REFERENCECOPY Do No t Remove from the Library

U. S. Fish and Wildl i fe Service

Biological Report, 82(11.30) lUatlona' vveTlanas KeSemr TR EL-82-4 April. 1985 700 Cajun Dome Boule\lard

Lafayette, Louisiana 7r1536

Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico)

SOUTHERN FLOUNDER

Coastal Ecology Group Fish and Wildlife Service Waterways Experiment Station U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

T h i s i s one o f t h e f i r s t r e p o r t s t o be p u b l i s h e d i n t h e new " B i o l o g i c a l Repor t ' ' s e r i e s . T h i s t e c h n i c a l r e p o r t s e r i e s , p u b l i shed b y t h e Resea rch and Deve lopment b r a n c h o f t h e U.S. F i s h and W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e , r e p l a c e s t h e "FWS/OBS1I s e r i e s p u b l i s h e d f r o m 1976 t o September 1984. The B i o l o g - i c a l R e p o r t s e r i e s i s d e s i g n e d f o r t h e r a p i d p u b l i c a t i o n o f r e p o r t s w i t h an a p p l i c a t i o n o r i e n t a t i o n , and i t c o n t i n u e s t h e f o c u s o f t h e FWS/OBS s e r i e s on r e s o u r c e management i s s u e s and f i s h and w i l d 1 i f e needs .

B i o l o g i c a l Repor t 82(11.30) TR EL-82-4 A p r i l 1985

Species P r o f i l e s : L i f e Hi s t o r i e s and Envi ronlnental Requirements o f Coastal F ishes and I n v e r t e b r a t e s ( G u l f o f Mexico)

SOUTHERN FLOUNDER

Roland E. Reagan, J r . and

W i l l i a m M. Wingo Department o f W i l d l i f e and F i s h e r i e s

136 Dorrnan Hal 1 M i s s i s s i p p i S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y M i s s i s s i pp i S ta te , MS 39 762

P r o j e c t Manager L a r r y Shanks

P r o j e c t O f f i c e r John Parsons

Na t i ona l Coastal Ecosystems Team U.S. F i s h and W i l d l i f e Se rv i ce

1010 Gause Boulevard S l i d e l 1 , LA 70458

Performed f o r

Coastal Ecol ogy Group U.S. Army Corps o f Engineers Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n

Vicksburg, MS 39180

and

Nat iona l Coasta l Ecosystems Team D i v i s i o n o f B i o l o g i c a l Se rv i ces

Research and Development F i sh and W i 1 d l i f e Serv i ce

U.S. Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r Washington , DC 20240

T h i s s e r i e s can be re fe renced as f o l l o w s :

U.S. F i s h and W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e . 1983-19 . Spec ies p r o f i l e s : l i f e h i s t o r i e s and e n v i ronlnental r e q u i r e m e n t s o f c o a s t a l f i s h e s and i n v e r t e b r a t e s . U.S. F i s h W i l d l . Serv. B i o l . Rep. 82(11) . 1J.S. Corps of Eng ineers TR EL-82-4.

T Q i s p r o f i l e can be c i t e d as f o l l o w s :

Reagan, R.E., J r . , and W.M. U ingo. 1985. Spec ies p r o f i l e s : l i f e h i s t o r i e s and env i ronmen ta l requ i remen ts o f c o a s t a l f i s h e s and i n v e r t e b r a t e s (Gu l f o f Mex ico ) - - sou the rn f l o u n d e r . U.S. F i s h Wi1 d l . Serv. B i o l . Rep. 82(11.30). U.S. Army Corps o f Eng ineers TR EL-82-4. 9 pp.

PREFACE

This species p r o f i l e i s one o f a se r i es on coasta l aquat ic organisms, p r i n c i p a l l y f i s h , o f spor t , commercial, o r eco log ica l importance. The p r o f i l e s are designed t o provide coasta l managers, engineers, and b i o l o g i s t s w i t h a b r i e f comprehensive sketch o f the b i 01 og i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and environmental requ i re - ments o f the species and t o descr ibe how populat ions o f the species may be expected t o reac t t o e n v i r o ~ l e n t a l changes caused by coasta l development. Each p r o f i l e has sect ions on taxonmy, 1 i f e h i s t o r y , eco log ica l ro le , environmental requirements, and economic importance, if appl i cab l e. A th ree - r i ng b inde r i s used f o r t h i s ser ies so t h a t new p r o f i l e s can be added as they are prepared. This p r o j e c t i s j o i n t l y planned and f inanced by the U.S. Army Corps o f Engineers and the U.S. F ish and W i l d l i f e Service.

Suggestions o r quest ions regard ing t h i s r e p o r t should be d i r e c t e d t o one o f t he f o l l o w i n g addresses.

I n fo rma t ion Transfer Special i s t Nat ional Coastal Ecosystems Team U.S. F ish and W i l d l i f e Serv ice NASA-Sl i d e l 1 Computer Compl ex 1010 Gause Boulevard S l i d e l 1 , LA 70458

U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment S ta t i on A t t e n t i on : WESER-C Post O f f i c e Box 631 Vicksburg, MS 39180

CONVERSION TABLE

M e t r i c t o U.S. Customary

Mu1 t i p l y EL To Obta in

m i l 1 imeters (mn) cent imeters (an) meters (m) k i 1 orneters ( km)

2 square meters (m ) 10.76 square k i 1 m e t e r s ( km2) 0.3861 hectares (ha) 2.471

l i t e r s ( 1 ) cub i c meters (m3) cub ic meters

m i l 1 igrams (mg) 0.00003527 grams ( g ) 0.03527 k i l ograms ( kg ) 2.205 m e t r i c tons ( t ) 2205.0 m e t r i c tons 1.102 k i 1 ocal o r i e s ( kcal ) 3.968

inches inches f e e t m i l es

square f e e t square m i l e s acres

gal 1 ons cubic f e e t acre- fee t

ounces ounces pounds pounds s h o r t tons B r i t i s h thermal uni t s

Cel s i u s degrees 1.8("C) + 32 Fahrenhei t degrees

U.S. Customary t o M e t r i c

inches 25.40 inches 2.54 f e e t ( f t ) 0.3048 f a thorns 1.829 m i l e s (mi ) 1.609 n a u t i c a l m i l es ( m i ) 1.852

square f e e t ( f t 2 ) 0.0929 acres 2 0.4047 square m i l e s (mi ) 2.590

g a l l o n s ( g a l ) 3.785 cub ic f e e t ( f t 3 ) 0.02831 acre- f e e t 1233.0

ounces (02) 28.35 pounds ( I b ) 0.4536 s h o r t tons ( t o n ) 0.9072 B r i t i s h thermal u n i t s ( B t u ) 0.2520

m i l 1 imeters cent imeters meters meters k i l ometers k i 1 ometers

square meters hectares square k i 1 ometers

1 i t e r s cub i c meters cubic meters

grams k i 1 ograms m e t r i c tons k i 1 ocal o r i es

Fahrenhei t degrees 0.5556(" F - 32) Ce ls ius degrees

CONTENTS

Page

PREFACE ............................................................. CONVERSION TABLE .................................................... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................... NOMENCLATURE/TAXONOMY/RANGE ......................................... MORPHOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION AIDS .................................. REASON FOR ZNCLUSIOti I N SERIES ...................................... LIFE HISTORY ........................................................

Spawning ....................................................... F e c u n d i t y ...................................................... Larvae ......................................................... J u n v e n i l e s and A d u l t s ..........................................

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS .............................................. FISHERY ............................................................. ECOLOGICAL ROLE .....................................................

Food H a b i t s .................................................... B e h a v i o r ...............?.......................................

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT7 .......................................... .................................................... Temperature ....................................................... ~ a l i n i t y D i s s o l v e d Oxygen ............................................... S u b s t r a t e ......................................................

LITERATURE CITED ....................................................

We thank Hugh Swingle o f t he Alabama Department o f Conservat ion and Dickson Hoese o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Southwestern Lou is iana f o r r e v i e w i n g t he manuscr ip t .

F i g u r e 1. Southern f l ounde r .

SOUTHERN FLOUNDER

S c i e n t i f i c nawe ....... P a r a l i c h t h y s l e t h o s t i g m a (Jordan and G i l b e r t )

P re fe r r ed common name ..... Southern f l o u n d e r (F i gu re 1 ) . ........ Other common names Flounder, mud f l ounde r , doormat, and ha1 i b u t

Class ................. Oste ich thyes Order ............ P l eu ronec t i fo rmes Fami ly .................... Both idae

Geographic Range: The southern f l o u n - der ' i nhah i t s t h e coas ta l w t e r s o f t he eas t coas t and t h e G u l f o f Mex- i c o (F i gu re 2) f rom No r t h Ca ro l i na t o Texas. They a r e common a long t h e shores o f bays, sounds, and lagoons i n compara t i ve ly s h a l l ow wate rs and

sometimes e n t e r f r eshwa te r (Gu t h e r z 196 7).

MORPHOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION AIDS

Dorsa l f i n rays range f rom 80 t o 95; anal rays f rom 63 t o 74, and p e c t o r a l f i n (eye s i de ) rays f rom 11 t o 13. Upper g i l l r ake r s on t h e upper l i m b o f t h e f i r s t g i l l a rch range f rom 2 t o 3 and lower g i l l r ake r s on t h e lower l i m b f rom 8 t o 11. Scales i n t h e l a t e r a l l i n e range f rom 35 t o 100. Body depth i s 30% t o 47% o f s tandard l e n g t h (SL). The eyes a r e on t h e l e f t s i d e and c o l o r i s l i g h t t o dark brown w i t h d i f f u s e nonocel l a t e d dark spo t s and b l o t ches . The b l i n d s i d e

i s w h i t e o r dusky (Hoese and Moore 1977).

REASON FOR INCLUSION IN THE SERIES

The southern f l o u n d e r i s a va lua- b l e s p o r t and commercial f i s h a long t h e g u l f coast . Spor t f i s h i q g i s done by hook and l i n e and by g igg ing . Most o f t h e cominercial ca t ch i s i n c i d e n t a l t o t h e ca tch by shr imp t r a w l e r s . Accord ing t o Jackson (1972) t h e southern f l ounde r i s "one o f t h e most sought a f t e r and p r i z e d f i s h i n t h e area and i s recognized f o r i t s f i n e f l a v o r . "

LIFE HISTORY

Spawni n q -

Most southern f l ounde rs spawn i n l a t e f a l l and e a r l y w in te r , b u t some spawn i n e a r l y sp r i ng (Ginsburg 1952).

I n Nor th Caro l ina , southern f l ounde rs m ig ra te out o f e s t u a r i e s i n f a l l t o spawn (H i ldebrand and Cable 1930). I n Texas, they m ig ra te f rom e s t u a r i e s i n t o the G u l f o f Mexico from October through December, appa ren t l y t o spawn (Stokes 1977). Males move seaward e a r l i e r than females and few remain i n t he e s t u a r i e s a f t e r Novem- ber. Th is m i g r a t i o n i s u s u a l l y pre- ceded by a drop i n water temperature o f 4" t o 5°C.. Southern f lounders a r e caught i n gu l f waters as deep as 63 m.

Females become sexual l y mature a t 2 years of age i n Texas (Stokes 1977). The youngest mature female southern f l o u n d e r i n no r t he rn F l o r i d a was 4 years o l d ( H a l l 1979). O f t h e mature females c o l l e c t e d i n August, 8% o f t h e 4-year-01 ds, 5% o f t he 5-year- o lds , and 18% of t h e 6-year-o lds were deve lop ing eggs.

Southern f l ounde rs i n Texas were induced t o spawn i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y (A rno ld e t a l . 1977). About t h r e e

weeks be fo re spawning t ook place, males began f o l l ow ing g r a v i d females i n t h e tanks. The f i r s t spawning was on December 21. Spawning was a t midday, when females swam t o t h e sur face and re leased eggs t h a t were immediately f e r t i 1 i z e d by a t t e n d i n g males. F e r t i l i z a t i o n was 30% t o 50% successfu l , and 6% t o 35% o f t h e eggs hatched i n 61 t o 76 h r (A rno ld e t a l . 1977).

Fecund i t y --

T h i r t e e n southern f l ounde rs examined i n t h e l abo ra to r y , produced a t o t a l o f 120,000 eggs (average about 9,230; Arnold e t a l . 1977).

Larvae

I n c u l t u r e , yo1 k-sac l a r v a e began metamorphosing t o pos t l a r vae a t 40 t o 46 days ( 8 t o 11 mm long) ; metamorphosis was complete by 50 t o 51 days (A rno ld e t a1 . 1977).

Juven i l es and Adu l t s

Post1 arvae o f southern f l ounde r 18 t o 34 nun i n t o t a l l e n g t h (TL) were cap tu red du r i ng February, March, and May a t Gal veston I s l and , Texas (A rno ld e t a l . 1960); f i s h 25 t o 51 mm TL were caught i n M i s s i s s i p p i R i ve r passes d u r i n g sp r i ng (Kel 1 ey 1955).

Southern f lounder post1 arvae a re caught a long t h e G u l f of Mexico coas t du r i ng w i n t e r and e a r l y sp r i ng . I n Aransas Bay, Texas, t h e peak movement o f pos t l a r vae f l ounde rs i n t o e s t u a r i e s i s i n February, when water tempera- t u r e s a r e between 16.0" and 16.2"C (Stokes 1977). I n Texas, Breuer (1962) found pos t l a r vae 35 t o 50 mm TL i n December.

Juven i l es a r e general l y c o l 1 ected du r i ng spr ing , summer, and e a r l y fa1 1.

Juven i l es 50 t o 100 mm TL were caught on t he seaward beaches o f i s l a n d s i n Lou is iana i n A p r i l (Gunter 1938), and f i s h 34 t o 57 rrm long were caught i n l i a rsh areas of t he Mobi le D e l t a du r i ng December and from February t o A p r i l . Near t h e mouth o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R iver , a d u l t s and j u v e n i l e s were captured du r i ng summer i n a d d i t i o n t o a few a d u l t s taken i n w i n t e r ( K e l l e y 1965). Near Gal veston I s l a n d , Texas, a s i n g l e j u v e n i l e was captured i n September (A rno ld e t a l . 1960). Juveni l e s and adu l t s were c o l l ected i n t h e Yob i le De l t a i n water o f s a l i n i t i e s rang ing f rom 0 t o 22.2 p a r t s per thousand ( p p t ) (Swingle and a land 1974).

From A p r i l 1974 t o February 1975, a d u l t southern f l ounde rs mig ra ted i n shal low waters from t h e G u l f o f Mexico t o Aransas Bay, Texas; t he m ig ra t i ons were complete by l a t e June (Stokes 1977). Adu l t f lounders l i v e i n Texas bays from June through November, i n water w i t h abundant smooth cordgrass ( S p a r t i na a1 t e r n i f l o r a ) (Stokes 19 77).

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS

A von B e r t a l a n f f y growth model f o r t h e southern f l o u n d e r was a l s o c a l c u l a t e d by N a l l (1979) :

' SLt = 1.461 [1-e 0.0308 t-(1-0.8629) I I n t h i s equat ion, SLt i s s tandard l e n g t h (mm) a t end o f t ime pe r i od t and t i s t h e t ime i n t e r v a l . Th i s mode7 predTcted a maximum l e n g t h (SL) o f 1,461 rnm, b u t t h e l a r g e s t southern f lounder repor ted i n t h e 1 i t e r a t u r e was 762 mm (Ginsburg 1952). The model p r e d i c t s a maximum age o f 20 years.

Growth da ta on t h e southern f l o u n d e r a re a v a i l a b l e o n l y f rom F l o r i d a and M i s s i s s i p p i . Annual growth increments i n t o t a l l eng th ( t o t h e neares t 1 mm) f o r southern f l ounde r i n F l o r i da , based on sca le measurements and ana l ys i s o f 177 f i s h by age group and l e n g t h (mm), were as

f o l l o w s : 0-1, 79; 1-11, 70; 11-111, 49; 111-IV, 45; I V - V , 46; V - V I , 40; V I - V I I , 37; V I I - X I I I , 34; and V I I I - I X , 41 ( N a l l 1979). Except f o r ages V I I I - I X , growth r a t e dec l i ned w i t h an inc rease i n ages.

I n F l o r i d a t h e f o l l ow ing t o t a l l e n g t h ranges ( t o t h e neares t 1 mm) f o r each age were repor ted , I, 79; 11, 80-142; 111, 84-134; and I V , 170.0-215 (Nal 1 1979). I n M i s s i s s i p p i , southern f l ounde rs were l a r g e r a t t h e same age increment than i n F l o r i d a : 11, 230 mm; 111, 340 mm; and I V , 480 mrn ( E t z o l d and Christmas 1979).

FISHERY

Vost southern f l ounde rs caught f o r commercial s a l e i n t h e G u l f o f Mexico a re taken by shr imp t r a w l e r s . A l l species o f f l ounde rs caught i n t h e Gu l f , among which t h e southern f 1 ounder predominates, a re combi ned i n t h e commercial f i s h e r y s t a t i s t i c s . O f t h e com~nercial l y landed f l ounde rs i n Alabama, 95% were caught by shr imp t r a w l e r s and t h e remainder by g i g g i n g (Swi ng l e 1976). The commercial l and ings o f f l ounde rs i n t h e G u l f S ta tes dec l i ned from 1971 t o 1981 (Table 1 ) . Landings i n Alabama peaked i n 1972 (1,169,800 1 b) and g e n e r a l l y decreased t o 1981 (585,192 1 b ) . Lou is iana land ings peaked i n 1972 (507,300 l b ) and decreased sub- s t a n t i a l l y t o 1981 (136,962 l b ) . The land ings i n M i s s i s s i p p i decreased f rom 172,000 l b i n 1971 t o 28,615 l b i n 1981.

Southern f l ounde rs a re caught by s p o r t f ishermen a long t h e e n t i r e no r t he rn G u l f o f Mexico, bu t i n f o r - mat ion on t h e f i s h e r y i s a v a i l a b l e o n l y f o r Alabama and M i s s i s s i p p i . I n Mob i le Bay and t h e nearby coas ta l waters, f l o u n d e r f i s h i n g i s most p roduc t i ve f rom p i e r s (Wade 1977). The c o s t o f d a i l y f i s h i n g t r i p s on f i s h i n g p i e r s i n 1977 ranged f rom $5.42 t o $14.55. I n 1969, i n a 6- non nth pe r i od i n B i l o x i Bay, M i s s i s -

T a b l e 1. Commer$ial l a n d i n g (hundreds o f pounds) and docks ide v a l u e (hundreds of do1 l a r s ) o f f l o u n d e r s i n f i v e S t a t e s , 1971-81 . Year F l o r i d a Texas A1 aba~na Lou i s iana M i s s i s s i p p i T o t a l

Weight Value Weight Value Weight Value Weight Value Weight Value Weight Value

a ~ ~ f ~ ~ ~ ~ t i o n supp l i ed by U.S. Department o f Commerce, Na t i ona l Mar ine F i she r i es Serv ice , Southeast F i s h e r i e s Center, Miami , F l o r i d a .

s i p p i , southern f lounders con t r i bu ted o n l y 2.6% o f t h e t o t a l s p o r t catch. Catches were h ighes t i n October and November and lowest i n September (Jackson 1972).

ECOLOGICAL ROLE

Food Hab i t s

Small southern f lounders ea t a v a r i e t y o f i nve r teb ra tes , b u t become p i sc ivorous when they a re about 200 mm long (TL). I n Louis iana, a d u l t southern f lounders a t e shrimp and f i s h (Reid e t a l . 1956). I n a more de- t a i l e d s tudy i n Louis iana, Fox and White (1969) repor ted t h a t s t r i p e d m u l l e t (Muqi l cephalus) was t h e major food i t e m o f southern f lounders , f o l lowed by f a t s leepers (Dormi t a t o r maculatus) and anchovies ( Anchoa). The major foods (percen t frequency of occurrence i n stomachs) were as f o l l o w s : s t r i p e d mu1 le t - -57% i n December-February; Anchoa sp.-- 30% i n March-May; C a l l i nec tes sp.--6% i n June-Auqust; and f a t sleeper--30%, Anchoa -sp. --4%, pal aemonetes- sp. --3%, and Penaeus sp.--3% i n September- November. t a t s leepers appeared i n t he d i e t i n October b u t disappeared i n 2 t o 3 weeks.

I n Texas, Stokes (1977) repor ted t h a t smal l f l ounders (10 t o 150 mm l ong ) a t e most ly i n v e r t e b r a t e s (95%), among which mysids were t h e most common (32%). Larger f lounders (150 mm long) a t e p r i m a r i l y f i s h , among which anchovies, menhaden (B revoo r t i a sp. ), sc iaenids, and m w g i 1 sp.) were most common.

Behavior

I n a Lou is iana s tudy o f day versus n i g h t t r a w l i n g , 89% o f southern f lounders were caught a t n i g h t , ap- p a r e n t l y because they a r e more vu l - ne rab le t o t r a w l i n g a t n i g h t than du r i ng day1 i g h t (Dugas 1975). A tank s tudy c o n f i n e d t h a t f lounders a re

more a c t i v e a t n i g h t (Dugas 1975).

A tag- recapture s tudy o f southern f lounders i n Texas revealed t h a t move- ments between and w i t h i n e s t u a r i e s r a r e l y exceeded 18 km (Stokes 1977). The t ime between re l ease and recap- t u r e ranged- from 3 t o 212 days.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Temperature

Temperature i n f l uences t h e migra- t i o n o f p o s t l a r v a l and a d u l t southern f lounders. P o s t l a r v a l m i g r a t i o n t o e s t u a r i e s from o f f s h o r e waters peaked when water temperatures were about 16°C (Stokes 1977).

I n Louis iana coasta l waters, a d u l t southern f lounders have been c o l l e c t e d a t temperatures ranging from 5" t o 35°C. I n Lakes Pon tcha r t r a i n and Maurepas, they were c o l l e c t e d a t water temperatures o f 15.0" t o 35°C from February through September (Tarver and Savoie 1976). I n Loui siana, southern f lounders were c o l l e c t e d a t temperatures o f 5" t o 35°C ( P e r r e t e t a1. 1971). I n another Louis iana study, southern f lounders were caught i n waters w i t h a temperature range o f 10" t o 30°C; most catches were made from May through August ( B a r r e t t e t a l . 1978).

S a l i n i t y

A d u l t southern f lounders have been c o l l e c t e d i n waters w i t h s a l i n i t i e s o f 0 t o 36 p p t (Christmas and Wal le r 1973; Pe r re t and C a i l l o u e t 1974; Tarver and Savoie 1976; Stokes 1977; B a r r e t t e t a l . 1978). I n Mis- s i s s i p p i t he l a r g e s t catches o f j u v e n i l e s and young a d u l t s were a t s a l i n i t i e s o f 15 t o 20 p p t (Christmas and Wal l e r 1973).

A s tudy o f t he e f f e c t o f s a l i n i t y on s u r v i v a l and growth o f e a r l y post- l a r v a l southern f lounders showed t h a t

s u r v i v a l was n o t a f f e c t e d by s a l i n i - t i e s lower than 26 p p t (Deubler 1960). Growth, however, was f a s t e r a t h i ghe r s a l i n i t i e s . I n Nor th Ca ro l i na t h e o l d e r pos t l a r vae grew f a s t e r i n water o f low s a l i n i t y (S t i ckney and White 1973), a1 though t h e d i f f e rences i n growth were n o t as c l e a r c u t as those o f Deubler (1960). I n Texas, o l d e r post1 arvae may be more phys io l og i ca l l y adapted t o low s a l i n i t i e s than younger pos t l a r vae (Stokes 1977). Pos t la rvae were no t c o l l e c t e d i n water o f low s a l i n i t i e s (10 t o 12 p p t ) u n t i l March.

D i sso l ved Oxygen

I n a l abo ra to ry study, p o s t l a r v a l southern f lounders attempted avoidance when d i s s o l ved oxygen concent ra t ions

f e l l below 3.7 mg l l . No avoidance d i f fe rences were noted a t temperatures o f 6.1°, 14.4O, o r 25.3"C (Deubler and Posner 1963).

Subs t ra te

Southern f lounders appa ren t l y show no preference f o r a p a r t i c u l a r t ype o f bottom, though they r a r e l y 1 i v e on hard bottoms (Ginsburg 1952). I n nor theas t F l o r i d a , N a l l (1979) c o l l e c t e d 152 f lounders f rom mud bottoms and 25 f rom mud and sand bottoms, b u t none from hard bottoms. I n F l o r i d a Bay, southern f lounders were c o l l e c t e d over she1 1 and f i r m mar l bottoms (Tabb and Manning 1961).

LITERATURE CITED

Arnold, C.R., W.H. B a i l e y , T.D. Wi l l i ams, A. Johnson, and J.L. Lasswe l l . 1977. Labora to ry spawning and l a r v a l r e a r i n g o f r ed drum and southern f l ounde r . Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. F i sh W i l d l . Comm. 31: 437-440.

Arnold, E.L., Jr . , R.S. Wheeler, and K. N. Bax te r . 1960. Observat ions on f i s h e s aod o t h e r b i o t a o f eas t lagoon, Gal veston I s l and . U.S. F i s h W i l d l . Serv. Spec. Sc i . Rep. Fish. 344. 30 pp.

B a r r e t t , B.B., J.L. M e r r e l l , T.P. Mor r i son , M.C. G i l l e s p i e , E.J. Ralph, and J.F. Burdon. 1978. A s tudy o f Lou i s i ana ' s major estua- r i e s and ad jacen t o f f sho re waters. La. Dep. W i l d l . F ish. Tech. B u l l . 27. 1 9 7 p p .

Breuer, J.P. 1962. An eco log i ca l survey o f t h e lower Laguna Madre o f Texas, 1953-1959. Publ. I n s t . Mar. Sci. Univ. Tex. 8:153-183.

Christmas, J.Y., and R.S. Wal le r . 1973. Es tua r i ne ver tebra tes , M i s s i s s i p p i . Pages 320-434 in J . Y . Christmas, ed. Cooperat ive G u l f o f IYexico e s t u a r i n e inven- t o r y and study, M i s s i s s i p p i . Gul f Coast Research Laboratory , Ocean Springs, Miss.

Deubler, E.E., J r . 1960. S a l i n i t y as a f a c t o r i n t h e c o n t r o l o f growth and s u r v i v a l o f pos t l a r vae o f t h e southern f l ounde r , Para l i c h t h y s

le thost igma. B u l l . Mar. Sc i . G u l f Caribb. lO (3 ) :339-345.

Deubler, E.E., J r . , and G.S. Posner. 1963. Response of p o s t l a r v a l f 1 ounders , para1 i c h t h y s le thos t igma, t o w a t F o f low -- oxygen concent ra t ions . Copeia 1963:312-317.

Dugas, R.J. 1975. V a r i a t i o n i n day-n ight t r a w l catches i n Ver- m i l i o n Bay, Lou is iana . La. W i l d l . Fish. Tech. B u l l . 14. 13 PP.

E tzo ld , D.J., and J .Y. Christmas, eds. 1979. A M i s s i s s i p p i mar ine f i n - f i s h management p lan . F i n a l r e p o r t . M i ss i ss i pp i -A1 abama Sea Grant Consor t i um. MASGP-78-146. 36 PP.

Fox, L.S., and C.G. White. 1969. Feeding h a b i t s o f t h e southern f l ounde r , Para l i c h t h y s l e t h o - st igma, i n B a r a t a r i a Bay, La. Proc. La. Acad. Sc i . 32:31-38.

Ginsburg, I. 1952. Flounders o f t h e genus m a 1 i c h t h y s and re1 a ted genera i n American waters. U.S. F i s h W i l d l . Serv. F ish. B u l l . 71:257-332.

Gunter, G. 1938. Seasooal v a r i a t i o n s i n abundance o f c e r t a i n e s t u a r i n e and marine f i s h e s i n Lou is iana , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r r e fe rence t o l i f e h i s t o r i e s . Ecol . Monogr. 8 (3 ) : 315-346.

Gutherz, E.J. 1967. F i e l d gu ide t o t h e f l a t f i s h e s o f t h e f a m i l y Bo th idae i n t h e western No r t h A t l a n t i c . U.S. F ish. W i l d l . Serv. C i r c . 263. 4 7 pp. 263. 41 pp.

Hi ldebrand , S.F., and L.E. Cable. 1930. Development and l i f e h i s - t o r y o f f ou r t een t e l eostean f i s h e s a t Beau fo r t , N.C. B u l l . U.S. Bur. F ish. 46:383-488.

Hoese, H.D., and R.H. Moore. 1977. F ishes o f t h e G u l f o f Mexico. Texas A&"lniversi ty Press, Co l l ege S t a t i o n . 327 pp.

Jackson, G.A. 1972. A s p o r t f i s h i n g survey o f B i l o x i Bay and t h e ad j acen t M i s s i s s i p p i Sound. M.S. Thes is . M i s s i s s i p p i S t a t e Uni - v e r s i ty, M i s s i s s i p p i S ta te . 101 pp.

K e l l e y , J.R., J r . 1965. A taxonomic survey o f t h e f i s h e s o f D e l t a Na t i ona l W i l d l i f e Refuge w i t h emphasis upon d i s t r i b u t i o n and abundance. M.S. Thes is . L o u i s i - ana S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , Baton Rouge. 130 pp.

N a l l , L.E. 1979. Age and growth o f t h e southern f l o u n d e r ( P a r a l i c h - thys l e t hos t i gma) i n t h e n o r t h e r n G u l f o f Mexico w i t h notes on Para l i c h t h y s a1 b i g u t t a . M.S. Thesi s. F l o r i d a S ta te Uni ve r - - - -~

s i t y , Ta l lahassee. 58 p p .

P e r r e t , W.S., and C.W. C a i l l o u e t , J r . 1974. Abundance and s i z e o f f i shes taken by t r a w l i n g i n Vermilion Bay, Lou is iana . B u l l . Mar. Sc i . 24(1) :52-74.

P e r r e t , W.S., B.B. B a r r e t t , W.R. La tap i e , J.F. P o l l a r d , W.R. Mock, G.B. Adkins, W.J. Gaidry , and C. J. White. 1971. Cooperat ive G u l f o f Mexico e s t u a r i n e inven-

t o r y and study, Lou is iana . Phase I V Y B i o l ogy . La. W i l d l . F ish. Comm. pp. 35-63.

Reid, G.K., Jr . , A. I n g l i s , and H.D. Hoese. 1956. Summer foods o f some f i s h spec ies. Southwest. Nat . l ( 3 ) : 100-104.

S t i ckney , R.R., and D.B. White. 1973. ~ f f e c t s o f s a l i n i t y on t h e growth o f Para l i c h t h y s l e t hos t i gma pos t - l a r v a e reared under aquacul t u r e cond i t i ons . Proc. 27 th Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Game F i s h Comm. 27:532-540.

Stokes, G.M. 1977. L i f e h i s t o r y s t u d i e s o f sou thern f l ounde r ( m a 1 i c h thys w h o s t i g m a ) and g u l f f l o u n d e r (P. a l b i g u t t a ) i n t h e Aransas Bay area o f Texas. Texas Parks ~ i l d l . Dep. Tech. Ser. 25. 37pp.

Swingle, H.A., and D.G. Bland. 1974. A s tudy o f t h e f i s h e s o f t h e coas ta l watercourses o f A1 abama . Ala. Mar. Resour. B u l l . 10: 17-102.

Swingle, W.E. 1976. Ana l ys i s o f commercial f i s h e r i e s ca t ch da ta f o r Alabama. A la . Mar. Resour. B u l l . 11:26-50.

Tabb, D.C., and R.B. Yanning. 1961. The b i o t a o f F l o r i d a Bay. B u l l . Mar. Sc i . G u l f Car ibb. l l ( 4 ) : 552-649.

Tarver , J.W., and L.B. Savoie. 1976. An i n v e n t o r y and s tudy o f t h e Lake Pon tchar t ra in -Lake Maurepas e s t u a r i n e complex. Phase II- Bio logy . La. W i l d l . Fish. Comm. Tech. B u l l . 19:7-99.

Wade, C.W. 1977. Survey o f t h e Ala- bama mar ine r e c r e a t i o n a l f i s h e r y . A la . Mar. Resour. B u l l . 12. 22 PP-

P r .- - -- - . -- - --- -. 7. Author(.) 8. Performing Omani Roland E. Reagan, J r . and W i l l i a m M. Wingo

50272 -101

- -- - - --- .- - - ~

9. Performing organization Name and Address

REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE

MS Cooperat ive F i s h and W i l d l i f e Research U n i t P.O. Drawer BX M i s s i s s i p p i S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y ili s s i s s i p p i S ta te , MS 39 762-5603

I*u.s. Army Corps o f Engineers Report No. TR EL-82-4

S. Rui~lenl ' . Accesa

. B i o l o g i c a l Report 82(11.30)* 4. TltIe and Subtitle

Species P r o f i l e s : L i f e Hi s t o r i e s and Environmental Requirements o f Coastal Fishes and I n v e r t e b r a t e s ( G u l f o f Mexico) -- Southern

. L R E m R T *.

. - -- - - 11. Contrsct(C) or Gr

(c)

(G) -. -

13. T y w of Report b

16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words)

Species p r o f i l e s a re 1 i t e r a t u r e summaries o f t he taxonomy, morphology, range, '

and envi I-onmental requ i rements o f coasta l ngua t i c species. They a r e designed environrnental impact assessment. Southern f l ounde r i s an e s t u a r i n e dependent r l i v e s i t s e n t i r e l i f e i n o r near es tua r i es . The southern f l o u n d e r m ig ra tes ou' es tua ry i n t o t h e Gu l f o f Mexico t o spawn i n October through February. Larvae i

j u v e n i l e s usual l y l i v e i n e s t u a r i n e areas, b u t some j u v e n i l e s l i v e i n nea rsho r~ t h e G u l f o f Mexico. The species has a maximum age o f 10 years. Southern f l o u ~ caught commercia l ly by shrimp t r a w l e r s and a few a re caught by g igg ing. Com~ne~ l a n d i n g s (1971-81) have ranged from 1,169,800 t o 28,615 1 b. There a r e no data ca tches o f the species. Popu la t i on dynamics data on the species a re weak. La1 j u v e n i l e f l ounde rs e a t i n v e r t e b r a t e s . Adu l t s e a t a v a r i e t y o f f i s h and shrimp southern f l ounde r have been cal lght i n water w i t h temperatures o f 5" t o 35OC. has been caught i n water a t s a l i n i t i e s o f 0-36 ppt . Southern f l o u n d e r p r e f e r I

ove r o t h e r types.

5. Report Date

A p r i 1 1985

2.

N a t i o n a l Coastal Ecosystems Team U.S. Army Corps of Engineers D i v i s i o n of B i o l o g i c a l Serv ices Nater\,,ays txper i rnent S t a t i o n

P.O. Box 631 Vicksburg, MS 39180

- -P-~-P

Estua r ies F ishes Growth Feedi ng

. - .- - - - - - - 14.

1 b. IdentifierslOpen-Ended Terms

I Southern Flounder L i f e h i s t o r y Para1 i c h t h y s 1 ethost igma Spawni ng Temperature requ i rements Habi t a t r equ i rernents

c. COSATl FieldlGroup ~

v " r = ( T h i s Report) - -T2=

(Forms Deparl

Unl in i ted U d a s s i f i e d - . - 20. Secur~ty Class (This Pane)

U n c l a s s i f i e d (See ANSI-239.18)

- OPTlO

REGION 1 Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lloyd Five Hundred Building, Suite 1692 500 N.E. Multnornah Street Portland, Oregon 97232

REGION 4 Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Richard B. Russell Building 75 Spring Street, S.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30303

REGION 2 REGION 3 Regional Director Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service P.O. Box 1306 Federal Building, Fort Snelling Albuquerque, New Mexico 87 103 Twin Cities, Minnesota 55 1 1 1

REGION 5 REGION 6 Regional Director Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service One Gateway Center P.O. Box 25486 Newton Corner, Massachusetts 02158 Denver Federal Center

Denver, Colorado 80225

REGION 7 Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 101 1 E. Tudor Road Anchorage, Alaska 99503

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH A I D WILDLIFE SERVICE

As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has respon- sibility for most of our,nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving theenvironmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department as- sesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under U.S. administration.