Abstract:

Sagittal otoliths were sampled from reef fishes collected at northern Gulf of Mexico reef sites. Otoliths were sectioned and aged following the methods of Patterson et al. (2001) or Jeffers et al. (2008) depending on fish size. Opaque zones were counted and the margin of the otolith was indicated as being either Opaque (“O”) or Translucent (“T”).

Suggested Citation:

Patterson III, William F, Joseph Tarnecki, and Charles Jagoe. 2015. Reef fish size at age, collected at natural reef sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico from November 2010 - August 2011. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N76971H5

Purpose:

To examine reef fish size at age following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Data Parameters and Units:

Date (date sample collected MM/DD/YYYY), Sample ID (unique sample identifier), Species (common name) [Vermilion Snapper, Red Snapper, Bank Seabass, Red Progy, Sand Perch, Tomtate, Pigfish, Red Drum, Spanish Hog, Scamp, Lane Snapper, Longtail Bass, Yellowedge Grouper, Tilefish, Southern Hake, Bigeye, Inshore Lizardfish, Speckled Hind], Site (reef name), Sex (Male = “M”, Female = “F”) Mass (fish mass in kg), Fork Length (FL mm), Total length (TL mm), Opaque zones (number of opaque zones present in an otolith section), and Margin (opaque “O” versus Translucent “T” margin in otolith section). Nikki Grounds Lat 30 11N Long 86 47W

Instruments:

IsoMet low-speed saw

Individual Files: