Post on 12-Jan-2016
description
Fishes of North Carolina Outer Shelf Reefs
Steve W. Ross1, Andrea M. Quattrini1, and Kenneth J. Sulak2
New RecordsWe have documented four new records to the continental United States and ten new records to North Carolina from collections and observations on outer shelf reefs.
Continental United States New Records: Apogon gouldi, Liopropoma aberrans, Parasphyraenops incisus, and Prognathodes guyanensis
North Carolina New Records: Canthigaster jamestyleri, Caranx lugubris, Centropyge argi, Cypselurus comatus, Gymnothorax vicinus, Liopropoma mowbrayi, Lepophidium staurophor, Prognathodes aculeatus, Rypticus saponaceus, and Serranus annularis
Anthiines are the most abundant fishes on hardgrounds off North Carolina. It was originally thought that schools of these fishes consisted mostly of Hemanthias vivanus. Our collections have revealed that these schools also comprise Anthias tenuis and Hemanthias leptus. Pronotogrammus martinicensis is also observed in these schools, as well as solitary individuals.
Hemanthias vivanus
Hemanthias leptus
Anthias tenuis
Pronotogrammus martinicensis
This was the first lionfish (Pterois volitans) collected by the Johnson Sea Link submersible off North Carolina. This specimen (133 mm SL, 181 mm TL) was collected with the suction/rotenone device in August 2003 at a station (JSLII-03-3435) located within the proposed MPA.
The invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans, was observed with the Johnson Sea Link submersible several times in August 2002-2003 at hardgrounds located within the proposed MPA. At two stations, fourteen individuals were observed in 2002 and at least 8 individuals were observed in 2003.
1 1 University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409 and University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409 and 22 United States Geological Survey, Coastal Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, United States Geological Survey, Coastal Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, 7920 NW 717920 NW 71stst Street, Gainesville, FL 32653 Street, Gainesville, FL 32653
Table 1. Species observed with the Johnson Sea Link submersible on North Carolina outer shelf hardgrounds (68-129 m depth) in 2001-2003. (*) Denotes species collected with the rotenone/suction device on the submersible.
Serranus annularis
Liopropoma aberrans Prognathodes guyanensis
Canthigaster jamestyleri Centropyge argiCaranx lugubris
Rypticus saponaceusCypselurus comatus Serranus annularis
Parasphyraenops incisus
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration for funding (SW Ross and KJ Sulak, PIs). We also thank Andy David (NOAA/NMFS) and Lance Horn (NURC, UNC Wilmington).
Family Species Family SpeciesAcanthuridae Acanthurus chirurgus Holacanthus tricolorApogonidae *Apogon gouldi Pomacanthus paru
Apogon affinis Pomacentridae Chromis enchrysurusApogon pseudomaculatus Chromis insolata
Balistidae Balistes capriscus Chromis scottiBythitidae Brotula Stegastes sp.Callionymidae *Foetorepus agassizi Priacanthidae Priacanthus arenatusCarangidae Caranx bartholomei Pristigenys alta
Caranx lugubris Sciaenidae Equetus lanceolatusSeriola dumerili Pareques iwamotoiSeriola rivoliana Pareques umbrosusSeriola zonata Scorpaenidae *Pterois volitans
Chaetodontidae Chaetodon ocellatus *Scorpaena brasiliensisChaetodon sedentarius *Scorpaena disparPrognathodes aculeatus Serranidae *Anthias tenuisPrognathodes aya *Centropristis ocyurusPrognathodes guyanensis Epinephelus adscensionis
Congridae *Conger oceanicus Epinephelus cruentatusDactylopteridae Dactylopterus volitans Epinephelus drummondhayiGadidae Urophycis earlii Epinephelus fulvusGobiidae Coryphopterus sp. Epinephelus nigritusHaemulidae Haemulon aurolineatum Epinephelus niveatusHolocentridae *Corniger spinosus *Gonioplectrus hispanus
*Holocentrus bullisi *Hemanthias leptusHolocentrus adscensionis *Hemanthias vivanus
Labridae *Halichoeres bathyphilus *Liopropoma aberransBodianus pulchellus *Liopropoma eukrinesLachnolaimus maximus Liopropoma mowbrayi
Lutjanidae Lutjanus buccanella Mycteroperca interstitialisLutjanus campechanus Mycteroperca microlepisRhomboplites aurorubens Mycteroperca phenax
Mobulidae Manta birostris Paranthias furciferMolidae Mola mola *Pronotogrammus martinicensisMullidae Pseudupeneus maculatus *Rypticus saponaceusMuraenidae *Gymnothorax hubbsi Serranus annularis
Gymnothorax moringa Serranus phoebe*Gymnothorax polygonius Sparidae Calamus nodosusMuraena retifera Sphyraenidae Sphyraena barracudaMuraena robusta Synodontidae Synodus synodus
Ophichthidae Myrichthys brevicpes Synodus intermediusPomacanthidae Centropyge argi Tetraodontidae Canthigaster spp.
Holacanthus bermudensis Chilomycterus schoepfiHolacanthus ciliaris Triglidae *Bellator egretta
Mycteroperca microlepis (gag grouper)
Mycteroperca interstitialis (yellowmouth grouper)
Bicolor Phase
Mycteroperca phenax (scamp)
Cat’s Paw PhaseBrown Phase
Brown Phase
Epinephelus drummondhayi (speckled hind, kitty mitchell)
Paranthias furcifer (creole-fish)
Epinephelus niveatus (snowy grouper)
Epinephelus adscensionis (rock hind)
Many subtropical and tropical fishes inhabit North Carolina hardgrounds, including commercially important snappers and groupers. These photographs represent some commercially important species frequently seen on submersible dives. Mycteroperca interstitialis and Mycteroperca phenax are two abundant groupers observed on hardgrounds within the MPA. Rhomboplites aurorubens and Lutjanus buccanella (not shown) are two snapper species that frequent MPA and other hardgrounds.
During 2001-2003 research cruises, we targeted various outer shelf hardgrounds (68-129 m depth) off North Carolina, including two stations located within a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA). Since 2001, we have made 15 submersible dives with the Johnson Sea Link, 9 of which were in the MPA. In 2003, we also documented by ROV the Snowy Wreck (~120 ft fishing vessel), which was previously undocumented. Our overall objectives are to document community structure, relative species abundance, and hardground habitat. Surface and mid-water collections were also taken for trophodynamic studies, larval fish distribution analyses, and Sargassum vs. open water habitat comparisons. We will continue this sampling in 2004.
Epinephelus cruentatus (graysby)
Other commonly observed
fishes include various
carangids, chaetodontid
s, holocentrids,
labrids, muraenids,
pomacentrids,
pomacanthids,
priacanthids, and
sciaenids. Species on
the right are only a few of
these commonly observed.
Priacanthus arenatus
Pristigenys alta
Holacanthus tricolor Chaetodon sedentarius
Muraena robusta Holocentrus bullisi
Corniger spinosus
Prognathodes aya
Dactylopterus volitans