozen by both 
methods was found to be acceptable to a taste panel in 
terms of flavor, texture, and appearance. Meat yields were 
comparable between frozen crabs and fresh crabs picked on 


the same day. The quality of the lump meat appeared to be 
unaffected by the freezing process. Bacteriological quality 
of the meal picked from the frozen crabs was good and the 
keeping quality of the meat was excellent. 

Viral Evaluation of Prohibited Oyster Growing Waters 
(Funded by M-ASGP): This joint project with the University 
of Southern Mississippi is designed to asse.ss the relationship 
between numbers of pollution-indicator bacteria in the 
water and the level of viruses found in the oysters. GCRL is 
responsible for water- and oyster-sample collections and 
bacteriological analysis. Data produced iii this project will 
be available to Slate and Federal regulatory agencies for use 
in assessing present-day water quality standards. 

Environmental Baseline Survey of Si. Louis Bay: Micro- 
biological Investigations (Funded by Du Pont): Water sam- 
ples from 14stationsin the Bay and adjacent rivers are being 
collected at 2-week intervals and analyzed for coliforms and 
fecal colifomis. These data will document the present-day 
levels of sewage pollution in the Bay. Each month water 
samples collected at 22 stations are analyzed for microbial 
biomass u.sing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) methodology. 
These data will be used to correlate with phytoplankton 
counts and productivity measurements. 

Populations of selected groups of bacteria are being 
studied in sediments from seven locations around the Bay. 
Metabolic activity rates and total biomass are being 
determined. 

A Study of the Genus Bacillus in Marine and Estuarine 
Sediments (Funded by GCRL): The distribution, taxonomy 
and ecology of the genus Bacillus in the estuarine sediments 
of St. Louis Bay are being Investigated. The numbers of 
Bacillus spores found at seven locations in the Bay arc being 
enumerated monthly and the percentage of pigment forms 
noted. Thirty isolates are being selected from each of three 
stations monthly for future taxonomic studies. 

The Determination of the Acute Toxicity of Dredged 
Material to Fish and Microinvertebrates under Standard, 
Static, Bioassay Conditions (Funded by GCRL): Sediment 
samples collected from the inner harbor and approach 
channel to the Broadwater Beach Marina in Biloxi. Mississippi, 
were processed in accordance with U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines and tested as toxicants 
to blue crabs, mysid shrimp, and penaeid shrimp. As slated 
in last year's report, no deaths were observed with the blue 
crab, and mysid shrimp mortalities were random and not 
associated with sediment (toxicant) concentration. During 
fiscal year 1978, further tests were conducted with brown 
shrimp. Mortalities were random and not related to sediment 
concentration. 

The information generated by these investigations was 
utilized by the Broadwater Beach Marina in obtaining the 
pennils required to perform maintenance dredging in their 
harbor. 

Persistence and Degradation of Insecticides in Estuarine 
Water and Sediment (Funded by GCRL): Investigations 



196 


HOWSE 


regarding the persistence and degradation of inallhion, 
parathion, methyl paralhion, diazinon, and mirex in the 
estuarine environment were curtailed during fiscal year 1978 
to allow lime for the other toxicology investigations 
described elsewhere in this report. Bacterial cultures capable 
of degrading the organophosphorus insecticides are being 
maintained for future use. 

Insecticide Persistence in Natural Seawater as Affected 
by Salinity, Temperature, and Sterility (Funded by FFA): 
This investigation was conducted in conjunction with studies 
underway at the EPA Laboratory at Gulf Breeze, Florida, 
in an attempt to more clearly delineate the various biological 
and chemical factors that determine the recalcitrance of 
insecticides in the natural enviionmeiii. This project was 
actually completed in fiscal year 1977 with the final report 
being prepared during fiscal year 1978. 

MICROSCOPY SECTION, Dr. Harold D. Howse, Head 

Studies on Lymphovystis Virions (Funded by GCRL); 
Studies of lymphocystis tumors continued with the collab- 
oration of the Parasitology Section. Tumors were examined 
from different species of fishes, several of which were new 
host species. Diameters of the virions examined in each 
species were as follows: 387 nm Pomancanthus semicircu- 
latus, Koran angel fish; 287 nm Zanclus canescens, Moorish 
idol; 287 nm Chaetodon capsilralus, foureye butterfly fish; 
259 nm Platax orftendaris, batfish; and 287 nm Holancan- 
thus ciliaris, queen angelfish. 

Further studies are in progress on cellular response to 
this viral pathogen in different fish species. 

Histological and Cytological Investigation of Various 
Organs and Tissues of the Atlantic Croaker Micropogonias 
undulatus (Funded by GCRL): The first phase of a histo- 
logical and cytological study was begun on the several organ 
systems and tissues of the Atlantic croaker. Numerous 
juvenile fish were processed and sectioned in longitudinal 
and cross-sectional views for selective staining. Additionally, 
various selected tissues were excised from sexually mature 
specimens and prepared for comparison of seasonal changes. 

The second phase of this project will consist of the 
preparation of an atlas of normal croaker histology and 
cytology. The results of this study will provide the basis for 
determining pathological changes occurring in croakers 
exposed to various toxicants under experimental conditions. 

Fine Structure of the Peritrichous Ectocommensal 
Zoothatnnium sp. (Funded by GCRL): This project, con- 
ducted in collaboration with T. G. Sarphie and W. E, 
Hawkins, University of South Alabama, dealt with a proto- 
zoan that attaches to gills of penaeid shrimp. When present 
in large numbers, these ectocommcnsals can suffocate com- 
mercially important shrimp and cause severe economic 
problems in aquaculture. The results of this study are 
presented in a paper now in press. 


OYSTER BIOLOGY SECTION, Dr. Edwin W. Cake, Jr.. Head 

Oyster Spat Monitoring Program (Funded by GCRL): 
This study concluded 2 years of oyster “spat” monitoring 
to determine the time and intensity of setting at five loca- 
tions in Mississippi Sound and adjacent waters. The study 
also provided information on the setting time and density 
of major oyster competitors and foulers, such as barnacles. 
These data collected to date are being provided to oyster 
culturists who wish to plant cultch material for collecting 
seed oysters on private leases, 

Plankton Sampling for Oyster Larvae (Funded by GCRL): 
This is the second and final year of a study to monitor the 
number of oyster larvae in Biloxi Bay plankton as a means 
of esliniating spawning activity and potential spat settle- 
ment. The data gathered should assist oyster biologists and 
the oyster industry in predicting the best time for planting 
cultch materials. 

Oyster Growth and Mortality Study (Funded by GCRL): 
This is also the last of a 2-ycar study to determine the 
growth and mortality rales of various types of .seed oysters 
at five locations in Mississippi Sound and adjacent waters. 
Oysters reared in lagoons on the barrier islands appear to 
grow faster and survive better than those “planted” at 
inshore locations. The reproductive processes for all seed- 
oyster types appear to be normal for the salinity and temper- 
ature regimes at all five locations. 

Biological and Ecological Studies of the Oyster Boring 
Clam (Funded by GCRL): The final year of a 3-year investi- 
gation was completed on the basic biology and ecology of 
Diplothyra smithii. Its life cycle has been documented and 
its burrowing behavior and mechanisms have been observed 
and documented. Distribution and population dynamic 
data from Mississippi Sound burrowing clams are being 
assessed. The reproductive biology including the gonadal, 
spawning and setting cycles have been documented. 
Morphological studies of the adult clams have also been 
completed. 

Gametogenesfs and Spawning of Mississippi Sound 
Oysters (Funded by GCRL); During the last year of this 
2-year study, monthly and bimonthly gonad samples of 
oysters from western Mississippi Sound were examined to 
determine the effects of temperature and salinity on annual 
spawning cycles. The results of this study should aid in our 
understanding of the basic reproductive biology of Gulf 
Coast oysters. 

Black Drum Predation on Oysters and Other Inverte- 
brates (Fnndtd by GCRL); This 3-year study was completed 
during the past fiscal year. It provided the first experi- 
mental documentation of the predatory behavior and 
predation rates for this little-known species. Under experi- 
mental conditions, large drum will consume approximately 
one oyster per-pound-of-body-weight per day. The black 
drum is, therefore, perhaps the most destructive oyster 
predator in Mississippi Sound. 



A Summary Report 


197 


Oyster Depuration in Mississippi: Environmental, Legal 
and Management Assessments (Funded by M-ASGP and 
GCRL): Tlie first phase of a 3-ycar study was completed 
during the past year and the final report will be available to 
the public during fiscal year 1979. Results of the study 
indicate that there are no insurmountable environmental, 
legal, or management problems that would preclude the 
operation of onshore oyster depuration facilities in Missis- 
sippi and Alabama. The study did identify problem areas, 
including a lack of Slate regulations that would be required 
to operate a Stale-approved depuration plant. Draft regula- 
tions are included in the final report for consideration by 
the Mississippi Legislature and the U.S. Food and Drug 
Administration. 

Oyster Depuration in Mississippi: Engineering ^ssess- 
ments (Funded by M-ASGP and GCRL): Tlte second phase 
of a 3-year study was initiated during fiscal year 1978 in 
cooperation with sanitary engineers from Mississippi State 
University, During the study, a 2-bushel, pilot depuration 
facility was constructed and operated at the GCRL Oyster 
Biology Facility on Pt. Cadet in Biloxi. Preliminary results 
indicate that oyster waste products (feces and pseudofeces) 
can be removed continually during the depuration process 
and treated via presently acceptable sanitary methods. This 
reduces the need for complete daily wash-downs, which are 
expensive, and energy- and time-consuming. 

Off-Bottom Cleansing of Oysters in Mississippi Sound 
(Funded by GCRL): A 2-year study was initiated during 
the fiscal year 1978 to compare off-bottom and on-hoi luiii 
cleansing (relaying) of oysters. New techniques and devices 
are being utilized in an attempt to reduce loss of relayed 
oysters during cleansing by holding them in off-bottom, 
containerized storage. The method holds promise for that 
segment of the oyster industry which is now relaying oysters 
to lea.sing bottoms in approved shellfish waters, and which 
is suffering considerable oyster losses due to burial, pred- 
ation^ rough handling, etc. This study is expected to benefit 
the entire oyster industry by increasing harvestable oyster 
stocks and reducing expenses. 

Oyster Mariculture (Funded by GCRL): Current experi- 
mental oyster mariculturc involving one seed oyster hatchery 
includes, but is noi limited to, the following: out-of-season 
conditioning and spawning of Mississippi Sound oysters; 
experimental raceway and tank culture of hatchery-reared 
seed osyters; engineering design and evaluation of experi- 
mental hatchery methods; evaluation of new cultch mater- 
ials for hatchery-reared seed oysters; the effects of various 
predators (crabs, black drum, spiny boxfish) on seed oysters; 
and the feasibility of utilizing natural spatfall to increase 
seed production using Mahes and shell spat collectors. 

PARASITOLOGY SECTION, Or. Rnhin M. Over sneer, Head 

Parasites of Commercially Important Fishes (Funded by 
NMFS and GCRL): The project primarily concerns the use 
of parasites to indicate migratory and feeding behavior of 


the Atlantic croaker. Feeding habits of several other local 
llnfishes arc also being investigated by analyzing .stomach 
contents. The project additionally covers aspects of the 
effects of selected parasites on their respective hosl.s. 

Handbook of Marine Parasites of the Northern Gulf of 
Mexico (Funded by M-ASGP and the Stale of Mississippi): 
This project terminated in January 1978, resulting in an 
illustrated guidebook for students and laymen to help them 
understand some of the common parasites likely to be 
encountered in local finfishes and shellfishes. 

Gulf Coast Survey of Fish and Shellfish for Parasites 
Pathogenic to the Human Consumer (Funded by the U.S. 
Food and Drug Administration): The purpose of the proj- 
ect was to survey four finfishes and four shellfishes season- 
ally from Mississippi, Texas (Galveston) and Florida (Tampa) 
for a.scaridnids, heterophyids, and other parasites of public 
health importance. Representatives of those parasites found 
were fed to mice and other mammals to determine their 
ability to live in or cause pathological changes in the hosts. 
The project terminated 30 June 1978. 

Pathological Effects of Larval Thynnascaris Nematodes 
in the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) (Funded by the 
U.S. Air Force): The primaiy purpose of the study was to 
determine if one of the common larval nematodes {Thynnas- 
caris Type MB) causes pathological alterations in the 
alimentary tract of a monkey. 

Studies on Helminths of the Northern Gulf of Mexico 
Region (Funded by GCRL): A delenninatlon of parasites 
in hosts involved in the above projects as well as other hosts 
are included in this study. This included life histories of the 
parasites and the relationships between a parasite and its 
host. 

PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY SECTION, 

Mr. Charles K. Eleuterius, Head 

Wave Refraction Analysis (Funded by M ASGP): Loss of 
life and erosion of valuable waterfront properly have been 
attributable to an adverse wave climate in Mississippi Sound 
and on the seaward side of the barrier islands. Applying a 
coniputerwavc-rcfraclion model, utilizing linear-wave theory, 
to a uniform bathymetric grid of the study area generates 
refraction diagrams. These diagrams, when interpreted, 
show the locations of high-energy areas and wave caustics 
under varying wave climates. This information will be useful 
in marine navigation, especially to the inexperienced boat 
operator, and to landowners and engineers in employing 
methods to prevent further erosion of waterfront property. 

Characterization of Tidal Bayou and Development of 
Statistical Evaluation /Monitoring Techniques (Funded by 
GCRL): This is a continuing study of a critical area of 
estuarine systems, the conlrihutary - especially the tidal 
bayou. To ascertain the most useful parametric statistics to 
characterize the system, data have been collected for the 
past 4 years. In addition to establishing baseline statistics, 
statistical techniques are being developed for monitoring 



198 


I-IOWSE 


the bayous for changes that mighl ordinarily go unnoticed. 

Ait'-Sea Heat Flux (Funded by GCRL): Water temper- 
alure is un important factor in the growth and migration of 
marine species. Attempting to forecast an opening dale for 
shrimping season based on a slalislical shrimp size is ham- 
pered by llie variability in growth rate which is dependent, 
in part, on the water temperature. This study mckides the 
development of a predictive, stochastic model of heat flux 
in Mississippi Sound that will provide a means of predicting 
the thermal structure of the water column when given a set 
of conditions. 

Hydrology of St. Louis Bay (Funded hy Du Pont): The 
objective of this .study is the development of an extensive 
and intensive baseline of hydrographic parameters to serve 
as an estimate for ‘"normal” conditions. The field data 
collection effort, which is coordinated with the other disci- 
plines participating in the environmental baseline study, 
obtains measurements of water temperature, salinity, pH, 
dissolved oxygen, luibidiiy and water color. In addition, 
fixed and automated sampling platforms continuously 
record wind speed and direction, water elevations, air 
temperature, photic period, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity 
and water temperature. 

The continuous records of tides and winds, supplemented 
by direcl-curretit nieusuiements, will be used to calibrate 
a mathematical model of water circulation for St, Louis Bay. 

The product of the Bay study will be a viable mathemat- 
ical algorithm of circulation, determination of flushing rate, 
physical characterization, baseline (norm) of some physical 
property levels, and quantification of some physical 
processes. 

PHYSIOLOGY SECTION, Dr. A. Venkatarantiah. Head 

Fvaulation of the Nutritional Value of Grass from High 
Marsh Areas to Brown Shrimp Penaeusaztecus Ives (Funded 
by MMRC): The objectives of this study were to determine 
the feasibility of utilizing the high marsh grass Spartina 
patens and shrimp shell waste in shrimp culture as supple- 
mentary feeding. The food pellets compo.sed of modified 
grass with a maximum of 4% protein and shrimp shell 
waste gave a greater increase in biomass than the pellets 
composed exclusively of grass. Control pellets produced a 
slightly better growth than the grass pellets. Shrimp pro- 
vided with loose gias.s and shrimp shell waste showed a 
tendency toward high cannibalism. 

The use of mlcrobially modified Spartina patens as a 
food source does not appear feasible, at least in laboratory 
shrimp culture. Wilhmorc effective decomposing techniques, 
high marsh grass may prove useful for the production of 
detritus in pond culture. Addition of shrimp shell waste to 
the food appears to improve growth and survival, and 
warrants further investigation. 

Acute Effect of the Simulated Du Pont Effluent on the 
Survival and Behavior of Penaeid Shrimp (Funded by 
GCRL): Tlie acute effect of simulated Du Pont waste was 


tested on the mortality rates, behavioral responses of juven- 
ile brown shrimp Penaeus azrecus, during 96- and 144-liour 
exposure in 10, 20, 35, and 50% effluent concentrations 
at 80, 86 and 90'’F. Control shrimp normally survived during 
the 96-liour period. A few of the unfed, but not the fed, 
shrimp died in 144 hours at 86 and 90° F. Survival was good 
in 50% effluent concentrations except that one death 
occurred at 90°F in 96 hours. Some of the starved shrimp 
died at 86 and 90°F. A few of the fed animals also died in 
10 and 35% effluent concentrations without showing any 
correlation between the concentration of effluent and 
mortality. While high temperature by itself is known to be 
detrimental to their survival, addition of effluents to the 
medium may augment the adverse effects at high 
temperature. 

A Literature Research Project on the Lethal Upper 
Temperature Limits for Coastal Water Fauna (Funded by 
GCRL): About 400 new references have been added to the 
existing 1,200 or so previously collected for the purpose of 
compiling a reference book. 

Effect of Simulated Du Pont Effluent on the Physio- 
logical Responses of Commercial Penaeid Shrimp (Funded 
by GCRL): Preliminary experiments were done with a 
Warburg respirometer to determine the effect on the O 2 
consumption in brine shrimp infected with the bacteria, 
Leiicothrix With the existing respirometry techniques no 
significant differences were found between the normal and 
bacterially infected brine shrimp. 

Caloric Densities of some Shellfish Meat Fats (Funded 
by GCRL): The caloric content of meats of crab, lobster, 
three species of shrimp, crawfish, oyster and squid was 
analyzed by oxygen-bomb calorimetry. Whole meat of 
lobster yielded the lowest Calories and that of squid the 
highest calories. The percentage of fal content in the meats 
differed significantly; oyster meal has more fat than the 
other dtellfish meats analyzed, and crawfish very low fat. 

Tlie caloiic content of the extracted fat differed dis- 
tinctly among the species. Fats of squid and lobster .showed 
very low-caloric energies while fats of oyster, blue crab and 
pink shrimp showed high-caloric energies. It is suggested 
that the nature of the lipid classes contributes more toward 
caloric density of the tissue than the total lipid content. 

Size-Related Variations in the Tissue Cholesterol Content 
of the Brown Shrimp Penaeus az/ecus Ives (Funded by 
GCRL): Muscle (tail) cholesterol increased linearly as body 
weight increased among female shrimp, whereas males 
maintained a steady level independent of size. Based on 
these findings, it is suggested that the bulk of marketable 
shrimp, 60-68 heads-on count/pound, have relatively lower 
cholesterol levels than is reported in nutritional and medical 
literature. Compared to caviar, organ meats, brains and eggs, 
shrimp muscles showed a low cholesterol content. 

Effect of Cooking and Frozen Storage on the Choles- 
terol Content of Selected Shellfish (Funded by GCRL): 
Cooking decreased the cholesterol content of crabineat but 



A Summary Report 


199 


brought about no significant change in shrimp or oystei 
meat levels. Freezing and thawing of raw tissue increased 
cholesterol content of oyster and shrimp meats but did not 
affect the level in crabmeal. 

Lit>id and Sterol Levels as Indices to Deiermiue the 
Optimum Harvestable She in Crassosirea virgimea (Gtnelin) 
(Funded by GCRL): The lipid content of the meat was 
directly related to size on a logarithmic scale and was inde- 
pendent of sex. Tire relationship between total sterol con- 
tent and weight of oysters was nonlinear. Adult males show 
higher sterol content than females. It is suggested that 
oysters with an 8 to 10 g meat weight or 95 to 100 mm shell 
length would be ideal for harvest because oysters in that 
size range have low sterol and triglyceride levels. 

SYSTEM A TIC ZOOLOGY SECTION , Mr. C. E. Dawson, Head 

Systematic Studies on Fishes of the Families Micro- 
desmidae, Dactyloscopidae and Syngnathidae (Funded by 
the National Science Foundation); Studies on three families 
of fishes continued throughout the year. Revisionary studies 
on the pipefish genets Penetopteryx (and relatives), Hippich- 
thys and Bhanotia were completed. Revisions Oostethus, 
Doryichthys and related genera, as well as reviews of the 
western Atlantic pipefishes (Syngnathidae) and sand star- 
gazers (Dactyloscopidae), also continued throughout the 
year. In connection with these problems, studies were con- 
ducted on fishes at the California Academy of Sciences and 
National Museum of Natural History. 

SPECIAL FACILITIES 

MARINE EDUCATION CENTER, Mr. Gerald C. Corcoran, Curator 

Visitations to the Marine Education Center increased 
from 23,844 in fiscal year 1 977 to 39,1 55 in fiscal year 1978. 
While .some of the increa.se may be attributed to the opening 
of the new Gulf Marine State Park, the majority must be 
considered as normal average yearly increase. 

In cooperation with the M-ASGP, four work.shops in 
marine science were conducted for inland teachers. These 
were held in Oxford and Jackson, Mi.ssissippi, and Huntsville 
and Montgomery, Alabama. Emphasis was placed on the 
use of inland facilities in conducting classes in marine edu- 
cation. The primary aim of the workshops was to acquaint 
teachers with the concept that ‘'marine” is now generally 
accepted as referring to water in general and not necessarily 
salt water. Approximately 120 teachers attended the 
workshops. 

At the request of a Slidell, Louisiana, parents group, a 
course in marine science for gifted children was written. 
The presentation of the cour.se took place in July 1978. 
Subjects covered were coastal geography, the Gulf of Mexico 
as a habitat, diversity of marine life, water mammals and 
identification of selected specimens. Field trips were 
scheduled to augment and supplement classroom discussion. 

The ongoing marine science courses for teachers had a 


total enrollment of 44 students, 26 in the basic course and 
18 in the advanced course. As in previous years, enrollment 
included people in occupations other than teaching. Included 
were one Navy commander, one chemist, two Air Force 
retirees, one Veterans Administration Hospital employee 
and three housewives. 

A slide program and field trip to Horn Island were con- 
ducted for a class of teachers from Tougalou College. This 
was another attempt to intrtKluce marine science to inland 
teachers. Eight students were involved, and, although the 
study consisted primarily of saltwater animals, the students 
were instructed in the general characteristics of plants and 
animals. Techniques for adapting the information to fresh 
water were emphasized. 

The student-intern program was continued with two 
students from Gulfport and one from Biloxi participating. 
Sluderils were given credit through their schools for advanced 
biology. Subjects covered were identification of animals, 
care and maintenance of captive specimens, and preservation. 

The .special educational program for Creative Learning in 
Unusual Environments groups from Memphis, Tennessee, 
was conducted again this year with a total of six groups 
taking part. Tlfis program is growing each year. The White- 
haven Methodist Day School, Memphis, took advantage of 
the program by bringing a group to the Center for the fourth 
coriseculive year. The Marine Education Center makes 
arrangements for these groups to attend Marine Life in 
Gulfport, tour the Biloxi harbor, and go .seining on the beach 
at night, in addition to their visit to the Center exhibits. 

Tw'o Explorer Posts In Environmental Science were 
formed during the year under the auspices of the Boy Scouts 
of America program. Programs such as water sampling tech- 
niques and fish identification were presented. Center person- 
nel continued to act as merit badge counselors to the Boy 
Scouts of America on 16 different merit badges. The 
Explorers were taken on field trips to the local beach for 
collection of specimens and water samples. Equipment and 
literature at the Center were utilized to conduct programs 
for the Scouts. Future plans call for a session on ecology 
with a possible trip to Horn Island to study a special eco- 
logical habitat. 

Three radio programs on marine-related subjects were 
presented in cooperation with radio station WGCM in Gulf- 
port, The topics included sharks, poisonous marine animals 
and local snakes. Two programs, in cooperation with the 
Public Information Section of the Laboratory, which 
included aquaria of horseshoe crabs and a film showing, 
were conducted for local libraries in Pa.scagoula and Moss 
Point, Mississippi. 

Consultations continued between the Marine Education 
CeiilcT and Marine Life, Inc. of Gulfport. The veterinarian 
responsible for administering to marine mammals at Marine 
Life has been assisted on several occasions by Center per- 
sonnel. Local pet shops utilize the services of the Center in 
dealing with outbreaks of diseases in their aquariums. 



200 


HOWSE 


Visitors request, and arc provided, information concerning 
correct aquarium maintenance procedures, fish diseases and 
snake handling. Local hospitals routinely send snakes to the 
Center for positive identification prior to dealing with 
snake bite cases. One out of two snakes proved to be 
poisonous during the past year. 

The Marine Education Center contributes to the publi- 
cation ot the National Marine Education Association entitled 
Current and the Curator edits a monthly newsletter, Lfl/era/ 
Line, published by the North American Native Fish Associ- 
ation. Mr. Corcoran was selected as “Conservation Educator 
of the Year” for the State of Mississippi by the Mississippi 
Wildlife Federation. 

THE GUNTER LIBRARY, Mr. Malcolm S. Ware, .Senior Librarian 

A record amount of binding was done this year with 
long backruns of 39 journal titles being bound. Nineteen 
monographs were also bound. A number of rare and out-of- 
print titles were secured, among which were three notable 
titles: Gurney's British Fresh-Water Copepada (in three 
volumes); Moore’s Condition and Extent of Natural Oyster 
Beds ... Mississippi and Alabama, and The Micro tornists 
(Vade-Mecum). Another important purchase was a backrun 
of the Discovery Reports on microfiche, purchased from 
E. P. Group of Companies in England. 

Backruns of journals were strengthened in 49 titles. 
Thirty-nine new journals were added, 21 as standing orders. 
Two new sections were established within the collections; 
i.e., Environmental Impact Statements, and the Piatt Reprint 
Collection. 

Four hundred fifty books were purchased during the 
year, and donations further strengthened library holdings. 
Dr. B. H. Atwell of the Earth Resources Laboratory, Slidell, 
Louisiana, donated runs of journals in ten titles, 36 books 
and 60 reprinfs. Dr. P. A. Isaacson of the Department of 
Public Services, Albany, New York, donated 549 scientific 
papers which included some journal numbers. Dr. R. E. 
Baglin, .Tr., of National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, 
Florida, donated books and reprints numbering collectively 
280. Stalfmembcrs making donations to the library included 
Drs. David W. Cook, Gordon Gunter, Harold D. Howse, 
Ervin G. Otvos and Mr. John P. Steen, Jr. 

Five hundred thirty-six reprints were cataloged and 
shelved , adding to the approximate total of 20,000 processed 
reprints. (There arc still an additional 5,000 to 8,000 unpro- 
cessed reprints backlogged.) The book cataloger processed 
about 500 books (October- June) bringing the cataloged 
portion oflhe book collection up to about 35% of the total. 
Incoming interlibrary loans numbered about 196 and more 
than 70 items were loaned out to other libraries, A year-end 
survey revealed that the new card catalog and microfilm 
filing cabinets were 65% filled. The microfiche system was 
25% filled in its present mode. 

Visiting researchers used the Gunter Library in increasing 
numbers this year, coming from three laboratories at 


Dauphin Island and the Pascagoula fishery station. Other 
visiting researchers were from various Mississippi and Ala- 
bama colleges and universities, as well as from local and 
regional agencies such as Geo-Marine, Richardson, Texas; 
National Space Technology Laboratory, Bay St. Louis; 
Ingalls ShipbuildingDivision of Litton Industries, Pascagoula; 
and Jackson County Planning Commission, Pascagoula. 
During the fall and spring, field-trip groups from affiliate 
schools used the collection on a one- and two-week basis. 
In addition, a record number of science fair students came 
to the library from the junior and .senior high schools of the 
six coastal counties. Also, college-level students enrolled in 
continuing education courses at the Marine Education 
Center and on the main campus, used the library every 
quarter. Throughout the year various researchers, both U.S. 
and foreign, were hosted on a “walk-in” basis. 

ICHTHYOLOGY RESEARCH MUSEUM, Mr. C. E. Dawson, Head 

Four hundred twenty-two lots, representing approxi- 
mately 5,000 specimens were cataloged. 

An important collection of fishes by the R/V OREGON 
off the coasts of Venezuela and Brazil was received from 
the NMFS. Gifts of specimens, including a number of pipe- 
fishes, were received from several U.S. and foreign insti- 
tutions. The Museum now houses one of the world’s most 
comprehensive collections of pipefishes. 

Loans of specimens were made to a number of U.S. and 
foreign institutions. Identifications were provided for fishes 
sent by investigators in the U.S., Central and South America, 
Europe, Australia, etc. 

WA TER ANAL YSIS LABORA TORY, Dr. Thomas F. Lytle, Head 

The Water Analysis Laboratory has processed samples 
for the sections of Physical Oceanography, Microbiology, 
Oyster Biology, Botany, Anadromous Fishes; for the 
Du Pont project and the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution 
Control Commission. These analyses have included: ortho- 
phosphate, total phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, 
sulfate, silicate, chloride, turbidity, suspended solids, 
alkalinity and chlorophyll, and phaeophytin. In all, 2,635 
analyses have been performed (excluding those for the 
Du Pont project). Many of the analytical schemes have been 
modified to comply with Federal guidelines. In addition to 
actual analyses, staff of the Water Lab have advised other 
section members and persons outside the Laboratory on 
mattersof pollution, water-quality criteria, sample collection, 
etc. Some of the teaching for the biboratory’s courses, 
Special Problems in 1977 and Special Topics in 1978, was 
handled by Water Lab personnel. 

COMPUTER SECTION, Mr. David Boyes, Head 

Several significant events occurred during the year. 
Foremost was the use of on-site data retrieval systems for 
scientific analysis. Production run lime, the actual amount 
of time the computer is used for analysis, increased to 75% 



A SUMMARY Report 


201 


of total run time, the amount of time the computer was in 
operation. Work on multidimensional statistical analysis 
and graphical programs departed from the development 
stage and entered the test-and-application stage. 

The training program for section personnel has proven to 
be an effective tool for increasing the performance of the 
Computer Center. Tasks that could only be performed by 
one individual can now be undertaken and accomplished 
(with a small loss in overall efficiency) by another member 
of the section. The net result is a decrease in computer 
down-lime. 

The total number of jobs, programs run on the computer, 
for the year was about 2,266, which required a total of 
1 ,084.69 hours. The following projects (sections) were the 
main users: Fisheries, 386 jobs; Du Pont project, 386 jobs; 
Finance, 310 jobs; Graduate program 289 jobs; Oceanog- 
raphy, 250 jobs; Botany, 98 Jobs; Systematic Zoology, 
94 jobs; and Parasitology, 59 jobs. 

PUBLIC IN FORMA TIONJPUBLICA TIONS SECTION 
Miss Catharine Cantpbell, Head 

News releases were sent to 50 selected daily and weekly 
newspapers, television and radio stations, wire services and 
special correspondents. In addition, pictures of field-trip 
groups and summer college students were made and sent to 
hometown and campus publications. A general article on 
the Laboratory was furnished the Misaissippi Press Register 
(Pascagoula) for a special edition printed in March. Assistance 
was also provided to outside writers, photographers and 
television crews in obtaining interviews with members of 
the Laboratory staff. 

A 4-day open house was planned and held November 9- 
12, 1977. The first three days were devoted to junior and 
senior high school .science students and about 530 students 
and teachers participated. The final day, Saturday, was for 
the general public and over 650 visitors attended. Not all 
interested science classes could attend open house and they 
requested Laboratory tours at other times, including six 
college and eight secondary school groups. 

Through visits to public libraries in the coastal commun- 
ities, in June 1978 the Section began a new public infor- 
mation program entitled “What’s in the Gulf for you?” This 
was planned originally as a summer activity, however, it will 
be continued as long as interest warrants. Depending on the 
size and hours of the libraries visited, staff members of the 
Section and of the Marine Education Center .spend up to 
7 hours on a visit. The Marine Education Center also pro- 
vides an aquarium with a live horseshoe crab for the visits. 
Color slides explaining the processing of seafood in local 
plants and a i6-mm sound film “World Beneath the Sea” 
are shown; Marine Education Leafiets, tide tables, shark 
recipes, marine career information, and other free materials 
are distributed. Visitors and library personnel are made more 
familiar with the programs and activities of the Marine 
Education Center, the Laboratory, and its publications. 


From July 1, 1977 until January 8, 1978, the Section 
produced 19 new 15-minule “On Course” radio programs 
and 9 rerecorded programs. Programs were broadcast by 
nine radio stations along the coast and in Meridian and 
Jackson. In January, after completing 2 full years of broad- 
casts, the Section began a year's vacation from the radio 
series. 

Living Science Comments, a new program, was under- 
taken at the request of the Director to preserve for future 
generations the voices and comments of outstanding 
scientists. Two recordings have been made, the first of 
Dr. Gordon Gunter of this Laboratory, and the second of 
Dr. J. Frederick Walker, former professor at the University 
of Southern Mississippi, now retired. Master tapes will be 
maintained and duplicated as needed. 

Color slides and black and white pictures were made of 
field sampling activities in connection with the environ- 
mental baseline survey of the Bay of St, Louis, conducted 
by the Laboratory for Du Pont. A slide program is to be 
assembled with narration; black and white prints were used 
in Marine Briefs, GCRL’s monthly newsletter. Additional 
color slides were made in crab processing plants for the 
cooperative seafood industry program series and the narra- 
tion was revised. 

For the first time class pictures were taken for the 
summer courses tauglit at the Laboratory. Students and 
professors were given an opportunity to purchase prints 
and others will be available in an album in the Gunter 
Library. 

The Section staff provided Laboratory participation in 
the Mississippi Slate University-sponsored Harrison County 
Fair at Edgewater Mall Shopping City in September 1977; 
also, in the Mississippi Academy of Sciences annual meeting 
exhibits in Biloxi during March 1978. 

Copy was edited and set in page format and illustrations 
prepared for printing the December 1977 issue of Gulf 
Research Reports, Volume 6, Number I. Finished copies 
were received in April and 758 copies were mailed by the 
staff. The issue contained seven regular papers, six short com- 
munications and the Director’s summary report of Labora- 
tory activities. After materials for this issue went to the 
printer, work began on the next issue, Volume 6, Number 2. 

Similar publications work was performed by the staff on 
the Technical Report Series, Number 2 of the series, The 
Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico United States: A 
Regional Management Plan, was published in August 1977. 
Technical Report Series, Number 2, Part 2, a condensed 
form of the management plan, was published in November 
1977. Distribution of both was handled primarily by Mr. 
J. Y. Christmas, Assistant Director of the Laboratory for 
Fisheries Research and Management, who served as co- 
editor with Dr. David Elzold of the University of Southern 
Mississippi. 

Section personnel wrote and edited copy, took photo- 
graphs, set copy and made layouts for 1 2 monthly issues of 



202 


HOWSE 


Marine Briefs, the Laboratory newsletter. This was the 
seventh year of publication; about 3800 copies are distri-^ 
buted regularly. 

ACADEMIC PROGRAM 

NEW AFFILIATE 

One institution became affiliated with the Laboratory 
during the year for the purpose of training its students in 
the marine sciences, bringing the total of out-of-state 
affiliates to 38, This new affiliate is Middle Tennessee State 
University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

SUMMER SESSION. Dr. David W. Cook, Registrar 

The 1977 summer academic session involved 91 students 
registering individually for a total of 125 student courses. 
Forty -nine students registered through Mississippi schools, 
65 througli oui-of-statc affiliates and 10 through nonaffili- 
ated out-of-state institutions. Formal courses offered during 
the 1977 session were; 

Marine Chemistry, Drs. Julia S. Lytle and Thomas F. 
Lytle, staff 

Salt Marsh Ecology, Dr. Lionel N. Eleuterius, staff 
Physical Marine Geology, Dr. Ervin G. Otvos, staff 
Chemical Marine Geology, Drs. Ervin G. Otvos, 
Julia S. Lytle, and Thomas F. Lytle, staff 
Marine Microbiology, Drs, David W. (’ook and 
William W. Walker, staff 

Introduction to Marine Zoology, Dr. Buena S. Ballard, 
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 
Marine Vertebrate Zoology and Ichthyology, Dr. J. 

William Cliburn, University of Southern Mississippi 
Marine Invertebrate Zoology, Dr. Edwin W. Cake, Jr., 
staff 

Marine Fisheries Management, Mr, J. Y. Christmas. 

staff, and visiting specialists 
Marine AqiiacuUiiie, Dr. Edwin W. Cake, Jr., staff 
Marine Ecology, Drs. James T. McBee and Robert A. 
Woodmansee, staff 

Marine Botany, Dr. R. B. Channell, Vanderbilt 
University 

Special Problems in Marine Science, staff 
During the 1977—78 academic year, 44 students earned 
credit in courses in marine science for teachers that were 
offered through the Marine Education Center located in 
Biloxi. Courses offered were; 

Basic Techniques in Marine Science for Teachers, 
Mr. Gerald C. Corcoran, staff 
Advanced Studies in Marine Science for Teachers, 
Mr. Gerald C. Corcoran, staff 

GRADUA TE RESEARCH PROGRAM 

Courses offered in the Graduate Research Program during 
this period in which students participated included; Seminar, 
Special Problems in Marine Science, Special Topics in Marine 


Science and Graduate Research in Marine Science. A total 
of 10 1 .seme.sier hours credit were earned by these students. 

The Graduate Research Program has seen significant 
growth during the year with the addition of seven new 
students. One student completed his degree and four stu- 
dents have completed their research projects and returned 
to their parent campu.scs for further coursework. Fourteen 
students in the program were candidates for the master’s 
degree and eight candidates for the doctorate. 

Each candidate’s name, thesis title, degree sought and 
home university arc listed below according to research 
sections directing their work; 

Anadramous Fishes Section: William W. Falls, “Food 
habits and feeding selectivity of larval striped b'd^s, Morone 
saxatilis (Walbaum), under intensive culture,” Ph,D., Uni- 
versity of Southern Mississippi. 

Analytical Chemistry Section: Leo N. Ricliard, “The 
presence of aromatic hydrocarbons and bena(a)pyrene in 
Mississippi Gulf Coast oysters,” M.S., University of Missis- 
sippi. 

Botany Section: James C. Garrison, “Some relationships 
of salt marsh vegetation to abundance of the marsh peri- 
winkle l.ittorinairrorata Say, *’M.S., University of Mississippi. 

Stephen H. Sky -Peck, “A study of growth and nitrogen 
content of Spartina alternijhra and Juncus roemerianus in 
response to source and concentration of nitrogen,” M.S., 
University of Mississippi. 

Ecology Section: Jerry A. McLelland, “The summer 
vertical distribution of Chaetognatha in the northeastern 
Gulf of Mexico,” M.S., University of Southern Mississippi. 

John P. Steen, Jr., “Factors influencing the spatial and 
temporal distribution of selected crustacean plankton 
species in Davi.s Bayou,” Ph.D., University of Mississippi. 

Michael C. Torjusen, “The occurrence of planktonic 
larval and postlarval fishes in waters of the northern Gulf of 
Mexico and the Mississippi Sound,” M.S., University of 
Mississippi. 

Oyster Biology Section: David H. Barnes, “Polychaetes 
associated with an artificial reef in the north central Gulf of 
Mexico,” M.S., University of Southern Mississippi. 

David A. Blei, “A successional study of the hydrozoans 
inhabiting an artificial reef in the north central Gulf of 
Mexico,” M S,, University of Southern Mississippi. 

Neil Cave, “Predator-prey relationships involving the 
American oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmclin), and the 
black drum, Pogonias cromis Linnaeus, in the Mississippi 
Sound,” M.S., Southeastern Louisiana University. 

Alfred P. Chestnut, “Substrate competition between 
Crassostrea virginica (Gmclin) and associated sessile marine 
invertebrates,” Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi. 

John D. Demond, “Amphipod fouling of an artificial 
reef in the north central Gulf of Mexico,” M.S., University 
of Southern Mississippi. 

Katherine A. McGraw, “A comparison of the growth and 
survival rates of hatchery-reared and natural oyster spat at 



A Summary report 


203 


selected locations in the Mississippi Sound and adjacent 
waters with conuneiUs on the biology of oysters in Missis- 
sippi,” Ph.D., University of Washington. 

John E. Siipan, “A comparison of ‘oft-bottom’ relaying 
oysters in the Mississippi Sound,” M.S., University of 
Southern Mississippi, 

Parasitology Section: Daniel R. Brooks, “Systematic 
studies on the digenetic tremalodes of crocoliliaiis with 
emphasis on the family Acanlhostomidae,” Ph.D., University 
of Mississippi. 

Thomas L. Deardorff, “Nematodes of the genus Thynas- 
caris Dollfus 1933, (Aiiisakidae) in the northern Gulf of 
Mexico,” Ph.D., University of Mississippi, 

Alan C. Fusco, The life cycle and development of 
iSi>ocfl'wa//fl«ussp.,’'M.S., University of Southern Mississippi. 

Tom E. Maltis, “Larval development of two trypano- 
rhynch tapeworms from Mississippi Sound,” Ph.D., Univer- 
sity of Southern Mississippi. 

Mobashir Ahmad Solangi, “Pathological changes in some 
estuarine fish exposed to crude oil and its water-soluble 
fractions,” Ph.D., llnivenshy of Southern Mississippi. 

Physiology Section: Ann L. Gannam, “Effect of replacing 
dietary animal protein with plant protein supplemented by 
methionine on the growth and survival ofPenaeid shrimp,” 
M.S., University of Southern Mississippi. 

Shiao Yu Wang, “Studies on the effect of size and 
temperature on the respiration rates of brown shrimp, 
Penaeus uztecus Jues, iji declining oxygen tension,” M.S., 
University of Southern Mississippi. 

Zubir Bin Din, ”The food and feeding habits of the com- 
mon bay ancltovy, Anchoa mitchilli diaphara Hildebrand,” 
M.S., University of Mississippi. 

SCIENTIFIC FIELD TRIP PROGRAM 

As an adjunct to the teaching program, each year the 
Laboratory provides living accommodations, classroom 
laboratories, and essential services to visiting scientific field 
trip groups made up of college and university students and 
their professors. Such groups may stay for periods of up to 
several weeks, live in the dormitory, use laboratory boats 
to make collections of marine life from the sea and from 
the beaches of offshore islands, and study their specimens 
in the classroom laboratories. During fiscal year 1978, the 
Laboratory was visited by 36 of these Held trip groups. 
The total number of people involved were 537 professors 
and students who stayed an average length of 3.66 days. 
Some canae as far as 2,000 miles to study the marine life 
of the Gulf of Mexico. 

SPECIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES 
FISHER Y ASSISTANCE 

A mixing chart for solutions made from 65% available 
chlorine dry compound was drawn up and distributed to 
seafood plants. A request had been received to establish 


the mixing ratios necessary to formulate 30-gallon quantities 
of 50-, 100-, and 200-ppm chlorine solutions for use in 
seafood plant operations. The charts were printed on water- 
proof paper. These charts were to take the guesswork out 
of formulating the three solutions. 

A file of seafood regulations from the southeastern states 
was assembled. Frequent lequesls for specific information 
concerning out-of-slate regulations are received from 
processors shipping seafood across state lines. 

Visits to three Virginia seafood processing plants were 
arranged at the request of a Biloxi seafood packer. The 
Virginia plants briefly steam their oysters before they reach 
the shuckers. This causes the shell to open slightly, making 
it easier to cut out the meat, which increases the percentage 
of whole oysters to cu i ones. The Biloxi packer was interested 
in introducing such a process in his plant if the process 
proved favorable, which it did. 

Seafood Newsletter (Funded by GCRL): A monthly 
newsletter designed for seafood management personnel 
was cstabli.shed under the title The Biloxi Schooner honor- 
ing sailing vessels used in Mississippi’s early seafood industry. 
The publication contains articles of pertinent information 
gathered from trade journals and scientific publications; 
Federal government publications; and notes taken at sem- 
inars, conferences, and trade conventions. The contents are 
technical and designed to be of practical benefit to those in 
the seafood busine.ss. Sixty copies are currently being printed 
and mailed to the industry. 

Reorganized Mississippi Seafood Laws (Funded by 
GCRL); Mississippi’s seafood laws were rewritten in simpler 
language for clarity; related regulations were grouped for 
better organization, and the two sets of laws were combined 
into a single text. This was done because the seafood 
industry has long had problems with understanding the 
regulations as they were originally published. The project’s 
final draft was reviewed by the Mississippi Stale Board of 
Health after which copies were printed and mailed to the 
State’s seafood processors. 

Product Fact Sheet-Oysters {Funded by GCRL): At the 
request of the Mississippi Shellfish Packers, Inc., a Product 
Fact Sheet was written. Processors were having continuous 
problems with shipments of oysters being mishandled by 
distributors and retailers. Some type of educational material 
was needed to inform persons on how to care for oysters 
after they leave the processing plant. The Product Fact 
Sheet included information on the nutritional value of 
oysters, coloration variatons, and how to properly handle 
and merchandise them in commerce. 

The Product Fact Sheet was composed in a photo-ready 
format and given to the president of the Mississippi Seafood 
Packers, Inc. Copies were to be printed and supplied to 
members for inclusion in shipments of iced oysters. It is 
hoped that distributors and retailers will read the sheet as 
they open the boxes. This information should help improve 
the shelf life of the product and reduce time and revenue 



204 


llOWSE 


lost by the industry in picking up spoiled oysters from 
retail outlets. 

Surveys were made on oyster beds at Gollott Oyster 
Farm to collect oysters for bacteriological studies, to check 
the salinity of the water over the bed, to count the number 
of oyster drills (conchs) on it and to establish the percentage 
of dead oysters resulting from oyster relaying operations. 

It was the first year (hat the MMCC had issued private 
oyster leases to individuals or corporations. In these areas 
of good water quality, polluted oysters may be kept until 
they cleanse themselves, which takes about 15 days. 

A trip was organized fur several local seafood processors 
to attend a workshop for seafood retailers that was held in 
New Orleans. Afterward, a number of copies of the speaker’s 
publication. Operations Manual for the Seafood Retailer, 
were ordered and distributed at their request to processors 
who could not attend. 

A seafood processor was assisted in locating a safe, 
approved food preservative for trial use in packaged oysters. 

Owners of two seafood retail markets requested and 
received assistance in evaluating their facilities. A list of 
suggestions was drawn up that would hopelully lead to an 
increased sales volume. 

An oyster processor was assisted with the evaluation and 
selection of automatic packing equipment to be used in a 
planned plant expansion. 

SEAFOOD SANITA I'lON 

Seafood Sanitation Program (Funded by GCRL); At the 
request of processors, the Microbiology Section makes 
plant inspections and collects samples for bacteriological 
testing to deterinine any problem areas. Suggestions are 
made for correcting any deficiencies noted in plant sani- 
tation practices. 

The program “In-Plant Sanitation-Crab Processing 
Plants,” developed last year, has been upgraded and pre- 
sented in several local plants to assist in the education and 
training of plant personnel. 

During the fiscal year, 303 crabmeat and 222 oyster 
samples were collected and analyzed for aerobic plate, 
coliform and fecal coliform counts. In addition, all crab- 
meat samples were checked for Escherichia coli. This 
required over 800 hours of laboratory testing. Personnel 
traveled over 1,500 miles in collecting samples, visiting 
plants for evaluation and presenting programs. 

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 

This Committee is composed of all the senior scientific 
staff members at the Laboratory and is coordinated by the 
Ecology Section. The Committee provides an interdisciplinary 
approach to environmental problems in the wetlands and 
estuaries of Mississippi, primarily as a service to the MMRC, 
which partially funds this work. However, this Committee 
also cooperates with other Slate and Federal agencies on 
special projects that are not under the direct jurisdiction of 


the MMRC. The majority of this work deals with the review 
of permit reijiiests for work proposed in the wetlands and 
estuaries. Committee members are asked for their comments 
and recommendations on each permit request. In most cases 
a site visit is made by representatives of the Committee. 
Based upon these inputs, a letter to the MMRC is drafted 
stating any objections the Committee may have, reasons for 
these objections and recommendations that may reduce or 
eliminate the objectives. 

The Comniitlce reviewed some 110 permit applications 
throughout the year. In addition, an environmental evalu- 
ation of an industrial discharge in Mississippi Sound was 
conducted and benthic samples were taken and processed 
for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services personnel evaluating 
potential spoil areas for modification of the Pascagoula 
Ship Channel. Several members of this Committee were 
also involved in meetings with the Mississippi Air and Water 
Pollution Control Commission in conjunction with the 
Jackson County 201 Plan. 

PUBLIC SEMINARS 

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory hosts a series of 
staff seminars throughout the year. These seminars are open 
to the public and speakers include invited scientist.s as well 
as officials from various levels of Local, State and Federal 
Government. The central purpose of the seminars is to pro- 
mote better dissemination, understanding, and use of 
scientific information at all levels of society. Seminars 
presented during fiscal year 1978 were as follows: 

'"Current Research Efforts at E.P.A. Laboratory, Gulf 
Breeze, Florida” by Dr. D. R. Nimmo, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, August 16, 1977. 

"Water Hyacinth for Waste Water Treatment” by Mr. Bill 
Wolverton, Senior Research Scientist, National Space 
Technology Laboratory, September 20, 1977. 

"Fishery Management in Mississippi-Its Progress and 
Needs” by Dr. Richard Leard, Director, Mississippi Marine 
Conservation Commission, October 4, 1977. 

"Ectoparasites: Life on Man” by Mr. Alan Fusco, 
Parasitology Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 
October 18, 1977. 

"Jellyfish Toxins: Mechanisms of Action” by Dr. Paul M. 
Toom, Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of 
Southern Mississippi, November 8, 1977. 

"Effects of Slave Trade on Parasite Dispersal” by Mr. Tom 
Deardorff, Parasitology Section, Gulf Coast Research Labor- 
atory, November 22, 1977. 

"Antarctic, Land and Sea-Its Terrestrial and Marine 
Life” by Dr. Stephen Sliabica, Research Oceanographer, 
National Park Service, December 6, 1977. 

"Sharks and Stingrays in the Northern Gulf of Mexico” 
by Mr. Tom Mattis, Parasitology Section, Gulf Coast 
Research Laboratory, December 13, 1977. 

"Bivalve Molluscan Resources and Problems along the 
U.S. Pacific Coast” by Dr. Ken Chew, Professor, University 



A Summary Report 


205 


of Washington College of Fisheries, Seattle, Washington, 
January 9, 1978. 

“Field Experimental Studies of Benthic Invertebrates in 
Florida*' by Dr. David Young, Head Chemical & Biological 
Branch, Naval Oceanographic Laboratory, January 10, 1978. 

“Toxic and Suhlethal Effects of Pentaclilorophenol to 
Crustaceans** by Dr. Ranga Rau, Department of Biology, 
West Florida State University, January 24, 1978. 

“Reminiscences on the Development of the Shrimp 
Fishery and Shrimp Biology on the Gulf Coast of the 
United States" by Dr. Gordon Gunter, Director Emeritus, 
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, February 7, 1978. 

“Seasonal Changes in Macrobenthic Communities off 
the Columbia River*' by Dr. Michael Richardson, Naval 
Oceanographic Research and Development Activity, National 
Space Technology Laboratory, February 14, 1978. 

“Developmental Plans for Gulf Islands National Seashore" 
by Mr. Noel J. Pachta, Assistant Park Superintendent. Gulf 
Islands National Seashore, February 28, 1978. 

“Electron Microscopy in Aquatic Pathology" by Dr. 
William E. Havk^kins, Department of Anatomy, University of 
South Alabama, March 14, 1978. 

“Polymers for Energy, Environment and Humanitarian 
Concerns" by Dr. C. McCormick, Department of Polymer 
Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, March 28, 1978. 

“Oyster Culture in the State of Washington" by Ms. 
Katherine A. McGraw, Oyster Biology Section, Gulf Coast 
Research Laboratory, April 4, 1978. 

“Diversity of Form and Colour in Gulf Coast Amphipod 
Crustaceans’* by Dr. E. L. Bousfield, National Museum of 
Natural Science, Ottawa, Canada, April 11, 1978. 

“Copepods: Both Near and Far** by Mr. John Steen, 
Ecology Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, April 
25, 1978. 

“Fishery Product Inspection Perspective" hy Mr. Spencer 
Garrett, Director, National Seafood Quality and Inspection 
Laboratory, May 9, 1978. 

"Land Use and Population Patterns’* by Mr. Claude 
Pittman, Gulf Regional Planning Commission, May 30, 
1978. 

“Successional Changes in Ichthyofauna of a New Artifi- 
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Mcllwain, T. D. 1978. An analysis of salt water angling in 
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Ogle, John, Sammy M. Ray and W. J. Wardle. 1977. A sum- 
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A Summary report 


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effect of depth on survival and growth of oysters in sus- 
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Otvos, E. G. 1978. Comments on the “Tunica Hills, La- 
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Overstreet, Robin M. \^)11 . Poecilancistrium caiyophyllum 
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1977. A revision of Saturnius Manter, 1969 

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1977. Microsporidosis of the blue crab. In Carl 

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and Harold D. Howse. 1977. Some parasites and 

diseases of estuarine fishes in polluted habitats of Missis- 
sippi. In IL F. Kraybill, C. J. Dawe, J. C. Harshbarger 
and R. G. Tardiff ( eds.) Aquatic Pollutants arid Biologic 
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and Mary Hanson Pritchard. 1977. Two new 

zoogonid Digcnea from deep-sea fishes in the Gulf of 
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— and Thomas Van Devender. 1978. Implication 

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Wharton, J. IL, R. D. Ellender, B. L. Middlebrooks, P. K. 
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ABSTRACTS 

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Eleuterius, Lionel N. 1978. Population variation in the salt 


marsh rush, J uncus roemerianus. Journal of the Missis- 
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1978. Observations on the red alga, Caloglossa 

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Foster, Carolyn A, and T.G. Sarphie, 1978. Ectocommensal 
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Higgins, George G. and Charles K. Eleuterius. 1978. Missis- 
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23(Sup.);27. 

Hossler, F. E., J. R. Ruby and T. D. Mcllwain. 1978. Surface 
morphology of Ihe gill filaments of the mullet, Mugil 
cephalus. Proceedings of the 7th Annual Texas Society 
of Electron Microscopy -Louisiana Society of Electron 
Microscopy Symposium 7( r):40. 

Loiton, S. R. and D. W. Cook. 1978. Evaluation of the 48- 
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Lukens. Ron. 1978. Notes on Stenopus scutellatus and S. 
hhpidus (Decapoda, Stenopodidae) from Mississippi. 
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McGraw, Katherine A. 1977. Oyster growth and survival 
study in Mississippi Sound. University of Washington 
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Ogle, John T. 1978. Predator prey relationship between 
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Otvos, E. G. and Wade Howat. 1978. Surface and near- 
surface Pleistocene littoral-marine deposits, Mississippi 
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Overstreet, Robin M. 1977. Infections of the trypanorhynch 
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marine fish. Program and Abstracts of the American 
Society of Parasitologists 52nd Annual Meeting, 14-19 
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Snazelle, Theodore E. and David W. Cook. 1978. Carbohy- 
drate inhibition of pigment formation in a pigmented, 
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Slapp, Dermis S. 1978. A method of thermal structure 
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208 


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REPORTS 

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Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Effects of 1973 Floodwaters on Plankton Populations in Louisiana and Mississippi 

Suzanne R. Hawes 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

Harriet M. Perry 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.01 

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Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Hawes, S. R. and H. M. Perry. 1978. Effects of 1973 Floodwaters on Plankton Populations in Louisiana and Mississippi. Gulf Research 
Reports 6 (2): 109-124. 

Retrieved from http://aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/ 1 


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Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 109 124, 1978 


EFFECTS OF 1973 FLOOD WATERS ON PLANKTON 
POPULATIONS IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI 

SUZANNE R. HAWES AND HARRIET M. PERRY 

Environmental Quality, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70160, and Fisheries Research and Development Section, 
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory', Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 


ABSTRACT Studies to assess the impact of floodwarer diversion on plankton populations in coastal waters of Mississippi 
and Louisiana were conducted from 23 April 1973 through 1 3 July 1973, Fixed stations in l.ake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne 
and western Mississippi Sound were sampled once in April, twice in May and June, and once in July. Stations in Terrebonne 
Parish, Louisiana were visited once in May, June and July. 

Data are presented on changes in the species composition of zooplankton subsequent to the opening of the Bonnet Carre 
and Morganza floodways. The hydrographic conditions at the time of sampling are discussed. 


INTRODUCTION 

The Bonnet Carre and Morganza floodways serve to 
divert tloodwaters from the Mississippi River to the Gulf 
of Mexico (Figure I). The Bonnet Carre Flood way, located 
25 miles above New Orleans, empties floodwaters into Lake 
Pontchartrain. The Morganza Floodway, 280 miles above 
Head of Passes on the Mississippi River and operating in con- 
junction with the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway, carries 
floodwaters to the Gulf by way of the lower Atchafalaya 
River and Wax Lake Outlet. Severe flooding in the lower 
Mississippi River valley and prolonged periods of local rain- 
fall necessitated the operation of the floodways in the spring 
of 1973. 

Opening of the Bonnet Carre Flood way began on 8 April 
with all gates open by 1 1 April. The floodway remained fully 
open until 30 May with all gates closed by 1 1 June. Opening 
of the Morganza Floodway occurred on 17 April with vary- 
ing numbers of bays open until 15 June when all bays were 
closed. Studies to assess the impact of floodwater diversion 
on plankton populations were begun subsequent to the 
opening of the two floodways. Data in this report include 
plankton samples collected from 23 April 1973 through 
13.Tuly 1973. 

MATERIALS AND METHODS 

Field Procedure 

Daytime samples of surface plankton were taken from 
23 April 1973 to 13 July 1973 at stations 1 through 16 
(Figure 2). These stations were visited once in April, twice 
in May and June , and once in July. Stations 17 through 23 
in Terrebonne Parish were visited once in May, June and 
July (Figure 3). A plankton net with a mouth opening of 
12 inches and mesh aperature of 193 microns was pulled at 


Manuscript received May 11, 1978; accepted June 7, 1978. 


a constant speed for an interval of 10 minutes. The samples 
were preserved in the field in a 5% solution of formalin. 

Salinity and temperature of the surface water were 
measured when each sample was collected. Determinations 
of lernperalLire and salinity were made with a Becknien 
salinometer (Model RS5-3). 

Laboratory Procedure 

The volume of plankton (in ml) for each sample was 
determined by allowing the sample to settle in a graduated 
cylinder. Samples with settled volumes exceeding 5 ml were 
aliquoted with a Folsom plankton splitter. Samples with 
large numbers of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis mccradyi, or 
samples containing excessive debris, were examined in their 
entirety. 

AREA DESCRIPTION 

Areas affected by the diversion of floodwaters througli 
the Bonnet Carre Floodway included Lakes Pontchartrain 
and Borgne and the western sector of Mississippi Sound. 
The eastern end of Lake Borgne and the western sector of 
Mississippi Sound were also influenced by runoff from the 
Pearl River system, Floodwaters from the Morganza Flood- 
way affected portions of Terrebonne Parish. Eighteen collect- 
ing sites were established in the Bonnet Carre outlet area 
and seven in Terrebonne Parish. Station locations are 
shown in Figures 2 and 3. To facilitate discussion of data, 
stations were grouped by geographic location into five 
areas (Table 1). Discussion of hydrographic and biological 
data will be by these areas. 

AREA I 

Two stations were located in area I in eastern Lake 
Pontchartrain (Figure 2, Table 1). 

Bottom types along the south shore of the lake from the 
Rigolets to Irisli Bayou are predominantly clayey silt 
(Barrett 1976). Vegetation surrounding this part of the lake 
is brackish marsh comprised mainly of wiregrass {Spartina 


109 



no 


Hawes and Perry 








Effects of 1973 Floodwaters on plankton 


111 



Figure 3. Location of stations 17 through 23 in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. 


TABLE 1. 
Station locations. 


Area I stations 1 and 2 in eastern Lake Ponlcliartrain 

Area 11 stations 2 A, 2B, 4, 5 and 6 in western Lake Borgne 

Area HI stations 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 16 in eastern Lake Borgne 

and extreme western sector of Mississippi Sound 

Area IV stations 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 in western Mississippi 
Sound 

Area V stations 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 in Terrebonne 
Parish 


patens). Saltgrass {Distichlis spicata), oystergrass (Spartina 
alterniflora), coco (Scirpus robustus), black rush (Juncus 
roemerianus) and hogcane (Spartina cynosuroicles) are also 
present (Chabreck 1972). Submerged vegetation is abundant 
near Irish Bayou, with tapegrass (Fiz/tomd americana) and 
widgeungrass (Ruppia maritifna) both occurring. Tapegrass 
also exists along the north shore of the Rigolets. Water 
depths average 6 to 8 feet; near the entrance to the Rigolets 
the depth is 45 feet. 


Hydrographic Data 

Salinity. The hydrology of Lake Pontchartrain is greatly 
influenced by wind speed, wind direction and runoff of the 
rivers in the Pontchartrain basin; tidal fluctuations play a 
lesser role (Tarver and Savoie 1976). Darnell (1962) gives 
an average salinity of S.O ppt for the lake with fluctuations 
from 3.0 to 8.0 ppt as normal. He notes extremes of 1.2 
and 18.6 ppt following heavy rainfalls and tropical Gulf 
storms, respectively. The studies of Stern et al. (1968), 
Barret et al. (1971a) and Tarver and Dugas (1973) support 
DarnelPs data. 

Surface salinities for stations in area 1 from April through 
July 1973 are shown in Table 2. 

During and subsequent to the opening of the floodway, 
salinities dropped from 1.3 ppt to below 1.0 ppt for the 
sampling period. Tarver and Savoie (1976) also found salin- 
ities in the lake dropped during the 1973 opening of the 
floodway, decreasing from 1.5 ppt in April to 0.3 ppt in 
June, and rising in July to 7.4 ppt. 

Salinities following the flood of 1973 were below average 
during the spring and summer of 1974, 1975 and 1976 
(Tarver and Savoie 1976; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
1974-1976). 






112 


I-lAWES AND Perry 


TABLE 2. 

Hydrographic data and i>ettled volume of plankton 
for stations in area 1. 


Station 

Parameter 

April 

‘May 

^May 

‘ June 

^June 

July 

1 

ppt 

1.3 

0.0 

0.2 

0.3 

0.2 

0.0 

2 

ppt 

0.3 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

0.2 

0.3 

1 


22.1 

23.5 

26.5 

29.1 

29.2 

30.7 

2 

“c 

22.0 

22.2 

24.9 

27.2 

29.6 

30.0 

1 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

1.0 

30.0 

*1.0 

2 

ml 

*1.0 

2.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

40.0 

*1.0 


♦less than 


Temperature. Surface temperatures in area I from April 
through July 1973 are shown in Table 2. Temperatures 
during this period were within the normal range for area 1 
as reported by Tarver and Dugas (1973) and Tarver and 
Savoie (1976). 

Biological Data 

Settled Volume. The settled volume of plankton by 
station in area I is shown in Table 2. Eight of the twelve 
samples were under 1. 0 ml in settled volume. The high 
settled volumes in the second June samples included 
copepods^ dadocerans and large quantities of debris. 

Zooplankton. A systematic list of zooplankton collected 
in area 1 is presented in Table 3. Published data on plankton 
in Lake Pontchartrain include: Wilson 1958; Suttkus et al. 
1953-55; Darnell 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962; Bowman 1965; 
Stern et al. 1968; Stern and Stern 1969; Tarver and Dugas 
1973 and Tarver and Savoie 1976. 

Species diversity and abundance in our samples were 
low through May, increased greatly in June, and returned 
to low levels in July. Estuarine endemic species in area I 
included the copepods Acartia tonsa, Euryternora affinis, 
Eurytemora hinmdoides, Halicy clops fosteri and the mero- 
planktonic larvae of benthic invertebrates. Adventitious 
freshwater plankton occurred in the first May samples and 
in both June samples. 

Rhithropanopeus harrisii zoeae were frequently occur- 
ring organisms, dominating the April and May samples. 
Zoeae of this species have not been reported from Lake 
Pontchartrain, although Darnell (1959) noted lai-vae that 
“may have been” R. harrisii, abundant and widespread in 
the lake during April and May at low salinities. Darnell 
(1959, 1961, 1962) reported large endemic populations of 
R. harrisii adults in the lake, and Cali (1972) found adults 
of this species common in the City Park pond system in 
New Orleans, Stern et al. (1968), Stern and Stern (1969) 


and Tarver and Dugas (1973) all reported decapod zoeae 
and/or larvae from the lake from May through July. Tarver 
and Savoie (1976) reported decapod larvae to be the primary 
component of plankton samples from their two stations in 
area I. The present study is the first report of Uca sp. larvae 
in the lake, although Darnell (1959) reported adult Uca sp. 

Copepods were rare until June when species diversity and 
abundance increased dramatically. When copepods occurred 
in numbers, the species composition was unusual, the near 
absence of A. tonsa being most notable. All previous investi- 
gators reported A. tonsa to be the primary component of 
the plankton of the lake. During June 1973, copepods char- 
acteristic of fresh water iBiaptomus, Cyclops and Meso- 
cyclops) were common to abundant. This is the first report 
of these three genera in Lake Pontchartrain. Estuarine 
endemic copepods occurring in the present study, L’. affinis, 
E. hirundoides and H. fosteri, have been previously reported 
from the lake by Suttkus et al. (1953-55), Wilson (1958), 
Tarver and Dugas (1973) and Tarver and Savoie (1976). 

Freshwater dadocerans, particularly species of Diaphano- 
soma, Moina and Bosmina, dominated the plankton during 
the second June samples. They were present in small num- 
bers at the time of the first June samples, Suttkus et al. 
(1953—55), Stern et al. (1968) and Stern and Stern (1969) 
recorded limited numbers of Bosmina longirostris. Small 
numbers of estuarine-marine dadocerans, Evadne sp., 
Podnn sp. and Penilia avirostris, were found by Tarver and 
Dugas (1973). In addition, Tarver and Dugas (1973) and 
Tarver and Savoie (1976) reported unidentified dadocerans 
from the lake. In the latter study, 99% of the unidentified 
dadocerans were taken in Lake Maurepas and at the mouth 
of the Tchefuncte River at salinities of 0.0 to 1.4 ppt. The 
present study is the first report of large numbers of fresh- 
water dadocerans in eastern Lake Pontchartrain. These 
populations apparently represent washout from freshwater 
areas via the Mississippi and Pearl rivers. Large rivers such as 
the Mississippi normally have limited planktonic populations 
(Dotson 1966) but during high water, washout from quieter 
waters dramatically augments these populations. Bryan et al. 
(1974) reported dadocerans to be the most abundant zoo- 
plankters in the lower Atchafalaya basin. Cyclopoid cope- 
pods were the second most abundant organisms in their 
study. The freshwater dadocerans and copepod.s found in 
the present study are the same species as found by the above 
authors to be characteristic of freshwater areas in coastal 
Louisiana. 

The meso-oligohaline amphipods Gammarus mucronatiis 
and Corophium louisianum and the euryhaline species 
Monoculoids edwardsii were present in April. An unident- 
ified species of Corophium occurred in June. Tarver and 
Dugas (1973) reported G. mucronatus and Corophium sp. 
from the lake, A limited number of isopods were noted 
during the present study. Edolea sp. has been reported by 



Effects of 1973 Floodwaters on Plankton 


113 


Table 3. 

Systematic list of zooplankton, area I. 


Species 

Stage 

April 

*May 

^May 

’ June 

^June July 

Pelecypoda 

Modiolus 

JUV* 

3 






demissus 


4 






Polychaeta 

LAR 

4 






Ostracoda 



1 


1 


1 

Calanoida 

COP 





3,008 


Calanoida 

A cartm 






768 


tonsa 



1 


25 

64 

19 

Eurytemora 








hirundoides 






128 


Eurytemora 








affinis 


2 

2 


18 

64 


Diaptomus sp. 



5 


96 

5,888 


Cyclopoida 

COP 





192 


Cyclop Old a 






800 


Mesocyclops sp. 
Halicyclops 





20 

32 


fosteri 





5 



Cyclops sp. 





50 

96 


Ergasilus sp. 






60 


Argulus sp. 




1 

6 

64 

2 

Cirripedia 

NAU 




1 


1 

Ainphipoda 

Gammarus 


1 



1 



mucronatus 


1 






Corophium 








louisianum 


2 






Corophium sp. 
Monoculoides 





5 



edwardsii 


1 






Cassidinidea 
lunifrons 
Edotea sp. 



2 


1 



Mysidacea 

ZOE 





32 


Caridea 

Rhithropanopeus 

ZOE 


8 

2 

73 


2 

harrisii 

ZOE 

280 

864 

42 

670 


17 

Uca sp. 
Callinectes 

ZOE 




12 


1 

sapidus 

JUV 



1 

5 

8 

1 

Diaphanosoma 








brachyurum 





49 

264,544 


Daphnia sp. 
Simocephalus 



2 


3 



ve lulus 



2 


15 



Simocephalus 
exspinosus 
Moina sp. 



2 



171,520 


Moina micrura 





160 

224 


Bosmina 








coregoni 






17,536 



TABLE 3 — Continued 


Species 

Stage 

April 

‘May 

^May 

‘ June 

^June 

July 

Bosmina 

longirostris 

Sida 





1 

384 


cry St a Hina 






64 


Moinodaphnia 








macleayii 





10 



Insecta 








Anisoptera 




P 




Tendipes sp. 




P 




Osteichthyes 

LAR 

42 

5 

12 

167 


68 

Syngnathus sp. 

Naf'as 

JUV 







guadalupensis 





P 



Lemna ceae 





P 



Lemna sp. 
Spirodeb 



P 

P 

P 

P 


oligorhiza 
Spirodeb sp. 
Wolffia 



P 

P 

P 

P 


columbbna 



P 

P 

P 

P 

P 

Wolffielb 








floridana 



P 

P 

P 




* Abbreviations for stages of development in Tables 3, 5, 7, 9 and 1 1 


are as follows: 




COP 

Copepodid 

MED 

Medusa 

EGG 

Eggs 

MEG 

Megalopa 

HYD 

Hy droid 

NAU 

Nauplius 

IMM 

Immature 

NYM 

Nymph 

JUV 

Juvenile 

OPH 

Ophiopluteus 

LAR 

Larva 

PRO 

Protozoea 

LEP 

Leptocephalus 

PST 

Postlarva 

MAS 

Mastigopus 

ZOE 

Zoea 


**The letter “P” indicates occurrence in the sample without counts 
to show relative abundance. 

Tarver and Dugas (1973) while this paper is the first pub- 
lished report of Cassidinidea lunifrons in Lake Pontchartrain. 

Summary Area L Previous studies of eastern Lake Pont- 
chartrain suggest a planktonic community dominated by 
estuarine species with the meroplankton composed of the 
larval stages of R. hamsii and the holoplankton dominated 
by A. toma. The other major components were adventitious 
oligohaline and marine forms. Plankton samples in April 
and May 1973 were characteristically estuarine species dom- 
inated by the larvae olR. harrisii. In late June this commun- 
ity was replaced by freshwater-oligohaline species, primarily 
cladocerans and copepods. From May through June the 
presence of floating vascular plants such as duckweed 
(Lemna sp.) and watermeal {Wolffia columbiana) indicated 
the continuance of riverine washout. 


114 


Hawes and Perry 


AREA II 

Four stations were located along the shores of Lake 
Borgne from Alligator Point to the mouth of Bayou St. Malo 
(Figure 2, Table 1). Stations 2A and 2B were added to the 
study in June. 

Bottom sediments in the center of Lake Borgne are pri- 
marily clayey silt, with silty clay present in some areas along 
the shore (Barrett et al. 1971b). The marshes adjacent to 
Lake Borgne are brackish and dominated by wiregrass 
{Spartina patens); some saitgrass (Distichlis spicata) is also 
present (Chabreck 1972). Water depths in the lake range up 
to 9 feet (Barrett et al. 1971a). 

Hydrographic Data 

Salinity. Salinities in Lake Borgne at the time of construc- 
tion of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet canal ranged from 
1.5 to 6.0 ppt (elSayed et al. 1961). After completion of the 
Gulf Outlet in 1968, salinities in Lake Borgne were substan- 
tially higher (personal communication, Johnny Tarver, Loui- 
siana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission). With few excep- 
tion.s, Tarver found the minimum salinity values for eastern 
Lake Borgne for April and May 1969—1972 exceeded the 
maximum value recorded by el Sayed et al. (1961). In April 
of 1 970, Tarver recorded a high salinity of 1 7.7 ppt. 

Surface salinities for stations in area II from April through 
July 1973 are shown in Table 4. With the exception of 
station 6 in April and station 5 in June, salinities were below 

3.0 ppt until July. Stations 2A, 2B and 5 showed a rise in 
salinity as more saline conditions returned. Salinities at 
station 6 were highest in April. The geographic location and 
influence of the Mississippi River— Gulf Outlet canal may 
account for this. 

Postflood data from Bayou Bienvenue and Alligator 
Point, supplied by personnel of the Louisiana Wildlife and 
Fisheries Commission, indicated that in a normal year, 
salinities increase during the period April througli July. 
April salinities in 1974-75 ranged from 1.0 to 5.8 ppt 
while July salinities ranged from 4.4 to 1 7.0 ppt. 

Surface temperatures for stalion.s in area II from April 
through July 1973 are shown in Table 4. The lowest reading 
occurred in early May at station 5 and the highest occurred 
during the second June sampling at stations 4 and 6. In 
general, temperatures were within the ranges recorded by 
el Sayed et al. (1961) and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fish- 
eries Commission. 

Biological Data 

Settled Volume. The settled volume of plankton by 
station in area II is .shown in Table 4. No sample was 
received frarn station 2A for the first June sampling. Of 
the 23 samples collected, 19 had settled volumes under 

1.0 ml. 

Zooplankton. A systematic list of zooplankton collected 
in area II is found in Table 5. Papers describing the zoo- 


Table 4. 

Hydrographic data and settled volume of plankton 
for stations in area II. 


Area 

Parameter 

April 

^ May 

^May 

^ June 

^June 

July 

2A 

ppt 




0.2 

0.2 

2.6 

2B 

ppt 




0.4 

1.9 

9.8 

4 

ppt 

0.9 

0.5 

0.2 

1.7 

0.6 

0.7 

5 

ppt 

0.9 

0.3 

0.4 

0.5 

3.2 

10.0 

6 

ppt 

4.5 

1.3 

1.6 

1.7 

2.7 

2.3 

2A 

"c 




27.8 

29.9 

30.0 

2B 

°c 




28.9 

30.6 

30.8 

4 

"c 

24.3 

25.1 

26.1 

29.1 

32.6 

32.9 

5 


24.0 

23.4 

25.8 

28,6 

30.0 

30.8 

6 

"c 

24.4 

23.8 

27.2 

29.4 

32.6 

32.2 

2A 

ml 





*1.0 

*1.0 

2B 

ml 




*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

4 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

7.0 

3.0 

1.0 

5 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

6 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

7.0 

*1.0 


*lcss than 


plankton of eastern Lake Borgne include el Sayed et al. 
(1961) and Cuzon du Rest (1963), who sampled during the 
construction of tlie Gulf Outlet canal and Gillespie (1971) 
who sampled after its completion. 

Both el Sayed et al. (1961) and Cuzon du Rest (1963) 
found Acartia form to be dominant in Lake Borgne. 
Eurytemora hirundoides was the second most common 
plankter. Cyclopoid copepods and cladocerans were also 
characteristic of these low-salinity (less than 3.0 ppt) 
waters. Decapod zoeae were reported, but in exceedingly 
low numbers (adult Rhithropanopeus harrisii were present). 
Gillespie (1971) found a typically estuarine plankton com- 
munity with A. tansa the principal species. The seasonal 
intrusion of marine species such as Oncaea mediterranea 
and Undinula vulgaris was noted. Freshwater organisms 
were conspicuously absent from her sarnple.s. 

During the opening of the floodway in 1973, the plank- 
ton population of area U was composed of estuarine and 
freshwater species. Zoeae of R. harrisii were present in large 
numbers at each station. Limited numbers of Vea sp. and 
Sesarma sp. larvae were present from May through July. A 
few amphipods Acartia tonsa dominated the holo- 

plankton, with large numbers of this estuarine species present 
in April, June and July. The freshwater component was 
dominated by ten species of cladocerans. Five of the six cla- 
doceran genera found in the present study were reported by 
Chien(1969)inastudy of the cladocerans of the Pearl River 
system. Some freshwater cyclopoids, such 2 t%Diaptomussp. 
and Cyclops sp., were present mainly in June. Insects and/or 
floating plants were present at each sampling, indicating the 
continuing washout from fresh water. Representatives of 
the freshwater group Conchostraca were found during the 



Effects of 1973 Floqdwaters on Plankton 


115 


Table 5. TABLE 5 — Continued 

Systeinalic list of zooplankton, area 11. 

Species Stage April ‘May ^May ‘june ^June July Species Stage April ‘May ^May ‘june ^June July 


Coelenterata 





20 


Ctenophora 







Beroe sp. 







Pelecypoda 

LAR* 


10 




Tagelus divisus 


1 





Tellina sp. 


1 





Brachidonles 







recurvus 


1 





Gastropoda 

LAR 

1 



3 


Polychaeta 


1 




1 

Polychaeta 

LAR 





1 

Nereis sp. 


1 




2 

Arachnida 






1 

Hydiacarina 






6 

Ostracuda 





2 

27 

Copepod a 

NAU 





3 

Calanoida 

NAU 





515 

Calanoida 

COP 

12 




69 

Acartia tonsa 


742 

3 

10 

.185 

312,813 

Eurytemora 







affinis 



1 


1 

8 

Diaptomus sp. 


1 



5 

103 

Cyclops 







vernalis 





10 


Cyclops sp. 


1 




20 

Ergasilus sp. 






3,458 

Argulus sp. 


1 


5 

14 

22 

Cirripedia 

NAU 

1 



15 

101 

Melita 







nitida 



1 




Gammunis 







rnucronatus 




1 



Corophium 







louisianum 





1 

16 

Corophium 







lacustre 






1 

Corophium sp. 






1 

Cera pus sp. 


3 


3 



Aegathoa 







oculata 


2 





Mysidacea 

ZOE 




3 


Caridea 

ZOE 

58 

61 

19 

38 

10 

Callinectes 







sapidus 

JUV 




8 

4 

Rhithropanopeus 







harrisii 

ZOE 

3,329 

844 

636 

4,232 

877 

R. harrisii 

MEG 






Uca sp. 

ZOE 



1 

49 

56 

Sesarma sp. 

ZOE 



1 

75 


Conchostraca 






9 

Diaphanosoma 







hrachyurum 




2 

145 

3,151 

Daphnia sp. 


2 


1 



Moina micrura 




1 

2 

901 

Moina affinis 





3 



Moina macrocopa 


2 


Moina brachiata 
Mo inodaphnin 
macleayii 
Simocephalus 


no 

1 


vetulus 



24 

Bosmina 




coregoni 



187 

Bosmina 




longirostris 



142 

Insecta 



p** 

Hemiptera 

JUV 


P 

Corixidae 

NYM 

p 


Trichocorixa 

P 



Hydropsyche 

LAR 



Osteichthyes 

EGG 

5 


Osteiebthyes 

Anchoa 

LAR 60 5 

19 1,088 

25 24 

mi t chilli 

JUV 

13 

1 

Anchoa 

mitchilli 

Syngnathus 


1 


SCO vein 


2 


Syngnathus sp. 
Myrophis 

JUV 1 



punctatus 

1 



Atherinidae 


107 


Gobiidae 

Hyporhamphus 


14 


unifasciatus 
Spirodela sp. 


1 

P 


Lemna sp. 

Wolffia 


P 


Columbiana 


P P 

P 

Wolffiella 




floridana 

P 

P 


Coscinodiscus sp. 

P P 

P 


*See Table 3 
**See Table 3 




second June sampling. 



Summary of Area 11. Both el Sayed et al. 

(1961) and 

Cuzon du Rest (1963), sampling during the construction of 

the Gulf Outlet canal, identified A. 

. ioma as the most abun- 


dant zooplankler, with freshwater copepods and cladocerans 
present. Cuzon du Rest (1963) found the plankton of eastern 
Lake Borgnc characlcrized by fresh or brackish organisms. 
Gillespie (1971), sampling after completion of the Gulf 
Outlet, found the plankton of eastern Lake Borgne to con 
sist almost entirely of the copepod A. tonsa; but the fresh- 
water organisms found in the earlier studies were noliceably 
absent. She found plankton in the area to be primarily 
estuarine with the occasional intrusion of marine species. 
Plankton samples taken during the opening of the floodway 


116 


Hawes and Perry 


in 1973 more closely resembled those taken prior to com- 
pletion of the Gulf Outlet with A. tonsa abundant and 
freshwater copepods and cladocerans common. 

AREA III 

Six stations were located in area HI, one station near the 
mouth of Lake Borgne and five stations in the extreme 
western sector of Mississippi Sound (Figure 2, Table 1), No 
sample was taken from station 16 in Lake Borgne in April. 

Bottom sediments in this area are primarily clayey silt or 
sandy silt. Submerged vegetation is sparse. Emergent vegeta- 
tion in eastern Lake Borgne includes oystergrass (Spartina 
alterniflord), saltgrass (Disfichlis spicata)^ black rush (Juncus 
roemerianus), and wiregrass {Spartina patens). Juncus 
roemerianus^and Spartina altemiflora dominsil& the marshes 
of the Mississippi coastline and are the predominant marsh 
type on Grand Island. Water depths are shallow and range 
from 2 to 10 feet with depths of 38 feet in Grand Island 
Pass. 

Hydrographic Data 

Salinity. Preflood surface salinities in area III from Three 
Mile Pass and Blind Bay, Louisiana, for the months of 
April through July 1968 ranged from 9.9 to 15.5 ppt and 
7.5 to 14.3 ppt, respectively (Barrett et al. 1971a). Barrett 
et al. (1971a) note that salinities in this area are relatively 
low as a direct result of freshwater drainage from Lake 
Pontchartrain and Pearl River, and that salinities tend to 
correlate inversely with discharges from Pearl River. Hydro- 
graphic data collected in western Mississippi Sound near 
Point St. Joseph and Grand Island in 1968 record surface 
salinities ranging from 3.3 to 19.0 ppt from April through 
July. Christmas and Eleuterius (1973) consider this region 
of Mississippi Sound as part of the Pearl River estuarine 
system. They found a yearly mean surface salinity of 12.2 
ppt in 1968. They also noted that salinities in this area were 
considerably lower than those in other Mississippi estuarine 
systems (liough seasonal trends were similar. 

Surface salinities for stations in area III from April 
through July 1973 are shown in Table 6. 

At the time of the April sampling, surface salinities in 
area III ranged from 0,0 to 4.2 ppt, the higliest readings 
taken at stations 7 and 8 near Grand Island. With the 
exceptions of the first May sample and second June sample 
at station 16, when salinities were 1.2 ppt, surface salinities 
at stations in this area did not rise above 0.5 ppt from May 
through June. Salinities at all stations rose in July with high 
values of 6.8 and 8.4 ppt recorded at stations 8 and 10, 
respectively. 

Isohalines (5.0 ppt increments) drawn for area III in the 
year following the 1973 flood were generously provided to 
the authors by Mr. Johnny Tarver of the Louisiana Wildlife 
and Fisheries Commission. All stations were within the 
5.0 ppt isohaline in April and May. In June the 5.0 ppt 


TABLE 6. 

Hydrographic data and settled volume of plankton 
for stations in area III. 


Station 

Parameter 

April 

*May 

^May 

* June 

^June 

July 

3 

ppt 

0.1 

0.0 

0.3 

0.1 

0.2 

0.3 

7 

ppt 

4.2 

0.3 

0.2 

0.2 

0.2 

1.2 

8 

ppt 

4.2 

0.4 

0.2 

0.3 

0.5 

6.8 

9 

ppt 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

0.1 

0.2 

3.3 

10 

ppt 

0.1 

0.0 

0.1 

0.2 

0.2 

8.4 

16 

ppt 


1.2 

0.0 

0.3 

1.2 

1.8 

3 


23.7 

21.9 

24,7 

27.7 

29.9 

32.0 

7 


23.2 

23.1 

25.3 

29.5 

29,8 

29.9 

8 

"c 

23.8 

24.7 

26.1 

29,1 

30.8 

30.3 

9 

"c 

23.6 

22.8 

29.5 

29.9 

30.8 

29.7 

10 

"c 

23.5 

25.4 

27.2 

29.9 

32.0 

30.3 

16 

"c 


24.5 

26,0 

29.1 

31.2 

30.5 

3 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

7 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

8 

ml 

*1.0 

1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

4.0 

*1.0 

9 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

2.0 

1.0 

*1.0 

10 

ml 

1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

4.0 

*1,0 

*1.0 

16 

ml 


9.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

2.0 

*1.0 


*less than 


isohaline shifted northward to include only stations 3, 9 and 
10, with stations 7, 8 and 16 falling in the 10.0 ppt isohaline. 
By July, with the exception of station 16, all stations were 
again within the 5.0 ppt isohaltne. 

Temperature. Surface temperatures for stations in area 
III from April through July 1973 are shown in Table 6. 

Temperatures between stations showed the greatest 
monthly variations in May with differences of 3. 5 and 4.8"’C 
for the two sampling periods, respectively. The lowest read- 
ing was taken during the first May sampling effort at station 
3 (21.9°C), with the highest readings (32.0'’C) observed at 
station 10 in late June and station 3 in July. 

Biological Data 

Settled Volume. Settled volume of plankton by station 
in area HI is shown in Table 6. 

Settled volume of plankton was less than 1 .0 ml in 27 of 
the 35 samples. The highest settled volume (9.0 ml) occurred 
at station 16 during the first May sampling and was associ- 
ated w'ith numerous larval fish and large numbers of the 
zoeal stage of the crab Rhithropanopeus harrmi. 

Zooplankton. A systematic list of zooplankton collected 
in area III is found in Table 7. The authors were unable to 
find published data on the seasonal distribution and abun- 
dance of zooplankton in the eastern Lake Borgne— western 
Mississippi Sound area. Butler (1952), during and sub- 
sequent to the opening of the Bonnet Carre Floodway in 
1950, made collections with a fine mesh net (No. 20) and 



Effects of 1973 floodwaters on Plankton 


17 


TABLE 7. 

Systematic list of zooplankton, area III. 


Species 

Stage 

April ^ 

May ^ 

May ’ 

June 

^June 

July 

Coelenterata 

HYD* 



3 




Peiecypoda 

LAR 

3 

1 


8 

3 


Modiolus sp. 
Brachidontes 


3 






recurvus 


3 






Gastropoda 

LAR 



1 

77 

98 


Polychaeta 

Polychaeta 

LAR 

12 






Nereis sp. 

Oligochaeta 

Hirudinea 

Arachnida 


6 

• 



3 


Hydracarina 



3 

2 

4 

15 

. 2 

Ostracoda 


1 



10 

144 

2 

Copepoda 

COP 


3 



88 


Calanoida 






17 


Acartia tonsa 
F.urytemora 


24 

5 

17 

32 

15,882 

214 

affinis 

Eury femora 




3 

37 

24 


hirundoides 



1 


25 



Eury femora sp. 
Osphranticum 






83 


labronecfum 




2 




Diapfomus sp. 


2 

2 

1 

32 

135 


Cyclopoida 

Cyclops 


3 

4 

3 

18 

48 


vernalis 


2 


1 




Cyclops sp. 
Macrocyclops 


10 


2 



16 

albidus 
Euierpma 
acutifrons 
ErgasHus sp. 





14 

486 

1 

Argulus sp. 



4 

5 

14 

83 

15 

Cirripedia 

NAU 





3 

2 

Cirripedia 

Balanus 

IMM 

3 


26 




improvisus 


3 






Melita nitida 
Gammarus 



' 





mucronafus 



1 





Coraphium 

louisianum 

Hyalella 



1 

1 

1 



aiieca 


1 






Isopoda 

Edofea sp. 


4 



3 



Caridea 

Pclaemonetes 

ZOE 

273 

23 

20 

35 

41 

12 

pugio 




1 




Palaemonefes 








vulgaris 


2 






Penaeus aztecus 
Penaeus 

JUV 

3 






setiferus 

JUV 

4 







TABLE 7 — Continued 


Species Stage AprU ^May ^May ^June ^June July 


Cailianassa sp. 

ZOE 




19 

JO 

Callinecres 







sapidus 

JUV 



2 

18 

20 

Rh ithropanopeus 







harrisii 

ZOE 

1,235 

1,161 

291 

1,559 

343 ■''■■44i' 

Rh ithropanopeus 







harrisii 

MEG 




2 

8 ' 

Uca sp. 

ZOE 

10 


1 

198 

262 

Sesarma sp. 

ZOE 



2 

34 

26 4 

Leydigia 







quadrangularis 





3 


Holopedium 







amazonicum 



2 

2 

57 

14 

Diaphanosonw 







hrachyurutn 


3 

1 

16 

579 

630 

Sida 







crystallina 


24 

18 



1 

Daphnia sp. 


43 

10 

6 

3 

3 

Ceriodaphnia 







megalops 


93 


1 

1 


Ceriodaphnia 







reticulata 


9 

1 

2 

6 


Moina micrura 





5 

37 

Moina affinis 


7 

1 

1 

1 

6 

Moina 







macrocopa 


7 



1 


Simocepholus 







vetulus 


7 

42 

5 

80 

1 

Simocephalus 







serrulatus 


2 





Simocephalus 







exspinosus 


2 

31 

3 

3 

1 

Bosmina sp. 





1 


Bosmina 







coregoni 






169 

Bosmina 







longirostris 





1 

15 

Eurycercus 







lamella tus 


26 

7 

2 

4 


Chydorus 







sphaericus 





1 


llyocryptus 







spinifer 





5 

49 

Bosminopsis 







deitersi 






14 

Moinodaphnia 







tnacleayii 





51 

9 

Insecta 


1 




40 

Hemiptera 

JUV 


1 

1 

1 

1 

Corixidae 



1 




Corixidae 

NYM 




7 


Coleoptera 



2 




Coleoptera 

LAR 





1 1 

Berosus sp. 

LAR 


1 




Dytiscidae 



1 

1 



Ephemeroptera 

LAR 




2 


Diptera 

LAR 




1 


Tendipedidae 

LAR 





4 2 



118 


HAWES AND Perry 


TABLE 7 - Continued 


Species 

Stage 

April 

^May 

^May 

* June 

^June 

July 

Osteichthyes 

EGG 






2 

Osteichthyes 

EAR 

30 

106 

10 

575 

29 

40 

Bothidae 

Anchoa 

EAR 





1 


mit chilli 

JUV 




20 

6 


Micropogon 








undulatus 

JUV 

4 






Membras 








martinica 


1 






Syngnathus 








scovelli 





1 



Coscinodiscus sp. 
Spirogyra sp. 
Najas 


P 

p** 

P 

P 

P 


guadalupensis 

Spirodela 






P 


polyrhiza 




P 


P 


Lemna sp. 

Wolffta 




P 


P 


Columbiana 

Wolffia 


P 

P 

P 

P 

P 

P 

floridana 


P 

P 

P 

P 

P 



*See Table 3 
**See Table 3 


enumerated the phytoplankton species collected over a 
five-month period. Zooplankters were not identified below 
the family level. 

Estuarine-endemic species in area III plankton included 
the copepods Eurytemora affinis, Eurytemora hirundoides 
and Acartia tonsa and the meroplanktonic larvae of benthic 
invertebrates. 

Plankton characteristic of fresliwater lakes, ponds and 
rivers occurred in all months. Twenty-one species of 
cladocerans and several cyclopoid and diaptomid copepods 
were collected. 

Zoeae of the xanthid crab R. harrisii dominated samples 
from April through the first June collections. These zoeae are 
seasonally abundant in the bays and bayous draining into 
Mississippi Sound and have been collected in fresh water in 
Simmons Bayou, Mississippi (personal communication, John 
Steen, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory). Adults of this species 
are common on the oyster reefs in Mississippi Sound. 

With the exception of the euryhaline A. tonsa, copepods 
identified from area III were oligohalinc or limnetic species. 
Representatives of the gtnns Eurytemora were present from 
May througli June. Limnetic copepods were found in all 
months but were more numerous prior to the July samples. 
Species of Diaptomus and unidentified cyclopoids were the 
most abundant limnetic copepods. Small numbers of 
Osphranticum labronectum, Cyclops vernalis, and Macro- 
cy clops albidus were taken. Acartia tonsa were abundant 


only in the second June samples. This species is adaptable 
to a wide range of temperature and salinity, and the near 
absence of this species through the first June samples 
suggests that the continuing flow of fresh water prevented 
the establishment of a population. Its importance in north- 
ern Gulf estuaries has been noted by Grice (1956), Cuzon 
du Rest (1963), Hopkins (1966), Gillespie (1971), and 
Perry and Christmas (1973). 

Freshwater cladocerans were collected from April through 
June with species diversity greatest at the time of the first 
June samples. Diaphannsoma hrachyurum, Simocephalus 
vetulus and Bosmina coregoni occurred in largest numbers. 

Amphipods in area III samples were meso-oligohaline 
species (Corophium louisianum, Mdita nitida, Gammarus 
wwcrowflrws) with the exception of the freshwater-oligohaline 
Hyallela azteca. 

Summary Area ///. By combining a knowledge of the 
distribution of benthic adult invertebrates with preflood and 
postflood salinity data, the authors suggest that the endemic 
meroplankton in this area would, in all probability, largely 
be composed of the larval stages of brachyuran crabs and 
the zoeal larvae of caridean shrimp. Acartia tonsa would 
probably dominate the holoplankton. Assuming the above 
to be representative of the spring— summer plankton in 
area III, the changes in species composition brought about 
by the 1973 flood waters are evident. Excluding the mero- 
planktonic larvae and juveniles of benthic invertebrates and 
juvenile fish, plankton collected in area III was characteristic 
of a freshwater-oligohaline fauna. The presence of insect 
larvae, mites, freshwater algae and vascular plants over the 
sampling period further demonstrates the influence of 
floodwaters. 

AREAIV 

Five stations were located in area IV in western Mississippi 
Sound in the St. Louis Bay estuarine system (Figure 2, 
Table 1). 

Shoreline marshes are dominated by Juncus roemerianus. 
Beaches in the vicinity of station 1 2 are manmade and main- 
tained for public use. Beds of shoalgrass Halodule beaudetti 
existed in the area of station 1 1 in 1968 but have since dis- 
appeared (personal communication, Lionel Eleuterius, Gulf 
Coast Research Laboratory). Bottom sediments are primarily 
muddy to fine sands. Extensive oyster reefs are located in 
this portion of Mississippi Sound. 

Hydrographic Data 

Salinity. Data for preflood and postflood salinities in 
area IV were furnished to the authors by personnel of the 
Fisheries Research and Development Section of the Gulf 
Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 

Mean surface salinities for selected stations in the western 
sector of Mississippi Sound for the year 1 968 were 1 1 .8 ppt 
in April, increasing to 20.5 ppt in July. 



Effects of 1973 Floodwaters on Plankton 


119 


Surface salinities for stations In area IV from April 
through July 1973 are shown in Table 8. 

Salinities were low at all stations in April and during the 
first May sampling period. Surface salinities at station 1 1 
were below 1.0 ppt through June increasing to 14,2 ppt in 
July. Station 12 showed a gradual increase in salinity 
through July. Open water stations (13, 14 and 15), more 
closely adjacent to Gulf influence, exhibited greater fluctu- 
ations in salinity. Salinities at these stations generally were 
greater than salinities at shore stations through June. Salin- 
ities at all stations rose in July. 


TABLE 8. 

Hydrographic data and settled volume of plankton 
for stations in area IV. 


Station 

Parameter 

April 

* May 

^May 

* June 

^June 

July 

11 

ppt 

0.1 

0.2 

0.1 

0.4 

0.3 

14.2 

12 

ppt 

0.1 

0.0 

1.3 

1.6 

8.6 

19.2 

13 

ppt 

0.5 

0.0 

16.6 

5.7 

10.6 

16.8 

14 

ppt 

1.2 

0.0 

19.5 

6.3 

12.3 

16,7 

15 

ppt 

2.2 

0.7 

12.1 

6.3 

18.6 

21.5 

11 


25.2 

26.7 

27.1 

29.4 

31.6 

31.2 

12 

°C 

25.1 

25.8 

25.9 

28.5 

29.6 

30.9 

13 

°c 

24.2 

24.4 

26.4 

28.3 

29.0 

29.8 

14 


25.4 

24.0 

26.5 

28.7 

28.9 

29.8 

15 


25.2 

24.1 

25.7 

29.0 

28.1 

29.7 

11 

ml 

*1.0 

*1,0 

*1.0 

50.0 

*1.0 

120.0 

12 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

1.0 

*1.0 

15.0 

13 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

2.0 

1.0 

48.0 

14 

ml 

*1.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

2.0 

14.0 

1.0 ' 

15 

ml 

*1.0 

28.0 

*1.0 

*1.0 

42.0 

21.0 


*less than 


Postflood data for stations 12 and 15 were available for 
the years 1974, 1975 and 1976. Salinities in the vicinity of 
station 12 exhibited similar trends for the three years; low 
readings in April and May increasing through June and July. 
Postflood salinity means in 1974 in this area were similar to 
1973 means and were slightly higher in 1975 and 1976. 
Readings for station 15, however, were consistently higher 
in postflood years. 

The western end of Mississippi Sound is heavily influ- 
enced by drainage from the Pearl River and St. Louis Bay 
estuarine systems and depressed surface salinities are a 
natural occurrence for short periods of time. Circulation 
patterns in Mississippi Sound have recently been described 
by Eleuterius (1976). He noted that during periods of high 
river discharge the outflow from Pearl River passed through 
Grand Island Pass and turned southeast with some deflection 
to the northeast. Outflow from Jourdan and Wolf rivers 
empties into St. Louis Bay and follows the western shoreline 


of the Sound for some distance. These two systems operate 
to depress sniitiity levels in the western Sound during 
periods of peak river discharge. 

Temperature. Surface temperatures for stations in area 
IV from April through July 1973 are shown in Table 8. 

Temperatures between stations showed the greatest 
monthly variation (3 .5*^0) at the time of the second June 
samples. The lowest reading was taken at station 14 
(24.0®C) in early May. The highest readings were 3l.6°C 
and 31.2'^C taken at station 11 in late June and July, 
respectively. 

Biological Data 

Settled Volume. Settled volume of zooplankton by 
station in area IV is shown in Table 8. 

Settled volumes were less than 1.0 ml in 17 of the 30 
samples, Higli settled volumes associated with the capture 
of large numbers of the cnidarian Liriope tetraphylla 
occurred in July at stations 11 and 13. Crustacean larvae 
and copepods contributed heavily to the settled volume of 
plankton at stations 11 and 15 in early and late June, 
respectively. The settled volume of 21.0 ml in July at 
station 15 was composed primarily of L. tetraphylla and 
calanoid copepods. 

Zooplankton. A systematic list of zooplankton collected 
in area IV is found in Table 9. Little published information 
exists on the composition of zooplankton communities in 
western Mississippi Sound. Perry (1975) seasonally moni- 
tored the occurrence of Callinectes, sp. zoeae and megalopae 
at stations near the mouth of St. Louis Bay and the western 
tip of Cat Island. Burke (1975) sampled several stations in 
the western Sound during an investigation of the occurrence 
and seasonality of planktonic cnidarians in Mississippi 
waters. Personnel of the Fisheres Research and Development 
Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, collected monthly 
plankton samples in Cat Island Pass from October 1973 
through September 1976, removing larval fish and larvae 
and postlarvae of penaeid shrimp and portunid crabs for 
ideidificalion. 

The composition of zooplankton at stations in area IV 
in April and May 1973 consisted primarily of freshwater- 
oligohaline species and the larvae of benthic estuarine 
invertebrates. Estuarine-endemic holoplankters were Acartia 
tonsa and Eurytemora affinis. The meroplankton was com- 
posed of the zoeal stages of xanthid and ocypodid crabs, 
caridean shrimp and unidentified decapods. Callinectes sp. 
megalopae and a postlarval stage of Penaeus aztecus were 
found at station 15. Barnacle nauplii were present in small 
numbers. Freshwater copepods and cladocerans were present 
in both months with species diversity and numbers greatest 
during the April sampling period. Identified copepods 
included Osphranticurn labronectum and Macrocyclops 
alhidus. Twelve species of cladocerans were recorded, the 
most abundant being Ceriodaphnia megalops. 



120 


Hawes and Perry 


TABLE 9. 

Systematic list of zooplankton, area IV. 


Species 

Stage 

April 

‘May ^May 

* June 

^June 

July 

Liriope 

tetraphylla 

Bougainviliia 

MED* 





8596 

carolinensis 

MED 





85 

Eucheilota sp. 
Rhopalonema 

MED 





8 

funerarium 

Phialidium 

MED 





8 

languidum 

Eirene 

MED 





36 

pyramidalis 

MED 





6 

Eutima 







variabilis 

MED 





8 

Siphonophora 






2 

Beroeovata 

Mnemiopsis 







mccradyi 


P 




P 

Pelecypoda 

EAR 



2 

896 


Gastropoda 

EAR 

1 


2 

560 

10 

Polychacta 





4 

2 

Polychaeta 

EAR 




272 

2 

Hydracarina 



1 1 

1 



Ostracoda 




130 

363 


Copepoda 

NAU 



200 

1,632 

8 

Copepoda 

COP 




8,029 


Acartia tonsa 


2 

190 58 

1,550 215,084 

199 

Eurytemora 







affinis 


2 



4 


Eucatanus 

pileatus 

Osphranticum 





96 

25 

labroncctum 


1 





Diaptomus sp, 
Labidocera 


2 

2 




aestiva 




349 

12,256 

453 

Centropages 

furcatus 

Paracalanus 





640 

10 

parvus 





1,280 


Cyclopoida 

Oithona 


2 

1 

64 

24 


brevicornis 





1,112 


Macrocyclops 

albidus 

Corycaeus 


3 





americanus 





224 


Corycaeus 







amazonicus 





160 


Ergasilus sp. 
Eutcrpina 





20 

1 

acutifrons 



8 


2,960 


Argulus sp. 


1 

1 

4 

5 

1 

Cirripedia 

NAU 

2 


20 

8,288 

9 


Ainphipoda 1 


Table 9 — Continued 


Species 

Stage April 

*May ^May 

’ June 

^June 

July 

Cerapus sp. 

Edoteo montosa 


1 



4 


Aegathoa oculata 
Muna rcynoldsi 



2 

! 

4 


Decapoda 

ZOE 


6,544 




Caridea 

ZOE 

8 

8 92 

62 

133 

19 

Penaeus aztecus 

PST 

1 


1 

4 


Acetes carotinae 

PRO 





9 

Acetes carolinae 

MAS 



2 



Callianassa sp. 

ZOE 



64 



Upogebia affinis 

Callineetes 

ZOE 



16 

96 

12 

sapidus 

JUV 



4 

1 


Callineetes sp. 

ZOE 





23 

Callineetes sp. 
Rhithropanopeus 

MEG 


5 

1 

5 


harrisii 

Rh ith ropanopeus 

ZOE 

209 

134 143 

1,313 

69 

26 

harrisii 

MEG 

1 

1 


2 


Uca sp. 

ZOE 

1 


833 

242 

37 

Uca sp. 

MEG 




1 


Sesarma sp. 
Panopeus 

ZOE 



31 

1 

40 

herbstii 

ZOE 





16 

Panopeus 

herbstii 

Panopeus 

MEG 




1 


occidentalis 

ZOE 





4 

Menippe 







mercenaria 

ZOE 





4 

Holopedium 







amazonicum 



2 

4 

2 


Diaphanosoma 







brachyurum 


1 


1,581 

118 


Sida 







crystallina 


6 

1 




Daphnia sp. 
Ceriodaphnia 


35 

4 3 

2 



megalops 

Ceriodaphnia 


51 





reticulata 


5 

1 




Ceriodaphnia sp. 
Moina micrura 


1 


20 

6 


Moina affmls 
Moina inacrocopa 
Simocephalus 


2 



12 


vetulus 


2 


1 



Simocephalus 







serrulatus 



1 




Simocephalus 
exspinosus 
Bosmina coregoni 


18 

> 


2 



Bosmina 

longirostrfs 1 

Eurycercus 

lamellatus 1 



effects of 1973 FLOODWATERS ON PLANKTON 


121 


TABLE 9 — Continued 


Species 

Stage April 

^May ^May 

^ June 

^June 

July 

flyocryptus 







spinifer 



1 

9 

1 


Evadne sp. 

Penilia 





736 


avirostris 





96 


Podon sp. 





32 


Insecta 


2 

8 




Corixidae 



1 




Coleoptera 

Dytiscidae 


1 

1 




Odonata 



1 




Buguia 







neretina 




P 



Ophiuroidea 

OPH 





2 

Oikopleura sp. 




8 

996 

8 

Branchiostoma sp. 




1 


Sagitta enflata 





32 

1 

Sagitta tenuis 





228 

18 

Osteichthyes 

EGG 



20 

732 

22 

Osteichthyes 

EAR 

52 

74 14 

175 

21 

3 

Clupeitbrmes 

LAR 




4 


Elopidae 

LEP 

1 





ALherinidae 

Mernbras 

LAR 




14 


nwrtinica 


1 





Anchoa 







ntitchilU 

JUV 




15 


Syngnathus sp. 
Syngnathus 

JUV 

1 





scovelli 


1 





Coscinodiscus sp. 
Wolffia 



P 

P 

P 


Columbiana 

Wolffiella 


P 


P 



floridana 


P 

P 

P 




*See Table 3 
**See Table 3 


By June, the species composition of plankton in area IV 
more closely resembled a coastal estuarine-marine fauna, 
though limnetic and oligohaline species continued to 
dominate samples from areas near freshwater runoff until 
July. Neritic copepods appearing in June included 
Labidocera aestiva, Centropages furcatus, Eiicalanus 
pileatus, Corycaeus americams and Corycaeus aniazonicus. 
Among the many hydromedusae collected in July were 
Liriope tetraphylla, Bougainvillia carolinensh, Fhialidium 
languidum, Eirene pyramidalis and Eutima variahilis. Three 
species of marine cladocerans {Fodon sp., Evadne sp., 
Penilia avirostris) and two coastal marine chaetognaths 
(Sagitta tenuis, Sagitta enflata) were identified. The 
larvacean Oikopleura sp, was present in both months. 


The composition of the meroplankton also changed 
markedly in June and July with the appearance of larval 
stages of Upogebia af finis, Acetes carolinae, Callianassa sp., 
Panopeus herbstii, Panopeus occidentalis and Menippe 
mercenaria. 

Summary Area IV. Plankton samples from the mouth 
of St. Louis Bay and Cat Island Pass for the period May 
Ihrougli September 1971 were examined by the junior 
author. The general composition of the plankton near the 
mouth of St. Louis Bay was similar for the five months, 
with die holoplankton dominated by A. tonsa and the mero- 
plankton by the zoeae of caridean shrimp and the xanthid 
crab R. harrisii. Assuming the above to be representative 
of tlie plankton in this area during the warmer months, 
changes in species composition at stations 1 1 and 1 2 brought 
about by the floodwaters include the addition of numerous 
oligolialine and limnetic genera. 

Plankton samples from Cat Island Pass in 1971 exliibited 
an estuarine-marine fauna. Holoplanktonic species included 
the neritic copepodsL. aestiva and C. furcatus and the eury- 
haline A. tonsa. Hydrozoan medusae were present. Perry 
( 1 975) found Callincctes sp. zoeae in samples from Cat Island 
Pass in the spring and summer. In addition to the larval stages 
of Callinectes sp., the larvae of Trachypenaeus 'ip.^Penaeus 
sp., Lolligunada brevis and numerous sciaenid and clupeid 
fishes have been identified from surface tows inCatlslandPass 
(personal communication, Ronald Herring, Fisheries Research 
and Development Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory). 
These studies support the author’s assumption that the 
species composition of the plankton in the Cat l.sland Pass 
area is typically estuarine-marine, thus the effect of flood- 
waters at stations nearest the influence of Gulf Waters was 
most evident in April and May. Recovery of the system 
began in June with the return of estuarine-marine species. 

AREA V 

Seven stations were located in area V (Figure 3, Table 1). 
Stations 20 and 23 were in passes connecting shallow coastal 
lakes with the Gulf of Mexico. The remaining stations 
ranged as far as ten miles inland. Sampling in Terrebonne 
Parish was limited to a single trip in each of the following 
months: May, June and July. Station 23 was not visited in 
May. 

Bottom sediments are primarily clayey silt (Barret et al. 
1971b). Submerged vegetation is sparse, but some widgeon- 
grass [Ruppia maritima) is present. The area is mainly saline 
marsh with oystergrass (Spartina alterniflora), saltgrass 
(Distichlis spicatd) and wiregrass (Spartina patens) predom- 
inating (Chabreck 1972). Water depths are shallow in the 
lakes ranging from 2 to 5 feet. Depths in the passes vary 
from 17 to 20 feet. 

Hydrographic Data 

Salinity. Preflood surface salinities at the mouth of 
Oyster Bayouin June and July 1968 were 15.3 and 16.4 ppt, 



122 


Hawes and Perry 


respectively, with salinities from Bayou Grand Caillou ranging 
from 1 4.2 to 2 1 .2 ppt from May through July 1 969 (personal 
communication, Marilyn Gillespie^ Louisiana Wildlife and 
Fisheries Commission). Under normal conditions, stations in 
area V would be expected to have some of the highest salin- 
ities of any of the areas studied. Salinity intrusion is occurring 
in Terrebonne Parish due to a multiplicity of factors: subsi- 
dence, the dredging of passes and the construction of canals. 

Surface salinities for stations in area V from May through 
July 1973 are shown in Table 10. 


Table 10. 

Hydrographic data and settled volume of plankton 
for stations in area V. 


Station 

Parameter 

May 

June 

July 

17 

ppt 

0.3 

0.1 

0.0 

18 

ppt 

0.1 

0.1 

0.0 

19 

ppt 

0.3 

3.3 

2.0 

20 

ppt 

0.7 

3.8 

7.9 

21 

ppt 

1.5 

3.2 

0.3 

22 

ppt 

2.5 

6.1 

1.4 

23 

ppt 


0.0 

0.0 

17 

"c 

26.0 

29.8 

32.6 

18 

“c 

26.0 

29.1 

31.2 

19 

"c 

26.5 

29.8 

30.3 

20 

°c 

28.0 

30.1 

30.4 

21 

°c 

27.0 

30.5 

30.3 

22 

"c 

28.0 

30.7 

31.3 

23 

°c 


29.0 

29.4 

17 

ml 

♦1.0 

2.0 

♦1.0 

18 

ml 

♦1.0 

♦1.0 

♦1.0 

19 

ml 

*1.0 

2.0 

*1.0 

20 

ml 

*1.0 

4.0 

*1.0 

21 

ml 

2.0 

1.0 

*1.0 

22 

ml 

3.0 

12.0 

♦1.0 

23 

ml 


*1.0 

♦1.0 


♦less than 

During the May sampling, salinities ranged from 0.1 to 
2.5 ppt with the highest salinities recorded at the eastern- 
most stations (21 and 22). Salinities were 0.1 ppt at the 
inland stations 17 and 18, and 0.0 ppt in Four League Bay 
(station 23) in June with salinities 3.2 or above at the 
remaining stations. In July, all salinities were 2.0 ppt or below 
with the exception of station 20. The pass at Grand Bayou 
du Large had a reading of 7.9 ppt, the highest salinity 
recorded in area V during the sampling period. 

No postflood data were available on salinities from south- 
west Terrebonne parish. 

Temperature. Surface temperatures for stations in area 
V for May through July 1973 are shown in Table 10. Tem- 
peratures appear to be within the normal range for the area. 


Biological Data 

Settled Volume. Settled volume of zooplankton by 
station in area V is shown in Table 10. Settled volume was 
less than 1.0 ml in 13 of the 20 samples. Large numbers of 
Acartia tonsa and Uca sp. zoeae contributed to the high 
settled volume at station 22 in June. 

Zooplankton. A systematic list of zooplankton collected 
in area V is found in Table 1 1. Area data incorporating sam- 
ples from Grand Pass des llettes. Bayou Grand Caillou, 
Grand Bayou du Large, Taylor’s Bayou and Oyster Bayou 
in 1968-1969 were published in Gillespie (1971); however, 
the individual station data provided to the authors were not 
pubhshed. Her collections show the estuarine copepod A. 
tonsa and cteiiophores to dominate the holoplankton. Other 
holoplankters such as Labidocera aestiva and Eurytemora 
sp. were occasionally present in small numbers. Marine cala- 
noids, including species of Eucalanus, Temora and Centro- 
pages, entered the area in July although there was no distinct 
increase in salinity. The meroplankton was dominated by 
the larvae and postlarvae of decapods. Adult Palaernonetes 
sp. were collected in small numbers. 


Table 11. 

Systematic list of zooplankton, area V. 


Species 

Stage 

May 

June 

July 

Pelecypoda 

EAR* 

1 



Gastropoda 

EAR 

6 

369 

10 

Polychaeta 


1 



Polychaeta 

EAR 

64 

32 


Nereis sp. 



6 


Hydracaiina 


285 

207 

21 

Arachnida 




2 

Ostracoda 


142 

5,415 

5 

Copepoda 

NAU 

64 

18 


Copepoda 

COP 

3 

145 

3 

Acartia tonsa 


3,359 

118,176 

88 

Eurytemora affinis 


144 

1 


Eurytemora hirundoides 


8 



Eurytemora sp. 


8 



Pseudodiaptomus cornutus 


11 



Diapiomus sp. 


70 

51 

5 

Labidocera aestiva 



5 


Harpacticoida 



1 


Euterpina acutifrons 


8 

221 


Cyclopoida 


12 

105 


Cyclops sp. 


89 

36 


Ergasilus sp. 


23 

444 


Halicyclops fosteri 


5 



Argulus sp. 


37 

100 

19 

Cirripedia 

NAU 

196 

2,128 


Corophium sp. 

Corophium lacustre 

Corophium louisianum 


7 

14 

3 



EFFECTS OF 1973 FLOODWATERS ON PLANKTON 


123 


TABLE 1 1 — Continued 


Species 

Stage 

May 

June 

July 

Gammarus mucronatus 




3 

Melita nitida 



1 


Cerapus sp. 


2 

2 


Isopoda 




15 

Muna reynoldsi 



1 


Edotea sp. 


34 



Caridea 

ZOE 

464 

230 

70 

Palaemonetes pugio 


3 



Macrobrachium ohione 




1 

Callinectes sapidus 

JUV 

7 

28 

2 

Rhithropanopeus harrisii 

ZOE 

2,147 

2,707 

544 

Rhithropanopeus harrisii 

MEG 

6 

1 


Uca sp. 

ZOE 

1 ,563 

28,346 

34 

Uca sp. 

MEG 


11 


Sesarma sp. 

ZOE 

18 

96 

18 

Penaeus aztecus 

PST 

13 

1 


Callianassa sp. 

ZOE 

72 



Upogebia a f finis 

ZOE 

8 



Diaphanosoma brachyurum 


27 

54 


Moinodaphnia macleayii 



2 


Ilyocryptus spinifer 


29 

15 

3 

Sida crystallina 


8 



Sirnocephalus vetulus 


16 

2 


Sirnocephalus exspinosus 


7 

3 


Moina micrura 



2 


Moina affbits 




2 

Moina macrocopa 


8 



Ceriodaphnia megalops 


2 

1 


Bosmina coregoni 


2 

89 


Bosrnina tongirosiris 



5 


Insecta 


1 


5 

Tendipedidae 

EAR 



1 

Trichoptcra 

EAR 


1 


Osteiclithyes 

EAR 

307 

136 

17 

.Anchoa mit chilli 

EAR 

2 

1 


Anchoa mitchilli 


2 



Adenia xenica 


3 



Coscinodiscus sp. 



P” 


Wolffia Columbiana 


P 



Wolffiella floridana 


P 

P 


Myriophyllurn sp. 




P 

Najas sp. 




P 

Lemna sp. 




P 


*See Table 3 
’♦See Table 3 


Estuarine species dominated the May, June and July 
samples following the 1973 opening of the Morganza Flood- 
way. Acartia tonsa was the most abundant holoplankter. 
The meroplankton was composed primarily of the zoeal 
stages of Rhithropanopeus harrhii and Uca sp. Numerous 
freshwater species were collected; however, none were 
present in large numbers. Members of the order llydra- 
carina were coitunon as well as the freshwater copepods 
Diaptomus sp. and Cyclops sp. Twelve species of freshwater 
cladocerans were noted, with Jlyocryptus spinifer, Diaphari- 
osoma brachyunirn and Sirnocephalus vetulus the more 
numerous. Freshwater plants including duckweed {Wolffiella 
floridam) and water meal {\^*olffia columbiand) occurred. 
Species diversity and abundance dropped in July. 

Summary of Area V. Gillespie’s data show the spring 
and summer plankton populations in area V to be dominated 
by the copepod A. tonsa and the nieroplanktonic larvae of 
benthic invertebrates, with marine organisms entering the 
area in July. During the 1973 opening of the Morganza 
Floodway, freshwater copepods and cladocerans augmented 
the normal planktonic fauna. The usual July intrusion of 
marine species was not observed. 

GENERAL SUMMARY 

The 1973 opening of the Bonnet Carre and Morganza 
floodways had a dramatic but short-term impact on plankton 
populations in adjacent coastal waters. Plankton populations 
in the estuarine w'aiers of Mississippi and Louisiana are gen- 
erally endemic assemblages, with the holoplankton domin- 
ated by Acartia tonsa and the meroplankton by the larvae 
of benthic crustaceans. Higher salinity portions of these 
estuarine areas normally show an increase in marine forms 
as salinities rise through the summer. During and subsequent 
to the floodway openings, however, the normal estuarine 
populations were augmented by the addition of numerous 
freshwater-oligohaline species. As salinities returned to 
normal levels, these forms were eliminated. 


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Barrett, B. B., J. W. Tarver, W. R. Latapie, J. F. PoUard, W. R. Mock, 
G. B. Adkins, W. J. Gaidry, C. J. White & J. S. Mathis. 1971a. 
Cooperative Gulf of Mexico Estuarine Inventory and Study, Loui- 
siana. Phase JI, Hydrology. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Com- 
mission, New Orleans, Louisiana, 130 pp, 

Barrett, B, B., J. W. Tarver, W. R. Latapie, J. F. Pollard, W. R. Mock, 


G, B, Adkins, W. J. Gaidry & C. J, White, 1971b. Cooperative 
Gulf of Mexico Estuarine Inventory and Study, Louisiana. Phase 
III, Sedimentology. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, 
New Orleans, Louisiana, 61 pp. 

Barrett, B. B. 1976. An inventory and study of the Lake Pontchar- 
train Lake Maurepas estuarine complex. Phase IV. Sedimen- 



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tology , grain size analysis of bottom sediments in Lake Maurepas 
and Pontchartrain. Louisiana WildL and Fish. Com. Tech, Bull. 
19:145-159. 

Bowman, T. E. \96S.Mysidopsis almyra,d. new estuarine mysid crus- 
tacean from Louisiana and ?lo^\d^..TulaneStud.Zool, 1 2(1):15-18. 

Bryan, C. F., F. M. Truesdale, D. F. Sabins & C. R. Demas. 1974. 
Preliminary report, a limnological survey of the Atchafalaya 
Basin. Louisiana Cooperative Fislieiy Unit, School of Forestry 
and Wildlife Management, Louisiana State University, Baton 
Rouge, Louisiana, 51 pp. 

Burke, W. D. 1975, Pelagic Cnidaria of Mississippi Sound and adja- 
cent waters. Gulf Res. Repi. 5(l):23-38. 

Butler, P. A. 1952. Effect of floodwatcrs on oysters in Mississippi 
Sound in 1950. U.S. Fish Wildi Serv. Res. Rep. 31 :1 -20. 

Cali, F. J. III. 1972. Ecology of a brackish pond system in soutli- 
eastern Louisiana. Master’s Thesis. Louisiana State University 
Library, New Orleans, Louisiana, 62 pp. 

Chabreck, R. H. 1972. Vegetation, water and soil characteristics of 
the Louisiana coastal region. La. Agric, Exp. Stn. Bull, 64:1-72. 

Chien, S. H. 1969. Summer Gadocera of the Pearl River system. 
Master’s Thesis. Mississippi State University Library, Slarkville, 
Mississippi, 1 37 pp. 

Christmas, J. Y. & C. K. Eleuterius. 1973. Hydrology. Pp, 75 121. 
In: J. Y. Christmas (ed.), Gulf of Mexico Estuarine Inventory 
and Study, Mississippi. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean 
Springs, Mississippi. 

Cuzon du Rest, R. P. 1963. Distribution of the zooplankton in tlie 
salt mar.shes of southeastern Louisiana. Puhl. Inst. Mar. Sci. Univ. 
Tex. 9:132-155. 

Darnell, R. M. 1958. Food habits of fishes and larger invertebrates 
of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, an estuarine community. Publ. 
Inst. Mar. Sci. Univ. Tex. 5:353 -4 1 6. 

. 1959. Studies of the life history of the blue crab (Callin- 

ectes sapidus Rathbun) in Louisiana waters. Trans. Am. Fish. 
Soc. 88(4) :294- 304. 

. 1961. Trophic spectrum of an estuarine community 

based on studies of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. Ecology 
42:553-568. 

. 1962. Ecological history of Lake Pontchartrain, an 

estuarine community, yfm. Midi. Nat. 68:434-444. 

Dotson, M. 1966. An introductory plankton survey of the Grand 
Lake, Atchafalaya Basin. Master’s Thesis, University of Missis- 
sippi Library, Oxford, Mississippi, 85 pp. 

Eleuterius, C, K, 1916. Mississippi Sound, Salinity Distribution and 
Indicated Flow Patterns. Mississippi- Alabama Sea Grant Consor- 


tium Publication No, MASGP-76-023, 128 pp. 

El Sayed, S. 2,, K. M. Rae, A, C. Duxbury & H, C. Loesch. 1961. 
Hydrological and biological studies of the Mi.ssissippi River-Gulf 
Outlet Project. I'exas A&M Research Foundation, Project 236, 
Reference 6 1 -20F. 

Gillespie, M, C. 1971. Cooperative Gulf of Mexico Estuarine Inven- 
tory and Study, Louisiana. Phase IV, Biology. Analyses and treat- 
ment of zooplankton of estuarine waters of Louisiana. Louisiana 
Wildlife and FisheriesCommission.NewOrleans.Louisiana. J 75 pp. 

Grice, G, D. 1956. A qualitative and quantitative seasonal study 
of the Copepoda of Alligator Harbor, Fla. Sta. Univ. Stud. 22(2): 
37-76. 

Hopkins, T. L. 1966. Plankton of the St. Andrew Bay system of 
Florida. Publ. Inst. Mar. Sci. Univ. Tex. 11:1 2-64. 

Perry, 11. M. & J. Y. Christmas. 1973. Estuarine zooplankton, 
Mississippi, Pp. 198-254. In; J. Y. Christmas (ed.), Gulf of 
Mexico Estuarine Inventory and Study, Mississippi. Gulf Coast 
Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 

Perry, H. M. 1975. The blue crab fishery in Mississippi. Gulf Res. 
Rept. 5(I);39-57. 

Stern, D. IL, B. 11. Atwell, E. L. Mcrz & M. J. Verct. 1968. A 
summer limnological study of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. 
Louisiana Water Resources Institute, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 
Tech. Rep. 3:1-83. 

Sc M. Stern. 1969. Physical, chemical, bacterial and 

plankton dynamics of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. Louisiana 
Water Resources Institute, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Tech. Rept. 
4:1-60. 

Suttkus, R. D., R. M. Darnell & J, II. Darnell. 1953-55. Biological 
study of Lake Pontchartrain. Research Progress Reports a j. 
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, New Orleans, 
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Tarver, J. W. & R. J. Dugas. 1973. A study of the clam, Rangia 
cuncata, in Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, Louisiana. 
Louisiana Wildl. and Fish. Com., Tech. Bull. 5:1-97, 

& L. B. Savoie. 1976. An inventory and study of the 

Lake Punlqhartrain-Lake Maurepas estuarine complex, Phases 
I— 111. Area descriptions, biology and hydrology and water 
chemistry. Louisiana Wildl. and Fish. Com,, Tech. Bull. 
19:1-144. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1974 -75-76. Continuous Salinity 
Records. New Orleans District Office, New Oxlean-s, Louisiana. 

Wilson, M. S. 1958. Tlie copepod genus Ilalicyclops m North Amer- 
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Louisiana and ihe Texas coast. TulaneStud. Zool. 6(4):! 76-189. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

An Improved^ Conceptually Simple Technique for Estimating the Productivity of Marsh 
Vascular Flora 

Courtney T. Hackney 

University of Southwestern Louisiana 

Olga P. Hackney 

Mississippi State University 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.02 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 




Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Hackney, C. T. and O. P. Hackney. 1978. An Improved, Conceptually Simple Technique for Estimating the Productivity of Marsh 
Vascular Flora. Gulf Research Reports 6 (2): 125-129. 

Retrieved from http://aquila.usm.edu/gcr /vol6/iss2/2 


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Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 125-129, 1978 


AN IMPROVED, CONCEPTUALLY SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR ESTIMATING 
THE PRODUCTIVITY OF MARSH VASCULAR FLORA 


COURTNEY T. HACKNEY AND OLGA P. HACKNEY 

Department of Biology, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 
Lafayette, Louisiana 70504 and Department of Computer Science 
and Statistics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, 

Mississippi 39762 

ABSTRACT The estimatiou of tlic net primary productivity of marsh communiiies with a periodic maximum -minimum 
(PMM) technique has certain advantages over the long used maximum- minimum standing stock technique, but still retains 
the same conceptual simplicity. The final productivity estimate with PMM is based on the entire data set rather than just two 
points. Direct statistical comparisons between any two oommunUie'! can be made. An estimate of the productivity by minor 
species in the couuuujiity can also be made. The periodic model permits statistical comparisons about other variables in com- 
munity growth such as the timing of the maximum standing crop. With certain assumptions, productivity estimates which 
account for the loss of live plant material during Uie growing season can be made without the tremendous amount of effort 
and . time required by the Wiegeri-Evans technique. Despite the increased utility the PMM technique requires no additional 
field effort. 


INTRODUCTION 

The productivity of coastal tidal marshes is a useful way 
to compare the potential productivity of estuaries (Turner 
1977). Estimation techniques for tidal marsh productivity 
range from conceptually simple techniques such as the 
standard maxiinum— minimum (max— min) standing crop 
technique to techniques that measure the disappearance of 
material from plots in addition to the increa.se in living 
plant material (W'iegerl and Evans 1964). Each technique 
has certain advantages over other techniques. The Wiegert— 
Evans technique may provide a better estimate of plant 
productivity, but requires more time and effort than the 
standard max— min technique. Determination of the best 
technique depends greatly on the amount of effort available, 
the community to be studied, and the eventual use of the 
data. The ideal technique must account for (1) the variation 
of plant density throughout the study marsh ;(2) the inherent 
variation between sampling dates; (3) the death of new plant 
growth during the growing season; (4) the productivity of 
minor plant species in the community ; and (5) loss of new 
plant growth through herbivory. 

The following is a method for estimating marsh plant 
productivity using the conceptual simplicity of the max— min 
technique, but allows the researcher to account for these 
other variable^; in his estimate. The use of a statistical model 
improves the reliability of the productivity estimate and 
provides a valid mathematical model through which other 
tests and comprisons can be made. These advantages are 
added without substantially increasing the amount of effort 
required for the max— min technique. The technique also has 
the advantage of allowing straight-forward statistical com- 


Manusciipt received May 22, 1978; accepted August 15, 1978. 


parisons between any two studies regardless of when or 
where they are made. The periodic model has widespread 
application and has provided a good fit for many other bio- 
logical phenomena (Odum and Smalley 1959; Buzas 1969; 
Brown and Taylor 1971 ; Hackney et al. 1976). 

METHOD 

The periodic regression model differs from the usual 
general regression model only in the functional form of the 
independent variable. The usual general one-term linear 
regression model is: 

y^ = a + j3x^ + ej i = 1, . . . , n. 

The corresponding one-term periodic model considers the 
trigonometric functions of Xj as 

y^ = 0(0 + 0(1 cos (ex-) + /3i sin (exj) + Cj (1) 

where 

yj = dependent variable 
Oq = constant parameter 

, /3i = coefficients of the harmonic function of Xj 
c = 'htln 

Xj = i th independent variable 
Cj = error. 

Note that a pair of trigonometric terms constitute a single 
harmonic term. In most ecological problems the independ- 
ent variable x- is time, each x- representing a unit of time 
such as months, i = 1, 2, . . . , 12. The dependent variable 
y- could be temperature, salinity, number of organisms, etc. 

The semi-amplitude of the curve described in equation (1) 
would be 

A = Q? +i3^ 


125 



126 


Hackney and Hackney 


and the phase angle estimated by 

Tan(0) = l5i/a, [ . 

The number of terms in the model is determined in the 
same manner as choosing the number of terms in any regres- 
sion model. The goal is to find a model that adequately 
describes the data, and also has biological validity. As in 
polynomial regression, it is possible to add enough terms to 
the periodic model to achieve an exact fit. The addition of 
harmonic terms should depend upon the biological inter- 
pretation of the model. If only the diel cycle is known to 
effect a given phenomenon yet five harmonics are required 
to explain the data, then the model is probably incorrect. 
Other factors, not necessarily periodic, might need to be 
considered in the model. The periodic model usually pro- 
vides an excellent fit for productivity data (Bliss 1970; 
Hackney and Hackney 1977). This technique allows the u.se 
of stratified sampling collection procedures which are less 
destructive to marshes than simple random collection tech- 
niques and less time consuming. Since the fitted curve used 
samples collected over the entire marsh, the final resulting 
max— min values reflect the variation in plant density within 
the marsh as well as the inherent error between samples. 
The standard max-min procedure only reflects the variation 
of the highest and lowest biomass estimates. Estimation of 
the productivity of minor species can be made using the 
same periodic curve with these same conceptual advantages 
overcoming the usual patchiness of minor plant species 
distribution, essentially integrating this highly variable com- 
ponent into a smooth curve. If data are available on the 
death rate of plants within the community, a productivity 
estimate may be obtained that, like the Wiegcrt— Evans 
technique, includes productivity lost by the early death of 
plants. In many cases these data are available with little 
increase in effort. 

Examples 

The data used in the following examples were collected 
in a Mississippi tidal marsh located on the western side of 
St. Louis Bay, Mississippi. The vegetation on this marsh was 
described by Gabriel and de la Cruz (1974). 

The increase of above-ground vascular plant biomass in 
marshes usually follows a periodic type of curve as does the 
increase in the below-ground portions of these plants (de la 
Cruz and Hackney 1977). An examination of the means of 
each collection plotted against time will provide visual 
proof of whether the periodic model is appropriate. In the 
following examples five 0.25 m^ samples were collected on 
each date. The first example demonstrates what factors are 
used to determine the validity of the model and the differ- 
ence between a productivity estimate made through the 
periodic max— min technique and an estimate with the 
standard max-min technique. The second example provides 


a mathematically sound method of estimating the contribu- 
tion by minor plant species in the community, while the third 
example compares two models that produced similar quanti- 
ties of biomass, but produced them at different times.The last 
example shows how a better productivity estimate can be ob- 
tained if information on the death rate of the plants is known. 

One disadvantage of the traditional max-min technique 
is that it uses onlytwovaluesfromtheentire year’s collection, 
the highest and lowest standing crop of living plant material. 
With this technique the conununiTy in Figure 1 had a pro- 
ductivity of 481 g/m*/yr. A periodic curve fitted to all of 
the data points also provides a maximum and minimum 
value, but these values are based on the entire data set and 
the variability of all samples. There were 372 g/m^/yr of 
vascular plant production estimated by this technique. The 
periodic model of theJuncus community in Figure 1 is 

Y = 770.9 -88.7 sin (ctp- 162.9 cos (ct-) 

where c = 27r/l 2 and 1. = 1 , , . . , 12 based on 40 obser- 
vations. The r^ was 0.493 with a significant F of 18.0 
which indicates a significant (a = 0.05) periodic compon- 
nent and a significant r^ in the data set. The test of a signif- 
icant periodic component is the most important factor 
when deciding whether to accept the use of the periodic 
model. If this component were nonsignificant a model 
based just on the overall mean would be more appropriate. 
More information on the actual testing of periodic models 
is provided by Hackney and Hackney (1977). The variability 
of plant distribution within a marsh plant community may 
cause what seems to be iow r^ values. This variability 
affects the r“ most if a random stratified sampling scheme 
is used. If one is willing to accept the assumption that the 



.4 I 

D F A J A 
1977 


Figure 1, Monthly changes of tirve biomass in a Juncus community. 
Vertical lines represent ± one standard error. The smootli curve is 
predicted from the periodic model. E.slimatcs derived by the simple 
max-min technique and the periodic model are compared. 



Estimating Productivity of Marsh Flora 


127 


increase in plant biomass follows a periodic pattern then a 
random stratified sampling procedure may be used, which 
does not disturb the marsh, and is not as time consuming as 
the simple random collection technique. 

Perhaps the most difficult component to isolate in a 
marsh plant community is the contribution of the minor 
species to tbe productivity of the community. This may be 
done through the development of a periodic model for the 
increase of living plant biomass for the entire community, 
and a separate model for the dominant plant species, in 
this example Jimcus roemerianus (Figure 2). Subtraction 
of the two productivity eslimate.s yields an estimate of the 
contribution by the minor plant species in the community, 
which ill this case was 56 g/m^/yr. 



1976 1977 

Figure 2. Periodic models of the total live plant biomass and the 
total live Juncus in a control community. Tbe mean of each monthly 
collection is provided for comparison. 'Fhe difference between the 
productivity estimates is an estimate of the productivity of the 
minor species in the community. 

Another useful aspect of this technique is the ability to 
test whether the growth (productivity) of two communities 
is the same. Using the standard max— min technique one has 
two numbers to compare and no way to make a statement 
about any statistically significant differences between the 
two communities. In the following example, two Spartina 
cynomroides communities were compared the second year 
following a bum in one community (Figure 3). A compar’ 
ison of the two periodic models indicated that there was no 
significant difference (a = 0.05) in fhe amount of live bio- 
mass produced, but that the peak production was reached 
earlier in the burned community. This type of information 
is not available directly from other estimation techniques. 
Interpretation of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) output 
necessary to make these decisions is provided by Hackney 
and Hackney (1977). 

Despite the reliability realized through the use of this 
periodic max- min technique there are still certain com- 
ponents of plant productivity that are not considered. 
Hopkinson et al. (in press) emphasized the need for any 



Figure 3. Periodic models of the natural and burned Spartina 
cynosuroides community. Individual points represent the mean ± 
one standard error. 

productivity estimate to account for the loss of dead plant 
material from a community. Tliis is most important if the 
above-ground portions of the plant do not die during the 
winter, such as J. roemerianus along the Gulf coast or if the 
turnover rate is very high. To integrate this component into 
a periodic max— min estimate one can produce a mathemat- 
ical model based on the accumulation of dead material 
during the growing season. It is necessary to be sure that 
this dead material was produced during the growing season. 
To do this an area can be cut at the beginning of the grow- 
ing season and samples collected from this area each month. 
In the case of plants that die each winter, cutting does not 
seem to affect the accumulation of dead material during the 
growing season. The only potential effect is the lack of 
shading that may be produced by the previous year’s dead 
standing biomass. In the case of perennial plants {Juncus^ 
etc.) which stay green all year this practice may have some 
effect. The addition of this component to the productivity 



128 


Hackney and Hackney 


estimate may require the addition of a significant amount 
of field work to the study. In the following example this 
was not a factor since the intent was to estimate the pro- 
ductivity of ^Juncus community following a fire. A general 
model that combined a periodic component with an asymp- 
totic exponential function provided a good fit for the 
increase of dead material in the burned Juncus community. 
Models besides the asymptotic exponential would be ade- 
quate provided that they adequately represent the data. 
The predicted model of the live biomass, dead biomass and 
the combined model (Figure 4) illustrates the need to 
account for this dead component. In this particular case 
1 1 5 g/m^ was added to the annual productivity of this 
community by accounting for the loss of new living material 
during the growing season. 



1976 

Figure 4. Periodic model of the living plant biomass, model of the 
accumulation of dead plant material and the combined value of a 
burned Juncus community. 

DISCUSSION 

The measurement of net primary productivity in any 
marsh system is necessary to completely understand the 
energetics of that system. Techniques that measure other 
factors besides changes of live biomass (Wiegert and Evans 
1 964) may be useful if the additional time and effort are 
available. It is unlikely that the literature on marsh plant 
productivity will ever achieve I he uniformity that Turner 
(1976) and Kirby and Gosselink (1976) feel is necessary 


when other researchers consider the max— min technique 
adequate (de la Cruz 1978). The periodic max -min tech- 
nique (PMM) could provide uniform estimates of marsh 
plant productivity since most of the published data could 
easily be recalculated using this technique. The technique 
still possesses the conceptual simplicity which de la Cruz 
(1978) believed desirable. With only a small amount of 
increased effort other factors such as the instantaneous loss 
rate, productivity of minor species in the community, and 
various sampling problems can be accommodated with the 
PMM technique. Kirby and Gosselink (1976) fitted a poly- 
nomial function to the changes of live and dead material 
they found in a salt marsh. These data could have been 
easily fitted to a periodic model. The biological interpre- 
tation of a polynomial model is not usually apparent, while 
the interpretation of a periodic model is usually straight 
forward. For example, a fourth-degree polynomial is equiva- 
lent to a single harmonic model. Interpreting the meaning 
of raising an independent variable, e.g., time, to the fourth 
power is more difficult than explaining a single cycle over a 
specified interval. Also direct estimates of amplitude and 
phase are available. Periodic models may also reveal differ- 
ences between communities via periodic regression analysis 
(Hackney and Hackney 1977). 

The calculation of the actual primary productivity of 
marsh plants is difficult. In the past we have separated the 
productivity of the aerial portion of the plant (leaves and 
stems) from the productivity of the roots and rhizomes. 
This below-ground productivity may be as high as the above- 
ground productivity (de la Cruz and Hackney 1977). More 
recently Hopkinson et al. (in press) have shown that pro- 
ductivity estimates that do not consider the short-term turn- 
over rate may greatly underestimate the primai'y productivity 
of some marsh plant species. The estimation of the loss of 
newly produced plant material (instantaneous loss rate) in a 
marsh community has many associated problems (Hopkinson 
et al,, in press), A relatively simple method of estimating 
this loss rate is shown in Figure 4. This technique would not 
be appropriate for plants with a rapid turnover rate and 
would not be as good an estimate as that obtained by the 
paired plot technique of Hopkinson et al. (in press). Both 
techniques require the disturbance of an area by the 
researcher that could affect the final results. The effect of 
clipping all vegetation from an area and then following the 
accumulation of dead material during the growing season 
may not affect the resultant estimate any more than the 
variables introduced by the Wiegert— Evans technique. 

Hopkinson et al. (in press) suggested that the max— min 
technique underestimated the actual productivity of marshes 
because it docs not account for the loss of newly produced 
organic matter. An additional criticism of the standard 
max— min technique is that if provides a poor estimate of 
the actual increase of living plant biomass because it is based 
on only two points, each of which is subject to the inhereni 



Estimating productivity of Marsh Flora 


129 


variability found in any natural system (Figure 1). The 
periodic max— min technique provides an estimate that is 
based on every sample collected during the study. Thus, the 
primary productivity estimate obtained through the periodic 
max— min technique may be higher or lower than the 
standard max— min technique, but is far more reliable. If 
the model which predicts the loss of new plant growth is 
added to tlie periodic model, an estimate is produced that is 
higher than either of the max—min estimates and compar- 
able to the Wiegert— Evans technique. 


Since the periodic max— min technique is easy to use, 
conceptually simple, and satisfies some of the criticisms of 
other techniques, it is suggested as the best general method 
available to estimate the net primary productivity in marsh 
communities. 

ACKNOWLEDGM ENTS 

These data were collected througli a grant provided by 
the Mississippi Marine Resources Council (OR— 76— 003). 


REFERENCES CITED 


Bliss, C. I. 1970. Statistics in Biology. McGraw-Hill Co., New York. 
639 pp. 

Brown, E. S. & L. R, Taylor. 1971. Lunar cycles in the distribution 
and abundance of albino insects in the equatorial highlands of 
east Africa./. Anim. Ecol. 40:161-^111 . 

Buzas, M. A. 1969. Foraminiferal species densities and environ- 
mental variables in an estuary . Ltmrto/. Oceanogr. 1 4 :4 1 1 -4 22. 

de la Cruz, A. A. 1978. Present status and future needs of primary 
production studies in freshwater wetlands, Pp. 79-88 in R. E. 
Good, D.F. Whigham, R.H. Simpson and C.G. Jackson, ir., eds,, 
Symposium on Freshwater Marshes: Ecological Processes and 
Management Potential. Academic Press, New York. 

& C. T. Hackney. 1977. Energy value, elemental compo- 
sition, and productivity of below ground biomass of a Juncus 
tidal marsh. Ecology 58:1 1 65-11 70. 

Gabriel, B. C. and A, A. de la Cruz. 1974. Species composition, 
standing slock and net primary productivity of a salt marsh 
community in Mississippi. Chesapeake Sci. 15:72-77. 

Hackney, C. T,, W, D. Burbanck & O. P. Hackney, 1976. Biological 


and physical dynamics of a Georgia tidal creek. Chesapeake 
Sci. 17:271-280, 

Hackney, O. P. &. C. T, Hackney, 1977. Periodic regression analysis 
of ecological data./. Miss. Acad. Sci. XX1I;25~33, 

Hopkinson, C. S., J. G. Gosselink & R. T. Parrando, Aboveground 
production of seven marsh plant species in coastal Louisiana. 
Ecology, in press. 

Kirby, J. J, & 1. G. Gosselink, 1976. Primary production in a Loui- 
siana Gulf coast Spartina alterniflora marsh. Ecology 
57:1052-1059- 

Odum, E. P. & A. E. Smalley. 1959. Comparison of population 
energy flow of a herbivorous and a deposite feeding invertebrate 
in a salt marsh ecosystem. Flroc. Natl. Acad. Sci. Lf.S-A. V:45. 

Turner, R. E. 1976. Geographic variation in salt marsh macrophyte 
production: Arenew. Contrib. Mar. Sci. 20:47-68. 

■ 1977. Intertidal vegetation and commercial yields of 
penaeid shrimp. 7>ans. Am. Fish Soc. 106:411 416. 

Wiegert, R. & F. Evans. 1964. Primary production and the disappear- 
ance of dead vegetation on an old field. Ecology 45:16—63. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Food of the Red Drum^ Sciaenops ocellata, from Mississippi Sound 

Robin M. Overstreet 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

Richard W Heard 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.03 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 
Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Overstreet, R. M. and R. W. Heard. 1978. Food of the Red Drum, Sciaenops ocellata, from Mississippi Sound. Gulf Research Reports 6 
(2); 131-135. 

Retrieved from http;//aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/3 


This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and Caribbean 
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Gulf Research Reports. Vol. 6, No, 2, 131-1 35, 1978 


FOOD OF THE RED DRUM, SCIAENOPS OCELLATA , 
FROM MISSISSIPPI SOUND' 


ROBIN M. OVERSTREET AND RICHARD W. HEARD 

Parasitology Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 

Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 

ABSTRACT Examined digestive tracts of the red drum in Mississippi Sound contained mostly decapod crustaceans. 
Crustaceans accounted for 34 of 59 encountered taxa, more than reported from any other region. Nevertheless, the general 
diet for 104 fish with food contents out of the 107 examined is similar to that reported for red drum in several other 
studies from other areas. In addition to crustaceans, fishes followed by polychaetes occurred as the most important items 
(in 99, 43, and 15% of the drum with food, respectively). Blue crabs occurred in even more drum than the frequently 
encountered penaeid shrimps. Other commercial species were negligible in the diet. Sixteen large drum from Georgia beaches 
were also examined; unlike those from Mtssi.ssippi, many of these contained cchinoderms, but not polychaetes or penaeids. 
We suggest that the red drum’s migrations may be regulated by optimal abundance of specific types of dietary organisms. 


INTRODUCTION 

The red drum, Sciaenops ocellata^ also corninonly called 
redfish or channel bass, is an important sportsfish in Missis- 
sippi coastal waters. Consequently, in order to appreciate 
that fish’s relationship with other organisms in the region, 
we investigated its specific diet in Mississippi and examined 
the relative extent of its predation on commercial shrimps 
and crabs. In the northern Gulf of Mexico, the drum typically 
feeds (1) in shallow marsh areas rooting about with its head 
lowered and its tail occasionally out of the water; (2) in 
relatively deep inshore water in depressions behind sand- 
bars or channels adjacent to mud- or grassflats (Yokel 1966), 
or (3) for large adults, in Gulf water, usually near shore, but 
occasionally several kilometers offshore. The amount of 
drum caught from a locality appears directly related to the 
locality’s amount of estuarine area (Yokel 1966). 

MATERIALS AND METHODS 

A total of 107 red drum, 104 with food in their stomachs 
or intestines, was collected between May 1976 and August 
1977 by hook and line or gill net and placed on ice or frozen 
until examined. The fish came from a variety of habitats: 
(1) near barrier islands, (2) open water of Mississippi Sound, 
and (3) Davis Bayou, Biloxi Bay, and other sites adjacent to 
marsh grass. After taking standard lengths (SL) of fish, we 
either immediately identified food items orpreserved them in 
10% formalin. Twenty-two additional adult drum were exam- 
ined from Sapelo Island, Georgia, and treated identically. 

RESULTS 

Fifty-nine different taxa plus remains of several more 
unidentified ones occurred in the red drum (Table 1). Most 


'This study was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Depart- 
ment of Commerce, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, under 
PL 88-309, Project Nos. 2-262-R and 2-325-R. 

Manuscript received October 10, 1978; accepted October 17, 1978. 


of these were crustaceans and all but one drum with food 
contained at least one crustacean (99%). Even with the 
extensive variety in crustaceans, few of which had been 
reported previously as drum food, blue crabs and penaeid 
shrimps occurred most frequently. The commonly encount- 
ered penaeid and palaemonid shrimps, however, occurred in 
a smaller percentage of fish longer than 50 cm than of 
shorter fish. On the other hand, the percentages of drum 
with blue crabs, the stoma topod Squilla empusa, and some 
other items were greater in the larger fish (Table 2). 

Fishes, occurring in 43% of the drum, constituted the 
second most abundant item. These occurred more commonly 
in larger fish (Table 2); 65% of those drum over 50 cm had 
fish in their stomachs compared with 43 and 30% in the two 
smaller groups. Polychaetes also contributed to the diet, 
but appeared less important in fish over 50 cm. Other items 
were rare in the drum examined from Mississippi. 

Some seasonality in diets was apparent (Table 3). As 
examples, some relatively uncommon food items, annelids, 
echinoderms, and a bryzoan (probably ingested passively 
while feeding on another organism), occurred only during 
winter and spring, whereas the stomatopod occurred exclu- 
sively during spring and fall. On the other hand, when con- 
sidering the prevalent blue crabs and penaeid shrimps, we 
found the percentage of crabs was greater in spring and 
summer and that of the shrimps in winter and fall. 

The contents of 16 relatively large drum from Sapelo 
Island, Georgia, are listed in Table 4. 

DISCUSSION 

Even though we list many more specific food items than 
other reports on the red drum’s food, our findings agree 
generally. Pearson (1929), Gunter (1945), Kemp (1949), 
Miles (1 949:1 950), and Knapp ( 1 95.0) from Texas; Fontenot 
and Rogiilio (1970) and Boothby and Avault (1971) from 
Louisiana; and Yoke! (1966) from Florida all provided data 
on over 100 examined drum. Contents from numerous 
juvenile drum have also been recorded from Texas by Miles 


31 



132 


Overstreet and Heard 


TABLE I. 

Percentage of occurrence of organisms and other material obtained from the stomachs and 
intestines of 104 red drum in Mississippi Sound. 


Food Items 

Occurrence (%) 

Food Items 

Occurrence (%) 

Polychaetes 


Pinnixa sp. 

l.p. 

Oxaetoplerus variopedatus tube 

1,0 

Porrunus gib best 

5.8 

Glycera americana 

10.6 

Processa cf. hemphilli 

6.7 

Nereis succinea 

3.8 

Rhithropanopeus harrisi 

1.9 

Unidentifiable polychaete 

1.9 

Sicyonia brevirostris 

1.9 

Stomatopod 


Sicyonia dorsalis 

1.0 

Squilla empusa 

8.7 

Speocarcinus lobarus 

1.9 

Amphipods 


Tozeutm carolinensis 

1.0 

Ampelisca abdila 

1.0 

Trachypenaeus similis 

2.9 

Unidentifiable ampithoid 

2.9 

Uca longisignalis 

2.9 

Decapods 


Unidentifiable goneplacid 

3.8 

Alpheus hei erochaelis 

5.8 

Upogebia affinis 

1.0 

Alpheus normonni 

2.9 

Ectoproct 


Callinectes remains 

6.7 

Bugula neritina 

4.8 

CalUnectes sapidus 

17.3 

Holothuroid 


Callinectes similis 

36.5 

Thyonacta mexicana 

1.0 

Chasmocarcinus mississip- 


Echinoid 


piensis 

1.0 

Mellita quinquiesperforata 

3.8 

Emerita talpoida 

1.0 

Fishes 


Euceramus praelongus 

1.0 

Achirus lineatus 

1.0 

Hepatus epheliticus 

5.8 

Anchoa mitchilli 

5.8 

Hexaparuipeus angustifrons 

5.8 

Brevoortia patronus 

1.0 

Hippolyte pleuracantha 

3.8 

Cyprinodon voriegatus 

2.9 

Leiolambrus nitidus 

1.0 

Diplectrum sp. 

1.0 

LepiJopa bennedicti 

1.9 

Gobiosoma bosci 

1.9 

Neopanope texana 

27-9 

Micropogonias undulatus 

1.0 

Ovalipes floridanus 

2.9 

Mugil ceplmlus 

1.0 

Palaemonetes pugio 

8.7 

Myrophis puncratus 

8.7 

Pofoemoneies vulgaris 

5.8 

Paralichthys lethostigma 

1.0 

Penaeus aziecus 

3.8 

Selene vomer 

1.0 

Pemeus duorarum 

16.3 

Symphurus plagiusa 

4.8 

Penaeus remains 

6.7 

Unidentifiable blenniid 

1.0 

Penaeus setifems 

11.5 

Unidentifiable fish remains 

23.1 

PericUmenes lungicaudatus 

1.0 

Unidentifiable goby 

4.8 

Persephona punctata aquUomris 

3.8 

Algae 

2.9 

Pinnixa chacei 

1.9 

Detritus 

1.9 


TABLE 2. 

Percentage of occurrence of organism-groups in the digestive tracts 
of 104 red drum by length-groups from Mississippi Sound. 

TABLE 3. 

Percentage of occurrence of organism-groups in the digestive tracts 
of 104 red drum by season from Mississippi Sound. 

Food Items 

Length of Fish in mm SL 

Total (%) 

Food Items 


Season 


otal (%) 

190-349 
43 fish 

350^499 
35 fish 

500-780 
26 fish 

Winter 
30 fish 

Spring 
34 fish 

Summer 
26 fish 

Fall 

14 fish 

T 

Polychaetes 

18.6 

17.1 

7.7 

15.4 

Polychaetes 

33.3 

14.7 

0.0 

7.1 

15.4 

Bryzoan 

2.3 

5.7 

7.7 

4.8 

Bryzoan 

13.3 

2.9 

0.0 

0.0 

4.8 

Echinoderms 

0.0 

2.9 

11.5 

3.8 

Echinoderms 

3.3 

8.8 

0.0 

0.0 

3.8 

Stomatopod 

2.3 

2.9 

26.9 

8.7 

Stomatopod 

0.0 

17.6 

0.0 

21.4 

8.7 

Amplupod.s 

7.0 

2.9 

0.0 

3.8 

Amphipods 

0.0 

0.0 

3.8 

14.3 

3.8 

Penaeid shrimps 

44.2 

42.9 

30.8 

40.4 

Penaeid shrimps 

53.3 

23.5 

30.8 

71.4 

40.4 

Palaemonid shrimps 

18.6 

20.0 

0.0 

14.4 

Palaemonid shrimps 

23.3 

8.8 

15.4 

7.1 

14.4 

Callinectes crabs 

48.8 

62.9 

53.8 

54.8 

Callinectes crabs 

36.7 

70.6 

65.4 

35.7 

54.8 

Other decapods 

37.2 

65.7 

80.8 

57.7 

Other decapods 

86.7 

70.6 

19.2 

35.7 

57.7 

Fishes 

30.2 

42.9 

65.4 

43.3 

Fishes 

56.7 

41.2 

26.9 

50.0 

43.3 

Algae 

2.3 

5.7 

0.0 

2.9 

Algae 

6.7 

0.0 

0.0 

7.1 

2.9 

Detritus 

4.7 

0.0 

0.0 

1.9 

Detritus 

3.3 

0.0 

3.8 

0.0 

1.9 




food of the Red Drum 


133 


TABLE 4. 

Percentage of occurrence of organisms from the digestive tracts of 
16 specimens of red drum, 43 to 102 cm long, caught from 
June through August 1970 at different beach localities 
of Sapelo Island, Georgia. 


Food Items 

Occurrence (%) 

Molluscs 

Barnea truncate 

6.3 

Petricola photadiformis 

6.3 

Sinum perspectivum 

6.3 

Crustaceans 

Callinecies sapidus 

31.3 

Callinectes simitis 

12.5 

Hepatus epheUticus 

6.3 

Ovalipes ocellatus 

12.5 

Pagurus hngicorpus 

6.3 

Portunus gibbesi 

12.5 

Echinoderms 

Mellita quinquiesperforata 

18.8 

Sclerodactyla briareus 

37.5 

Fishes 

Fundulus mafalis 

6.3 

Leiostomus xanthurus 

6.3 

Menticirrhus americanus 

6.3 

Mugil cephalus 

18.8 

Opsanus tau 

6.3 

Trachinotus carolinus 

6.3 

jyinectes maculatus 

6.3 

Unidentified fish 

6.3 


(1950) and from Louisiana by Bass and Avault (1975). 
Other less extensive data on food items were reported by 
Reid (1955), Reid et al. (1956), Simmons (1957), Breuer 
(1957), Darnell (1958), Jnglis (1959), Springer and Wood- 
burn (1960), and Simmons and Breuer (1962). Bascially, 
crustaceans and fishes provided most of the reported food 
items for the red drum. Components fluctuated some 
because of various factors. Shrimps and crabs comprised 
the most frequently encounted crustaceans, and the fre- 
quencies of (hose organisms varied considerably. Gunter 
(1945) implied that crabs were eaten more in bay waters, 
whereas shrimp dominated the diet in and near Gulf water; 
Pearson (1929) considered the blue crab most important as 
food when small or in molting condition; Miles (1950) 
thought fishes and crabs became important when shrimp 
became scarce; Yokel (1966) found shrimp most import- 
ant in South Florida from July to September, but crabs 
most important during the other periods; Yokel also found 
the red drum to eat proportionally more crabs as it grew 
larger, with xanthid crabs gaining in importance and 
portunids losing in importance; and Boothby and Avault 
(1971) considered crabs and shrimp of equal importance in 
the diet. 

Fishes also composed an important part of the red drum’s 
food. Boothby and Avault (1971) found fish in 75% of the 
Stomachs constituting 35% of the food’s volume in a south- 


eastern Louisiana marsh. All other studies found fish of less 
importance to drum except that of Inglis (1959) who exam- 
ined small drum and possibly Breuer (1957) and Simmons 
(1957) who did not provide data. In most areas, fish appear 
to become less important to large drum even though often 
making up a significant part of the drum’s diet. Reid et al. 
(1956) recorded 23 menhaden in one drum. On the other 
hand, Pearson (1929) suggested small mullet provide the 
best bait for large drum, and shrimp provide it for small 
ones. If crabs are to be used as bait, Simmons and Breuer 
(1962) .said the legs should be removed and the body halved. 
Most feeding takes place in early morning and late evening. 

Our study on food contents in Mississippi Sound shows 
several trends. Three of these are: (1) that polychaetes, 
especially Glycera americana, are fairly important com- 
ponents, being most commonly seen in fish smaller than 
50 cm; (2) that echinoderms are eaten by large fish; and (3) 
that many different decapods, at least 34 in number, provide 
food. Crabs occurred in more stomachs than shrimps, but 
both groups, especially commercial species, constitute 
heavily preyed-on organisms. Actually, the lesser blue crab, 
Callinectes similis, not previously reported from the red 
drum (except possibly by Kemp [1949] as C dame [see 
Williams 1974]), occurred in more fish than C sapidus 
(37 versus 17%). 

Knowledge about the habits of the decapods listed in 
Table 1 reveals that the red drum feeds in sandy to muddy 
Dottoms from both shallow and moderately deep water. A 
few dietary organisms such as Chasmocarcinus mississip- 
piensis, a commensal crab, have been observed in the locality 
infrequently. Most species, however, make up common 
components of the different ecosystems in and adjacent to 
Mississippi Sound. 

Large drum feeding near the high energy beaches of 
Sapelo Island, Georgia, (Table 4) reveal crustaceans and 
fishes as important dietary components. They, however, 
also feed heavily on echinoderms. Additionally, molluscs 
occurred, but not polychaetes. As in Mississippi, the variety 
of both decapods and fishes is extensive. 

Grassbeds also constitute an important community in 
which drum, especially preadults, feed. Specific animals act 
as indicators of fish feeding in that habitat. Some are 
Neopanope texana, Hippolyte pleuracantha, and Pemeus 
duorantrn. Other animals support feeding activities in other 
areas. As examples, Rhithropanopeus harrisi shows feeding 
from upper-bay, low-salinity areas; Uca longisigmlis from 
shallow mudfiats;and Emerita talpoida, Pinnixa chacei, and 
MeUita quinquiesperforata from open sandy beaches. 

The seasonality of the drum’s diet probably primarily 
reflects availability of the specific organisms, but some 
selectivity also appears evident. Fall is when shrimp, espe- 
cially white shrimp, are abundant and when 71% of the 
drum had penaeid shrimp as food contents. On the other 
hand, many shrimp should also be available during spring 
and summer. During those two seasons, blue crabs seem to 



134 


Overstreet and Heard 


have greater priority as food. When blue crabs were not 
prevalent during winter, various crabs and a few other 
miscellaneous decapods prevailed both as food contents and 
as common organisms in the habitat. 

Whereas the menhaden and mullet are the most common 
dietary fishes in some areas, those items were not encount- 
ered commonly in our food samples. In fact, the most 
frequently identified ilsh were the speckled worm eel and 
bay anchovy. Many fish could not be identified because of 
their digesled state. 

Conspicuous by their absence were gastropods, bivalves, 
mysids, and copepods. These, especially the latter two, both 
of which are crustaceans, probably occur commonly in 
fingerling drum from Mississippi Sound. 

Even thouglx the diet of red drum from some other geo- 
graphic regions consisted largely of individuals comprising 
one taxon, we did not encounter similar findings^ We, how- 
ever, did find 18% of the drum with a single food source 
and, of those, ten had a blue crab, six had a pcnacid shrimp, 
two had the mud crab Neopanope texana, and one had a 
fish. About half of those drum came from the northern 
part of the Sound near marsh grass and the remainder came 
from near the barrier islands. 

We did not sample small red drum; however, a few other 
workers have. Bass and Avault(T975),in the most extensive 
report, found that fish less than 30 mm fed primarily on 
zooplankton. As the fish reached 26 mm long, the frequency 
of calanoid copepods dropped off and that of rnysids 
increased. Little difference occurred between food contents 
encountered during day or night until the drum reached 
65 mm when consumption of shrimp prevailed during the 
day contrasting with that of fish at night. Polychaetes and 
amphipods also accounted for considerable food. Evidence 


based on fewer samples by Hildebrand and Schrocder (1928), 
Miles (1950), Springer and Woodburn (1960), and Odum 
and Heald (1972) essentially corroborated the above find- 
ings. Inglis (1959), who examined fish 30 to 100 mm long 
from Texas, however, found about 80% contained fish, 
10% contained amphipods, and fewer contained a variety 
of other organisms. 

Migration of red drum might be dictated by the abundance 
of specific food items. In other words, the drum might con- 
tinually migrate in a relatively consistent pattern in order to 
optimize specific rich food sources. Thus, fish would exploit 
different areas seasonally. The data from Sapelo Island, 
Georgia, reveal that large fish fed heavily during the summer 
on the five-lunuled sand dollar Mellita cfuinquiesperforata 
and the sea cucumber Sclerodactyla briareua near the high 
energy sandy beaches. We also recovered similar items in a 
few fishes duringMay from Mississippi, and Thomas Mcll wain 
(personal communication) found numerous individuals of 
the sea catfish, Arius felis; the sea pansy, Renilla rnuelleri; 
and M, quinquiesperforata in six 9- to 10-kg fish caught off 
Horn Island in September 1966. Possibly the fish that ate 
echinoderms and associated infauna were migrating to other 
regions with relatively underutilized crustaceans, but taking 
advantage of different underutilized subsurface organisms 
on the way. These items are probably important to the 
overall diet of red drum and to its natural history, 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

We are grateful to the following people for aiding in var- 
ious aspects of the study: Ronnie Palmer, Roswitha Buxton, 
l.aurie Toomey, Kay Richards, Ann St. Andrie, Tom Mattis, 
Dan Brooks, and Beryl Heard. 


REFERENCES CITED 


Bass, R. J. & J. W. Avault, Jr. 1975, Food habits, length -weight 
relationship, condition factor, and growth of juvenile red drum, 
Sciaenops ocellata, in Louisiana. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 104(1); 
35-45. 

Boothby, R. N. &. J. W, Avault, Jr. 1971. Food habits, length- 
weight relationship, and condition factor of the red drum, 
Sciaenops ocellata, in southern Louisiana. Trans. Am. Fish, Soc. 
100(2):290-29S. 

Breuer, J. P, 1957. An ecological survey of Baffin and Alazan bays, 
Texas. Pw/)/. Inst. Mar. Set, llniv. Tex. 4(2): 134-1 55. 

Darnell, R. M, 1958. Food habits of fishes and larger invertebrates 
of Lake Pontch art rain, Louisiana, an estuarine community. 
Publ. Irrst.AIar, Set., Univ. Tex. 5:353 -416. 

Fontenot, B, J., Jr. & H. E. RogilJio. 1970. A study of estuarine 
.sportfishes in the Biloxi Marsli Complex, Louisiana. Dingell- 
Johnson Project F-8 Completion Report for Louisiana Wildlife 
and Fisheries Commission. 172 pp. 

Gunter, G. 1945. Studies on marine fishes of Texas. Publ Inst. 
Mar Scl, Univ. Tex. l(l):l-190. 

Hildebrand, S. F. & W. C. Schroeder. 1928. Fishes of Chesapeake 
Bay. Bull [U.S.j Bur. Fish. 43:1-366. 

Inglis, A. 1959, Predation on shrimp. U.S, Fish. Wildl Serv. Circ. 
62:50-53. 


Kemp, R. J. 1949. Report on stomach analysis from June 1, 1949 
through August 31, 1949. Tex. Game, Fish, Oyst. Comm., Alar, 
lab. Ann. Rep. 1948 J 949:^ -111. 

Knapp, F. T. 1950. Menhaden utilization in relation to the conserva- 
tion of food and game fishes of the Texas Gulf Coast. Trans. 
Am. Fish. Soc, 79:137-144, 

Miles, D. W. 1949, A study on food habits of the fishes of the Aran- 
sas Bay area, Tex. Game, Fish, Oyst. Comm,, Mar, lab. Ann. 
Rep. J 948-1 949:129-169. 

1950. The life histories of the spotted sea trout, Cy no- 
scion nebuhsus, and t\\Qrc6r\s)a, Sciaenops ocellatus. Tex. Game, 
Fish, Oyst. Comm., Mar. Lab. Ann. Rep. J949-J930. 38 pp. 

Odum. W. E. & E. .T, Heald. 1972. Trophic analyses of an estuarine 
mangrove community. Bull Mar. Sci. 22(3):67J -738. 

Pearson, J. C. 1929, Natural history and conservation of the redfish 
and other commercial Sciacnid.s on the Texas Coast, Bull. /U.S.} 
Bur. Fish. 44U046);1 29-214. 

Reid, G. K,, Jr. 1955. A summer study of the biology and ecology 
of East Bay, Texas. Part 11. The fish fauna of East Bay, the Gulf 
beach, and summary. Tex. J. Sci 7(4):430-453. 

Reid, G. K., A. Inglis & H. D. Hoese. 1956. Summer foods of some 
fish species in Fast Bay, Texas. Southwest, Nat. I(3):i0()-104. 

Simmons, E, G. 1957. An ecological survey of the Upper Laguna 



Food or the Red Drum 


135 


Matlre of Texas. Publ. Inst. Mar. Sci\, Univ. Tex. 4(2): 156— 200. 

& J. P. Breuer. 1962. A study of red fish, Sciaanops 

ocellata Linnaeus and black drum, Po^onias cromis Linnaeus. 
Pnbl. Inst. Mar. ScL, Univ. Tex. 8:184-211. 

Springer, V. G. & K. D. Woodburn. 1960. An ecological study of 
fishes of the Tampa Bay area. F!a. Dep. Nat. Resour. Mar. Res. 


Lab., Prof. Pap. Ser. No. 1. 104 pp. 

Williams, A. B. 1974. The swimming crabs of the genus Callinectes 
(Decapoda:Portunidae). Fish. Bull., U.S. 72(3):6S5-798. 

Yokel, B. J. 1966. A contribution to the biology and distribution 
of the red drum, Sciaenops ocellata. Master’s thesis, Univ. Miami. 
161 pp. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Amphilochidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from the Western Gulf of Mexico and 
Caribbean Sea 

L.D. McKinney 

Texas A&M University, Galveston 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.04 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 




Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

McKinney, L. 1978. Amphilochidae (Crustacea; Amphipoda) from the Western Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Gulf Research 
Reports 6 (2): 137-143. 

Retrieved from http://aquila.usm.edu/gcr /vol6/iss2/4 


This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and Caribbean 
Research by an authorized editor ofThe Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell^usm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 137-143, 1978 


AMPHILOCHIDAE (CRUSTACEA: AMPHIPODA) FROM THE 
WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND CARIBBEAN SEA 

L. D. MCKINNEY 

Texas A&M University, Moody Marine Laboratory, 

Ft. Crockett, Galveston, Texas 77550 

ABSTRACT Two new species oi Amphitochus, Amphilochus casahoya and Amphilochus delacaya, and one new species 
of Gitanopsis, Gitanopsis laguna, are described. Relationships within these genera, particularly Amphilochus, are difficult 
to determine. The new species, however, are similar to some eastern Pacific forms. One known species, Amphilochus 
neapolitanus is also reported as occurring in both the Gulf and Caribbean. 


INTRODUCTION 

The Amphilochidae arc a group of ubiquitous amphipods 
which are often overlooked because of their small size 
(2-4 mm). Only one species, Gitanopsis tonugae Shoe- 
maker, 1933, has been reported from the Gulf of Mexico 
(Shoemaker 1933). J.L. Barnard (1969)eiToneousiy reported 
Cyclotelsnn purpureum Potts, 1915, from the Gulf of 
Mexico. C purpureum was described by Potts (1915) from 
the Torres Straits near Murray Island in the Coral Sea. 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Figures follow the format established by J. L. Barnard 
(1970). Capital letters on the figures designate a specific 
structure. Lower case letters preceding tire capital letter 
identifies a specific individual. Lower case letters or numbers 
following the capital letter modifies the description of the 
part: B = labrum (upper lip); C = coxa; G = labium (lower 
lip); H = head; L = palp; M = mandible; N = gnathopod; 0 - 
outer plate or outer ramus; P = pereopod; Q = mandibular 
molar; S = maxilliped; T = telson; U = ufopod; X = maxilla; 
Z = mandibular incisor; a = anterior; b = without; h = 
holotype; 1 = left; r = right; w - palm; x = medial; and y = 
article. 

Amphilochidae 

Diagnosis. Accessory flagellum absent; coxa 1 reduced, 
partly hidden by a following coxa. 

Amphilochus Bate, 1862 

Diagnosis. Mandibular molar small, nontriturative or 
with few ridges; gnathopod 2 large, subchelate. 

Key to Amphilochus 
la. Mandible nontriturative but 

armed with a spine; anterior edge 
of article 6, gnathopod 2 without 
submarginal spines A. neapolitanus 


Manuscript received Septembers, I978;acceptcd November 13,1 978. 


Ib. Mandible reduced but with ridges, 
gnathopod 2, article 6 anterior 

edge with 1-4 submarginal spines 2 

2a. Gnathopod 2, article 6 with 1-2 

submarginal spines Amphilochus casahoya 

2b. Gnathopod 2, article 6 with 4 

marginal spines Amphilochus delacaya 

Amphilochus neapolitanus Della Valle, 1893 

Stehbing 1906: 150; Chevieaux and Page 1925: 

112-113, figs. 106-108; J. L. Barnard 1962:126, fig. 3 

Diagnosis. Eyes small, round to slightly oval; antenna 1 
reaching beyond antenna 2; mandible nontriturative with a 
single spine; outer face of gnathopod 2, article 6 without 
submarginal spines. 

Material. Texas stations: NT:NMFS-106A, 29°30'N 
95‘'0'W; NT!NMFS-I3A, 29°0'N 95°30'W. Other material 
was taken at Ascension Bay, Mexico, and Nicchehabin reef, 
Allen Point, and Santa Maria point on Cozumel Island, 
Mexico. 

Distribution. Circumtropical and warm-temperate. 

Amphilochus casahoya, new specie.^ (Figures 1 and 2) 

Description. Female 3.15 mm. Head and body normal 
for genus, eyes circular with black center bordered with 
numerous opaque ommatidia. Antenna 1: Article 2 of 
peduncle 1.3 times as long as article I, and 3 times as long 
as article 3; flagellum with 8 articles, distoventral corner of 
each article with 1-2 elongate, flattened setae; accessory 
flagellum uniarticulate, subequal in length to first article of 
nagellum. Antenna 2: Article 5 of peduncle 1.3 times as 
long as article 4, articles 4 and 5 with distal spines, article 5 
with medial row of 4 short spines; flagellum with 1 1 articles. 
Upper lip: Normal for genus. Mandible: Molar conical, right 
molar with 3 elongate spinelike ridges, left similar to right 
but lacking any oversized ridges; accessory blades 11-12; 
incisor produced forward and medially, distal part V-shaped, 
toothed, palp with 3 articles of length ratios 12:46:57, 
otherwise normal for genus. Maxilla 2: Inner plate with 
medial row of submarginal spines; outer plate longer than 
inner, with 4 terminal spines. Maxilliped: Article 3 of palp 


137 



138 


McKinney 



Figure X. Amphilochus casahoya, n. sp., female 3.15 mm. 


produced medially, with a number of complex spines and 
4 short, rounded teeth, otherwise normal for genus. Gnatho- 
pod 1 : Coxa subovai, partly hidden by following coxa; 
article 2 elongate; article 4 with I medial spin on posterior 
margin and 6 distal spines; article 5 with spinose posterior 
lobe; article 6 with 1 anterodistal, 2 mediofacial spines and 
serrate, transverse palm lined with 6 slender spines and 
defined by 2 stout spines; inner margin of dactyl serrate. 
Gnathopod 2: Article 4 with stout rnediomarginal and 
2 distal spines; article 5 with elongate posterior lobe reaching 
edge of palm, outer margin of lobe with 3 basal spines, 
distal part spinose; article 6 distally expanded with 1-2 sub- 
marginal spines on outer face, palm transverse, serrate, lined 
with slender spines, corner defined by 2 stout spines; inner 
margin of dactyl serrate, distally attenuate. Pereopod 3: 
Coxa longer than wide; articles poorly spinose; anterior mar- 
gin of article 4 with 2 spines, posterodistal corner with 1 ; 
article 5 willi 1 spine on either margin, distally spinose; 
article 6 with 3 anteromarginal and 4 posteroniarginal 
spines; dactyl attenuate. Pereopod 4: Coxa large, quadrate, 
posterior margin excavate; margins of articles with short 
spines; posterior spine formula of article 6— 2,2,2,l ;anterior 
margin of article 6 with 3 spines; dactyl attenuate. Pereo- 
pod 5: Coxa with rounded posterior lobe; article 2 expanded; 
articles spinose; anterior spine formula of article 6—2, 2, 2,1 ; 


dactyl attenuate. Pereopod 6; Coxa like 5 but smaller; 
longer than preceding pereopods; anterior spine formula of 
article 6— 1,2, 2,2,1 ; posterior margin with 4 spines; dactyl 
attenuate. Pereopod 7: Coxa subquadrate; pereopod other- 
wise like pereopod 6. Epimera: Ventral margin ofepimeron 1 
with 3 spines.epimeron 2 with 6 ventral spines and epimeron 3 
with 5 ventral spines; posterior margins unproduced. Uro- 
pod 1 : Peduncle elongate, inner margin with 3 slender 
spines, outer margin with 5 short spines; inner ramus with 
4 inner marginal spines; ramal spines inserted in incisions on 
margins. UropocJ 2 : Peduncle with 1 distal spine on inner 
margin and 4 outer marginal spines;inner ramus with 3 inner 
marginal and 4 outer marginal spines and setulose basal 
margins; outer ramus 0.6 times as long as inner; inner margin 
setulose, outer margin with 2 stout, slightly hooked spines 
and 1 normal distal spine, tip somewhat attenuate; uropod 
shorter than either 1 or 3. Uropod 3; Peduncle longer than 
uropod 2; outer margin with 5 spines; rami lanceolate, 
inner margin of inner ramus with 4 spines and outer margin 
with 1 spine; outer margin of outer ramus with 4 spines; 
opposing margins of rami setulose. Telson: normal for genus. 

Male, unknown. 

Type. Holotype, USNM 170756, female 3.15 mm; 
paratype female 2,96 mm, USNM 170757. 

Type-locality. 7.5 fm reef, Texas, 26°50'N 95'’40'W. 





140 


McKinney 


Material examined. Specimens from tlie lype-locality 
and the jetty complex at Port Isabel, Texas. Size range; 
2-3.5 mm. 

Distribution, Culf of Mexico, offshore waters from 
intertidal to 15 m. 

Relationships. Amphilochus casahoya is most closely 
related Xo Amphilochus delacaya, n. sp., which is also des- 
cribed in this paper. Amphilochus casahoya differs chiefly 
in having only 1-2 submarginal spines on article 6 of gnalho- 
pod 2 rather than 4 as in A. debcaya. IJropods of A. 
casahoya are less spinous than in^. delacaya. 

This species appears very close to the Hawaiian species, 
A. likelike J. L. Barnard, 1970 and A, menehune J. L. 
Barnard, 1970, These two species as well as .4. casahoya are 
also similar to Gitanopsis vilordes J. L. Barnard, 1962, in 
many aspects, except in the structure of the mandible. 

Relationships among the ampbilochiids are, in general, 
poorly known. They are a difficult group with which to 
work as they require extensive dissection for even geneiic 
determinations. The lack of detailed descriptions and 
figures of known species also makes it difficult to demon- 
strate relationships among the members of this genus. 

Ecological information. This species was taken from a 
Serpulid reef (known as 7.5 fm reef) some 20 km off the 
south Texas coast and the intertidal margins of rock jetties 
of Port Isabel, Texas. 

Amphilochus delacaya, new species (Figure 2) 

Diagnosis. Female 2.55. Like A. casahoya in all but the 
following: 

Outer margin of article 6 on gnathopud 2 with 4 submar- 
ginal spines; Peduncle of uropod 1 with 5 slender inner 
marginal and 10 stout outer marginal spines; inner ramus of 
uropod 1 with 5 spines on both inner and outer margins; 
subequal outer ramus with inner margin basally sctulose 
and 3 distal spines, outer margin with 8 stout cui'ved spines; 
inner ramus of uropod 2 armed with 4 inner marginal and 
5 outer marginal spines, outer ramus with 4 outer marginal 
spines. 

Types. Holotype, USNM 170754, female 2.55 mm.; 
paratype scries of 4 specimens, USNM 170755. 

Type-'locality. Isla de Lobos Reef, Vera Cruz, Mexico. 

Material examined. Tlie types plus other specimens 
from the type-locality. 

Distribution. Gulf of Mexico, Mexican coast, 5 m depth. 

Relationships, Most closely related to Amphilochus 
casahoya; refer to discussion under that species. 

Ecological information. This species was found only on 
coral reefs in the groove and buttress zones. 

Giianopsis Sars, 1895 

Diagnosis. Mandibular molar large, triturative, gnatho- 
pod 2 small, subchelate. 


Giianopsis laguna, new species (Figures 3 and 4) 

Description. Female, 2.37 mm. Head and body normal 
for genus, eyes round. Antenna 1; Length ratio of peduncle 
articlesl,2,3— 20:23: 1 4; flagellum with 6 articles. Antenna 2: 
Articles 4 and 5 subequal in length; Flagellum with 5 articles; 
antenna 2, 0.8 times the length of antenna 1. Upper lip; 
Bilobed, longer than wide. Mandible: Molar produced, 
triturative, upper margin with elongate spines; 8 accessory 
blades on right and 9 on left mandible, blades increasing 
in width distally;lefl incisor typical, upper edge folded over 
and inward in an inverted “V’'; right incisor normal and 
toothed; palp with 3 articles of length ratios 24:43:58, 
article 3 lanceolate, ventral margin spiculale. Lower lip; 
Inner lobe.s obsolescent, outer lobes with nearly vertical 
mandibular lobes. Maxilla 1 : Inner plate rounded, with 

1 terminal spine; outer with oblique distal edge and simple 
terminal spine teeth; palp biarticulaie, distal article 2 time.s 
as long as basal with 3 chisel-shaped and 1 normal spines. 
Maxilla 2: Inner plate with 2 terminal and 1 mediomarginal 
spines, heavily setose; outer plate longer than inner, distally 
narrow with 3 terminal spines. Maxilliped: Inner plate with 

2 distal facial spines and 2 terminal “pits”; outer plate with 
serrate inner margin and 1 terminal chisel spine; palp with 
4 articles, inner margin of article 2 produced medially, 
spinose; palp and plates normal for genus. Gnathopod 1; 
Coxa suboval; article 2 elongate with 3 anteromarginal 
spines; article 4 with 2 posterodistal spines; article 5 with 
spino.se posterior lobe reaching along half of hind margin 
on article 6; palm transverse, corner defined by 2 stout 
spines; inner margin of dactyl serrulate proximally. Gnatho- 
pod 2: Coxa subquadrate; posterior margin of aiticle 4 with 
2-3 stout spines, distal edge with 1 long spine; article 5 
with elongate posterior lobe reaching 90% as long as hind 
margin on article 6*. article 6 distally expanded, anterior 
edge of outer face with 1-2 submarginal spines, otherwise 
unarmed; palm transverse with a row of minute spines, 
corner defined by 2 stout spines; dactyl attenuate, inner 
margin serrate on upper half. Pereopod 3: Coxa quadrate, 
longer than wide; anterodistal corner produced, margin 
with 4 spines; length ratios of articles 4,5,6 -31:35:56, 
poorly spinose; dactyl attenuate. Pereupod 4: Coxa much 
larger than preceding coxa, posterior margin excavate; 
otherwise like pereopod 3, Pereopod 5; Coxa wider than 
long, bifid, article 2 expanded, with 4 anteromarginal spines; 
article 3 with 2 anteromarginal spines; article 4 with sharp 
posterior lobe and 3 spines on either margin; article 5 with 
2 single and i pair of anteromarginal spines; article 6 with 
anteromarginal spine formula of 1 ,2,2,1 ; length ratios of 
articles 4,5,6-40.40:57, dactyl attenuate. Pereopod 6: 
Coxa wider than long, with expanded posterioi lobe; 
article 2 expanded with 5 anteromarginal spines; article 3 
with 1 anteromarginal spine; article 4 with sharp posterior 
lobe, either margin with 3 spines; article 5 with a single and 
1 pair of anteromarginal spines and distal cluster of spines 
on either margin; article 6 with anteromarginal spine formula 





Gulf-Caribbean Amphilochiids 


143 


of 1,2,J,2,1; length ratios of articles 4,5,6-49:46:66, 
dactyl attenuate. Pereopod 7; Coxa like preceding one but 
reduced; pereopod longer than preceding one, otherwise 
similar. Epimera: Corners of plates unproduced, ventral 
margins of plates 2 and 3 with 2 spines each, Uropod 1: 
Peduncle longer than either 2 or 3, outer margin with 5 
spines, inner with I distal spine; rami lanceolate, outer 
slightly shorter, with 3 outer and 1 inner marginal spines 
on distal partof ramu.s;inner ramus with 4 inner and 3 outer 
marginal spines; opposing margins of rami setulose . Uropod 2: 
Peduncle shorter than peduncles of uropods I or 3, armed 
with 4 outer marginal spines; outer ramus 0.6 times as long 
as the inner, with 3 outer and 1 inner marginal spines; 
inner ramus with 3 inner marginal and 2 outer marginal 
spines; opposing margins of rami setulose. Uropod 3: 
Peduncle elongate, unarmed; outer ramus slightly shorter 
than inner, outer margin with 3 spines; inner ramus with 
2 spines on medial parts of either margin; opposing margins 
or rami setulose. Telson: longer than wide, tapering, apex 
rounded. 

Male, unknown. 

Types. Holotype, USNM 170758, female 2.37 mm; 
paratypes, 10 individuals, USNM 170759. 

Type— locality. Holotype from West Bay, Galveston, 
Texas, 0.5 m depth. Paratype series from Laguna Madre, 
Texas, 1-2 m depth. 

Material examined. Tire types and specimens from the 
following locations; Corpus Christi Bay, Texas; San Antonio 


Bay, Texas; Southern Laguna Madre near La Pesca, Mexico; 
and Laguna de Tamiaha near Cucharos, Mexico. 

Distribution. Gulf of Mexico, bays and lagoons; shallow 
depths. 

Relationships. Gitanopsis laguna is most closely related 
to two species; G. vilorcies J. L. Barnard, 1962, from the 
California coast, and G. tortugae Shoemaker, 1933, from 
Tortugas, Florida. differs from G. tortugae 

in having a more rounded first coxa and a less rounded 
second coxa. G. tortugae also lacks the submarginal facial 
spines found on article 6 of gnathopod 2. Gitanopsis laguna 
differs from G. vilordes in having a more spinose lobe on 
article 5 of gnathopod 2 and in lacking the stout postero- 
distal spine on article 2 of that gnathopod. The eyes are 
more rounded in Gitanopsis laguna and the telson is shorter 
than in G. vilordes. 

Ecological information. This species was found in 
shallow depths, 0.5 m, generally associated with algae. It 
appears to be restricted to higher salinity hays and lagoons 
as it was not found in offshore samples. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The author wishes to thank Dr. J. L. Barnard, U.S. 
National Museum, for the loan of Caribbean material from 
the 1960 Smilhsonian-Bredin Expedition; Dr. Wayne Price, 
University of Tampa, Florida, and Dr. Wes Tunnel, Texas 
A&l University, for additional material. 


REFERENCES CITED 


Barnard, J. f.. 1962. Benthic marine Aiuphipoda of southern 
California: Families Amphilochidae, Leucothoidac, Stenothoidae, 
Argissidae, Hyalidac.Poc, Nat. 3:116 163. 

1969. The families and genera of marine gammaxidean 

Ampbipoda. U.S. Natl.Mus. Bull. 271:l-.‘>35. 

1970. Sublittoral Gammaridea (Amphipoda) of the 

Hawaiian Islands. Smithson. Contrib. Zool, 34:1-286. 


Potts, F. A. 1915. The fauna a.ssociated with the crinoids of a 
tropical reef: with especial relcrences to its colour variations. 
Pap. Dep. Mar. Biol Carnegie fnsi. Wash. 8:71-96. 

Shoemaker, C. R. 1933. Two new genera and .six new .species of 
Amphipoda from Tortugas. Papers from Tortugas Laboratory. 
28(15). {Carnegie Inst. Wash. Puhl. 435:245-256.) 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


1978 

Food of the Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, from Mississippi Sound and the 
Gulf of Mexico 

Robin M. Overstreet 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

Richard W Heard 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.05 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 




Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Overstreet, R. M. and R. W. Heard. 1978. Food of the Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, from Mississippi Sound and the Gulf 
ofMexico. Gulf Research Reports 6 (2): 145-152. 

Retrieved from http:// aquila.usm.edu/gcr /vol6/iss2/5 


This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and Caribbean 
Research by an authorized editor ofThe Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell^usm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 145-152, 1978 


FOOD OF THE ATLANTIC CROAKER. MICROPOGONI AS UNDULATVS, 

FROM MISSISSIPPI SOUND AND THE GULF OF MEXICO' 

ROBIN M. OVERSTREET AND RICHARD W. HEARD 

Parasitolog)’ Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 

Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 

ABSTRACT The diet of the Atlantic croaker from Mississippi Sound has been examined for the first time. Over 83 taxa 
were encountered, or more than were reported from croaker in any other region. We also found 60 taxa, 36 of which over- 
lapped with the above, in croaker from various offshore stations in the Gulf of Mexico. In Mississippi Sound the frequency 
of occurrence of items revealed primarily crustaceans followed by polychactes, molluscs, fishes, and less common items, 
and, in the open Gulf, molluscs appeared slightly more often than in inshore croaker and than polychaeies in offshore fish. 
The diets were assessed according to length offish, season, depth of water, and locality. 


INTRODUCTION 

In this study we examined the stomach and intestinal 
contents of many variously collected specimens of the 
Atlantic cxoTAti. Micropogonias undulatus, a sciaenid, from 
Mississippi Sound and from adjacent water of the Gulf of 
Mexico. If presents specific identifications for numerous 
items and compares them, usually by taxonomic groupings, 
according to length of fish, season, depth of water, and 
geographic location. 

The Atlantic croaker has an inferior mouth, sensory bar- 
bels, and coarse-straining gill rakers, all adaptations useful 
for feeding in and on the substratum. Chao and Musick 
(1977) have compared some of these features in several 
sciaenids and related them to feeding. The croaker usually 
comprises the most prevalent component of the industrial 
ground fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gutherz 1977) and 
is becoming increasingly important as a commercial foodfish 
(Gutherz et al. 1975). Moreover, it has always been an im- 
portant component of the catch of sports fishermen in 
Mississippi who fish from banks and bridges and has long 
been recognized as a very abundant fish in the northern 
Gulf (e.g., Gunter 1938). 

Mississippi Sound acts as a rich nursery region for juvenile 
croaker. Its salinities fluctuate from 0 to 37 parts per 
thousand (ppt), usually between 6 and 15 ppt (Christmas 
and Eleuterius 1973), and food for croaker and other 
inhabitants is typically plentiful. Soon after adult croaker 
spawn offshore, young fish up to 2 cm standard length (SL) 
begin occupying estuarine regions nearshore. This period 
extends from about October to February. About May, June, 
or July , a large proportion of that stock, then up to about 9 
or 10 cm long, leaves for offshore Gulf water. Nevertheless, 
enough 2- and 3-year-old croaker remain in the Sound to 
support a sports fishery. 


'This study wa.s eonducteU in cooperation with the U. S. Depart- 
ment of Commerce, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, under 
PL 88-309, Project Nos. 2 262-Rand 2-325-R. 

Manuscript received October 10, 1978; accepted October 23, 1978. 


MATERIALS AND METHODS 

Croaker were collected by a variety of means for differ- 
ent purposes. From Mississippi Sound, a total of 221 
commercial-size fish between June 1976 and October 1977 
were seasonally trawled, gill-netted, or hooked and immedi- 
ately placed on ice for the primary purpose of removing 
and assessing the food contents. We trawled many other 
croaker from Mississippi Sound during 1970-1972 and 
1975-1977 and maintained them alive for up to 2 days so 
that they could be critically examined for parasites. As for 
food contents, however, only the first few fish from each 
collection had nondigested items. Still, that material pro- 
vided most of the data on croaker less than 7 cm SL (all 
measurements in this paper are standard lengths) plus a few 
from larger fish. Fishes from the Gulf of Mexico were col- 
lected from the R/V OREGON II and GEORGE M.BOWERS 
by members of the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) between June 1974 and October 1977. Over 1,000 
offshore fish came from many stations ranging from off 
Mobile Bay, Alabama, to off Galveston, Texas, from near 
shore in 1 1 meters depth to farther offshore at 90 meters. 
These fish were immediately frozen upon capture so that 
food contents and specific parasites could be preserved. 
Most had no food items when examined. Possibly as many 
as a half had their stomachs partially or entirely protruded 
by the rapid pressure difference when raised from rela- 
tively deep to surface water; consequently, they regurgitated 
their food. 

Once removed from the measured fish, food contents 
were placed in 10% formalin for later identification. Because 
the nature of the study was not to deal with energy conver- 
sion and because the different fish had all possessed their 
food for different periods of time, no attempt was made 
to assess the volume or weight of food material. 

RESULTS 

Prevalence of recently fed Atlantic croaker with various 
dietary items appears as general, moderately general, and 
specific categories (Tables 1 , 2, and 3). A large percentage 
(44%) of sampled croaker from Mississippi Sound had 


145 



146 


Overstreet and Heard 


TABLE I. 

Percentage of Atlantic croaker of moderate and large sizes from 
inshore (I) and offshore (O) habitats containing various food 
items according to general category. 


Fisli Length 







in mni SL 

95-198 

76-195 

200-350 

200-351 

Total 


I 

O 

I 

O 

I 

O 

No. Exam. 

131 

1169 

119 

137 

250 

1306 

No. w/Food 

117 

144 

108 

42 

225 

186 

Food Item 



Occurrence (%) 



Annelida 

44.4 

38.2 

43.5 

11.9 

44.0 

32.3 

Mollusca 

22.2 

33.3 

44.4 

52.4 

32.9 

37.6 

Crustacea 

82.9 

48.6 

68.5 

71.4 

76.0 

53.8 

Fishes 

Other 

17.9 

0.7 

28.7 

14.3 

23.1 

3.8 

animals 

4.3 

1.4 

13.9 

7.1 

8.9 

2.7 

Plants 

15.4 


6.5 

7.1 

11.1 

1.6 

Detritus 

22.2 

1.4 

15.7 

9.5 

19.1 

3.2 


TABLE 2. 

Prevalence of feeding Atlantic croaker from Mississippi Sound 
with various stomach contents in relationship to season 
according to moderately general category. 


Season 

No. E.xamined 

No. with Food 

Food Item 

Spring 

62 

52 

Summer 

100 

87 

Fall 

56 

54 

Winter 

32 

32 

Total 

250 

225 


Occurrence (%) 


Hydrozoa 


1.1 



0.4 

Annelida 

48.1 

50.6 

37.0 

31.3 

44.0 

Gastropoda 

7.7 



9.4 

3.1 

Scaphopoda 



1.9 


0.4 

Pelecypoda 

28.9 

31.0 

20.4 

56.3 

31.5 

Cephalopoda 



1.9 


0.4 

Ectoprocta 


2.3 



0.9 

Echinoderma 

3.9 



3.1 

1.3 

Osiracoda 

1.9 

4.6 



2.2 

Cirripeda 

1.9 




0.4 

Copepoda 

3.9 



12.5 

2.7 

Slomatopoda 

15.4 


3.7 

3.1 

4.9 

Mysidacca 

9.6 

20.7 

5.6 

12.5 

13.3 

Arnphipody 

28.9 

50.6 

9.3 

3.1 

28.9 

Isopoda 

3.9 

11.5 



5.3 

Penaeidae 

21.2 

41.4 

16.7 

40.6 

20.7 

Palaemonidae 

1.9 

9.2 



4.0 

Callinectes 

7.7 

14.9 

3,7 

3.1 

8.9 

Other Decapoda 

51.9 

28.7 


8.8 

25.8 

Other Crustacea 

13.5 


3.7 

31.3 

8.4 

Insecta 

3.9 

9.2 

1.9 


4.9 

Other luvertebrata 

3.9 

1.1 


6.3 

2.2 

Ostcicluhyes 

26.9 

16.1 

29.6 

25.0 

23.1 

Algae 

15.4 

14.9 

1.9 


9.8 

Vascular plants 




3.1 

0.4 

Deliitus 

11.5 

28.7 

22.2 

6.3 

20.0 


receiUly eaten annelids (Table 1). 01" these, 79% shorter 
than 200 mm ate Nereis SHCemea; fewer large ones did (13%). 
Considering all the annelids together, possibly all poly* 
chaetes, little difference occurred between the percentage 
of relatively large and small fish feeding on them. Other 
primary dietary items consisted of pelecypods, amphipods, 
fishes, and penaeid shrimps (Table 2). Mufinia lateralis was 
the most prevalent pelecypod (in 28% of the 32% of croaker 
with bivalves), and both Corophium louisiamim and 
Ampelisca abciita were commonly encountered amphipods 
(45 and 29% of the 29% of croaker with amphipods, 
respectively). Actually, the broad crustacean assemblage 
constituted the primary dietary group, being in 76% of the 
fed croaker. Mysids and blue crabs were common, in 13 and 
9% of the fish, but less so than amphipods and shrimps. 
Most fish in the croaker stomachs had been digested beyond 
a stage necessary for identification. 

Croaker-length, as already indicated, had some, bearing 
on items consumed. Small croaker (95 to 198 mm) had more 
crustaceans than larger ones (83 versus 69%, respectively); 
whereas, an opposing relationship between item and croaker- 
length for both molluscs and fishes occurred: in 22 opposed 
to 44% and in 18 opposed to 29% of the croaker, respec- 
tively. When considering the crustaceans, we note (he dif- 
ference in abundance appears to reflect mostly amphipods 
and mysids which were found in 44 and 12% and in 19 and 
7% of the large and small Rsh, respectively; the amphipod 
Corophium louisianum occurred in 21 and 4%, involving a 
total of 45% of the croaker with amphipods, and the mysid 
Myskiopsis almyra was in 16 and 4% of large and small fish, 
involving 77% of those fish with mysids. 

Seasonality has an obvious influence on diet. Table 2 
shows that the presence of amphipods, algae, portunid 
crabs, isopods, and miscellaneous crustaceans are most 
prominent during spring arid summer and much less conspic- 
uous during fall and winter. For example, amphipods 
occurred in 29 and 51% of the croaker in spring and sum- 
mer, respectively, opposed to 9 and 3% in fall and winter. 
Other food items occurred more frequently during other 
seasons, such as penaeid shrimps in summer and winter. 

Separate collections of smaller fish from the same locality 
provided comparative data on fish less than 70 mm long. 
Fish less than 25 mm fed on amphipods, ostracods, and 
copepods including unidentified harpucticoids, Acartia 
tonsa, Pseiidndiaplomm corona tus, Temora turhimta, and 
others. Of 36 recently fed croaker 25 to 74 mm long, 25 
contained copepods exclusively .Others contained Palaemorh 
ctes plight mysids, other shrimps, amphipods, fisli remains, 
the spionid polychaete Paraphonospio pinnata, or a com- 
bination of items usually includitig copepods. 

Atlantic croakci caught offshore demonstrated a differ- 
ent diet in many respects than croaker from Mississippi 
Sound. Jn two cases these results are listed in the same 
tables as data for inshore samples (Tables 1 and 3). The 



Food of the Atlantic Croaker 


147 


TABLE 3. 

Prevalence of feeding Atlantic croaker from Mississippi Sound and from combined 
offshore Gulf of Mexico stations containing various food items. 


Mississippi Sound Gulf of Mexico 

(Fish Length in mm SL) (Depth in Meters) 



95-198 

200-350 

Total 

<30 

>30 

Total 

Number Fish Examined 

131 

119 

250 

77 

111 

188 

Number Fish with Food 

117 

108 

225 

77 

109 

186 


Food Item Occurrence (%) 


Hydrozoan 

0.9 


0.4 

1.3 


0.5 

Platyhelminth 







Stylocus ellipticus 

0.9 


0.4 




Nemertean 


1.9 

0.9 




Polychaetes 







Capilallid or oligochactc 

2.6 


1.3 




Diopatra cuprea 

0.9 

1.9 

1.3 

2.6 


1.1 

Drilonereis sp. 




1.3 


0.5 

Glycera amt'ricana 

0.9 

4.6 

2.7 




Glycinde sp. 

4.3 


2.2 

1.3 


0.5 

Goniada sp. 


0.9 

0.4 




Hypaniola florida 

1.7 

0.9 

1.3 




Nereis sp. 


1.9 

0.9 

2.6 


1.1 

Nereis suecima 

35.0 

5.6 

20.9 




Paraprionspio pinnata 

0.9 


0.4 




Pectinana gouldii 

0.9 


0.4 




Unidentified polychaetes 

7.7 

33.3 

20.4 

49.4 

18.3 

31.2 

Unidentified tcrebellid 




2.6 


1.1 

Gastropods 







Acieocina canaliculata 


0.9 

0.4 




Amchis sp. 


0.9 

0.4 

2.6 


1.1 

Nassarius acufus 





0.9 

0.5 

Natica canrem 





1.8 

1.1 

Neritina re diva t a 





0.9 

0.5 

Retusa sp. 


0.9 

0.4 




Sinum perspectivuni 




2.6 


1.1 

Unidentified gastropod 


4.6 

2.2 

2.6 


1.1 

Scaphopod 







Dentalium sp. 





3.7 

2.2 

Pelecypods 







/) my^dalurn papyrium 

7.7 


4.0 




Anadara transversa 




1.3 


0.5 

Corbiculid remains 




1.3 


0.5 

Corbula sp. 


0.9 

0.4 


0.9 

0.5 

Ensis minor 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 




Ischadium rccurvum 

4.3 


2.2 




Maconia mitchdli 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 




Mulinia lateralis 

9.4 

8.3 

8.9 

12.9 


5.4 

Mydlopsis leucophaeuta 

0.9 


0.4 




Nucukixa conccntrica 

0.9 

20.3 

10.2 

10.4 

22.9 

17.8 

Tagetus pleheius 

1.9 

0.9 

1.3 




Tellina sp. 

1.7 

1.9 

1.8 




Varicorbula operculala 





0.9 

0.5 

Unidentified bivalve remains 

0.9 

10.2 

5.3 

1.3 

1.8 

1.6 

Cephalopod 







Octopus sp. 


0.9 

0.4 




Ostiacod 

0.9 


0.4 


1.8 

1.1 

Cirripeds 







Balanus improvisus 

3.4 


1.8 




Unidentified barnacle 

0.9 


0.4 






148 


Overstreet and Heard 


TABLE 3 (Continued). 

Prevalence of feeding Atlantic croaker from Mississippi Sound and from combined 
offshore Gulf of Mexico stations containing various food items. 


Mississippi Sound Gulf of Mexico 

(Fish Length in mm SL) (Depth in Meters) 



95-198 

200-350 

Total 

<30 

^30 

Total 

Number Fish Examined 

131 

119 

250 

77 

111 

188 

Number Fish with Food 

117 

108 

225 

77 

109 

186 


Food Item Occurrence (%) 


Elopepods 


Calanoid 

0.9 

3.7 

2.2 




Unidentified copcpod 

0.9 


0.4 


1.8 

1.1 

Stomatopods 







Squilla diceptrix 





1.3 

0.5 

Squilla edentata 


0.9 

0.4 




Squilla cmpusa 

0.9 

3.7 

2.2 

5.2 


2.2 

Squilla remains 

0.9 

4.6 

2.7 

1.3 

11.9 

7.5 

Mysid 







Mysidopsis almyra 

20.5 

6.5 

13.8 




Cumacean 


6.5 

3.1 


0.9 

0.5 

Amphipods 







Ampelisca ahdita 

14.5 

1.9 

8.4 




Ampelisca sp. 

3.4 

3.7 

3.6 


0.9 

0.5 

Cerapus sp. 

11.9 

4.6 

8.4 




Corophium louisianum 

21.4 

3,7 

12.8 




Gammarus mucromtus 

5.1 


2.7 




Gamfrtorus tigrinus 

1.7 


0.9 




Hausiorid 


0.9 

0.4 




Mehta nitida 

2.6 


1.3 




Unidentified amphipod 

0.9 

2.8 

1.8 




Tanaidacean 







Leptocheta sp. 


9.3 

4.4 


0.9 

0.5 

Isopods 







Cassidinidea lunifrom 

0.9 


0.4 




Cyathura polita 

2.6 

5.6 

4.0 




Edotea montosa 

0.9 


0.4 




Isopod remains 

0.9 


0.4 




Penaeids 







Parapenaeus longirostris 


0.9 

0.4 


1,8 

1.1 

Pemeus aztecus 

3.4 

5.6 

4.4 




Pcnaeus remains 

30.8 

21.3 

26.2 

3.9 

8.3 

6.5 

Penaeus setifcrus 

1.7 

0.9 

1.3 




Sicyonia dorsalis 





1.8 

1.1 

Ttachypemeus sp. 




1.3 


0.5 

Sergestid 







Acetes americanus 




2.6 

4,6 

3.8 

Cartdeans 







Alpheus floridanus 


9.3 

4.4 


8.3 

4.8 

Alpheus sp. 




1.3 

0.9 

1.1 

Ogyrides Umicola 

1.7 


0.9 

1.3 

0.9 

1.1 

Palaemonetes pugio 

5.9 

1.9 

4.0 




Symlpheus townsendi 


0.9 

0.4 

1.3 


0.5 

Unidentified caridean 


2.8 

1.3 

1.3 

3.7 

2.7 

Anomurans 







Albunea gibbesi 


0.9 

0.4 

3.9 

0.9 

2.2 

Callianassa jamaceae 

1.7 

2.8 

2.2 




Callianassa remains 


0.9 

0.4 


0.9 

1.1 

Pagurus spp. 

0.9 


0,4 

2.6 

21.1 

13.4 





Food of the Atlantic Croaker 


149 


TABLE 3 (Continued). 

Prevalence of feeding Atlantic croaker from Mississippi Sound and from combined 
offsliore Gulf of Mexico stations containing various food items. 


Number Fish Examuied 

Number Fish with Food 

Food Item 

Mississippi Sound 
(Fish Length in mm SI.) 



Gulf of Mexico 
(Depth in Meters) 

95-198 

131 

117 

200-350 

119 

108 

Total 

250 

225 

<30 

77 

77 

'^30 

111 

109 

Total 

188 

186 



Occurrence (%) 



Brachyurans 







Ca lappa sp. 





0.9 

0.5 

CalUnectes remains 


2.8 

1.3 




Callinectes sapidus 

11.1 

4.6 

8.0 

2.6 


1.1 

CalUnectes similis 


1.9 

0.9 




Chasmocorcinus mississippiensis 





0.9 

0.5 

Eurypanopeus depressus 

1.7 


0.9 




Euryplax nitida 


6.5 

3.2 




Hepaius epheliticus 




1.3 


0.5 

Hexapanopeus angustifrons 


0.9 

0.4 


0.9 

0.5 

Leiolambrus ndidus 


1.9 

0.9 

1.3 

0.9 

1.1 

Pinnixa sp. 





0.9 

0.5 

Ponunus gihbesi 




1.3 


0.5 

Poriunus spp. 


3.7 

1.8 


4.6 

2.7 

Raninoides louisianensis 





2.8 

1.6 

Rhithropanopeus harrisi 

17.1 

2.8 

10.2 




Solenolambrus sp. 





0.9 

0.5 

Unidentified hianchyuran larva 


0.9 

0.4 




Unidentified goneplacids 


0.9 

0.4 

6.5 

13.8 

10.7 

Unidentified xanthid 

5.1 

4.6 

4.9 

1.3 


0.5 

Unidentifiable decapod remains 


2.8 

1.3 




Insect 







Chironoraid midge larva 

6.8 

2.8 

4.9 




Ectoprocts 







Bowerhankia gracilis 

0.9 


0.4 




Membranipora arborescens 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 




Chaetogiiatli 




1.3 


0.5 

Echinoderms 







Echinoid remains 


2.8 

1.3 


0.9 

0.5 

HemiphoUs elongaia 




3.9 

0.9 

2.2 

Fishes 







Anchoa hepsetus 


0.9 

0.4 




Anchoa mi t chilli 

1.7 

5.6 

3.6 

2.6 


1.1 

Anguilliform remains 

0.9 


0.4 




Gohiosoma bosci 

2.6 

0.9 

1.8 




Microdesmus longipinms 


0.9 

0.4 




Symphurus plagiusa 


0.9 

0.4 




Unidentifiable fish parts 

11.1 

24.0 

17.3 

7.8 

1.8 

4.3 

Unidentifiable goby 

0.9 

0.9 

0.9 




Plants 







Algae and unidentified plant matter 

18.8 

1.9 

10.7 

1.3 


0.5 

Sea grass 


0.9 

0.4 




Detritus and other organic matter 

23.1 

17.6 

20.4 

7.8 


3.2 


offshore croaker feed most commonly on crustaceans (54% 
of the fish with food), but also on moUuscans and annelids 
(38 and 32%, respectively). Crustaceans occurred most fre- 
quently in samples from water deeper than 30 meters (69 
versus 33% in water less than 30 m) and from larger fish 


(7 1 versus 49% in relatively short fish). Actually , crustaceans, 
the general food most frequently observed to be consumed 
from both inshore and offshore habitats, had a higher preva- 
lence in inshore croaker. In fact, of the major general cate- 
gories, only molluscs occurred in more offsliore croaker, 



150 


OVERSTREET AND HEARD 


and then not substantially (Table 1). Offshore molluscs, 
primarily bivalves, show similar relationships as the offshore 
crustaceans with water-depth and with fish-length. On the 
other hand, offshore annelids, primarily polychaetes, 
occurred most commonly in the slrallower samples (in 52 
versus 18% of the fish) and in smaller fish (38 versus 12%). 
Other less common items such as fishes, plants, and detritus 
all occurred slightly more frequently in the large croaker 
from shallower offshore water. 

Specific animals, as expected, typically occurred most 
frequently in specific regions. For examples, the bivalve 
Nuculana concentrica occurred most frequently in deeper 
water as did the hermit crabs, Fagunis spp. We also point 
out that more smaller fish had hermit crabs than those fish 
longer than 20 cm. On the other hand, the stomatopod 
Squilla empusa occurred in fish only from the shallower 
localities. 

DISCUSSION 

The long list of different food items in the Atlantic 
croaker constitutes the most important aspect of this 
study. Differences in dietary organisms taken from insliore 
tind offshore samples reflect a difference in components of 
the communities from the two general regions. A more 
complete delineation of the localities would have emphasized 
the differences in communities even more. 

Stomach contents of croaker had not been previously 
reported from Mississippi waters. Our data reveal some 
differences among samples according to depth, length of 
fish, and season, as well as to locality. In addition to mere 
examination of tables listing and comparing the percentage/ 
frequency of occurrence for different items, we compared 
some of the values statistically. For example, using Wil- 
coxon’s signed rank test (Steel and Torrie 1960:402) we 
accept the hypothesis that the frequencies of the various 
food items differ between fish less and greater than 200 rnm 
in both Mississippi Sound (Tiggser ~ 147.5 and 147. .5 > 
hla:=.0l, n=24) and the Gulf of Mexico (T^esj^er " 
and 33 > 23«=.01, n=;17)’. however, the ranks of the 
frequencies of those items do not significantly differ 
between inshore and offshore stocks (Tigjjsgr “ and 
61.5 < 68 q=. 01, n=25)- Still a Spearman's rank test (Fritz 
1 974) suggests that compared ranks in all three comparisons 
are correlated: Tj. = 0.582, 0.627, and 0.521 with “t” ^ 
3.360 > 2.8iya='.01, 22df, 3.116 > 2.947a. 01 , ISdt.and 
2.924 > 2.807 cf=. 01, 23df, respectively. A Friedman test 
(Conover 1971) was used to compare the generalized items 
by season. In this case, T = 5.06, and 5.06 < 1 1.34ft=,oi,3dfi 
allowing us to accept the null hypothesis that no difference 
exists for the croaker’s diet among any of the seaons. This 
result, however, might be misleading becau.se of the high 
prevalence of fish in the croaker stomachs during the fall 
and the low prevalence during the summer. Inspection of 
the less generalized items in Table 2 shows a lower 
prevalence in fall than in other seasons for crustaceans, as 


well as other variations. 

Parker (1971) used the Spearman’s rank test to compare 
differences in ranked frequencies between food items from 
Texas and Louisiana in different croaker-length groups. In 
order to compare our findings for large fish with his, we 
joined some less common groups together, deleted the 
group for mud and sand since we did not always docinnent 
that category in our material, ranked the values, and com- 
pared them with the corresponding ones for croaker from 
Louisiana and Texas. The results of the tests do not indicate 
that a correlation exists between the paired groups (rs = 
0.467 and 0.155 when compared with values from Louisi- 
ana and Texas, respectively; “t” = 2.243 and 0.667 v/ith 
those values less than = 2,878). Wlien 

ranking the least frequent item as I (as suggested by Fritz 
[1974]) rather than the most frequent one, we obtained 
rs = 0.465 and 0.138 with ‘‘t” ~ 2.231 and 0.589, indi- 
cating the same conclusions. Additionally we used 
Wilcoxon's test and accept the alternative hypothesis that 
the croaker’s diet in Mississippi Sound differs from that 
encountered in both Louisiana (T|es^er “ 45.5, 45.5 > 
38a=.01, n=20) and Icxas (T|csscr = ^^’ 56 >38). 

Several analyses of the croaker’s food contents have 
been conducted. Of these, no reason exists not to believe 
that the croaker acts opportunistically, feeding on any 
easily available prey. Some learning behavior may occur 
because specific individuals from a collection of confined 
fish occasionally had exclusively fed on specific food items 
different from those found in their counterparts. This 
observation was especially conspicuous for small croaker 
heavily packed with Pseudodiapkvnm coromtus, Cow- 
phiurn louisianurn, or other small cnislaceans, but it also 
occurred for larger croaker feeding on large prey. Darnell 
(1958) noted the same tendency for a few young croaker to 
specialize on chironomids, inysids, or amphipods. We found 
that most individuals fed on a variety of items. 

A large number of authors have reported mostly unident- 
ified food items from croaker. One paper by Stickiiey et al. 
(1975). however, presented an extensive list with 58 differ- 
ent taxa in croaker from Georgia. We found over 83 taxa in 
Mississippi Sound and 60 in the Gulf including 36 that 
overlapped between the two regions. Chao and Musick 
(1977) referenced most of the studies from the Atlantic 
coast. Those studies from the Gulf of Mexico are by Gunter 
(1945), Reid (1955), Reid et al. (1956), Darnell (1958). 
Inglis (1959), AvaulL et al. (1969),Hanson (1969), Fontenot 
and Rogillio (1970), Parker (1971), Day ct al. (1973), 
Diener et al. (1974), Weaver and Holloway (1974), Roussel 
and Kilgen (1975), and Chen (1976). 

Croaker from different localities feed on the same general 
items, but often in different proportions and on different 
specific components. In general, croaker feed on crustaceans, 
polychaetes, pelccypods, fishes, detritus, and mi.sccllan£c)u.s 
invertebrates and plants. Several factors obviously dictate 
the proportions and compositions of these food items, but 



Food of the Atlantic Croaker 


151 


these factors have been inadequateJy studied. Reid (1955) 
found 45% of a sample from East Bay, Texas, fed on 
molluscs and 1 3% on shrimp. After construction of Rollover 
Pass, an entrance allowing introduction of water from the 
Gulf into the Bay, Reid et al. (1956) found a decreased 
frequency of croaker, and of the sample, 98% fed on 
molluscs, but still 13% on shrimp. Data from our tables 
reveal some differences according to length of fish, season, 
locality, and depth of water. Other papers also revealed 
differences related to various variables. As an example, 
Farrell (1970) showed a seasonal variation in amphipod 
consumption with most ampliipods eaten in spring and 
early summer in Mississippi Sound, but differing somewhat, 
by exact locality. Species oi Corophmm predominated. 

Commercial shrimps and blue crabs constituted a .size- 
able portion of the diet in croaker from Mississippi and a 
few, but not all, other Gulf locations. In spite of the high 
prevalence of penaeids in localities inhabited by the croaker 
in Georgia and North Carolina, few individual croaker ate 
these shrimp; rather, they utilized Neomysis americana 
(Stickney et al. 1975). 

Stickney and coworkers pointed out that few taxa 
occurred in large numbers of croaker, citing N. americana 
in 1 7% of the croaker as the most frequent item the authors 
encountered. We observed several food items that occurred 
more often. In croaker from Mississippi Sound, spp, 
(in most cases, the remains of Penaeus aztecus were not 
differentiated from those of P. setiferus) occurred in 30% 
of the fish and the polychaete Nereis snccinea in 21%. 
Members of neither taxon was common offshore (5% of 
offshore croaker did contain Penaeus spp.), but hermit 
crabs in the genus Pagurus occurred in 1 3% of the offshore 
fish, 21% of those fish from deeper than 30 m, and rarely 
in croaker from the Sound. The bivalve concentrica 
was found in 18% of the offshore croaker and 10% of the 
inshore ones. 

Primary species comprising each general group differ 
from habitat to habitat. As an example, we consider clams. 
Whereas the razor clam constitutes the most common bivalve 
food item for the croaker along many Atlantic coast local- 
ities, its role is substituted elsewhere. Rangia cimeata fills 
this role inLakePontchartrain,Mu/mw/fl^erafoand Nuculana 
concentrica in Missi.ssippi Sound, and Macoma mitchelli in 
East Bay, Texas. In regions where more diversified bivalve 
populations occur such as in the Gulf of Mexico, dominant. 


forms may be less conspicuous. Nuculana concentrica 
occurred in many of the croaker wc examined, but large 
samples from other sites would probably yield other 
common species. 

Our offshore samples do not represent a single locality. 
In fact, fish with food came from 32 different stations over 
a 3-year period. As indicated earlier, most individuals did 
not have food present and obtaining food data was a sec- 
ondary mission. Nevertheless, our data reveal some valuable 
generalizations about the food of the offshore Gulf croaker. 

Food contents of croaker also collected by the NMFS 
during a portion of the same period* but with only two over- 
lapping stations, were analyzed by Chen (1976). She grouped 
data from different stations and found contents in 300 
croaker 26 to 339 mm SL to have a frequency of occurrence 
greatest for polychaetes (53%), followed by iialantian deca- 
pods (47%), mysidaceans (20%), amphipods (12%), brachy- 
urans (11%), brittle stars (11%), and other less common 
items. Ninety percent of the croaker had organic or inor- 
ganic matter, presumably most of which were partially 
digested items. 

The primary differences between our findings and those 
of Chen are that in our samples molluscs occurred more 
frequently and the diet was much more diversified. We did 
not encounter a.s many polychaetes and found no mysids or 
ophiuroids. According to Chen’s graphs separating diet by 
size of fish, the fish in three unspecified size-groups gener- 
ally appeared to have similar diets. 

Comparison of Chen’s and our data, just like comparison 
of most data from the same or from different area.s, shows 
that portions of croaker diet may vary significantly among 
compared samples. The difference probably primarily 
reflects the availability of the specific items al a specific 
collecting site. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

We gratefully thank the following people for their help 
in different aspects of the study: Ronnie Palmer, Roswitha 
Buxton, Laurie Toomey, Kay Richards, Ann St. Andrie, 
Thomas Dcardorff, Alan Fusco, Harriet Perry, and Beryl 
Heard, We also thank members of the Southea.st Fisheries 
Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service for collecting 
offshore croaker. Those of whom we are aware are Elmer 
Gulherz, Bennie Rohr, Perry Thompson, and Nathaniel 
Sanders, Jr. 


REFERENCES CITED 


Avauli, J. W., Jr., C. L. Birdsong & W. G. Perry, Jr. 1969- Growth, 
survival, food habits and sexual development of cxoakci, Micrn- 
pogon undulaius, in bracki.sh water ponds. Proc. Southeast. 
Game Fish Comm. 23:251. 

Chao, L, N- & J, A, Milsick. 1977. Life history, feeding habits, and 
functional morphology of juvenile sciaenid fishes in the York 
River estuary, Virginia. Fish. Bull., U.S. 75(4j:<i.57-702. 

Chen, L.-S. 1976. Food habits of the Atlantic croaker, 

undulaius (Linnaeus), and the spot, Lciostomus xanthurus 


Lacepede in the nonhcentral Gulf of Mexico. Master’s thesis, 
Dniv. Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg. 61 pp. 

Christmas. J. Y. & C. K. Eleuterius. 1973. Phase II: Hydrology. 
Pp. 73-121 in Cooperarivc Gulf of Mexico Estuarine Inventory 
and Study, Mississippi. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Ocean 
Springs, Mississippi. 

Conover, W. J. 197I./*ri7C//‘ci:r/ Nonparametric Statistics, John Wiley 
& Sons, Inc., New York. 462 pp. 

Darnell, R. M. 1958. Food habits of fishes and larger invertebrates 



152 


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of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, an esluaiine community. Pw/?/. 
Inst. Mar. Set, Univ. Tex. 5:353-416. 

Day, J. W.. Jr.. W, G. Smith, P. R. Wagner & W. C. Stowe. 1973. 
Community Structure and Carbon Budget of a Salt Marsh and 
Shaliou' Bay Estuarine System in Louisiana. Publication No. 
LSU- SG 72 04, Center for Wetland Resources, Louisiana 
Slate University, Baton Rouge, 80 pp. 

Diener, R. A., A. Inglis & G. B. Adams. 1974. Stomach contents of 
fishes from Clear Lake and tributary waters, a Texas estuarine 
area.Pu6/. Inst. Mar. Sci., Univ, Tex. 18;7 17. 

Farrell, D. H. 1970. Ecology and seasonal abundance of littoral 
amphipods from Mississippi. Master’s thesis, Mississippi State 
Univ., Starkville. 62 pp. 

Fontenot, B. J., Jr. & FI. E. Rogillio, 1970. A study of estuarine 
sporl-fishcs in the Biloxi marsh complex, Louisiana. Dingell- 
Jolmson Project F-S Completion Report for Louisiana Wildlife 
and Fisheries Commission. 172 pp. 

Fritz, E. S. 1974. Total diet comparison in fishes by Spearman rank 
correlation coefficients, Cbpeia 1974(1):210-214. 

Gunter, G. 1938. The relative numbers of species of marine fish on 
the Louisiana coast, Am. Nat. 72:77-83. 

1945. Studies on marine fishes of Texas. Publ. Inst. 

Mar. Set. Univ. Tex. HI): 1-190. 

Gulhprz, E. J. 1977. The northern Gulf of Mexico groundfish 
fishery, including a brief life history of the croaker {Micropogon 
undulatus). Gulf Caribh. Fish. Inst .Proc.. 29th Ann. Sess. 87-101. 

, G. M. Russell, .4. F. Serra & B. A. Rohr. 1975. Synopsis 

of the northern Gulf of Mexico industrial and food Fish industries. 


U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Mar. Fish. Rev. 37(7): 1-11. 

Hansen, D. J. 1969. Food, growth, migration, reproduction, and 
abundance of pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, and Atlantic croakcr, 
Micropogon undulaius, near Pensacola, Florida, 1963-65. U.S. 
Fish. Wild!. Serv. Fish. Bull. 68( 1): 1 35-146. 

Ingli.s, A. 1959. Predation on shrimp. U.S. Fish. Wildl. Serv. Circ. 
62:50-53. 

Parker, J. C. 1971. 77ie Biology of the Spot, Leiostomus xanthurus 
Lacep&Ie, and Atlantic Croaker, Micropogon undulatus/'L/nmeMs), 
in Two Gulf of Mexico Nursery Areas. Sea Grant Publication No. 
TAMU-SG- 71-210. Tex. A&M Univ., College Station 182 pp. 

Reid, G. K„ Jr. 1955. A summer study of the biology and ecology 
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fish species in East Bay, Texas. Southwest. Nar. I (3): 100-104. 

Roussel, J. E, & R. H. Kilgen. 1975. Food habits of young Atlantic 
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Addenda and Errata to Overstreet, R, M. and R. W. Heard. 1978. 
Gulf Research Reports 6(2) ; 145-152. 

All the following items refer to Table 3. 

1. Under pelecypods, corbiculid remains should read corbulid 
remains. 

2. Under amphipods, Gamma rus tigrinus and Melita nitida may be 
undescribed species most similar to those two listed species. Uniden- 
tified amphipods include Ampelisca agassizi , Unicola sp., and others. 

3. Under Leptochela sp. in the tanaidacean section, the inshore 
material actually was Leptochelia sp. (= Hargaria rapax ?) and 
Kalliapseudes sp. Leptochela sp., listed from relatively deep offshore 
water, is a caridean shrimp. 

4. A group of 16 fish collected 24 March 1977 may confuse the 
results. Ten had food items which were Alpheus f loridanus in six, 
Squilla spp. in four, Euryplax nitida in two, Leiolambrus nitidus in 
two, Portunus sp. in one, and urchin remains in two. The fish were 
apparently trawled from high-salinity water in a pass at the barrier 
islands and not representative of Mississippi Sound. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

A Bibliography of the Rhizocephala (Crustacea: Cirripedia) 

Adrian R. Lawler 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

Steven L. Shepard 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.06 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 
Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Lawler, A. R. and S. L. Shepard. 1978. A Bibliography of the Rhizocephala (Crustacea: Cirripedia). Gulf Research Reports 6 (2): 
153-167. 

Retrieved from http://aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/6 


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Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 153-167, 1978 


A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE RHIZOCEPHALA 
(CRUSTACEA: CIRRIPEDIA) 


ADRIAN R. LAWLER AND STEVEN L. SHEPARD 

Parasitology Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean 
Springs, Mississippi 39564 

ABSTRACT A bibliography of parasitic barnacles of the suborder Rhizocephala, including 490 titles, is presented. 
Scientific works from 1787 to present are listed. 


INTRODUCTION 

The Rhizocephala represent one of the suborders of the 
crustacean order Cirripedia. All are parasites of other crusta- 
ceans, principally decapods (crabs, shrimp, and their allies). 

A rhizocephalan larva penetrates a susceptible host, and 
ramifies throughout the hust in a rool-like system called an 
interna. After growth internally in the host, the parasite 
grows an external sac-like structure, filled mainly with 
sexual organs, called an externa. The externa is attached to 
the abdomen of its host by a short stalk, from which roots 
pass into the interior of the host, deriving nourishment 
from the body fluids of the host. 

Rhizocephalans can cause “parasitic castration” of Iheir 
hosts, and the secondary sexual characteristics of the host 
may be altered. Parasitized male crabs may have a broaden- 
ing of the abdomen so that it resembles the abdomen of a 
normal female; they also may have deformed pleopods. The 
gonads are affected in two main ways: by retardation of 
development, and by actual destruction. 


After the externa drops off, the interna generally slowly 
degenerates. The host may recover and resume a normal 
life; however, it is likely that it will remain stunted and can 
never carry on normal reproductive processes. The host’s 
gonads can recover from the effects of castration if it is freed 
from the parasite. Females regenerate functional ovaries and 
males that are slightly modified regenerate testes. Males that 
are altered so that they exhibit the external characters of 
females may regenerate a hermaphroditic gonad. 

Rhizocephalans do not prevent molting of the host as 
long as they are internal. Parasitized brachyuran crabs do 
not molt, as a rule, after the rhizocephalan has become 
external. 

As rhizocephalans parasitize a number of commercially 
important decapods throughout the world, this bibliography 
should be of u.se to parasitologists and persons involved in 
the study of decapods. 

We have undoubtedly omitted some references, and would 
appreciate any additions, that can be made to this listing. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


Abric, P. 1904. Les premiers stadcs du developpement de la 
Sacculine. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc., Paris 139:430-432. 
Adkins, G. 1972. Notes on the occurrence and distribution 
of the rhizocephalan parasite {Loxothylacus texanus 
Boschma) of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) in 
Louisiana estuaries. La. Wildl. Fish. Comm. Tech. Bull. 
No. 2. 13 pp. 

AltSs, J. 1962. Sur quelques parasites et hyperparasites de 
Clihanarius crythropes (Latreille) en corse. Bull. Soc. 
Zool. France 87:88-97. 

Anderson, J. 1858. (1) On the gQnni Peltogaster (Rathke); 
an animal form parasitic on the abdomen of crabs. (2) On 
the occurrence of the Galathea andrewsii. Proc. Roy. 
Phys. Soc., Edinb. (1854-1858) 1:412-415. 

1862. On the anatomy of Saccutina, with a 

description of the species. Ann. Mag. Natur. Hist. 9(3): 
12-19. 

Andrieux, N. 1968. fitude de la cuticule chez Carcinus 


Manuscript received June 24, 1977; accepted August 10, 1977. 


mediterraneus (Czerniavsky) indemne et parasite par 
Sacculina carcini Thompson. Bull. Sac. Zool. France 93; 
611-627. 

1969. Remarques preliminaries sur la glande de 

mue de Carcinus mediterraneus infest^s par Sacculina 
carcini. (English summary), -4/?n. Parasitol. 44(1): 83-9 1. 

1974. Action de Teedysterone sur lesph^nom^nes 

de mue des crabes Carcinus mediterraneus sains et para- 
sites par carcini. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc., Paris 

279(10);807 810. 

,J. Berreur-Bonnenfant & C. Herberts, 1976. Com- 
positions proteique de rhemolymphe des crabes Carcinus 
mediterraneus Czerniavsky, sains ou parasites par 
lina carcini Thompson. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc., Paris 
282(3)12091-2094. 

, P. Porcheron. J. Berreur-Bonnenfant & F.Dray. 

1976. Determination de taux d’ecUysonc au cours du 
cycle d’intermue chez le crabe Carcinus maenus: com- 
paraison entre individus sains et parasites par Sacculina 
carcini. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc., Paris (D), 283(12); 
1429-1432. 


153 



154 


Lawler and Shepard 


Annandale, N. 191 1. Note on a rhizocephalous crustacean 
from fresh water, and on some specimens of the order 
from Indian Seas, Rec. Jnd. Mus, 6:1—4. 

Anonymous. 1969. Crab parasite. Wld. Fishg. I8(8):48. 

Arnaud, P. M. & T. Do-Chi. 1977. Biological and bio- 
metrical data on the lithodid crab Lithodes murrayi 
(Crustacea, Decapoda, Anomura) of Crozet Islands (SW 
Indian Ocean). A/a/-. Biol. (Berl.) 39(2): 147- 159. 

Baal, I. van. 1937. Biological results of the SnelUus Expedi- 
tion. II. Rhizocephal.i of the families Peltrogastridae and 
Lernaeocliscidae. Temminckia (Leiden) 2:1-96. 

Baer, J. G. 1946. Le Patasitisme. F. Rouge &Cie S.A. Lib. 
de L’Univ. Lausanne. 232 pp. 

1951. Ecology of Animal Parasites. Univ. Illinois 

Press. 224 pp. 

1971- Anunal Parasites. McGraw-Hill, New York. 

256 pp. 

Baffoni, G. M. 1947a. Effetti del parassitismo da Rizocefali 
e Bopiridi sull’ Eupagurus prideauxii (Leach). Pubbl 
Staz. Zool. Napoli 21:37—50. 

1947b. Osservazione sulla transformazione del 

sesso nei Crostacei Decapodi. Pnbbi Staz. Zool. Napoli 
21:132-147. 

1948a. Annotazione comparative sull’ azione 

prodotta dai Rizocefali parassiti Eupagurus prideauxii. 
Pubbl Staz. Zool Adpo/t 21:237-255. 

1948b. La castrazione parassitaria da lone 

thoracica (Montagu) e Parthenopea subterranea Koss- 
mann in Callianassa laticauda Otto. Arch. Oceanogr. e 
Limnol 5(4): 1—14. 

1953. Modificazioni metaboliche dell’ epato- 

pancreas di Callianassa laticauda nella castrazione paras- 
sitaria. Atti. Accad. Nazi. Lincei, Rend. Classe Scl Fis. 
Mat. eNat. (8), I4(3):436-442. 

Barker, W. H., Jr. &, F. B. Bang. 1966. The effect of infec- 
tion by gram-negative bacteria, and their endotoxins, on 
the blood-clotting mechanism of the crustacean Sacculina 
carcini. a parasite of the crab Carcinus maenas. J. Invert. 
Path. 8(l):88-97. 

Bauduin, H. 1931. Notes anatomiques sur le Septosaccus 
cuenotL Memoire de la Fuculte' des Sciences del’Univer- 
sitede Paris, No. d’ordre: 425 (also in: Trav. Stat. Biol 
Roscoff, fasc. 9, 1931). 

Behre, E. H. 1950. Annotated list of the fauna of the Grand 
Isle region, 1926-1946. Occas. Papers Marine Lab. 
Louisiana State Univ. No. 6, 66 pp. 

Beneden, E. van. 1 869. Sur le mode de formation de I’oeuf 
et le de'veloppement embryonnaire des Sacculines. Compt. 
Rend. Acad. Sl\^ Paris 69: 1 146—1 1 52. 

1 870. Recherches sur I’embryogenie des Crustaces. 

II. Developpement de I’oeuf et de I’embryon des Saccu- 
lines {Sacculina carcini, Thomps,). Bull. Acad. Mdd. 
Belgique, 2 e se'rie, 29:99-1 12 et 599. 

Biedl, A. 1913. Innere Sekretion. 2 Aufl. Urban and 
Schwarzenberg, Berlin, 692 pp. 


Boequet, C. 1971. Especes nouvelles decrites de la rc'gion 
de Roscoff entre 1945 ct 1970. Cah. Biol Mar. 12(4): 
381-404. 

Boequet-Vedrine, J. 1 957. Chtharnalophilus delagei nov. gen., 
nov. sp., Rhizoce'phale nouveau, parasite de Chthamalus 
stellatus. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc., Paris 244: 1 545— 1 548. 

1958a. Sur Torganisation de Chthamolophilus 

delagei J. Boequet (Crustace' Rhizoce'phale). Compt. 
Rend. Acad. Sc., Paris 246:484-486. 

1958b. Ecto-parasiti.sme et absence de migration 

chez Chthamolophilus delagei J. Boequet-VeUrine, Cir- 
ripede parasite des Chthamalus. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc., 
Paris 247:2440- 2442. 

1959. Sur un Cancer pagums L. porteur de cinq 

de Sacculina inflata Leuckart. vlrc/?. Zool Exp. Gen. 
98(2):57-61. 

I960. Premiers stades de segmentation de I’oeuf 

de Chtharnalophilus delagei J. Boequet-Vedrine (Crustace' 
Rhizocephale). Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc., Paris 250: 1 557— 
1559. 

1961 . Morphologique de Chtharnalophilus delagei 

J. Boc.-Ved., Rhizocephale parasite de Chthamalus stella- 
tus (Poli). Cah. Biol Mar. 2:455-593. 

1964. Embryologie prccoce de Sacculina carcini 

Thompson. Zoo/. Mededeei Rijksmus. Nat. Hist., Leiden 
39:1-11. 

1965. Cycle du rhizocephale hermaphrodite 

Chtharnalophilus delagei J. Boequet-Vedrine, parasite 
externe du cirripede opercule Chthamalus stellatus (Poli). 
Bull Mus. Nat. Hist. Nat., Paris, 2. s.,37(3):469-475. 

1966. Cycle du rhizocephale hermaphrodite 

Chtharnalophilus delagei J. Boequet-Ve'drine, parasite 
externe du cirripede opercule Oithamalus stellatus (Poli). 
Proc. 1. Internal. Cong. Parasitol (Rome, Sept, 21—26, 
1964) 2:1085-1086. 

- 1967. Un nouveau rhizocephale parasite de cir- 
ripede: Microgaster balani n. gen. n. sp. Compt. Rend. 
Acad. Sc., Paris 265(21):1630-1632, 

1968. Description des stades immatures du Rhizo- 
cephale Boschmaella balani (J. Boequet-Vedrine) (= 
Microgaster balani J. Boequet-Ve^drine), parasite de Bala- 
nus improvisus Darwin. Arc//. Zool Exp. Gen. 109:257— 
267. 

— 1 969. Lalarve du rhizoce'phale Boschmaella balani 

(J. Bocquet-Ve'drine). Arc/z. Zool Exp. Gen. 110:279— 
288. 

1972a. Conditions ecologiques necessaires a 

I’instauration du parasilisme des Cirripedes Opercules 
par les Rhizocephales, Compt. Rend. Acad. Sc.. Paris 
(D),275(l):67-69, 

1972b- Les Rhizocdphales. Cah. Biol Mar. 13(5): 

615-626. 

& J, Parent. 1972a. Organogenese secondaire du 

Crustace Rhizocephale Boschmaella balani (J. Boequet- 



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Bocquet-Ve'drine, J. & L Parent. 1972b. Le parasitisme 
multiple du cirripede opercule Balanus improvisus Darwin 
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Bonnier, J. 1887. Catalogue des crustacds malacostraces 
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Nord, V. 18, 2. s., an. 10 (5 -6): 199-262; (7-8):296- 
356;(9-10): 361-422. 

Boschma, H. 1925. Rhizocephala of Curacao. (In Bijdrageii 
tot de kennis der fauna van Curacao. Resultaten eener 
reis van Dr. C. J. van der Horst in 1920). Bijdr. Dierk., K. 
Zool. Genooisch. Natura Artis Magistra, Amsterdam (24): 
9-14. 

— 1927a. Bemerkungen liber Rhizocephalen des 

Golfes von Neapel. Pubbl. Staz. Zool. Napoli 8(2):261- 
272. 

1927b. On the larval forms of Rhizocephala. 

Proc. Sect. Sc. K. Akad. Wetensch., Amsterdam 30(2): 
293-297. 

— 1927c. Over de larven der Rhizocephalen. Versl. 

Afd. Natuurk. K. Akad. Wetensch., Amsterdam 36(2): 
177-182. 

1927d. Over Europeeshe vormen van het geslacht 

Sacculina. Tijdschr. Nederl. Dierk. Vereen., 2. s.^ 20:69. 

— 1 927e. Over de larven der Rliizocephalen. Tijdschr. 

Nederl. Dierk. Vereen, 2. s.j20:97. 

1927f. Ueber europaische Formen der Gattung 

Sacculina. Zool. Jahrb., Jena, Abt. Syst, 54(1 -2): 39— 86. 

1 928a. The Rhizocephala of the Leiden Museum. 

Zool Mededeel Rijksmus. Nat. Hist., Leiden 11(2-3): 
146-176- 

1928b. Rhizocephala of the North Atlantic region. 

The Danish Ingolf-Expedition 3( 1 0); 1 -49. 

1928c. Two common species of parasitic Crustacea 

(Sacculinidae) of the West Indies. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 
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1 928d. Rhizocephala. In '"Zoology of the Faroes, ” 

2 (Art. 28): 1-3. Copenhagen. 

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/. Mar. Biol Assn. UK, n. s.,16(l):73-79. 

— 1930. Briarosaccus callosus, a new genus and new 

species of a rhizocephalan parasite of IJthodes agassizii 
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1931a. On tlie identity oi Sacculina triangularis 

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1934a. On Sacculina punctata, a new species 

from Japan. Zoo/. Afeuferfed. Rijksmus. Nat. Hist., Leiden 
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1934h. On Sacculina gordoni, a new species of 

the genus, parasitic on Atergatis floridus. Bull Raffles 
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rotundata Miers and Sacculina yatsui nov. spec. Zool 
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156 


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Boschma, H. 1946. Notes on a specimen of Lernaeodiscus 
squamiferae Perez (Crustacea, Rhizocephala). Proc. K. 
Nederl. Akud. Wetensch. 49:733-737. 

— 1947a. The European Rhizocephala in the collec- 

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1952a. Sacculina inconstans, a new species of 

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Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Silica and Ash in the Salt Marsh Rush Juncus roemerianus 

EC. Lanning 

Kansas State University 

Lionel N. Eleuterius 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.07 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 
Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Lanning, R and L. N. Eleuterius. 1978. Silica and Ash in the Salt Marsh Rush, Juncus roemerianus. Gulf Research Reports 6 (2) : 
169-172. 

Retrieved from http;//aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/7 


This Short Communication is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and 
Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell(Susm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 169-172, 1978 


SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 


SILICA AND ASH IN THE SALT MARSH mm,JVNCUSROEMERlANUS 


F. C. FANNING AND LIONEL N. ELEIJTERIUS 

Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University , Manhattan, 
Kansas 66506 and Botany Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory , 
Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 


ABSTRACT Silica content of living rhizomes from the perennial salt marsh rush Juncus roemerianus had values of 0.34, 
0.20, and 0.60% of dry weight in three morphologically distinct populations along the Mississippi coast and was directly 
related to available silica conteni of the soil (29.7, 17.0, 1 69.6 mg/I OOg soil, respectively). On the other hand, living leaves 
had about the same average .silica content (0.93, 0.87, 0.90% of dry weight). The silica content of living leaves varied from 
0.142% in younger leaves to 1.520% in older ones. Similarly, rhizomes also increased in silica content with age, varying 
from 0.137% in younger portions to 1.030% for older ones. Mature leaves collected in October all had a higher average 
silica content (0.7 37%) than those collected in April (0.4 1 3%), indicating that silica content also increases over the growing 
season, neiannpose.d leaves (dead-standing) had a relatively high silica content of 1.81%, obviously reflecting a loss of 
organic matter and soluble minerals. Roots contain considerable silica, but reliable results were not possible as the soil 
could not be completely removed from them. Petrographic microscope studies showed that the silica was clear, colorless 
and i-sotropic with a refractive index of 1 .43, all properties typical of the mineral opal- No Of-quartz Nv-as present, as occurs 
in some species of Juncus. The silica was deposited in a sheet made up of small, irregular phyioUths arranged in rows 
lengthwise in the leaves. Ash percentages were much higher than those for silica and no dcllnite conclusions could be 
drawn from their variation, in comparison to the maximum silica content of leaves from Juncus interior (3.21%), the 
concentrations found in leaves of 7. roemerianus were relatively low. 


INTRODUCTION 

Silica occurs in numerous vascular plants, including the 
rushes m/ew/'Weig.and Juncus bufonimh. Lanning 
(1972) showed that these rushes contained much silica and 
that the content ot J. interior increased nearly eight-told 
over the growing season, Both J. interior and 7. bufonius 
contain opaline silica and o-quartz as do other plants such 
as Lantana (Lanning et al. 1958). From an extensive review 
of the literature, Ishizuka (197 1) states that the presence of 
silica increases the rigidity of the leaves of the rice plant, 
causing them to become erect. He also cites strong evidence 
that the presence of silica increases- the resistance of plants 
to fungal diseases and insect attack. 

Juncus roemerianus Scheele is a common rush of salt 
marshes througjiout the coastal area of Mississippi, south- 
eastern Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf and Atlantic 
coasts (Eleuterius 1975). Tlie rush grows erect, with stiff 
terete leaves, that arise terminally from short stems near 
the surface of the marsh (Eleuterius 1975, 1976). The leaves 
are coarse, long lasting in some populations, resistant to 
fungal attack and infrequently grazed by insects. This knowl- 
edge of J. roemerianus led to the hypothesis that the pres- 
ence of silica may account for the stiff, persistent and resis- 
tant leaves. 

This study was designed to determine: (1) if present, the 
types and quantity of silica; (2) the ash (A) and silica (S) 


Manuscript received April 7, 1978; accepted May 25, 1978. 


contents of the various parts Juncus roemerianus plants; 
(3) the A and S contents of plants from three morphologi- 
cally distinct populations; (4) the silica content of the 
marsh soil in relation to concentration in the rush plants; 
(5) seasonal differences, if any ; and (6) the A and S contents 
of young leaves and rhizomes in comparison to older ones. 

METHODS AND MATERIALS 

Juncus roemerianus plants were collected from several 
populations at different locations near Ocean Springs, Mis- 
sissippi (Figure 1): Belle Fontaine Beach (BFB) marsh; 
Weeks Bayou (WB) marsh; Salt Flats (SF). Samples with long 
rhizomes (LR) and a single plant (SP) were taken from Sim- 
mons Bayou Spoil (SBS). Plants found at WS have mature 
leaves 3 to 5 feet in length, while those at SF and BFB have 
leaves 1 to 1.5 and 5 to 7.5 feel in length, respectively. 
Decomposed leaf material was collected from the peripheral 
and terminal portions of Simmons Bayou marsh. Specific 
dates of collections are given with the tables of results. 

The plant materials were thoroughly washed and then air 
dried al 110°C. Whole plants were separated into above- 
ground parts, rhizomes and roots. All plant materials were 
ground in a Wiley mill before analysis. Silica content of 
plant material was determined by classical gravimetric tech- 
niques using platinum crucibles. The material was ashed at 
about 500°C and the ash treated repeatedly with 6N hydro- 
chloric acid to remove other mineral impurities. The silica 
was filtered out and ignited. The silicon dioxide content 


169 





170 


Lanning and Eleuterius 


55' 50* 45* 40' 



Figure 1, The study areas of the tidal salt marsh rush, Juricux roemerianus, were located at BeJIe Fontaine Beach; Weeks Bayou, and Salt 
Flats. The rush formed monotypic stands at each location. 


was determined as the difference of weights before and after 
treatment with hydrofluoric acid. 

Available silica in soil was determined as acetate soluble 
silica according to the Imaizumi and Yoshida (1958) modi- 
fications of Kahlei^s method (1941). A 10-gram sample of 
soil was extracted by 100 ml of IN acetate buffer of pH 4.0 
for 5 hours at 40°C. To a lO-ml aliquot of extract, 5 ml of 
0.60N hydrochloric acid and 5 ml of ammonium molybdate 
(102 grams per liter) were added. After the mixture had 
stood for 3 minutes, 10 ml of sodium sulfite (170 grams per 
liter) were added. This mixture was allowed to stand JO 
minutes, and then absorbance at 634 nm was measured 
with a Bauseh and Lomb Spectronic 20. The pH of the soil 
was determined with a Coleman pH meter. Mixtures of 
equal volumes of soil and water were used for the pH deter- 
minations. 

Spodograms were prepared by the Ponnaiya (1951) 
modification of the Uber (1940) method. The material to 
be examined was placed between microscope slides, and 
then ashed in a muffle furnace at 450° to 500°C. The ash 
was prepared for microscopic examination and photography 
by removing the upper slide, adding Canada balsam directly 
to the mass and covering with a cover glass. A petrographic 
microscope was used lo study the nature of silica deposits. 
Several specimens from each location were examined. 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

Petrographic microscope studies of silica from ash of 
Juncus roemenatius showed it to be clear, colorless and 


isotropic with an index of refraction of 1.45. These prop- 
erties are characteristic of the mineral opal (Lanning et al, 
1958). No a-quartz was present although it occurs in 
Juncus interior Weig. and Juncus hufnnius L. The silica is 
deposited in sheets which are made up of rows of small 
irregular phytoliths arranged lengthwise in the leaves. Some 
fibers arc also present (Figure 2). 

The soils differed considerably between the three marshes. 
The soil for SF plants was sandy, had a pH of 9.J0 and an 
acetate-available silica content of 29.7 mg/lOOg of soil. The 
BFB and VVB soils were a clay type and had pH values of 
5.77 and 7.00, respectively. The acetate-available silica con- 
tents of BFB and WB soils were quite high, 17.0 and 169.0 
mg/lOOg soil, respectively. 

The leaves of plants in the sandy alkaline soil (SF) grew 
from 1 to 1 .5 feet tall. The leaves from other locations (see 
Methods section) were much taller (WB = 3 to 5 feet ; BFB = 
5 to 7.5 feet). 

Results from samples collected in January (Table 1) 
show that silica concentration is much higher in the leaves 
than the rhizomes. The leaves of plants from all three loca- 
tiomshad about the same silica percentage. The WB rhizomes 
growing in the soil with high available silica content had a 
much higher percentage of silica than rhizomes from the 
other loca lions. Ash concentrations were much higher than 
the silica concentrations and were lowest in SF planis. 

Living leaf material from the three locations (Table 1) all 
showed a considerably higher silica percentage in samples 
collected in October than those collected in April. This 




Short Communications 


171 



Figure 2. Spodogram of silica deposited in a Juncus leaf (100 X). 
Note tlie small, irregular phytoliths (P) and some fibers (hyaline 
streaks, F). 


TABLE 1. 

Ash and silica content of living Juncus roetnerianus from Belle 
Fontaine Beach (BFB) marsh, Weeks Bayou (WB) marsh, and Salt 
Flats (SF) on I>eei Island. Collections were made during January 
1977. (imposition of living leaves taken in April (A) and Octo- 
ber (O) 1976 from the same three populations are also shown. 


Sample No, 


Leaves 

Rhizomes 

% Ash 

% Silica 

% Ash 

% Silica 

BFB-1 

4.13 

0.93 

3.53 

0.21 

Bl'B 2 

4.28 

0.33 

5.10 

0.21 

BFB-3 

4.39 

0.79 

4.47 

0.28 

BFB-4 

5.12 

0.80 

4.20 

0.23 

BFB-5 

4.75 

0.94 

3.24 

0.08 

BFB 6 

5.25 

0.94 

4.43 

0.18 

Average 

4.65 

0.87 

4.16 

0.20 

VVB-1 

4.93 

0.95 

5.34 

0.40 

WB-2 

5.40 

1.24 

5.31 

0.93 

WB-3 

4.90 

0.86 

4.74 

0.43 

WB-4 

5.35 

0.89 

5.02 

0.36 

WB-6 

4.70 

1.11 

6.55 

1.28 

Average 

5.10 

0.90 

5.50 

0.60 

SF-! 

4.26 

0.90 

3.57 

0.22 

SF-2 

4.36 

1.22 

5.12 

0.37 

SF-3 

3.80 

0.88 

3.64 

0.43 

SF-4 

4.15 

1.03 

4.03 

0.37 

SF- 5 

3.98 

0.83 

4.27 

0.42 

SF-6 

3.85 

0.71 

4.02 

0,23 

Average 

4.07 

0.93 

4.11 

0.34 

BFB-^A 

4.93 

0.56 



BFB-0 

4.47 

0.69 



WB-A 

4.69 

0.34 



WB-0 

4.40 

0.83 



SF-A 

3.95 

0.34 



SF-0 

3.68 

0.69 




increase over the growing season corresponds with results 
obtained by Lanning (1972) for other Juncus plants and 
Lanning and Linko (1961) {or Sorghum plants. 

The results of studies on plants to compare the silica 
concentrations of younger and older plant materials are 
shown in Table 2. For this study the rhizomes were cut in 
two, and the older halves analyzed separately from the 
younger. In all cases older leaves and rhizomes had consid- 
erably higher silica percentages than younger ones. Decom- 
posed leaf material had a much higher silica percentage than 
the living material analyzed. Loss of organic matter and 
soluable mineral matter obviously resulted in this higher 
silica percentage. Silica constitutes a small fraction of the 
mineral matter in the plants since the ash percentages were 
much higher. Root analyses were not accurate since it was 
not possible to remove all the soil. Ash content of the roots 
was abnormally high indicating that silica must also be too 
high to be accurate. 

TABLE 2. 

Ash and silica contents of young and old leaves, riii/oines and 
leaves of a single clump [clone or single plant (SP)] about 45 cm 
in diameter, of Juncus roernerianus collected from Simmons 
Bayou Spoil (SBS). Long rhizomes (LR), 30 to 45 cm in length, 
bearing intact shoots and roots were dug from a larger clump 
located at SBS and separated into younger and older parts. Com- 
parative samples were also taken from three populations; Belle 
Fontaine Beach (BFB) marsh. Weeks Bayou (WB) marsh and Salt 
Flats (SF) at E>car Island. Composition of decomposed (dead- 
standing, BFB) leaf material is also shown. All samples were 
taken during June 1977. 


Plant Part 

%Ash 

% Silica 

Single plant (small clump) — SBS-SP 

Young leaves 

4.85 

0.142 

Old leaves 

4.99 

0.599 

Dead leaves 

4.63 

0.783 

Rhizomes 

6.15 

0.317 

Roots 

10.40 

1.25 

Long rhizomes with intact shoots 
and roots — SBS-LR 

Younger half of rhizomes 

3.97 

0.270 

Older lialf of rhizomes 

3.30 

0.441 

Leaves on younger half of rhizomes 

4.94 

0.960 

Leaves on older half of rhizomes 

4.47 

1.520 

Roots 

15.36 

2.53 


Long rhizomes with intact shoots 
and roots from three populations 
BFB; 


Rhizomes — younger half 

7.35 

0.137 

Rhizomes - older half 

9.92 

0.506 

Roots 

13.30 

0.632 

WB: 

Rhizomes - younger half 

8.95 

0.418 

Rhizomes - older half 

9.10 

0.447 

Roots 

15.90 

1.18 

SF: 

Rhizomes - younger half 

7.78 

0.705 

Rhizomes - older half 

9.63 

1.03 

Roots 

14.09 

1.82 

Decompo.sed leaf material — BFB 

3.93 

1.81 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

The technical assistance of John Caldwell and Dolores 
Smith is acknowledged and appreciated. 


172 


Lanning and Eleuterius 


REFERENCES CITED 


Eleuterius, L. N. 1975. The life history of the salt marsh rush, 
Juncus roemerianus. Dull, Toney Dot. Club 102:135-140. 

. 1976, The distribution Juncus roemerianus in tlie 

salt marshes of North America. Chesapeake Sci. 17:389-292. 
Imaizumi, K. & S. Yoshida. 1958. Edaphological studies on silicon 
supplying power of paddy fields. Bull. NatL Insi. Agric. Sci. 
Ser. B (Soils Ferl) No. 8 (Japan); 261-301 . 

Ishizuka, Yoshiaki. 1971. The physiology of the rice plant. Adv. 
Agron. 23:241-315. 

Kahler, M, L. 1941, Determination of soluble silica in . Indus- 
trial and Engineering Chemistry: Analytical Edition. American 
Chemical Society, Washington, D.C, 13:536. 


Lanning, E, C. 1972. Ash and silica in Juncus. Bull. Torrey Bot. 
Club 99:196-198. 

, R. W. X. Ponnaiya & C. F. Crumpton. 1958. The chem- 
ical nature of silica in plants.. Plant Physiol. 33{5);339— 343. 

& Yu-Yen Linko. 1961. Absorption and deposition of 

silica by four varieties of sorghum. J. Agric. Food Chern, 
9:463-465. 

Ponnaiya, B. W. X. 1951. Studies in the genwi Sorghum: The cause 
of resistance in sorghum to the insect pest Aniheriogna indica M. 
J. Madras Univ. Sect. B, XXI, No. 2 (India): 203-21 7. 

Tiber, F. M. 1940. Microincineration and ash analysis. Bot. Rev. 
6:204-226. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Occurrence ofMysidopsis almyra Bowman^ M. bahia Molenock and Bowmaniella 
brasiliensis Bacescu (Crustacea^ Mysidacea) from the Eastern Coast of Mexico 

W Wayne Price 

University of Tampa 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.08 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 




Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Price, W. 1978. Occurrence oiMysidopsis almyra Bowman, M bahia Molenock and Bowmaniella brasiliensis Bacescu (Crustacea, 
Mysidacea) from the Eastern Coast of Mexico. Gulf Research Reports 6 (2): 173-175. 

Retrieved from http:// aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/ 8 


This Short Communication is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and 
Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell(Susm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 173-175, 1978 


OCCURRENCE 0¥ MYSIDOPSIS ALMYRA BOWMAN, A/. BAHIA MOLENOCK AND 
BOWMANIELLA BRASILIENSIS BACESCU (CRUSTACEA, MYSIDACEA) FROM 
THE EASTERN COAST OF MEXICO 


W. WAYNE PRICE 

Department of Biology, University of Tampa, 

Tampa, Florida 33606 

ABSTRACT Tl^ree species of mysids, Mysidopsis almyra, M. bahia and Bowmaniella hrasilicnsis are recorded for the 
first time from four locations along the eastern coast of Mexico. Data on geographical distribution, population structure, 
length, brood si/.e, and morphological variation are given. 


INTRODUCTION 

Only two mysid species have been reported from the 
shallow waters along the eastern coasl of Mexico between 
the Rio Grande and the Yucataii peninsula. Bacescu (1968) 
reported Bowmaniella dissimilis (Coifmann) from Veracruz, 
Veracruz, and Price (1975) reported Metamysidopsis swifti 
Bacescu from Tuxpan and Punta de Anton Lizardo in Vera- 
cruz. This paper reports the collection of three additional 
mysid species from four locations along the eastern coast of 
Mexico in May 1973- 

MATERIAL AND METHODS 

Collections were made with a 1.5 m hand-drawn beam 
trawl (Renfro 1963) and preserved in 5% formalin. Temper- 
ature was measured with a hand-held mercury bulb ther- 
mometer and salinity was measured with a rcfractometer. 

RESULTS i\ND DISCUSSION 

Collection sites are shown in Figure 1. The northern- 
most collection was made 1 km westofLaPesca.Tamaulipas 
(23°50'N; 97“46'W) in 1 m of water over an oyster-shell 
bottom. Thirty Av/o Mysidopsis almyra Bowman were found 
here. Collections were made at two locations on the western 
shore of Laguna de Tamialiua, Veracruz, a lagoon situated 
between Tampico and Tuxpan. Ninety-two M. Almyra and 
16 Af. bahia Molenock were taken 3 km north of San Geron- 
imo (21°33'30''N; 97®36'30"W) in a natural oil seep area. 
The water depth was 1,5 m and the bottom consisted of 
shell mixed with nodules of tar-shell conglomerate. Six km 
north of this site. 155 M. bahia were collected in thick 
Ruppia maritima beds at the conlluence of Estero Cucharas 
River and the lagoon in Cucharas. The water depth was 1 .0 
to 1.5 m and the bottom was muddy. Four specimen.^ of 
Bowmaniella brasiliensis Bacescu were collected 3 km north 
of the jetty at Tuxpan, Veracruz (21®00'N; 97‘'21 'W) at the 
seaside beach in 1 m ofwater over a sand-shellbottom. Table 
1 shows the water temperature and salinity at each location. 

The previously known geographic ranges of M. almyra 
and M. bahia extended from the southwestern Everglades, 
Florida (Bowman 1964; Braltegard 1969, 1970; Odum and 
Heald 1972) to Baffin Bay, an embayment connecting with 


Manuscript received July 1 1, 1978; accepted August 15, 1978. 



Figure I. Location of collecting sites on eastern coast of Mexico. 


the Laguna Madre on the southern Texas coast (Mackin 1 97 1). 
This report extends the southern range of these two species 
approximately 650 km. Bowmaniella brasiliensis was pre- 
viously reported from Brazil, Georgia, the Caribbean coast 
of Panama (Brattegard 1974), the Galveston Bay area, Texas 
(Conte and Parker 1971;Price 1976) and Baffin Bay, Texas 
(Mackin 1971). The collection locality of B. brasiliensis 
reported by this study lies between the previously known 
locations of Baffin Bay, Texas and the Caribbean coast of 
Panama; this is in all likelihood indicative of a continuous 
distribution of this species along the coastal areas of the 
western Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. 

The developmental groups for the three mysid species at 
the four locations are shown in Table 1. For A/, almyra and 
M. bahia, brooding females comprised the largest portion of 
the population at each location, and mature individuals 
greatly outnumbered immatures. Females outnumbered 
males at each site, attaining ratios of 3.4; 1.0 for M.almyra 
at San Geronimo and 2. 5: 1.0 for M. bahia at Cucharas. 


173 




174 


Price 


Table I, 

Number per developmental group for M. almyra, M. bahia and B. brasiliensis at each location. 


Developmental groups 

La Pesca (30^, 14*^) 

San Geronimo (31^^ 20^) 

Cucharas (34*, 18*^) 

Tuxpan (25*, 37*^) 

M. almyra 

M. almyra 

M. bahia 

M. bahia 

B. brasiliensis 

Brooding 99 

11 

44 

5 

87 


Broodless mature 99 

7 

18 

1 

10 


Mature 66 

7 

15 

7 

37 

4 

Immature 99 

4 

9 

3 

14 


Immature 66 

3 

6 

0 

7 


Total 

32 

92 

16 

155 

4 


^Water temperature °C 
^’Salinity ppt 

Length measurements (base of eyestalk to posterior ends 
of uropods, excluding setae) for collections of M. almyra 
and A/, bahia from San Geronimo and Cucharas revealed that 
females were larger than males for both species. Lengths of 
brooding M. almyra averaged 5.6 mm (range 5.0 to 6.7 mm) 
and mature males averaged 4.9 mm (4.0 to 5.5 mm). The 
mean length of brooding M. bahia was 5.3 mm (4.0 to 
6.6 mm) and the mean length of mature males was 4.4 mm 
(3.8 to 5.4 mm). In Galveston Bay, Texas during May— June 
1971/72 and 1973/74, the mean length of brooding A/. 
almyra was 4.9 mm (4.3 to 6.8 mm) and the mean length of 
gravid M. bahia was 5.3 mm (4.3 to 6.3 mm) (Price 1976). 
The average length of the four mature male specimens of 
B. brasiliensis was 6.5 mm (6.3 to 6.7 mm). 

Brood size measurements for the San Geronimo and 
Cucharas collections indicated that brood size uicreased 
with increasing length of the female for M. almyra and M. 
bahia. Mean brood size was 9.0 young (4.0 to 15.0) for AL 
almyra and 5.5 young (3.0 to 12.0) foryV/. bahia. A similar 
relationship between brood size and length of female was 
found for these two species in Galveston Bay, Texas during 
May— June 1971/72 and 1973/74. However, the mean brood 
size was 5.4 young (3.0 to 10.0) for M. almyra and 7.0 
young (3.0 to 14.0) for M. bahia (Price 1976). 

Several differences exist between the specimens of M. 
almyra described by both Bowman (1964) and Brattegard 
(1969) and those from the present study. Bowman and 
Brattegard, respectively, reported 6—7 and 6—8 pairs of 
long slender spines on the telson apex; my adult specimens 
had 4-5 pairs of spines. Antennal scales as well as the first 
and fourth male pleopods of specimens examined during 
this study agreed with Brattegard rather than Bowman. 1 
found no distal segment on the antennal scale reported by 
Bowman. In addition adult males had five setae on the 


pseudobranchial lobes at the base of the endopods of the 
first and fourth pleopods rather than six as reported by 
Bowman; in contrast to Bowman’s specimens the narrow 
lobe distal to the pseudobranchial lobe of the fourth male 
pleopod was lacking. Other characteristics agreed with 
previous descriptions. 

Specimens of M, bahia from Mexico agreed with those 
described by Molenock(1969)and Brattegard (1970) except 
for two characteristics. Molenock and Brattegard, respec- 
tively, reported 4-5 and 4 -6 pairs of long slender spines on 
the telson apex; my adult specimens had 3—5 (usually 4) 
pairs of spines. The curvature of the anterior dorsal margin 
of the carapace of my specimens was in agreement with 
Molenock’s illustration which showed it to be broadly tri- 
angular and slightly produced between the eyestalks. The 
anterior carapace margin of Brattegard’s specimens was 
broadly rounded and not produced between the eyestalks. 

Several differences were noted between the specimens of 
B. brasiliensis described by Bacescu (1968) and my spec- 
imens. Bacescu reported 6-7 lateral spines on the telson 
and 1 found 7-8 spines. The cleft depth/telson length ratio 
from Bacescu’s illustration was 0.08 as opposed to 0.12 in 
this study. The lateral lobes of the sinus and the posterior 
dorsal margin of the carapace of my specimens were more 
triangular than the oval-shaped lobes of Bacescu’s specimens. 
The corneal portion of the eye in my specimens was more 
oblique than the cornea in Bacescu’s .specimens. Other 
characteristics agreed with the original description. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

I wish to express my appreciation to the government of 
Mexico in permitting this study and to Dr. N. E. Strenth for 
critically reading the manuscript. 



Short Communications 


175 


REFERENCES CITED 


Bacescu, M. 1968. Contributions to the knowledge of the Gastro- 
saccinae psammobionte of the tropical America, with the des- 
cription of a new genus {Bowmaniella , n.g.)and three new species 
of its frame. lYav. Mus. Hist. Nat. “Grigore Antipa*’ H 
Bowman, T. E. 1964. Mysidopsis almyra, a new estuarine mysid 
crustacean from Louisiana and Florida. Tulane Stud. Zool 
12(1):15-18. 

Brattegard, T. 1969. Marine biological investigations in the Bahamas 

10. Mysidacea from shallow water in the Bahamas and southern 
Florida. Fart 1. Sarsia 39:17 106. 

1970, Marine biological investigations in the Bahamas 

1 1. Mysidacea from shallow water in the. Bahamas and southern 
Florida. Part 2, Sarsia 41:1^35. 

1974, Mysidacea from shallow water on the Caribbean 

coast of Panama. Sarsia 57:87 1 08. 

Conte, F. S. & J. C. Parker. 1971. Ecological aspects of selected 
Crustacea of two marsh ernhayments of the Texas coast. Texas 


A&M Univ. Sea Grant Program. 184 pp. 

Mackin. J. G. 1971. /I study of the effects of oil field brine effluents 
on biotic communities in Texas estuaries. Texas A&M Res. Found. 
Proj. 735-71 pp. 

Molenock, J. 1969. Mysidopsis hahia, a new species of mysid 
(Crustacea: Mysidacea) from Galveston Bay, Texas. Tulane Stud. 
ZooL 15(3):113-116. 

Odum, W. E. & E. J. Heald. 1972. Trophic analysis of an estuarine 
mangrove community. Bull. Mar. Sci. 22(3):671 738. 

Price, W, W. 1975. A new locality record (or Metamysidopsis swift i 
Bacescu 1969 (Crustacea: Mysidacea) from the Gulf coast of 
Mexico. Southwest. Nat. 20(1): 138. 

. 1976, The abundance and distribution of Mysidacea in 

the shallow waters of Galveston Island, Texas. Ph.D. Dissertation, 
Texas A&M Univ. 207 pp. 

Renfro, W. C. 1963. Small beam net for sampling postlarval shrimp. 
U.S. Fish Wildl. Ser\>. Circ. 161:86-87. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Procedures for Eradication of Hydrozoan Pests in Closed-System Mysid Culture 

Adrian R. Lawler 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

Steven L. Shepard 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.09 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 




Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Lawler, A. R. and S. L. Shepard. 1978. Procedures for Eradication of Hydrozoan Pests in Closed- System Mysid Culture. Gulf Research 
Reports 6 (2): 177-178. 

Retrieved from http://aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/9 


This Short Communication is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and 
Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell(Susm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 177-178, 1978 


PROCEDURES FOR ERADICATION OF HYDROZOAN PESTS 
IN CLOSED-SYSTEM MYSID CULTURE 

ADRIAN R. LAWLER AND STEVEN L. SHEPARD 

Parasitology Section. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 

Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 

ABSTRACT An unidenlilied species of hydrozoan in the family Eirenidae was inadvertently transported to the Labora- 
tory with a stock of Mysidopsis bahia. The hydrozoan competed for food, ate the young mysids, and subsequently repro- 
duced extensively. Hermit crabs provided minimal control. A detailed transfer procedure for the mysids eliminated the 
hydrozoans from cultures; hydrozoans were eradicated from tanks after removal of mysids by using 1 :1200 formalin, hot 
water, and Clorox. 


In early 1978, a culture stock of Mysidopsis bahia 
Molenock was obtained from the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) Environmental Research Laboratory at Gulf 
Breeze, Florida, in order to initiate inhouse slocks for 
toxicity tests. The mysids were placed into six 10-gallon all- 
glass aquaria with undergravel fillers, a crushed oyster shell 
substrate, and a salinity of 20- 22 p[)t (Instant Ocean). They 
were fed Artemia salina Leach larvae twice dally. 

No problems in rearing occurred for about 2 months. 
However, during that time a slight brownish growth on the 
oyster shell in the tanks had become a dense rmt,Arternia 
quickly disappeared, and the mysid populations were 
decreasing. Examination of the growth revealed hydrozoans 
containing Artemia and young mysids, both polyps and 
medusae were present. 

Some problems with hydrozoans had occurred previously 
where our stocks were obtained, and hermit crabs were 
deployed to all tanks to consume the hydrozoans. Speci- 
mens of Pagurus sp. and Qibanarius vittatus (Bose) were 
introduced into all our tanks, eight to ten of the former and 
two to four of the latter per tank. The crabs ate the hydro- 
zoans from the bottom outside edges of all tanks, but not 
in the center or on the vertical glass sides. The mysid popu- 
lations continued to decrease; the hydrozoans both com- 
peted i ox Artemia as food and preyed on young mysids. 

In early May 1978, samples of the hydrozoan were sent 
to Dr.D. R.Calder. Calder (personal communication) replied 
that “the specimens belong to the family Eirenidae, which 
now also encompass the old family Eulimidae, . . . The 
hydroids of this family are very poorly known, as are the 
juvenile medusa stages. In fact it is likely that thishydroid 
is undcscribed.” 

From 26 May to I June 1978 formalin (Sandifer et al. 
1974) was used in the tanks (two tanks treated every other 
day), according to our procedures, to control the hydro- 
zoan pest. During the following 5 months there was no 
recurrence of the pest, and it was considered to be success- 
fully eradicated. 


Manuscript received October 1 1, 1978; accepted November 1, 1978. 


PROCEDURES 

Procedures developed during this study are presented in 

a step-by-step order for ease in following. 

Mysid Handling 

1. Set up one or more lO-gallon all-glass aquaria (isolation 
tanks) with an air stone, no oyster shell, a filter, and the 
same salinity as the mysid tanks. 

2. Filter overnight, then switch to air stone. Introduce four 
to six hermit crabs whose shells have been scrubbed to 
remove hydrozoans. 

3. Use a small-mesh dip net to collect mysids out of 
hydrozoan-infested tanks and put them into clean tank 
with air stone and hermit crabs (to eat transferred hydro- 
zoans). Feed mysids brine shrimp. Uave mysids in tank 
at least 2 days. 

4. Follow procedures for eradication (see Hydrozoan 
Eradication section). 

5. Net mysids (20 to 30 at a time so pan is not crowded 
with mysids and debris) out of isolation tank and put 
into white procelain sorting pan. 

6. Sort out all hydrozoans observed in pan and discard. 

7 . Then, using a small net(l emsq, small mesh) or eye drop- 
per, isolate and transfer each mysid individually to a small 
finger bowl. Remove any hydrozoans observed in bowl. 

8. Put mysids in finger bowl back into cleaned original 
tanks; feed brine shrimp. 

9. Do not put hermit crabs back into cleaned tanks as they 
may have hydrozoans attached to their shells. 

Hydrozoan Eradication 

1. After mysids are removed, add 30 ml formalin per 10- 
gallon tank (concentration = about 1:1200, due to vol- 
ume of shell and filter parts). Let stand at least 2 hours. 

2. Siphon off water and discard. 

3. Remove shell and scald thoroughly with hot water in a 
bucket, or discard shell. 

4. Rinse and scrub tank thoroughly with fresh water. 

5. Fill tank with fresh water and add 2- 4 tablespoons of 
Clorox; put all filter parts into tank. Let stand at least 
1 hour. 


177 



178 


Lawler and Shepard 


6. Rinse and scrub tank and filter parts with fresh water. 
Flush tank and filter parts, and shell in bucket, with 
flowing fresh water for at least 2 to 3 hours. 

7. Set up cleaned tank with sea water and filter overnight. 

Nine days after the above procedures two of six tanks of 
mysids were lost, presumably due to residual formalin still 
in the oyster shell substrate or on the glass tank walls or 
filters. The lemaining four tanks were disassembled, thor- 
oughly scrubbed (four-five times), and rinsed with fresh 
water for 5 to 6 hours each; the shell was discarded. Tanks 
were set up with new shell; no further related die-offs have 
occurred. Thus, we recommend that the substrate be dis- 
carded and the tanks and all filter parts be thoroughly 
scrubbed and rinsed prior to re-introduction of mysids. 

Over three times the concentration of formalin suggested 
by Sandifer et al. (1974) was used due to the lack of 
response by the brine shrimp in the tanks to the formalin. 
They added 250 ppm ( 1 :4000); we added formalin in 10 ml 
doses three times (about 1:1200) before a majority of the 


brine shrimp were affected (swimming ceased), 

Polychaetes that reside in the shells were added to mysid 
tanks along with hermit crabs. Althougli the effects of poly- 
chaetes on mysid cultures are presently unknown, poly- 
chaetes did not appear to cause any harm in the tanks. 

Procedures similar to those presented here n>ay be used 
in eradicating hydrozoan pests in closed-system culture of 
other invertebrates. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Dr. D. R. Nimmo of the EPA Environmental Research 
Laboratory at Gulf Breeze, Florida, kindly provided us with 
our stock of Mysidopsis bahia. Dr. D. R. Calder of the 
Marine Resources Research Institute, Charleston, South 
Carolina, provided information on the hydrozoan. 

REFERENCE CITED 

Sandifer, P. A., T. 1. J. Smith & D. R. Calder. 1974. Hydrozoansas 
pests in closed-system culture of larval decapod crustaceans. 
Aquaculture 4 :.S5-59. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Geographical Definition of Mississippi Sound 

Charles K. Eleuterius 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.10 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 

Part of the Geography Commons, and the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Eleuterius, C. K. 1978. Geographical Definition of Mississippi Sound. Gulf Research Reports 6 (2): 179-181. 
Retrieved from http;//aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/10 


This Short Communication is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquda Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and 
Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell^usm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 179-181, 1978 


GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITION OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND 


CHARLES K. ELEUTERIUS 

Physical Oceanography Section, Gulf Coast Research 
Laboratory, Ocean Springs. Mississippi 39564 

ABSTRACT Boundaries for Mississippi Sound are determined by application of definitions, established surveying 
practices and observations of the physical processes of the area. U.S. Coast and Geodetic charts 1266 (1972 edition), 1267 
(1972 edition) and 1268 (1974 edition) were used in ascertaining the boundaries. These boundaries provide a formal 
geographical definition for Mississippi Sound. 


The geographical boundaries of Mississippi Sound are ill- 
defined by natural features especially at the western end. 
This lack of generally recognized boundaries is a cause of 
confusion among individuals and agencies with an interest 
in this water body. Because of this vagueness, it is presently 
necessary to provide a chart or clear description of the area 
one refers to as “Mississippi Sound.” 

Of the several definitions of a sound (Gary et al. 1972), 
two seem appropriate for Mississippi Sound: (1) “An arm 
of the sea forming a channel between a maiiiland and an 
island”; (2) “A long, large, rather broad inlet of the ocean, 
generally extending parallel to the coast.” Mississippi Sound 
(Figure 1) is an elongated basin with its major axis parallel 
to the Gulf of Mexico from which it is partly separated by a 
series of barrier islands. 

U.S. Coast and Geodetic charts 1266 (1972 edition), 
1267 (1972 edition), and 1268 (1974 edition) were used in 
determining the boundaries of Mississippi Sound. The line 
segments shown are what the author proposes to be bound- 
aries that are justifiable by definitions, accepted surveying 
practices and observations of the physical processes within 
the basin. 

The problem of defining the specific limits between two 
bodies of water is not always a simple one. The solution lies 


Manuscript received August 11 , 1978; accepted October 2, 1978. 


in finding the exact place where the water bodies merger 
The “headland-to-headland” principle (Shalowitz 1964) has 
been deduced based on consideration of the physical config- 
uration of the water bodies. This principle considers the 
boundary between a tributary water body and a larger water 
body to be a line joining the headlands of the tributary 
water body. The headland rule has been applied in various 
contexts to bays and rivers. 

Two rules (Shalowitz 1 964) have been established in the 
case of determining boundaries where rivers flow directly 
into a water body. Cognizance has been taken internationally 
of the headland-to-headland principle at the 1930 Hague 
Conference for the Codification of International Law. The 
proviso contained in the final report of the Second Sub- 
committee of the conference slates that “when a river flows 
directly into the sea, the waters of the river constitute inland 
waters up to a line following the general direction of the 
coast drawn across the mouth of the river, whatever its 
width.” The second rule provides that “if a river flows 
directly into the sea, the baseline shall be a straight line 
across the mouth of the river between points on the low-tide 
line of its banks.” This rule is a recommendation of the Inter- 
national Law Commission in its final report to the United 
Nations, as is Article 13 of the 1958 Convention on the 
Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone. The recommend- 
ation of the International Law Commission is the convention 



Figure 1 . Mississippi Sound stiowing location of State and natural boundaries. 
179 




180 


Eleuterius 


that was applied here in determining the boundaries between 
rivers and Mississippi Sound. 

A *‘bay'’ according to Geneva Convention (Shalowitz 
1 964) is *‘a welbmarked indentation whose penetration is in 
such proportion to the width of its mouth as to contain 
landlocked waters and constitutes more than a mere curva- 
ture of the coast. The area of such an indentation must be 
as large as, or larger than the semicircle whose diameter is 
a line drawn across the mouth of the indentation.” This 
definition was applied to Mississippi Sound in distinguishing 
between true bays and those areas erroneously named bays. 

The Sound’s eastern boundary with Mobile Bay is defined 
by a line connecting the narrowest point between the Ala- 
bama mainland and Dauphin Island. The same convention 
would be used in detemiining the boundary between the 
barrier islands of Dauphin, Petit Bois, Horn, Ship and Cat. 

The boundary from Cat Island extends from the south 
end of the south spit to the Isle Au Pitre. This particular 
boundary, wliile somewhat arbitrary, was decided on for 
two reasons. First, the south spit of Cat Island which con- 
tinues south-southwest as a submarine topographic feature 
serves as a line of demarcation with the Gulf of Mexico. 
Second, the area south of Cat Island Pass is probably more 
properly labeled a tongue of the Gulf than an extension of 
Chandeleur Sound and therefore this boundary appears 
more appropriate than any alternative. 

The western boundary of Mississippi Sound is best 
defined by lines connecting Malheureux Point with Le Petit 
Island, Le Petit Island with Half Moon Island and Half Moon 
Island with Light House Point. Malheureux Point was 
connected with Le Petit Island across the narrowest point 
of Le Petit Pass. Le Petit Island and Light House Point were 
connected in a similar manner with Half Moon Island. 


These boundaries clearly separate Mississippi Sound from 
Lake Borgne. 

The boundary with St. Louis Bay is across the bay 
entrance at its narrowest point. The west entrance to Biloxi 
Bay is denoted by a line projected north to the mainland 
from the west lip of Deer Island. The Mississippi Sound/ 
Biloxi Bay boundary at the east bay entrance is a line 
connecting the easternmost tip of Deer Island with the 
mainland at the nearest point. There were two reasons for 
not projecting this boundary from Little Deer Island: 
(1) Sound waters pass freely between it and Deer Island; 
and (2) it is rapidly disappearing (personal observation) and 
will not long be available for boundary determination. A 
line projected across the mouths of Pascagoula River com- 
pletes the assigned boundaries of Mississippi Sound. 

Bays such as Pascagoula, Point Aux Chenes, Grand, 
Portersville and Heron are not considered separate and 
distinct water bodies, i.e., true bays, but integral parts of 
Mississippi Sound. This decision is based on the failure of 
the areas to qualify as “bays” under the definition of “bay” 
according to Geneva Convention. 

This determination of boundaries provides for the formal 
geographical definition of Mississippi Sound. The coordin- 
ates of latitude and longitude for the assigned boundary 
lines appear in Table 1 . These boundaries are practical in 
that they are easily remembered and almost as easily 
located at sea. It is hoped that this geographical definition 
in clarifying what constitutes “Mississippi Sound” will 
help end the present confusion. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

I wish to thank Mrs. Joyce Edwards for her interest in 
the work and efficiency in handling the typescript. 


TABLE 1. 

Latitude (N) and longitude (W) of ends of assigned boundaries from east to west. 


From 

To 

From 


To 


Cedar Point, AL 

Dauphin Island, AL 

30° 17.l' 

88° 7.5' 

30° 18.6' 

88° 8.2' 

Dauphin Island 

Petit Bois Island, MS 

30° 13.9' 

88° 19.3' 

30° 12.3' 

88° 24,4' 

Petit Bois Island 

Horn Island 

30° 12.8' 

88° 30.4' 

30° 13,3' 

88° 33.9' 

Horn Island 

Ship Island 

30° 14.6' 

88° 46.5' 

30° 14.6' 

88° 52.3' 

Ship Island Cut (Camille Cut) 


30° 13.8' 

88° 53.6' 

30° 13.0' 

88° 56.1 ' 

Ship Island 

Cat Island 

30° 12.6' 

88° 59.2' 

30° 14.2' 

89° 4. o' 

Cat Island 

Isle Au Pitre 

30° 10.8' 

89° 6.8' 

30° 9,5' 

89° 11. o' 

Le Petit Island 

Malheureux Point 

30° 4.8' 

89° 28.6' 

30° 5.l' 

89° 29.0' 

Half Moon Island 

Le Petit Island 

30° 7.6' 

89° 26.6' 

30° 5.9' 

89° 28.l' 

Half Moon Island 

Light House Point 

30° 8.8' 

89° 26.7' 

30° 10.4' 

89° 27.7' 

Narrows of Entrance 

St. Louis Bay 

30° 18.4' 

89° 17.6' 

30° 18.6' 

89° 19.5' 

Deer Island (west) 

Biloxi (mainland) 

30° 21. l' 

88° 53.0' 

30° 21. r 

88° 53.r 

Marsh Point (mainland) 

Deer Island (east) 

30° 20.3' 

88° 47.9' 

30° 19.2' 

88° 48.9' 

Creole Gap (LA marsh) 


30° 8.5' 

89° 12.7' 

30° 8.2' 

89° 13.2' 

Grand Pass (LA marsh) 


30° 7.7' 

89° I4.0' 

30° 7.3' 

89° 14.7' 

Three-Mile Pass 


30° 3.1 ' 

89° 21.4' 

30° 2.9' 

89° 22.2' 

Kennedy Lagoon (LA marsh) 


30° 3.0' 

89° 25.3' 

30° 3.1 ' 

89° 25.8' 

Blind Bay (LA marsh) 


30° 2.8' 

89° 24.5' 

30° 3.0' 

89° 25.3' 




Short Communications 


181 


REFERENCES CITED 

Gary, M., R. McAfee, Jr. & C. L. Wolf, eds. 1972. Page 676 in Glos- Shalowitz, A. L, 1964, Shore and Sea Boundaries. Vol. II. U.S. 
saryof Geology. American Geological Institute, Washington, D.C. Department of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

New Hosts for Lymphocystis 

Adrian W Lawler 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

John T. Ogle 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

Chad Donnes 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.11 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 




Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Lawler, A. W., J. T. Ogle and C. Donnes. 1978. New Hosts for Lymphocystis. Gulf Research Reports 6 (2): 183-184. 
Retrieved from http;//aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/ 1 1 


This Short Communication is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquda Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and 
Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell^usm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 183-184, 1978 


NEW HOSTS FOR LYMEHOCYSTIS 


ADRIAN R. LAWLER, JOHN T. OGLE AND CHAD DONNES 

Parasitology and Oyster Biology Sections, Gulf Coast Research 
Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564, and Sileni 
World, Gretna, Louisiana 70053 

ABSTRACT Lymphocystis disease is reported for the first time from the Koran angelfish, Pomacanrhus semicirculatus: 
the Moorish idol, Zanclus canescens; the foureye butlcrnyfish, Chaetodon capistralus; and the orbiculate bat fhh, Plaiax 
orbicularis. Also, lymphocystis is reported the second time from the queen angelfish, HoIacarUhus ciliaris. All hosts are 
commercially important exotic aquariuni fishes. 


INTRODUCTION 

Lymphocystis is an infectious viral disease of teleosts 
that causes hypertrophy of connective tissue cells and usu- 
ally occurs on the fins and skin. The enlarged cells (nodules) 
eventually slough off; there is no known treatment, but the 
disease is seldom fatal. A list of hosts reported to be .suscep- 
tible to the disease since the work of Nigrelli and Ruggieri 
(1965) was presented by us previously (Lawler et al. 1977). 
We add four more species to the host list. 

MATERIALS AND METHODS 

All the fish examined were imported for sale in tropical 
fish stores. They were relaxed with MS— 222 (Tricaine 
methanesulfonate, Cresent Research Chemicals Inc., Scotts- 
dale, Arizona) and examined alive, so that they could be 
returned to display tanks. Suspected lymphocystis tissue was 
removed with forceps, examined under a compound micro- 
scope for confirmation of lymphocystis, and preserved in 
10% buffered formalin for future microscopic examination. 
No internal organs or gills were examined. The fish were 
revived in fresh sea water of about the same salinity fioril 
which they were removed. 

Preserved lymphocystis tumors were examined with a 
Siemens lA Elmiskop electron microscope following the 
procedures of Lawler ct al. (1974). Approximate diameters 
of viral particles (diameter = distance between opposite 
vertexes) are enclosed in parentheses in the discussion of 
each case report. 

CASE REPORTS 

1. Pomacantlius semicirculatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes), 
Koran angelfish; family Chaetodontidae. The fish occurs 
from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the Indo-Australian 
Archipelago, the Philippines, China, Okinawa, and Melanesia 
(Axelrod and F.mmens 1969). 

On 29 August 1977 two juveniles were examined, both 
approximately 60 mm long (total length [TL] ). One had 
hypertrophied cells on the right pectoral fin; the other had 


Manuscript received October 1 1, 1 978; accepted November 1, 1978. 


small nodules on all fins. The fish had been imporled from 
the Philippines through California, and were heavily infected 
when received. They were held for about 4 weeks prior to 
microscopic examination, at which time most of (he nodules 
were gone. The course of the disease (287 nm) in this species 
appears to last at least 4 weeks. 

2. Zanclus canescens (Linnaeus), Moorish idol or toby; 
family Zanclidae. The fish occurs widely in the tropical 
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Mexico (Axelrod and 
Emmens 1969). 

On 15 December 1977 one fish was examined. This fish, 
already infected, was imported from the Philippines through 
California on 19 November 1977 and was held in a tank at 
32 ppt salinity until examination. The fish (70 mm TL) had 
clumps of lymphocystis cells on the dorsal fin and at the 
base of the left pecloral fin. Single nodules were scattered 
on the skin. Il appears, that in this species also, the disease 
(287 nm) lasts at least 4 weeks. 

3. Chaetodon capistratus Linnaeus, foureye bmterflyfish; 
family Chaetodontidae. The fish occurs in the tropical 
Atlantic and Caribbean (Axelrod and Emmens 1969). 

On 21 December 1977 one fish recently imported from 
Florida was examined. This fish (51 mm TL) had clumps of 
lymphocystis cells on the left pectoral fin and single nodules 
scattered on both the dorsal and caudal fins. On 1 0 February 
1978, four more fish were received; all had lymphocystis 
(287 nm). 

4. Plat ax orbicularis (Forskal), orbiculate bat fish; family 
Platacidae. The fish occurs widely from the Red Sea, Indian 
Ocean, and Indo-Australian Archipelago to the Philippines, 
China, south Japan, and central to south Pacific islands 
(Axelrod and Emmens 1969). 

Three fish were observed infected on 28 January 1978. 
The fish having the greatest infection (259 nm) died on 
19 January 1978 apparently from another cause and was 
examined microscopically the next day . The fish (64 mm TL) 
had clumps of lymphocystis cells on the caudal, dorsal, 
anal, right pectoral, and both pelvic fins; scattered lympho- 
cystis cells occilncd on the skin. 

5. Holacantus ciliaris (Linnaeus), queen angelfish; family 
Chaetodontidae. The fish occurs from the Bahamas to Brazil, 
including the Gulf of Mexico (Bohlke and Chaplin 1968). 


183 



184 


Lawler et al. 


A queen angelfish (210 mm XL) received from Florida 
was examined on 10 February 1978. It had lymphocystis 
nodules on the dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins; the infection 
later spread to the skin underlying the pectorals. The fish 
died on 3 April 1978, still showing numerous nodules. The 
course of the disease (287 nm) in this fish was greater than 
2 months. This is the second report of lymphocystis on this 
species, the first being Nigrelli and Ruggieri (1965). 

6. Zebrasoma velifentm (Bloch), sailfin tang; family Acan- 
thuridae. Tlie fish occurs in the tropical Indo-Pacific and Red 
Sea (Axelrod and Emmens 1969). 

On several occasions apparent lymphocystis nodules 
have been observed on fish of this species being held in 
display tanks. However, at present, lymphocystis has not 
been confirmed microscopically. 

DISCUSSION 

With increased new findings of infected hosts among 
imported fishes, we agree with McCoskei et al. (1976) who 
noted that “it is quite likely that many infected species 
remain unreported, particularly among families of tropical 


reef fishes. “ Although fish that were already infected, or 
soon showed signs of infection have been received, it has 
not been ascertained whether there is more than one strain 
of lymphocystis in these tropical fishes. Lawler et al.(l974) 
have already noted viral strain differences occurring in 
the Gulf of Mexico between two closely related hosts, 
Balrdiella chrymra (Lacepede) ^i\<lMicropogQniasundu.latiu 
(Linnaeus), 

Although one may think that most aquarium fish are 
subject to lymphocystis infections, this is not so. Confine- 
ment in aquaria can lead to an increased prevalence of 
lymphocystis in specific hosts so maintained, but out of 
about 40,000 to 50,000 described species only about 100 
(Lawler et al. 1 977), or about 0.2%, have ever been reported 
with lymphocystis. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

Dr. Harold D. Howseaiid Mr. Robert J. Allen, Microscopy 
Section, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, kindly supplied 
the data on viral particle sizes. 


REFERENCES CITED 


Axelrod, II. R. & C. W. Emmens. \ Exoiic Marine Fishes. T. F. 

H. Publications, Jersey City, N. J. 607 pp. 

Bohlke, J. E. C. C. G, Chaplin, \96ii. Fishes of the Bahamas and 
Adjaeent Tropical Waters. Livingslun Publishing Company, 
W'ynncwood. Pa. 77J pp. 

Lawler, A. R., H, D. Howse & D. W. Cook. 1974, Silver perch, 
Bairdiella chrysura\ New host for lymphocystis, Cope.ia 1974(1): 
266-269. 

, J. T. Ogle & C. Donnes. \ 9T7 . Dascylius spp.: New hosts 
for lymphocystis, and a list of recent hosts. J. Wildl. Dis. 


13:307-312. 

McCosker, J. £., M. D. Lagios & T, Tucker. 1976, Ultra structure of 
lymphocystis virus in rhe quillback rockfish, Sebustes maliger, 
with records of infection in other aquarium-held fishes. Trans. 
Am. Fish. Soc. \91b:233 337. 

Nigrelli, R. I-. & G. D. Ruggieri. 1965. Studies on virus diseases of 
fishe.s. Spontaneous and experimentally induced cellular hyper- 
trophy (lymphocystis disease) in fishes of the New York Aquar- 
ium, with a report of new cases and an annotated bibliography 
(1874 1965). Zoo/og/M 50:83 96. 



Gulf Research Reports 


Volume 6 | Issue 2 


January 1978 

Classification of Mississippi Sound as to Estuary Hydrological Type 

Charles K. Eleuterius 

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 


DOI: 10.18785/grr.0602.12 

Follow this and additional works at: http:/ / aquila.usm.edu/ gcr 




Part of the Marine Biology Commons 


Recommended Citation 

Eleuterius, C.K. 1978. Classification ofMississippi Sound as to Estuary Hydrological Type. Gulf Research Reports 6 (2): 185-187. 
Retrieved from http;//aquila.usm.edu/gcr/vol6/iss2/12 


This Short Communication is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquda Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf and 
Caribbean Research by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community For more information, please contact Joshua.Cromwell^usm.edu. 


Gulf Research Reports, Vol. 6, No. 2, 185-187, 1978 


CLASSIFICATION OF MISSISSIPPI SOUND AS TO 
ESTUARY HYDROLOGICAL TYPE 


CHARLES K. ELEUTERIUS 

Physical Oceanography Section, Gulf Coast Research 
Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39564 

ABSTRACT Mississippi Sound is classified as to estuary hydrological type by the method ofPrit chard (1955). Differences 
in salinity between surface and near-bottom water were calculated from 2,401 pairs of observations made at 90 stations 
from 4 April 1973 to 12 April 1977. Frequency distribution tables, constructed by tallying the vertical salinity differences 
into three classes corresponding to three of Pritchard’s estuary types (A, stratified; 13, partially mixed; D, well mixed) were 
used to assess salinity structure of the water column, Tlie greatest variation as to typo occurred from January through 
June. From July through December, the water column becomes predominately uniform, Mississippi Sound is shown to be 
primarily well mixed with approximately one-third of the observations indicating partially mixed and less than 2% being 
stratified. The channels are characteristically stratified or partially mixed. The results of this study were in good agreement 
with the previous classification by another method by the author which confirms that while dominately well mixed, Missis- 
sippi Sound also attains the characteristics of a partially mixed estuary and, highly localized, characteristics of a stratified 
estuary. 


INTRODUCTION 

The classification of an estuary as to hydrological type, 
essential to understanding the estuarine physical-chemical- 
biological processes, is determined according to circulation 
patterns and salinity distribution. The difference between 
hydrological types is related to variations in width, depth, 
tidal range and volume of river flow. 

Located on the northern Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi 
Sound (Figure 1) is an elongate estuarine basin with a sur- 
face area of 2,128.87 km^ and average depth at mean low 
water (MLW) of 2.98 m (Higgins and Eleuterius 1978) that 
connects with the Gulf through passes between a series of 
five harrier islands. The estuary receives an influx of fresli 
water via two majof rivers, Pascagoula and Pearl; four minor 
rivers, Biloxi, Tchouticabouffa, Jourdan and Wolf; and a 
number of bayous. River discharges in cubic meters per 
second for the six rivers are: Pascagoula, 378,35 ; Pearl, 

Manuscript received August 2, 1978; accepted October 10, 1978. 


.327.72 Biloxi, 13.97 m^; Tchouticabouffa, 12.36 m^; 
Jourdan, 23.47 m^; and Wolf, 19.98 m^. Sound tides are 
diurnal with an average range of 0.57 m. Two ship channels 
cross Mississippi Sound, Gulfport channel with a project 
depth of 9,1 m and Pascagoula channel with a project depth 
of 11.6 m, which permit the intrusion of high-salinity Gulf 
waters. 

Eleuterius (1978) determined on the basis of the ratio of 
surface-to-bottom salinity that Mississippi Sound fluctuates 
between a well-mixed and partially mixed estuary. From 
January through June, Mississippi Sound showed a diversity 
of types while the July througli December period was shown 
to be predominately well mixed. A review of the literature 
revealed no other attempts at hydrologic classification of 
Mississippi Sound. 

Pritchard (1955) developed a classification system with 
four estuarine types: Type A, two-layered or stratified; 
Type B, partially mixed; Type C, laterally homogeneous; 
and Type D, vertically homogeneous or well mixed. 



Figure 1. Mississippi Sound. 


185 


186 


Eleuterius 


Because Eleuterius (1976) showed that Mississippi Sound’s 
complex circulation precluded its being a Type C (laterally 
homogeneous) estuary, this type was not considered in this 
investigation. Evidence is presented here to indicate the 
classification of the Sound employing the system of 
Pritchard (1955). 

MATERIALS AND METHODS 

Salinity data were collected during a hydrographic inves- 
tigation of Mississippi Sound from 4 April 1973 through 
12 April 1977. Sampling was conducted approximately 
biweekly fora period of at least a year at each of 90 stations 
(Figure 2). Salinity measurements were made within the 
upper 30 cm of the water column and within 60 cm from 
the bottom. Conductivity readings that were later converted 
to salinity were made with a Martek Model II with an 
accuracy of ±0.2 mmho/cm (±0.5 parts per thousand fppt] 
salinity). 

Stations were sorted according to water depth at MLW 
as shown on U.S. Coast and Geodetic Charts 1266 (1972 
edition), 1267 (1972 edition) and 1268 (1974 edition) into 
four classes: < 1.5 m; > 1.5 m but < 3.0 m; > 3.0 m but 
< 4.5 m; > 4.5 m. Stations in the fourth class were further 
separated into two groups: those stations located in either 
the Pascagoula or Gulfport ship channels; those located out- 
side of the channels. The differences in salinity between 
surface and near-bottom waters were then determined for 
all depth-classes on a total of 2,401 pairs of observations. 
The resulting differences for each depth-class were tallied 
into monthly frequency distribution tables. The tables con- 
sisted of three frequency classes: differences > 20.0 ppt, 
Type A; > 4.0 ppt but < 20.0 ppl, Type B; < 4.0 ppt, 
Type D. Inspection of the data revealed no pronounced 
trend differences between depths except for the channel 
stations; therefore, two composite frequency tables were 
constructed, one which included data from all stations and 
the other limited to data from outside the ship channels. 


RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

Table 1 shows that the greatest variability in estuarine 
type occurs from January through June, corresponding to 
the high river flow of winter and spring. However, 65.2% of 
the paired observations taken during March indicated the 
water column to be well mixed, apparently the result of 
strong winds usually experienced during this month. Only 
1.3% of the March surface-to-bottom salinity differences 
could class the water column asstratificd.With the exception 
of January, more than 50% of the paired observations for 
each month were in the well-mixed class. In January, 9% of 
the observations showed stratification while the remaining 
observations were equally divided between partially mixed 
and well mixed. 

A sharp change in the water column in July is apparent 
with 73,0% of the difference in the well-mixed category. 

TABLE 1. 

Distribution according to estuary type of observations of 
surface-bottom salinity differences (percent) from 
90 stations in Mississippi Sound, 


Month 

Number of 
Paired 

Observations 

Stratified 

Partially 

Mixed 

Well Mixed 

.lanuary 

143 

9.0 

45.5 

45.5 

Febiuaiy 

265 

2.7 

42.6 

54.7 

March 

164 

1.3 

33.5 

65.2 

April 

214 

2.3 

44.9 

52.8 

May 

248 

3.3 

42.3 

54.4 

June 

276 

1.5 

43.1 

55.4 

July 

274 

1.1 

25.9 

73.0 

August 

. 186 

0.0 

11,8 

88.2 

September 

165 

0.0 

30.3 

69.7 

October 

121 

1.7 

7.4 

90.9 

November 

169 

0.6 

13.6 

85.8 

December 

176 

1.1 

30.1 

68.8 

Average 


2.05 

30.92 

67.03 



Figure 2. Station locations in Mississippi Sound. 




Short Communications 


1S7 


This trend toward vertical homogeneity reaches a peak in 
October when 90.9% of the differences show a well-mixed 
system. River flow is at its low during October. The water 
column, while still dominaiely well mixed, becomes more 
varied during November and December. Averaging the 
monthly percentages showed the following; 2.0%, stratified; 
3 1 . 0 %, partially mixed , 67.0%, well mixed. 

To evaluate the influence of stations located in the ship 
channels on the classification of Mississippi Sound, a second 
table, Table 2 , was constructed using only salinity observa- 
tions from stations located outside of the Pascagoula and 
Gulfport ship channels. The general trend is the same as 

TABLE 2. 

Distiibulioi) according to estuary type of observations of surface 
bottom salinity differences (percent) from 78 stations in 
Mississippi Sound outside of ship cliannels. 


Month 

Number of 
Paired 

Observations 

Stratified 

Partially 

Mixed 

Well Mixed 

January 

132 

5.4 

42.4 

49.2 

February 

233 

0.9 

38.2 

60.9 

March 

149 

0.7 

29.5 

69.8 

April 

192 

0.5 

41.2 

58.3 

May 

221 

0.5 

39.8 

59.7 

June 

242 

0.4 

37.2 

62.4 

July 

241 

0.5 

18.8 

80.7 

August 

170 

0.0 

10.0 

90.0 

September 

149 

0.0 

25.5 

74.5 

October 

111 

0.9 

4.5 

94.6 

November 

153 

0.7 

11.1 

88.2 

December 

155 

1.3 

25.2 

73.5 

Average 


0.98 

26.95 

71.87 


when the channel stations were included; however, there 
are notably smaller percentages in the stratified and partially 
mixed classes. The abrupt increase in the well-mixed class 
for the July- December period is primarily due to a shift 
from the partially mixed class. The month showing the 
greatest uniformity of the water column was again October 
with 94.6% of the salinity differences less than 4.0 ppt. The 
averaged mniulily percentages in each class show less than 
1%, stratified; 26.95%, partially mixed; 7 1 .87%, well mixed. 

According to the classification of Pritchard (1955), 
Mississippi Sound varies between types A, B and D but is 
predominately Type D (well mixed). The period when the 
water column shows the greatest vadabilily is from January 
through June — the time of increased river flow. In July, 
Mississippi Sound becomes notably more homogeneous. 
This period of tendency to vertical homogeneity , peaking in 
October, lasts through December. When the channel areas 
are excluded from the classification procedure, the average 
of the monthly percentages indicating a stratified system is 
less than 1% while that for a well-mixed system is approxi- 
mately 72%. The channels are characteristically stratified 
or partially mixed. The results of this study were in good 
agreement with the previous classification by the author 
(Eleuterius 1978) which confirms that while dominately 
well mixed, Mississippi Sound also attains the characteris- 
tics of a partially mixed estuary and, highly localized, 
characteristics of a stratified estuary. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

1 wish to express my appreciation to Drs. B. H. Atwell, 
Lionel Rleulerius and John Wanstralh for their constructive 
criticisms and helpful suggestions. Thanks are also due Mrs. 
Joyce Randall Edwards for her usual expert handling of the 
typescript, proofing and pertinent remarks. 


REFERENCES CITED 

Eleiiterius, Charles K. 1976. Mississippi Sound: Salinity distribution Higgins, George G. & Charles K. Eleuierius. 1978. Mississippi Sound: 
and indicated flow patterns. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Con- Volume, surface area and bathymetric statistics. J. Miss. Aca. 
sortium Publication MASGP-76-023, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Scf. Vol. XXHl. (In prc.s!>). 

1978. Classification of Mississippi Sound as to estuary type by Pritchard, D. W. 1955. Estuarine circulation patterns. Proc. Amer. 

vertical salinity Structure, 7. Miss. Acad, Sci. Vol. XXIII. (In press). Sue. O'v. En^. VoL 81, Separate 717, pp. 1-11,