The abundance and distribution of Mysidacea in the shallow waters of Galveston Island, Texas.

Date
1976
Authors
Price, W.W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Texas A&M University.
Abstract

The distribution, relative and seasonal abundances, and population structures of the species of mysids were sampled for 2 years in the various habitats in the shallow waters of Galveston, Texas. From February, 1971 through January, 1972, monthly collections were made and from February, 1973 through February, 1974 bimonthly collections were made with a beam trawl in the nearshore area. During the second year bimonthly samples were taken with an Ockelmann dredge along transects across Tucker Bayou and West Bay. Mysidopsis almyra was the dominant species in the study, composing 82 percent of the collections. The next 3 most abundant species were Mysidopsis bahia (10 percent), Mysidopsis bigelowi (5 percent), and Metamysidopsis swifti (4 percent). The ecological distributions of the mysids showed a pattern of habitat segregation among the species: Mysidopsis almyra occurred in lower salinity shallow waters of bayous and bays; Mysidopdid bahia in shallow bay waters of higher salinity; Mysidopsis bigelowi in deeper bay waters and offshore; Mysidopsis swifti in seaside surf; and Brasilomysis castori and Promysis atlantica in deeper offshore waters. Microdistribution studies showed that M. almyra inhabits the layer of water just above the bottom during the day and night. As the tide ebbed, its numbers increased and as the tide flooded numbers decreased. All mysid species displayed similar cycles of rapid reproduction and larger numbers during the summer months and slow reproduction and low numbers during the winter months. It was concluded that photoperiodicity and temperature were the major factors involved in these seasonal changes. The largest gravid females of all species were collected in the winter months and were replaced by progressively smaller ones in the spring and summer. The number of eggs and young per brood was calculated to be a linear function of the volume (length cubed) of female M. almyra, M. bahia, and M. swifti.

Description
207 p., Dissertation
Keywords
mysids, marine crustaceans, ecological distribution, abundance, seasonal distribution, dredges, trawl nets, reproduction, photoperiodicity
Citation