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Reef restoration programs in Florida, US, focused initially on Acropora, but there is now a need to include other species that have also experienced declines. An outplanting experiment using Acropora cervicornis, Montastraea cavernosa, and Orbicella faveolata was conducted to compare performance among species and evaluate the impacts of contact interactions with macroalgae and the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum. Montastraea cavernosa and O. faveolata showed high survivorship (78% and 92%, respectively) over 18 mo. However, surviving colonies had limited growth and lost tissue due to factors like predation and disease. In contrast, A. cervicornis showed exponential growth. Colonies in contact with macroalgae showed the lowest survivorship. Removing macroalgae provided no long-term benefits in growth and a slight improvement in colony survivorship. Acropora cervicornis in contact with Palythoa grew 45% less than controls. Our study showed that: (1) coral taxa with massive morphologies (40–130 cm2) can be transplanted with low colony mortality but that their slow growth is not enough to balance partial tissue mortality caused by multiple chronic stressors; (2) removal of macroalgae at the time of outplanting improves colony survivorship; (3) periodic removal of macroalgae does not enhance growth; and (4) contact with Palythoa should be avoided. The impacts of contact competition were variable among species with different colony morphologies, with A. cervicornis showing the highest susceptibility to competition from algae and Palythoa. While restoration can rapidly increase coral abundance, long-term success will require a multifaceted approach to reduce the impacts of chronic reef stressors on wild and outplanted corals alike.

A large number of roughneck shrimps, Rimapenaeus Pérez Farfante & Kensley, 1997, were collected in northwestern Florida Bay, southern Florida over four consecutive years (2000–2003) of monthly sampling during new-moon periods. Juveniles of Rimapenaeus spp. were more abundant than pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum (Burkenroad, 1939) juveniles, which are well-recognized and abundant inhabitants of Florida Bay. High Rimapenaeus spp. abundance was unexpected because the genus was previously reported only as occasional in Florida Bay. The populations of Rimapenaeus spp. were composed of late postlarvae and immature juveniles, suggesting that the northwestern border of Florida Bay serves as a nursery ground for this species. A clear seasonal recruitment pattern was observed with large peaks of postlarvae and small juveniles occurring in summer-fall and large juveniles in spring. The summer-fall peaks occurred during months with high mean water level and sea surface temperature; these two factors significantly predicted Rimapenaeus spp. abundance. Overnight hourly behavioral studies revealed that Rimapenaeus spp. juveniles were almost exclusively present in the water column during the dark hours of the ebb tide during current speed minimum. Juvenile abundance significantly differed between moon phases with shrimps being virtually absent during the illuminated full moon. These results indicate that Rimapenaeus spp. are phototactic negative, which may explain the low presence of this species in previous Florida Bay surveys conducted during daylight hours. This study highlights the previously unrecognized contribution of the abundance of juveniles of Rimapenaeus spp. to benthic-oriented crustacean communities of western Florida Bay and its border at the southwestern Florida Shelf.

Hurricanes are important ecological disturbances that maintain biodiversity. We investigated the short-term impacts of Hurricane Irma, a category 4 storm that passed through south Florida on September 10, 2017, on fish and macroinvertebrate communities of western and north-central Florida Bay, FL, USA. Spatiotemporal trends in physical water conditions (temperature, salinity, water depth, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, and turbidity) as well as rainfall and coastal discharge were assessed to characterize hurricane-induced habitat changes. Dramatic but ephemeral changes in water depth and rainfall were observed. Longer lasting reductions of salinity regime and increases in turbidity and chlorophyll a were also observed. The prevailing hypersalinity (≥ 40 ppt) conditions, ongoing since March 2017, were abruptly ended by the storm. Hurricane Irma significantly altered fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Analysis of community spatiotemporal trends revealed spatially distinct temporal community shifts. Cluster analysis distinguished four groups among nine highly abundant species identified as exerting the most influence on pre- and post-hurricane total community differences. Reductions in relative abundance of two groups were coincident with Irma’s passage while a third group, comprised solely of pelagic, zooplanktivorous Anchoa mitchilli, exhibited rapid population growth that started 2 months after the passage of the storm. These faunal disruptions are reminiscent of a prior Florida Bay community shift that followed a similar sequence of consecutive disturbances: hypersalinity, seagrass die-off, and a category-5 hurricane. Recovery from this prior community shift cascade took many years.

The pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) has been selected as an ecological indicator to assess ecological effects on estuaries of implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan that seeks to restore historical freshwater flows and nearshore salinity regimes in southern Florida. Concern over altered freshwater delivery impacts on pink shrimp productivity was expressed as early as the 1960s. The present review assessed pink shrimp scientific literature of the past 75+ years (>500 publications) to glean information relevant to understanding potential influence of freshwater management on pink shrimp productivity. The review was organized around “Essential Fish Habitat” metrics concerning abundance, growth, survival, distribution, productivity, and behavior. It summarizes previous pink shrimp field, laboratory, and modeling studies. Where possible, statistical analyses and meta-analyses of previously published data were performed to investigate consistency among independent findings. Pink shrimp occur in a wide range of salinities (0.5–67 ppt). A majority of studies (53.3%) reported maximal abundance between ∼20 to 35 ppt salinities. One laboratory study reported maximal growth at 30 ppt. Meta-analysis of reported growth rates did not yield results due to non-convergence of regression models. Reported survival was maximal at ∼30 ppt and remained high (>80% survival) across salinities of ∼15 to 40 ppt. A regression model that combined survival data across studies confirmed a previously reported parabolic relationship between salinity and survival; in this regression, 35 ppt maximized survival. Productivity, conditional upon survival and growth, was maximized at polyhaline (18–30 ppt) conditions. Inshore hypersalinity (>40 ppt) may elicit young pink shrimp behavioral cues counterproductive to settlement in nearshore areas. Virtually no information exists regarding postlarval pink shrimp movement or preference relative to salinity gradients. Realization and preservation of nearshore polyhaline conditions and elimination of hypersalinity should maximize growth, survival, and density, thus improving pink shrimp productivity. New and updated statistical models predicting pink shrimp distribution, abundance, growth, survival, and productivity relative to salinity conditions are needed to better guide freshwater management decisions.

Species of Farfantepenaeus support economically important shrimp fisheries throughout the Western Hemisphere, necessitating proper fisheries management. To be effective, species management should be informed of the potential presence of cryptic species and of the evolutionary forces driving biodiversity. This is best accomplished through a robust phylogenetic framework and evidence-based species delimitation. This study represents the first comprehensive molecular phylogeny and species delimitation analyses of shrimps belonging to the genus Farfantepenaeus. Targeting three mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, and COI), gene trees and a phylogeny for the genus were inferred using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. In general, the phylogenetic relationships inferred here largely agree with those recovered from morphological data, including the most recent designation of F. isabelae as sister to F. subtilis. Molecular divergence was found between northern and southern populations of F. brasiliensis, suggesting the existence of unrecognised subspecies. However, previous recognition of F. duorarum and F. notialis as two distinct species was not supported by this study. The phylogeny inferred here also uncovers a phylogeographic signal of latitudinal speciation in the genus. The study presented here provides valuable insight into the evolutionary history of Farfantepenaeus, improving our ability to effectively manage these economically important species.

The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) project of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) aims to reduce point-source freshwater discharges and spread freshwater flow along the mainland shoreline of southern Biscayne Bay. These actions will be taken to approximate conditions in the coastal wetlands and bay that existed prior to construction of canals and water control structures. An increase in pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) density to ≥ 2 individuals m-2 during the wet season (i.e., August-October) along the mainland shoreline was previously proposed as an indication of BBCW success. This study examined pre-BBCW baseline densities and compared them with the proposed target. Densities were monitored by seasonal (wet, dry) throw-trapping (1 m2 replicated in triplicate) at 47 sites along ~22 km of the southwestern Biscayne Bay coastline over 10 years (2007-2016). Densities varied across years and were most often higher in dry seasons. Quantile regression revealed density limitation by four habitat attributes: water temperature (°C), depth (m), salinity (ppt), and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV: % cover). Procrustean analyses that tested for concordance between the spatial and temporal distributions of shrimp densities and habitat metrics found that water temperature, water depth, and salinity explained ~ 28%, 28%, and 22% of density variability, respectively. No significant relationship with SAV was observed. Hierarchical clustering was used to identify spatially and temporally similar groupings of pink shrimp densities by sites or season-years. Significant groupings were then investigated with respect to potentially limiting habitat attributes. Six site and four year-season clusters were identified. Although habitat attributes significantly differed among spatial clusters, within-cluster median pink shrimp densities did not correlate with within-cluster minima, maxima, medians, or standard deviations of habitat attributes. Overall, pink shrimp density ([Formula: see text] = 0.86, SD = 1.32 shrimp m-2) was significantly lower (t(α = 0.10,2),939 = -26.53, P

The pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum (Burkenroad) lives in south Florida ecosystems in different salinity regimes ranging from brackish to hypersaline. In Florida Bay, the main nursery grounds, juveniles reside in 25–50 salinity; while 20 km northwest of the Bay, juveniles inhabit more estuarine salinities between 5 and 15. In this study we investigated the hypothesis that the disparate salinity regimes in which pink shrimp juveniles reside may be due to a non-genetic resistance adaptation to different acclimation salinities in their respective nursery habitats during postlarval development when the maximum tolerance to salinity occurs. To test this hypothesis and to define salinity tolerances during ontogenetic development, salinity trials were conducted with four postlarval ages (PL 15, PL 25, PL 35 and PL 55) previously acclimated in two salinities (15 and 35) and then exposed to an abrupt salinity change for 96 h at 27.5 ± 0.5 °C. Results indicated that the degree of tolerance to salinity varies with ontogenetic development. Regardless of acclimation salinity, two clearly distinguishable salinity tolerance ages were discernable. Postlarvae of age PL 35 and PL 55 exhibited significantly higher average survival than at an age of PL 15 and PL 25. This result suggests that postlarvae between 25 and 35 d old may complete development of osmoregulatory capabilities to cope with abrupt changes in salinity, which concurs with the age at which planktonic postlarvae settle on the sea-grass banks of Florida Bay. Results regarding salinity tolerances in the two acclimation salinity groups demonstrated that postlarvae acclimated in a salinity of 15 tolerated salinities 20 units lower than those acclimated in regular 35 sea water salinity. The high survival of postlarvae recorded at salinities between 2 and 15 after a long acclimation period at a salinity of 15 suggested that non-genetic resistance adaptation (acclimation) had taken place during development, supporting our hypothesis that a preconditioning salinity during postlarval development may modify the subsequent tolerance limits of juvenile stages.

Due to growing interest in bacterial probiotic incorporation within juvenile marine finfish production, multiple commercial products are currently available. The following trial was conducted to test the effect of incorporation of a commercially available Bacillus spp. probiotic blend (EcoAqua) on population growth dynamics of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Incorporation consisted of 0.1 mL L−1 daily probiotic additions directly to rotifer cultures and 0.1 μL mL−1 additions to feed mixtures during preparation. Probiotic-treated cultures’ daily mean populations were found to be significantly greater (Pα(2),4,4

The effects of adding a probiotic Bacillus spp. blend on shipping bag water quality and survival of yolk sac larvae of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares during a 24-h mock shipment were investigated. To better detect effects on water quality, the trial was designed without the utilization of available chemical water quality or temperature modulators. Shipping water salinity (30.7–31.0‰) and temperature (24.0–26.7°C) reflected conditions utilized during larval rearing. Probiotic incorporation (15 mL/L, about 1.5 × 106 colony-forming units/mL) resulted in significantly lower final concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen and un-ionized ammonia in comparison with the control. Significantly higher final mean dissolved oxygen concentration observed in the probiotic treatment could have resulted from stress reduction. Although no statistical difference was detected in larval survival upon termination of the trial, improvements in water quality (reduced total ammonia nitrogen and increased dissolved oxyg...

Methods and results of two larval rearing trials of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) are presented. These trials were designed to test the efficacy of protocols developed over several years of research in cobia larviculture at the UMEH. The protocols incorporate the use of probiotics and prophylaxis, minimize microalgae use, and include commercially available ingredients for live feed enrichment. During the trials, fertilized eggs were stocked at 400/L and incubated in 1000-L cylinder-conical tanks with flow-through seawater at 500% daily exchange rate. Moderate aeration and pure oxygen were used to maintain dissolved oxygen concentrations above saturation (6.5 mg/L at 26 °C). Hatching occurred at 22–24 h post fertilization. Two day-post-hatch (dph) yolk-sac larvae were stocked in four 12,000-L cylinder-conical tanks at 5 and 10 larvae/L. Beginning on 3 dph, larvae were fed microalgae (Isochyrsis galbana C-strain) at low concentrations (5–10,000 cell/ml) and enriched rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) at 3–5/mL through 9 dph. Beginning on 7 dph, enriched Artemia (Artemia franciscana GSL Strain) nauplii were fed to larvae at 0.1–1/mL. Cobia larvae were reared at water temperatures ranging from 24.3 to 31.8 °C. Water quality parameters were within normal ranges for seawater: salinity 26–34 ppt, pH 7.92–8.16, and NH3

This paper describes advances in hatchery and growout technology of cobia (Rachycentron canadum, Linnaeus). In 2007, methods for capture, transport, acclimation, sampling, conditioned spawning, larval rearing, ¢ngerling production, nursery, shipping and grow-out have been perfected. Survival rates ranging from 17.5% to 35% were achieved from egg to shipping size ¢ngerlings (1.0 g) in 2007 at the University of Miami Experimental Fish Hatchery, with production of approximately 20 000 ¢ngerlings per 12000 L tank. Wild and F1 broodstock cobia have been conditioned to spawn through temperature manipulation producing viable eggs for experimental and production level larval rearing trials in several hatcheries. Brood ¢sh have also been induced to spawn using hormones. Cobia appear to be susceptible to infestations by parasitic protozoa such as Amyloodinium ocellatum and to infections caused by deleterious bacteria such as Photobacterium spp. and Vibrio spp. Prophylactic methods used to prevent and control epizootic diseases at the hatchery are summarized. Improved techniques for cage management were implemented, and both novel designs of submerged cages deployed in exposed areas and traditional gravity cages in protected areas have been used for commercial ongrowing of cobia in the Americas and the Caribbean region.

An investigation was conducted of the combined effect of salinity and temperature on growth, survival, and biomass productivity of postlarval and early juvenile pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum (Burkenroad 1939) produced from a single spawning event. The study used a factorial block design consisting of three salinity treatments (15, 35, and 55), each replicated, within three temperature treatment (22°C, 27°C, and 32°C) water baths. The study was divided into two phases: postlarval (first 28 days) and early juvenile (second 28 days). Growth was assessed every 7 days throughout the experiment by measuring carapace length (CL) and wet weight (WWT) of 15 randomly selected shrimp from each temperature/salinity replicate tank. After the first study phase, survival was assessed and experimental aquaria were reset with 30 randomly selected shrimp from the same temperature—salinity replicates. Survival was assessed again at the end of the early juvenile phase. The effect of treatments was evaluated b...