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Thesis
COMPARATIVE THERMAL ECOLOGY OF THE DUSKY PIPEFISH, SYNGNATHUS FLORIDAE AND THE GULF PIPEFISH, SYNGNATHUS SCOVELLI
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2011
Abstract
Across their latitudinal range, pipefish regularly experience large seasonal and diel shifts in water temperature yet little is known about the thermal tolerance of these fishes. In this study, chronic thermal limits determined acclimation temperatures for dusky (Syngnathus floridae) and gulf pipefish (Syngnathus scovelli) inhabiting seagrass beds in the Gulf of Mexico. Critical thermal methodology (CTM) was employed to estimate upper and lower thermal limits for each species as well as construct a thermal tolerance polygon demonstrating each species' thermal niche. Daily water temperatures collected were used to identify specific variation encountered by pipefish in this study. Chronic thermal ranges were significantly different (p<0.0001) and provided acclimation temperature ranges of 11-33°C for gulf and 12-32°C for dusky pipefish. Critical thermal maxima and minima were significantly correlated with acclimation temperature (p<0.0001 in both species) and accounted for 93-98% of the variability in CTM. Polygons calculated for dusky and gulf pipefish had total areas of 617°C² and 736°C², respectively. Gulf pipefish possess significantly larger intrinsic and total tolerance area than dusky pipefish, which may indicate disparate use of seagrass habitats. Both species utilize well developed mechanisms for thermal tolerance as well as behavioral adaptations when temperatures fluctuate.
Details
- Title
- COMPARATIVE THERMAL ECOLOGY OF THE DUSKY PIPEFISH, SYNGNATHUS FLORIDAE AND THE GULF PIPEFISH, SYNGNATHUS SCOVELLI
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Copyright
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
- Identifiers
- 99380090754006600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida