Inventory of Coastal Pelagic Fishes of Dry Tortugas National Park
Ault JS, Smith SG, Larkin MF, Zurcher N, South Florida/Caribbean Network. 2007. Inventory of Coastal Pelagic Fishes of Dry Tortugas National Park. National Park Service
While the status and distribution of coral reef fishes, invertebrates and benthic habitats inside the boundary of the Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) is improving (Ault et al. 1998, 2002; Chiappone et al. 2001; Miller et al. 2001; Franklin et al. 2003), the distribution of the non-reef, coastal pelagic fish assemblages is virtually unknown. This unknown needs to be addressed since the distribution, abundance, and occurrence of these fish assemblages is an objective identified within the “Study Plan to the Inventory of Vascular Plants and Vertebrates in the S. Florida/Caribbean Network of the National Park Service” conducted by Sasso and Patterson (2000). Current fish sampling techniques utilized at DRTO, i.e. fisheries independent monitoring (FIM - underwater visual census surveys) and fisheries dependent monitoring (FDMcreel census, logbook surveys), do not assess these open-water, fast swimming species that are generally not associated with coral reefs. Therefore, we designed and implemented fish survey methodologies, which are conducive to the life history characteristics of the pelagic species under investigation.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Ault, Jerald; Smith, Steve; Larkin, Michael; Zurcher, Natalia; South Florida/Caribbean Network
- Date of Issue
- 2007-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- DRTO , SFCN
- Keywords
- Coastal, coastal pelagic, Dry Tortugas, Fish, Fish Inventory, pelagic, SFCN, South Florida/Caribbean Network