The effects of hydroperiod on the life-history parameters of Lucania goodei (fundulidae) in the Florida Everglades
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Major/Program
Biology
First Advisor's Name
Joel C. Trexler
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Maureen Donnelly
Third Advisor's Name
William F. Loftus
Date of Defense
4-2-2004
Abstract
In aquatic ecosystems, hydrological fluctuation may generate a gradient of lifehistory responses associated with marsh drying. This study was conducted in the Florida Everglades to document spatial and temporal variability in growth and survivorship of the bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei) from six populations along a hydroperiod gradient. The otolith-microstructure analysis of field-collected fish was used to estimate growth rate and those data were combined with field-density estimates for survivorship analysis.
Otolith analysis revealed that L. goodei is extremely short-lived with no variation in growth rates and very little spatial or temporal variation in survivorship. These results suggest that bluefin killifish populations experience similar life histories across a diversity of hydroperiods either through well-mixed populations homogenizing these vital rates, or more likely, that a multitude of factors force L. goodei to respond to these "stressors" in a similar fashion across hydroperiod gradients.
Identifier
FI14050413
Recommended Citation
Baker, J. Shawna, "The effects of hydroperiod on the life-history parameters of Lucania goodei (fundulidae) in the Florida Everglades" (2004). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1376.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1376
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