Population Structure of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1766)) in Two Systems in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Author

Sandra Antonia Leal, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

12-1-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences

First Advisor

Carlos E. Cintra Buenrostro

Second Advisor

Alejandro Fierro-Cabo

Third Advisor

Richard Kline

Abstract

Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) are an economically significant species of fish inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico. There are limited studies assessing S. ocellatus population structure focused on the southern coast of Texas. A total of 1,008 fish were collected over one year on a quarterly basis at South Bay (SB) and Holly Beach (HB) in the Lower Laguna Madre (LLM) of Texas to assess population structure. Juvenile S. ocellatus utilize the water systems of the LLM as a nursery ground and were more abundant at SB (n = 718) than HB (n = 290). The most abundant age classes were 1, 2, and 3, with age class 2 dominating both sites. Growth was observed to be more rapid at HB than SB. Although similar in age, populations between sites varied in size possibly due to site specific environmental/hydrologic conditions, seasonal impacts on resource availability, fishing pressures, or a combination of these.

Comments

Copyright 2025 Sandra Antonia Leal. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3292477820

Recommended Citation

Leal, S. A. (2025). Population Structure of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus, 1766)) in Two Systems in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1841