Mortality of young brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus in estuarine nurseries.

Date

1989

Authors

Minello, T.J.
Zimmerman, R.J.
Martinez, E.X.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

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Abstract

We estimated actual 2-week mortalities of postlarval and juvenile brown shrimp in a Galveston Bay salt marsh by comparing densities of cohorts throughout the spring. Mortalities ranged between 33% and 61% in 1982 and 23% and 39 % in 1987. Brown shrimp mortality in predator-exclusion cages during 1987 was less than 3%. These data and published information on food requirements, diseases and physical tolerances suggest that predation is usually the major direct cause of brown shrimp mortality in estuarine nurseries of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Southern flounder Paralichthyes lethostigma was the dominant fish predator on brown shrimp during the spring, and appeared to be responsible for a large portion of brown shrimp mortality. In laboratory experiments, the presence of smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora reduced predation rates of southern flounder and some of the other fish predators examined. Predation rates in general increased in proportion to increased prey densities. Thus, low water levels in the marsh, which reduce access by brown shrimp to intertidal vegetation and increase their densities on nonvegetated bottom, probably result in increased brown shrimp mortality. Mortality and growth may also intract, and predation pressure should be reduced as brown shrimp mortality. Mortality and growth may also interact, and predation pressure should be reduced as brown shrimp grow and exceed optimal prey size. Indeed, mortality in the marsh appeared to decline as brown shrimp size increased.

Description

p.693-708.

Keywords

Penaeus aztecus, brown shrimp, mortality, paralichthys lethostigma, southern flounder, Spartina alterniflora, growth

Citation