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Many fishes produce calls during spawning that aid in species and mate recognition. When multiple sound-producing species inhabit an area, the detection range may decrease and limit call function. Acoustic partitioning, the separation of calls in time, space, or spectral frequency, can minimize interference among species and provide information about fish behavior and ecology, including possible response to increasing anthropogenic noise. We investigated acoustic partitioning among 4 sound-producing epinephelids, Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus, red hind E. guttatus, black grouper Mycteroperca bonaci, and yellowfin grouper M. venenosa, using passive acoustic data collected at Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, during the spawning season of 2015 to 2017. We measured spectral and temporal features of 9 call types known or presumed to be produced by these fishes to assess frequency partitioning and call discrimination. We assessed call temporal and spatial partitioning using recordings from 2 locations. Differences among call features enabled good discrimination of Nassau grouper and red hind but not black and yellowfin grouper. The median peak frequencies of calls differed but bandwidths shared a common 13 Hz range, resulting in limited partitioning of spectral space. Red hind produced calls with higher frequencies than other species. Black grouper calling peaked before sunset whereas other species’ calling peaked after sunset. Yellowfin grouper calling was prevalent north of other species, suggesting spatial separation. These results indicated separation in space and time between species calls, which aids in acoustic partitioning. When this separation did not occur, unique call structures were present, which may aid in effective intraspecies communication.

Regional abundances of Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus and yellowfin grouper Mycteroperca venenosa have declined due to overfishing of their spawning aggregations, prompting permanent and seasonal fisheries closures in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). As both species produce sounds associated with reproductive behaviors (courtship-associated sounds; CAS), passive acoustic and acoustic telemetry methods were used to determine temporal patterns of reproductive activity, site usage, and fish movements in order to assess the effectiveness of current management strategies at 2 marine protected areas (MPAs) in the USVI: the Grammanik Bank (GB) and Hind Bank Marine Conservation District (MCD). Patterns of sound production and ultrasonic acoustic tag detections showed that both species formed spawning aggregations from January through May at the GB, highlighting the current seasonal regulations (1 February to 30 April) as insufficient for protecting spawning stocks during the entire reproductive season. Acoustic tagging confirmed connectivity between the GB and MCD and exposed the broad extent of habitat used, including non-protected areas, during the spawning season. Spawning did not likely occur within the MCD, but the MPA did support abundances of calling individuals during spawning periods, indicating that both species produce CAS away from their spawning sites. This finding coupled with the detection of routine migrations between spawning and non-spawning sites presents a potential mechanism to lead conspecifics to the aggregation site and thereby increase reproductive fitness and spawning output.

Coral reefs and associated fish populations have experienced rapid decline in the Caribbean region and marine protected areas (MPAs) have been widely implemented to address this decline. The performance of no-take MPAs (i.e., marine reserves) for protecting and rebuilding fish populations is influenced by the movement of animals within and across their boundaries. Very little is known about Caribbean reef fish movements creating a critical knowledge gap that can impede effective MPA design, performance and evaluation. Using miniature implanted acoustic transmitters and a fixed acoustic receiver array, we address three key questions: How far can reef fish move? Does connectivity exist between adjacent MPAs? Does existing MPA size match the spatial scale of reef fish movements? We show that many reef fishes are capable of traveling far greater distances and in shorter duration than was previously known. Across the Puerto Rican Shelf, more than half of our 163 tagged fish (18 species of 10 families) moved distances greater than 1 km with three fish moving more than 10 km in a single day and a quarter spending time outside of MPAs. We provide direct evidence of ecological connectivity across a network of MPAs, including estimated movements of more than 40 km connecting a nearshore MPA with a shelf-edge spawning aggregation. Most tagged fish showed high fidelity to MPAs, but also spent time outside MPAs, potentially contributing to spillover. Three-quarters of our fish were capable of traveling distances that would take them beyond the protection offered by at least 40-64% of the existing eastern Caribbean MPAs. We recommend that key species movement patterns be used to inform and evaluate MPA functionality and design, particularly size and shape. A re-scaling of our perception of Caribbean reef fish mobility and habitat use is imperative, with important implications for ecology and management effectiveness.

The Western Dry Rocks (WDR) area off Key West, Florida, is an open fishing area that contains a multispecies fish spawning aggregation site, but grouper spawning there has yet to be confirmed. The movements of 18 adult and subadult grouper at WDR were tracked using acoustic telemetry to determine how this area is used by grouper species and whether it contains a grouper spawning aggregation site. Tagged fish consisted of 10 Black Grouper Mycteroperca bonaci, 5 Nassau Grouper Epinephelus striatus, 2 Gag M. microlepis, and 1 Yellowfin Grouper M. venenosa. Overall, tagged grouper were more likely to be present in the WDR array during winter spawning months, with species‐specific seasonal differences. Our results indicated that grouper presence increased during spawning months, although some adults and subadults were present year‐round. Grouper made more movements per day during non‐spawning months compared to spawning months, although the north side of WDR was the most heavily used area, regardless of the time of year. Additionally, spatial graphs of grouper movement suggested that different grouper species utilized different areas of WDR. Increased presence of grouper during spawning months suggests that the WDR area may contain a grouper spawning aggregation site, which would mean that fish species aggregate to spawn at this location year‐round. The success of the Florida Keys fisheries critically depends on the protection of multispecies spawning aggregations like that potentially contained at WDR.

Overexploitation is the main anthropogenic threat to groupers (Epinephelidae) that aggregate to spawn. Fishing negatively affects their reproductive success and indirectly harms fishery economic yield. In the southern Gulf of Mexico, grouper catches, which include thirteen species, are in decline. A lack of biological information on each exploited species prevents optimising fishery management. Using histological examination of the gonads, the reproductive traits of red hind Epinephelus guttatus and yellowfin grouper Mycteroperca venenosa were studied from January 2008 to October 2009. Collections were made at two reef systems (Alacranes Reef and Bajos del Norte) on the continental shelf of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, where these species form transient spawning aggregations. The results confirmed that previously identified spawning aggregation sites at both reefs constitute productive seasonal and perennial “hotspots” for both groupers; they spawn annually between January and April. Females of these protogynous hermaphroditic species exhibit a reproductive strategy characterised by asynchronous ovarian development organisation and ovulation. Sex ratios and maximum sizes at each reef suggest that populations of both groupers had a good conservation status as of the late 2000s. Both reefs are now marine protected areas, and a discussion is made of the consequent possible benefits to grouper population conservation and sustainability in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Seventeen of twenty-three species of groupers collected from the western Atlantic Ocean and adjacent waters were infected with 19 identified species (13 new) of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958 (Dactylogyridea, Diplectanidae); specimens of the Spanish flag Gonioplectrus hispanus, coney Cephalopholis fulva, marbled grouper Dermatolepis inermis, mutton hamlet Alphestes afer, and misty grouper Hyporthodus mystacinus were not infected; the yellowmouth grouper Mycteroperca interstitialis and yellowfin grouper Mycteroperca venenosa were infected with unidentified species of Pseudorhabdosynochus; the Atlantic creolefish Paranthias furcifer was infected with an unidentified species of Diplectanidae that could not be accommodated in Pseudorhabdosynochus. The following species of Pseudorhabdosynochus are described or redescribed based entirely or in part on new collections: Pseudorhabdosynochus americanus (Price, 1937) Kritsky & Beverley-Burton, 1986 from Atlantic goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara; Pseudorhabdosynochus yucatanensis Vidal-Martínez, Aguirre-Macedo & Mendoza-Franco, 1997 and Pseudorhabdosynochus justinella n. sp. from red grouper Epinephelus morio; Pseudorhabdosynochus kritskyi Dyer, Williams & Bunkley-Williams, 1995 from gag Mycteroperca microlepis; Pseudorhabdosynochus capurroi Vidal-Martínez & Mendoza-Franco, 1998 from black grouper Mycteroperca bonaci; Pseudorhabdosynochus hyphessometochus n. sp. from Mycteroperca interstitialis; Pseudorhabdosynochus sulamericanus Santos, Buchmann & Gibson, 2000 from snowy grouper Hyporthodus niveatus and Warsaw grouper Hyporthodus nigritus (new host record); Pseudorhabdosynochus firmicoleatus n. sp. from yellowedge grouper Hyporthodus flavolimbatus and snowy grouper H. niveatus; Pseudorhabdosynochus mcmichaeli n. sp., Pseudorhabdosynochus contubernalis n. sp., and Pseudorhabdosynochus vascellum n. sp. from scamp Mycteroperca phenax; Pseudorhabdosynochus meganmarieae n. sp. from graysby Cephalopholis cruentata; Pseudorhabdosynochus beverleyburtonae (Oliver, 1984) Kritsky & Beverley-Burton, 1986 from dusky grouper Mycteroperca marginata; Pseudorhabdosynochus mizellei n. sp. from red hind Epinephelus guttatus; Pseudorhabdosynochus williamsi n. sp. from rock hind Epinephelus adscensionis; Pseudorhabdosynochus bunkleywilliamsae n. sp. from Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus; Pseudorhabdosynochus mycteropercae n. sp. from tiger grouper Mycteroperca tigris; and Pseudorhabdosynochus tumeovagina n. sp. from speckled hind Epinephelus drummondhayi. Pseudorhabdosynochus woodi n. sp. from red hind Epinephelus guttatus is described based on specimens from the US National Parasite Collection (USNPC). Drawings of the haptoral and copulatory sclerites of the type specimens in the USNPC of Pseudorhabdosynochus monaensis Dyer, Williams & Bunkley-Williams, 1994 from rock hind Epinephelus adscensionis are presented. Finally, a note confirming Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli Yamaguti, 1958 rather than its senior synonym Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938) Kritsky & Beverley-Burton, 1986 as the type species of Pseudorhabdosynochus is provided. Dix-sept des 23 espèces de mérous prélevées dans les eaux de l’océan Atlantique Ouest et adjacentes sont infectées avec 19 espèces identifiées (13 nouvelles) de Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958 (Dactylogyridea, Diplectanidae) ; les spécimens de Gonioplectrus hispanus, Cephalopholis fulva, Dermatolepis inermis, Alphestes afer et Hyporthodus mystacinus n’étaient pas infectés ; Mycteroperca interstitialis et Mycteroperca venenosa étaient infectés par des espèces non identifiées de Pseudorhabdosynochus ; Paranthias furcifer était infecté par une espèce non identifiée de Diplectanidae qui ne correspond pas à Pseudorhabdosynochus. Les espèces suivantes de Pseudorhabdosynochus sont décrites ou redécrites, sur la base de nouvelles collections en tout ou pour partie : Pseudorhabdosynochus americanus (Price, 1937) Kritsky & Beverley-Burton, 1986, d’Epinephelus itajara ; Pseudorhabdosynochus yucatanensis Vidal-Martínez, Aguirre-Macedo & Mendoza-Franco, 1997 et Pseudorhabdosynochus justinella n. sp., d’Epinephelus morio ; Pseudorhabdosynochus kritskyi Dyer, Williams & Bunkley-Williams, 1995, de Mycteroperca microlepis ; Pseudorhabdosynochus capurroi Vidal-Martínez & Mendoza-Franco, 1998, de Mycteroperca bonaci ; Pseudorhabdosynochus hyphessometochus n. sp. de Mycteroperca interstitialis ; Pseudorhabdosynochus sulamericanus Santos, Buchmann & Gibson, 2000, d’Hyporthodus niveatus et Hyporthodus nigritus (nouvelle mention d’hôte) ; Pseudorhabdosynochus firmicoleatus n. sp., d’Hyporthodus flavolimbatus et H. niveatus ; Pseudorhabdosynochus mcmichaeli n. sp., Pseudorhabdosynochus contubernalis n. sp. et Pseudorhabdosynochus vascellum n. sp., de Mycteroperca phenax ; Pseudorhabdosynochus meganmarieae n. sp., de Cephalopholis cruentata ; Pseudorhabdosynochus beverleyburtonae (Oliver, 1984) Kritsky & Beverley-Burton, 1986, de Mycteroperca marginata ; Pseudorhabdosynochus mizellei n. sp., d’Epinephelus guttatus ; Pseudorhabdosynochus williamsi n. sp., d’Epinephelus adscensionis ; Pseudorhabdosynochus bunkleywilliamsae n. sp., d’Epinephelus striatus ; Pseudorhabdosynochus mycteropercae n. sp., de Mycteroperca tigris ; Pseudorhabdosynochus tumeovagina n. sp., d’Epinephelus drummondhayi. Pseudorhabdosynochus woodi n. sp., d’Epinephelus guttatus, est décrit à partir de spécimens de la collection nationale de parasites des États-Unis (USNPC). Des dessins des sclérites haptoraux et copulatoires des spécimens types de l’USNPC de Pseudorhabdosynochus monaensis Dyer, Williams & Bunkley-Williams, 1994, d’Epinephelus adscensionis, sont présentés. Enfin, une note confirmant Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli Yamaguti, 1958 plutôt que son synonyme Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1938) Kritsky & Beverley-Burton, 1986 comme espèce-type de Pseudorhabdosynochus est fournie.

In most Neotropical Psittacidae the existence and extension of long-distance movements are poorly understood. The Blue-and-yellow Macaw (BYM; Ara ararauna) has a wide range in South America and its occurrence seems to be seasonal or sporadic in some areas. This study describes the results of BYM data collected in a monthly regular field effort from July 2001 to June 2005 at the RPPN SESC Pantanal reserve (Mato Grosso state, Brazil). The aim of the study was to evaluate the BYM's use of the reserve resources, its displacements and possible causes. Every observed BYM flock or individual had its date, hour, geographic coordinates, flock size, and activity (landed, feeding, or displacement) registered. The flight azimuth of continuous and straight displacements was also registered. We used circular statistics and vector pairs (azimuth and flock size) to analyze the observed intraday, monthly, and yearly displacements pattern. A total of 189 flocks and 854 BYM were recorded, the average size being 4.5 ± 3.7 individuals per flock. The prevalent activity category was displacement (85.2 ± 3.8%) and the flocks occurred with non-uniform distribution through the year. Seventy one percent of all flocks were registered in only 4 months, each one with a statistically significant well-defined flight bearing direction pattern. The mean vector angles calculated for the January/February data (279°/288°) were the opposite of those obtained for the May/June data (98°/110°). The intraday data showed no change in the main flight direction pattern when morning and afternoon data were compared, indicating they were not night roosting/feeding areas movements. The same months through the 4 analyzed annual cycles had the majority of the records. This directional and repetitive pattern does not fit in circadian or nomadic displacements, but suggests seasonal movements of the BYM in the studied area. The observed directions, period, and seasonal direction change of flight paths are consistent with pre- and post-reproductive periods observed in the central region of Brazil. However, still unknown is their origin and destination, as well as the involved mechanisms.

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from two species of Mycteroperca Gill (Serranidae), marine perciform fishes, in coastal waters off Florida, USA: Philometra deburonae n. sp. from the inner side of operculum of the yellowfin grouper Mycteroperca venenosa (L.) and P . incognita n. sp. from the ovary of the gag M . microlepis (Goode & Bean). Philometra deburonae n. sp. is mainly characterised by the body length of males (1.90–2.38 mm), the length of the spicules (78–84 µm) and gubernaculum (54 µm) and the presence of small outer cephalic papillae, a pair of fairly large caudal projections and the oesophageal gland extending anteriorly beyond the nerve-ring in subgravid females. Philometra incognita n. sp. is distinguished by the caudal mound consisting of two lateral reniform parts widely separated dorsally from each other, the absence of a pair of large papillae situated posteriorly to the cloaca, the shape and structure of the distal end of the gubernaculum plus the lengths of the spicules (117–141 µm) and gubernaculum (60–81 µm) in the male, the absence of caudal projections and the comparatively large larvae in the uterus (660–675 µm long) of the gravid female, as well as, the body length of both males (2.45–3.11 mm) and gravid females (120–180 mm). The present descriptions of an additional two new philometrids increases the number of recorded nominal species of Philometra parasitising groupers (Serranidae) in the Gulf of Mexico to nine.

Reef fish spawning aggregations are important life history events that occur at specific times and locations and represent the primary mode of reproduction for many species. This paper provides detailed descriptions of aggregation formation and mass spawning of the Bermuda chub ( Kyphosus sectatrix ). Spawning coloration and gamete release of K. sectatrix were observed and filmed at the Grammanik Bank, a deep spawning aggregation site used by many different species located on the southern edge of the Puerto Rican shelf 10 km south of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Underwater visual surveys using technical Nitrox and closed circuit re-breathers were conducted from December 2002 to March 2013 and documented spatial and temporal patterns of movement and aggregation formation along 1.5 km of mesophotic reef. The largest aggregations of K. sectatrix (>200 fish) were observed on the Grammanik Bank January to March from 0 to 11 d after the full moon with peak abundance from 60 to 80 d after the winter solstice across all survey years. Aggregation formation of K. sectatrix coincided with the spawning season of Nassau ( Epinephelus striatus ) and yellowfin ( Mycteroperca venenosa ) groupers. These spatial and temporal patterns of aggregation formation and spawning suggest that K. sectatrix , an herbivore, may also be a transient aggregating species. On several occasions, chubs were observed both pair spawning and mass spawning. Color patterns and behaviors associated with aggregation and spawning are described and compared to spawning characteristics observed in other species, many of which are similar but others that appear unique to K. sectatrix . This represents the first report of a kyphosid species aggregating to spawn and illuminates a portion of the poorly understood life history of the Bermuda chub.

Ages of yellowfin grouper (n = 306) from the southeastern United States coast from 1979-2014 were determined using sectioned sagittal otoliths. Opaque zones were annular, forming January-June (peaking in February-March). Yellowfin grouper ranged in age from 3 to 31 years; the largest fish measured 1,000 mm fork length (FL). Body size relationships for yellowfin grouper were: W = 1.22 × 10(-5) FL(3.03) (n = 229, r (2) = 0.92); TL = 1.06 FL - 14.53 (n = 60, r (2) = 0.99); and FL = 0.93 TL + 18.63 (n = 60, r (2) = 0.99), where W = whole weight in grams, FL in mm, and TL = total length in mm. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was: Lt = 958 (1 - e(-0.11(t+2.94))) (n = 306). The point estimate of natural mortality for yellowfin grouper was M = 0.14, while age-specific estimates of M ranged from 1.59 to 0.17 for ages 1-31.