The landmark-based morphometric and meristic analysis of the kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), red spotted grouper (E. akaara) and seven-banded grouper (E. septemfasciatus) were performed to compare the differentiation of overall body shape and structure. The measurements of the morphometric dimensions were observed in 25 parts (truss dimension: 16 parts; head part dimension: 9 parts) of 38 m...

Over-expression of grouper Mx negatively regulated nodavirus activity through direct interaction, likely via the binding and perturbation of the intracellular localization of nodavirus coat protein. Deletion analysis of grouper Mx indicated that the coat protein binds to the effector domain of Mx. The presence of grouper Mx in a poly [I:C] interferon system inhibited nodavirus infection, demons...

Seventeen of twenty-three species of groupers collected from the western Atlantic Ocean and adjacent waters were infected with 19 identified species (13 new) of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958 (Dactylogyridea, Diplectanidae); specimens of the Spanish flag Gonioplectrus hispanus, coney Cephalopholis fulva, marbled grouper Dermatolepis inermis, mutton hamlet Alphestes afer, and misty grouper ...

The Madison Swanson Marine Protected Area was established to protect gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis, spawning aggregations on high relief, deepwater habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. Fishery biologists observed a decline in the proportion of male individuals in the population. The decline led fishery managers to question the reproductive health of the gag grouper population. However, competi...

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) could infect many economic fish species and cause the fish nervous tissue necrosis vacuolization in histopathology. Once the fish is infected with NNV, 80-100% mortality will occour in grouper breeding farm. However, the immune system does not develop completely in grouper larva. Therefore, the traditional vaccine may not be effective during larva stage. This study ...

There is broad interest in the development of efficient marine protected areas (MPAs) to reduce bycatch and end overfishing of speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi) and warsaw grouper (Hyporthodus nigritus) in the Atlantic Ocean off the southeastern U.S. We assimilated decades of data from many fishery-dependent, fishery-independent, and anecdotal sources to describe the spatial distribution...

28 Introduction In 1999, the Bahamian government announced a plan to protect 20% of the Bahamian marine environment as no-take marine reserves.1 Nursery habitats for two species of ecological and economic value, the Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, and spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, will represent a significant component of the future marine protected areas. Both the Nassau grouper and sp...

Home ranges, activity patterns, and habitat preferences in and around no-take marine reserves (NTMRs) were evaluated for 5 exploited snapper-grouper species in diverse coral reef habitats in the Dry Tortugas, Florida. Movements of ultrasonic tagged reef fish were determined using a calibrated array of omnidirectional hydroacoustic receivers. Average home range sizes were 2.09 ± 0.39 km2 (n = 28...

The goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara (Epinephelidae) is an exceptionally large marine fish that inhabits sub-tropical and tropical waters of the Americas and western Africa. Due to a lack of readily observable morphological variation in specimens across its range, the goliath grouper has been regarded as a single species. We tested the hypothesis that Pacific and West Atlantic populations co...

In the present study, we employed microsatellite DNA markers to analyze the genetic diversity and differentiation between and within cultured stocks and wild populations of the orange-spotted grouper originating from the South China Sea and Southeast Asia. Compared to wild populations, genetic changes including reduced genetic diversity and significant differentiation have taken place in cultur...