We examined the diversity, abundance, distribution, and average size of squat lobsters collected during eight cruises conducted on the continental shelf and slope of the Gulf of Mexico (Mexican/USA border to the Caribbean Sea). Six species belonging to two genera of Chirostyloidea, and 25 species of four genera of Galatheoidea are reported. A total of 1513 specimens were obtained of which 95 we...

On the upper slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico, topographic features are often associated with authigenic carbonate, which provides hard substrate for sessile benthic communities. At depths >300 m, large Lophelia pertusa colonies frequently occur on these carbonate outcroppings. Surficial sediments at these depths are dominated by fine-grained particulates, which are readily resuspended duri...

This study examined habitat use patterns of newly settled spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier) across several Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Intensive sampling using an epibenthic sled was conducted in three Texas bays and among three potential habitat types. A long-term data set (1982 to 1997) from the National Marine Fisheries Service was also used to examine C. nebulosus habitat use patt...

Species vulnerability is increased when individuals congregate in restricted areas for breeding; yet, breeding habitats are not well defined for many marine species. Identification and quantification of these breeding habitats are essential to effective conservation. Satellite telemetry and switching state-space modeling (SSM) were used to define inter-nesting habitat of endangered Kemp's ridle...

A large, annually recurring region of hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico has been attributed to water stratification and nutrient loading of nitrogen and phosphorus delivered by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers. This nutrient loading increased nearly 300% since 1950, primarily due to increased use of agricultural fertilizers. Over this same time period, the red snapper (Lutjanus campe...

Diazotrophic inputs by Trichodesmium have been shown to support production in tropical and subtropical marine environments, but the importance of Trichodesmium in the Gulf of Mexico has not been widely investigated. Here, we use stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes to determine whether diazotrophy impacts the isotope baselines of pelagic food webs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Ph...

We examined movements of Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) from the Gulf of Mexico based upon 42 pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tags. Long deployments (including one 334-day track) revealed diverse movement patterns within the Gulf of Mexico. North–south seasonal changes in blue marlin distribution showed strong correspondence with established seasonal patterns of sea surface tempera...

Despite attention focused on the population status and rebuilding trajectory of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), the reproduction and spawning biology remains poorly understood, especially in the NW Atlantic. At present, the eastern and western spawning populations are believed to exhibit different reproductive characteristics and, consequently, stock productivity. However, our study su...

Consumers’ image of a destination plays a crucial role in the travel industry. Some researchers, including Asli D. A. Tasci and William C. Gartner in their 2007 study “Destination Image and Its Functional Relationships,” relate the importance of proper image development to the overall success of a destination in tourism. The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of the Deepwater Ho...

Quantitative collections of tubewormand mussel-associated communities were obtained from 3 cold seep sites in the deep Gulf of Mexico: in Atwater Valley at 1890m depth, in Alaminos Canyon at 2200m depth, and from the Florida Escarpment at 3300m depth. A total of 50 taxa of macroand megafauna were collected including 2 species of siboglinid tubeworms and 3 species of bathymodiolin mussels. In ge...