The Occurrence of Lymphocystis in Micropogon undulatus and Cynoscion arenarius from Mississippi Estuaries

Lymphocystis was observed in Atlantic croakers (Micropogon undulatus) and sand seatrouts (Cynoscion arenarius) collected from brackish waters of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is the first report of lymphocystis in Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico and adds one family and two species to host records. Microscopic examination of the tumors revealed several histologic differences in the lesions of the two species. Mature tumor cells in the croakers were larger than those in the sand seatrout. In the croakers, these cells were closely packed and their hyaline capsules were usually confluent. In the sand seatrouts, the tumor cells were rarely confluent and were usually widely separated either bv interstitial connective tissue or by an amorphous, hyaline matrix that filled the intercellular. spaces. A preliminary description of the histology of the neoplasm was included. Ecological factors of the sampling stations where fishes infected with lymphocystis occurred were compared with stations where lymphocystis was not encountered. The pollution load was much greater in estuarine systems where lymphocystis was encountered. The chemical and physical differences observed at these stations were discussed

The Occurrence of Lymphocystis in Micropogon undulatus and Cynoscion arenarius from Mississippi Estuaries

Lymphocystis was observed in Atlantic croakers (Micropogon undulatus) and sand seatrouts (Cynoscion arenarius) collected from brackish waters of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is the first report of lymphocystis in Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico and adds one family and two species to host records. Microscopic examination of the tumors revealed several histologic differences in the lesions of the two species. Mature tumor cells in the croakers were larger than those in the sand seatrout. In the croakers, these cells were closely packed and their hyaline capsules were usually confluent. In the sand seatrouts, the tumor cells were rarely confluent and were usually widely separated either bv interstitial connective tissue or by an amorphous, hyaline matrix that filled the intercellular. spaces. A preliminary description of the histology of the neoplasm was included. Ecological factors of the sampling stations where fishes infected with lymphocystis occurred were compared with stations where lymphocystis was not encountered. The pollution load was much greater in estuarine systems where lymphocystis was encountered. The chemical and physical differences observed at these stations were discussed

Stranding Records of a Finback Whale, Balaenoptera physalus, from Mississippi and the Goose-Beaked Whale, Ziphius cavirostris, from Louisiana

Stranding records are sometimes the only source of data concerning some species of cetaceans and it is appropriate that these incidents be reported in some detail. This is particularly true of rare or little known species. Bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) carcasses stranded on the Mississippi and Louisiana coasts are so common that they receive little attention. Other species occur and have, no doubt, been overlooked or confused by laymen with Tursiops. Even the rare stranding of large whales in this area may go unreported except for news stories that fail to identify the animal properly and which are not readily available to cetologists. The stranding in 1967 of one of the first definitely reported finbacks, Balaenoptera physalus, in the Gulf of Mexico is given here. It is the first Mississippi record. Moore (1953) noted that “only six specimens of the goose-beaked whale have been reported on the eastern coast of North America” and provided four new records from the Florida west coast. The present report includes a Louisiana stranding in 1969

Location and Time of Menhaden Spawning In the Gulf of Mexico

https://aquila.usm.edu/gcrl_publications/1012/thumbnail.jp

A Comprehensive Summary of the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico United States: A Regional Management Plan

https://aquila.usm.edu/gcrl_publications/1011/thumbnail.jp

Multilinear Models for the Prediction of Brown Shrimp Harvest in Mississippi Waters

A multilinear regression analysis of water temperature, salinity, and number of postlarval brown shrimp in nursery areas was used to predict the June and July commercial harvest of brown shrimp in Mississippi waters. A total of 80.2% of the variation in harvest was accounted for by this model. When an effort variable was added to the equation, the amount of variation explained by these parameters increased to 85.4%. The coefficients of the two multilinear equations were recalculated exclusive of the data set for the last year to test the predictive capabilities of the models. For that year, the first model showed a percent error of 38.2%, and the second model, 35.3%

Success of Juvenile Striped Bass in Two Bay Systems in Mississippi: 1980-1984

Success of a striped bass (Morone saxatilis, Walbaum) stocking program in the Biloxi Bay and St. Louis Bay systems in Mississippi was investigated by monitoring the occurrence of juveniles in bag seine collections in the Biloxi, Tchouticabouffa, Jourdan, and Wolf Rivers. A total of 554 juvenile striped bass were collected during the study. Hydrographic data and stomach analyses indicate that neither water conditions nor food was a limiting factor to juvenile striped bass survival. Appearance of juveniles subsequent to the stocking of Atlantic coast fry and fingerlings coupled with lateral line scale count data indicate that all juveniles collected were of Atlantic coast origin, originating from stocked fry and fingerlings

A Study of Nektonic and Benthic Faunas of the Shallow Gulf of Mexico Off the State of Mississippi As Related to Some Physical, Chemical, and Geological Factors

A seasonal study of the nektonic and benthic faunas of the shallow Gulf of Mexico off Mississippi was conducted from January 1967 through May 1969. It was planned to sample monthly six fixed offshore stations at depths ranging from 5 to 50 fathoms in the open Gulf. In general this was carried out fairly well. Water samples were taken from surface, midwater, and bottom levels each time a station was occupied, and temperatures and salinities were recorded for each of these. Samples were tested for the presence of nitrates, nitrites, ortho-phosphates and total phosphates. Secchi disc extinction points were recorded. Grab samples were taken for the determination of bottom composition. Plankton samples were taken from surface, midwater and bottom levels. Copepods, brachyuran zoea and megalops, stomatopod larvae, Lucifer faxoni, Acetes a. carolinae, Penilia avirostris, Doliolum sp. and fish eggs and larvae were present in greatest abundance. Surface and benthic nekton samples were obtained. Dredge samples were made quarterly and twelve invertebrate species and three species of fishes were collected. Renilla mülleri was the most abundant species taken, and the fish catch consisted of Centropristes ocyurus, Citharichthys spilopterus and Etropus crossotus. Accounts of 50 invertebrate species (24,679 specimens) and 129 fishes (93,563 specimens) taken in trawl hauls is presented. Temperature and salinity data are given for all species. Relative abundance, seasonal bathymetric distributions and movements, apparent growth patterns, catch per unit of effort and various biological data are noted for the most abundant species. Station 5 (40 fathoms) produced the largest percentage of trawl catches (22.7). Renilla mülleri was the most abundant invertebrate taken in trawling. The brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus, was second in abundance (10.92%). The five most abundant species comprising 80.57% numerically of the catch were croaker, longspine porgy, butterfish, spot, and seatrout. The species comprising 91.89% of the catch by weight were the croaker, longspine porgy, spot, seatrout, lizardfish, butterfish, pinfish, bank sea bass, sea catfish and black fin sea robin. The families Sciaenidae, Sparidae and Stromateidae were represented by the greatest numbers and comprised 82.9% of the total catch. Families considered to be of commercial importance contributed 92.9% to the total fish catch

Cooperative Gulf of Mexico Estuarine Inventory and Study Mississippi

https://aquila.usm.edu/gcrl_publications/1031/thumbnail.jp

An Annotated Bibliography of Menhaden

https://aquila.usm.edu/gcrl_publications/1019/thumbnail.jp