Observations on the Life History of the Bayou Killifish, <i>Fundulus pulvereus</i> (Everman 1899) in Mississippi Tidal Marshes

<p>This study provides insight into the life history of the relatively unknown intertidal marsh fish <em>Fundulus pulvereus</em> (Everman), the bayou killifish. Monthly sampling for <em>F. pulvereus</em> took place in three different Mississippi tidal marshes over a period of 17 months (n=445). Observations on the diet, parasite fauna, and fecundity of the bayou killifish were documented on all specimens collected. Percent Occurrence and Percent Number coupled along with multivariate analyses indicated seasonal, site, and ontogenetic shifts in the diet of <em>F. pulvereus</em>. Dominant prey items consumed by <em>F. pulvereus</em> were copepods, mites, chironomids, and terrestrial and aquatic insects. The bayou killifish is an opportunistic omnivore that utilizes marsh floodplains to forage for prey, and is a link in the trophic interactions taking place within estuaries. Parasitological observations resulted in the documenting of fourteen species; all but two of which were not previously reported from <em>F. pulvereus</em>. The presence of trophically-transmitted parasites indirectly indicates consumption of prey items not observed during the examination of stomach contents within bayou killifish (e.g., <em>Cyrenoida floridana</em>); as well as, the role of this marsh fish as trophic intermediate host for piscivorous predators such as alligators, herons and raccoons. Analysis using the Gonadosomatic Index indicated a spawning season that began in February and extended through August. The information provided here should give a greater understanding of the function of fundulids within the northern Gulf of Mexico tidal marsh systems and serves as a baseline for future studies.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Gaines, Leah Corrine

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard Heard
• Robin Overstreet
• Jeffery Lotz

• Fundulus pulvereus
• fundulus
• diet
• parasites
• fecundity
• Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/96

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-1098