Seascape Connectivity of Gulf Sturgeon \u3ci\u3eAcipenser oxyrinchus desotoi\u3c/i\u3e Population Units Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Critical habitat was designated in 2003 for federally threatened anadromous Gulf sturgeon to aid in population recovery. This study examined overwintering Gulf sturgeon spatial use and movement through critical habitat monitored by the Ship Island acoustic array from 2011 to 2015. Previous studies observed western population Gulf sturgeon (Pearl and Pascagoula rivers) overwintering near the ends and within the passes of the barrier islands of the Mississippi Sound, USA. Recent telemetry studies detected eastern population fish (Escambia, Blackwater, Yellow, and Choctawhatchee rivers) overwintering as far west as Mobile Bay, Alabama; however, this study is the first to observe eastern population fish overwintering in western population critical habitat associated with the Ship Island array. Use of overwintering habitat was compared using mean active days detected and rate of travel to and from the array. There was no significant difference in mean active days of population units on the array; however, travel rate to the array from natal drainages was significantly different, with eastern population individuals traveling at a faster rate compared to western population individuals. Post hoc tests indicated that individuals from the Blackwater River had a significantly higher travel rate compared to Pascagoula River individuals. We documented large-scale seascape connectivity among population units of Gulf sturgeon across the northern Gulf of Mexico. Although large-scale seascape connectivity promotes mixing among population units and an exchange of marine nutrients into riverine environments, large-scale migration poses an issue for endangered species such as Gulf sturgeon, as there is greater risk of bycatch mortality and size-specific predation

Stability, Persistence and Habitat Associations of the Pearl Darter \u3ci\u3ePercina aurora\u3c/i\u3e in the Pascagoula River System, Southeastern USA

The southeastern United States represents one of the richest collections of aquatic biodiversity worldwide; however, many of these taxa are under an increasing threat of imperilment, local extirpation, or extinction. The pearl darter Percina aurora is a small-bodied freshwater fish endemic to the Pearl and Pascagoula river systems of Mississippi and Louisiana (USA). The last collected specimen from the Pearl River drainage was taken in 1973, and it now appears that populations in this system are likely extirpated. This reduced the historical range of this species by approximately 50%, ultimately resulting in federal protection under the US Endangered Species Act in 2017. To better understand the current distribution and general biology of extant populations, we analyzed data collected from a series of surveys conducted in the Pascagoula River drainage from 2000 to 2016. Pearl darters were captured at relatively low abundance (2.4 ± 4.0 ind. per collection) from 57% of 308 collections. We identified strong relationships between local habitat variables and occurrence and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of pearl darters. Pearl darters were frequently encountered and in greater abundance in depositional areas characterized by low-velocity habitats and finer substrates. Patterns of occurrence and CPUE were spatiotemporally variable across years; however, repeated collections from a subset of localities collected across a decade or more indicated long-term persistence and stability, suggesting population resilience throughout the Pascagoula River drainage

Environmental Conditions of 2 River Drainages Into the Northern Gulf of Mexico During Successful Hatching of Alabama Shad (\u3ci\u3eAlosa alabamae\u3c/i\u3e)

In recent years, the Alabama shad (Alosa alabamae) has experienced dramatic declines and extirpations from portions of its native range. Habitat degradation and barriers to migration are considered contributing factors to contraction in the distributional range this species. To identify conditions during successful spawning, river temperatures and discharges in 2 drainages of the northern Gulf of Mexico (the Apalachicola and Pascagoula rivers) were characterized during successful hatching “windows.” Sampling during 2005–2009 yielded 400 juvenile Alabama shad of which 261 were aged from counts of rings on sagittal otoliths. Results from logistic regression revealed that successful spawning coincided with increases in temperature within a specific range (9.4–21.5°C) and with an average drainage-dependent discharge volume (625.6 m³/s in the Apalachicola River and \u3e400.7 m³/s in the Pascagoula River). Timing of successful hatching windows differed between drainages but not between years within each drainage. Documenting and identifying the river conditions during successful reproduction provide important information on how to manage rivers to aid in the recovery of this species of conservation concern

Prospectus, December 10, 1980

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM PARKLAND COLLEGE; Pres. Staerkel sends greetings; Letters to the editor: Copy-editor raises questions, Volleyball coach resigns; Author of \u27Paper Lion,\u27 Plimpton lives nightmare; Construction of art gallery, remodeling planned at Parkland during new year; Star Wars, Digital Derby reflect technology in toys; Cobra men and women busy during holidays; Classifieds; Special Ed courses at Parkland next semester; Merry Christmas from the Prospectus; Sanders beats wife with poker, but life--and the soaps--go on; U of I holiday T.V., radio special to be on WCIA, WICD, and Cable; Concert Choir presents Gloria; Stroke Club to celebrate Dec. 13; Feature editor ready to \u27blow this thing\u27: Finals, deadlines just don\u27t mix with holiday cheer; Doomsday Schedule Fall, 1980; 50¢ charge for check cashing; REO\u27s \u27Hi Infidelity\u27 keeps pushin\u27 on; PC Community Band to give second concert; Three new courses offered in Spring \u2781; Christmas time...It makes you feel like a kid again: Merry Christmas!; Memories of 1980 fall semester; Prospectus Christmas Hide-A-Word; Christmas Personals; PC holiday certificate- perfect for anyone; Christmas magic seems special to parents of young children; PSI club to raffle radio; PC to offer Year-End Tax Planning Workshop; Science You Can See: The Christmas Star: A misinterpretation?; Looks, intelligence, money matter most (?); Get in the Holiday Spirit with mouth-watering aromas; Cobras beat Belleville; PC men whip John Logan: Offense comes alive; Patience pays off as Cobras beat Richland; Women\u27s Basketball 1980-81; Men\u27s Basketball 1980-81; National champ remains undecided; Balanced scoring paces Cobras; Defense, Defense, Defense....; Ingrum scores 31 to pace the Cobras: Cobras end Vols win streak at 20 games; Tom Smith is this week\u27s winner: After good start, Freddy hits major slump; Fast Freddy Contest; Bench Warmer: Cobra women even better than last yearhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1980/1010/thumbnail.jp

Survival, Growth and Reproduction of Non-Native Nile Tilapia II: Fundamental Niche Projections and Invasion Potential in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Understanding the fundamental niche of invasive species facilitates our ability to predict both dispersal patterns and invasion success and therefore provides the basis for better-informed conservation and management policies. Here we focus on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most widely cultured fish worldwide and a species that has escaped local aquaculture facilities to become established in a coastal-draining river in Mississippi (northern Gulf of Mexico). Using empirical physiological data, logistic regression models were developed to predict the probabilities of Nile tilapia survival, growth, and reproduction at different combinations of temperature (14 and 30°C) and salinity (0–60, by increments of 10). These predictive models were combined with kriged seasonal salinity data derived from multiple long-term data sets to project the species\u27 fundamental niche in Mississippi coastal waters during normal salinity years (averaged across all years) and salinity patterns in extremely wet and dry years (which might emerge more frequently under scenarios of climate change). The derived fundamental niche projections showed that during the summer, Nile tilapia is capable of surviving throughout Mississippi\u27s coastal waters but growth and reproduction were limited to river mouths (or upriver). Overwinter survival was also limited to river mouths. The areas where Nile tilapia could survive, grow, and reproduce increased during extremely wet years (2–368%) and decreased during extremely dry years (86–92%) in the summer with a similar pattern holding for overwinter survival. These results indicate that Nile tilapia is capable of 1) using saline waters to gain access to other watersheds throughout the region and 2) establishing populations in nearshore, low-salinity waters, particularly in the western portion of coastal Mississippi