i*-A162 639 SPECIES PROFILES LIFE HISTORIES AND ENVIROINENTARL /REQUIRENENTS OF COASTAL..(U) FLORIDA COOPERATIVE FISHAND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT GAINESYIL.. N R COLLINS

UNCLASSIFIED APR 85 FUS/OS-82/li3 F/G 6/3 N

S 236

1111125 111.4 11.

MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHARTN.ATIONAL. BUftEAQ OF STANDARDS - i6S- A

Biological Report 82 (11.3,4 TR EL.82-4April 1985

Species Profiles: Life Histories andEnvironmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes

*and Invertebrates (South Florida)4

aSTRIPED MULLET

0

i~~ -. 'inie4

U.S. Aeateto h neirUS ryCrso nier

Biological Report 82(11.34)TR EL-82-4 0April 1985

Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirementsof Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (South Florida)

STRIPED MULLET

by

Mark R. CollinsDepartment of ZoologyUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FL 32611

Project ManagerLarry Shanks

Project OfficerJohn Parsons

National Coastal Ecosystems TeamU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1010 Gause BoulevardSlidell, LA 70458

Performed forCoastal Ecology Group

Waterways Experiment StationU.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Vicksburg, MS 39180

and

National Coastal Ecosystems TeamDivision of Biological Services

Research and DevelopmentFish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior .Washington, DC 20240

WTVA,-.Mb 7K.7FZ"

PREFACE

This species profile is one of a series on coastal aquatic organisms,principally fish, of sport, commercial, or ecological importance. The profilesare designed to provide coastal managers, engineers, and biologists with a brief..inmrehensive sketch of the biological characteristics and environmental require- .-ients of the species and to describe how populations of the species may be

expected to react to environmental changes caused by coastal development. Eachprofile has sections on taxonomy, life history, ecological role, environmentalrequirements, and economic importance, if applicable. A three-ring binder isased for this series so that new profiles can be added as they are prepared. Thisproject is jointly planned and financed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers andthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

of Suggestions or questions regarding this report should be directed to one - -

of the following addresses.

Information Transfer Special istNational Coastal Ecosystems TeamU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceNASA-Sl idel 1 Computer Complex1010 Gause BoulevardSlidell, LA 70458

or

U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment StationAttention: WESER-CPost Office Box 631Vicksburg, MS 39180 "'- i-"

F77cesioti ForN TIS CRAM~

Elp .I ,..

. ......

Cc- es

iii .; or

CONVERSION TABLE

Metric to U.S. Customary

Multiply BX To Obtain

millimeters (mm) 0.03937 inchescentimeters (an) 0.3937 inchesmeters (m) 3.281 feetkilometers (kIn) 0.6214 miles

square meters (m2 ) 10.76 square feetsquare kilometers (In) 0.3861 square mileshectares (ha) 2.471 acres

liters (1) 0.2642 gallonscubic meters (m3) 35.31 cubic feetcubic meters 0.0008110 acre-feet

milligrams (mg) 0.00003527 ouncesgrams (g) 0.03527 ounceskilograms (kg) 2.205 poundsmetric tons Ct) 2205.0 poundsmetric tons 1.102 short tonskilocalories (kcal) 3.968 British thermal units

Celsius degrees 1.8(°C) + 32 Fahrenheit degrees

U.S. Customary to Metric

inches 25.40 millimetersinches 2.54 centimetersfeet (ft) 0.3048 metersfathoms 1.829 metersmiles (mi) 1.609 kilometersnautical miles (nmi) 1.852 kilometers

square feet (ft2 ) 0.0929 square metersacres 0.4047 hectaressquare miles (mi ) 2.17,90 square kilometers

gallons (gal) 3) 3.785 literscubic feet (ft 0.02831 cubic metersacre-feet 1233.0 cubic meters W

ounces (oz) 28.35 grams ..

pounds (lb) 0.4536 kilogramsshort tons (ton) 0.9072 metric tons "--British thermal units (Btu) 0.2520 kilocalories

Fahrenheit degrees 0.5556(0 F - 32) Celsius degrees -'-"- L

iv

A..".

I'12 . 2Z..L-Z72,1?-2-.-..ZL..I. ... °..... .... ...-... -.-.-. -°...-..... . °... A-i

COTET

Page

PRE AC . .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. iiCONVERSION~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ TAL ............................... i

RESO CONNLUININSRETEN...................S..

PEACEt .............................................................. 114

COVERSIONATBERISIC...................................................ivACKNOEDENTS...........................................................vi

Spr NOMENCLAURE/TAXOOMY/RANG.............................................15mOOLGYiDENTIFICATION...AIDS..........................................15Ranagmn FOR.INCL.SIN .IN.SERIE..........................................36

ECLE CA RIS OY..........................................................36SpaIRNg.............NT............................................... 37Lamprvauand.Juven.les.................................................. 37alint.............................................................. 48

GRoWTH d CHARACeISTICS.................................................48FIShIES ............................................................. 58

SpoERTURE.ITE......................................................... 59

Comrcal........................................

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

am grateful for the review of the manuscript by J. Shireman of the Univer-

.

*" .- ** *P

Figure 1. Striped mullet.

STRIPED MULLET

NOMENCLATURE/TAXONOMY/RANGE scale count 38-42. Anal and seconddorsal fins almost scaleless; originof second dorsal behind origin of anal

Scientific name . Mugil cephalus fin; pectoral fin shorter than dis-Linnaeus 1758 tance from last spine of first dorsal

Preferred common name . , striped to origin of second dorsal fin; headmullet (Figure 1) somewhat wider than deep; mouth termi-

Other common names . . . grey mullet, nal and small, teeth inconspicuous; noblack mullet lateral line visible, but longitudinal

Class ... .......... Osteichthyes dark stripes on the sides of elongateOrder ... .......... Perciformes body; body bluish-gray dorsally andFamily ............. .Mugilidae white ventrally; scales cycloid in

young, feebly ctenoid in adults; dis-tinct axillary scale at pectoral fin; .* -

Geographic Range: Coastal waters of gill raker number increasing withall seas, roughly between 420 N and size; prominent adipose eyelid with420 S. In the western Atlantic from only a narrow slit over the pupil,Brazil to Nova Scotia (Hoese and covering the preorbital anteriorly andMoore 1977). Abundant along the running twice as far behind the eye assouth Florida coast (Figure 2). in front (Hoese and Moore 1977). The

six Mugil species reported from southFlor a sometimes are difficult toseparate taxonomically; however Rivas

MORPHOLOGY/IDENTIFICATION AIDS (1980) constructed a key that is use-ful for tentative identification. The

Dorsal fin IV + I spines, 8 soft two species most often encountered, "-.rays; anal fin III spines, 8 rays (II, striped mullet and white mullet, may9 in Juveniles); pectoral fin 16-17 be separated by anal fin ray counts ofrays; caudal fin 18-20 rays; lateral 8 and 9, respectively.

, .~. .. .. . .-... . . .. . .

CAPE A TLANTIC .L

CANAVERAL OtA

TAMPAi

\, ST. PETERSBURG

AECH"OOEE .PALM BEACH

GULF OF FLORIDAMEXICO

MIAMI

CAPE ROMANO .

THOUSAND ISLANDS

AREA

* 01

MILESI

0 so 100

0 so 10

KILOMETERS

Figure 2. Striped mullet are distributed along the entire coast of the Southern 7Florida Region.

2

- . - -,.. - o. . .

REASON FOR INCLUSION IN SERIES size of the female (Broadhead 1953).A fecundity value of 648 t 62 eggs/g .... _ .

Striped mullet, perhaps the most body weight was calculated by Shehadehwidespread and abundant inshore tele- et al. (1973).ost (Odum 1970), supports a valuablecommercial fishery along the gulf Eggs are transparent, straw-coast of Florida (Rivas 1980). Mullet colored, non-adhesive, spherical, and i.are primary consumers that feed large- without external marking. The eggsly on relatively minute living and average 0.72 n in diameter, containdead vegetable matter. They are an an oil globule 0.28 = in diameter,ecologically important component in are positively buoyant, and hatchthe flow of energy through estuarine about 48 h after fertilizationcommunities. In many parts of the (Thomson 1963). -'-- -

world striped mullet are important infish culture. Larvae and Juveniles

Larvae average 2.4 - long (allLIFE HISTORY lengths in this report are total

lengths unless indicated otherwise) atSpawning hatching and have no mouth, paired

fins, or branchial skeleton. After 5Because of the scarcity of data days they are about 2.8 mm long, the

on striped mullet spawning, specula- jaws are well-defined, the internaltions on the locations of spawning organs become organized, and fin' budsgrounds are based largely on the ap- have started developing (Thomson

. pearance of larvae. Mullet have been 1963). Morphological and. meristicreported to spawn inshore (Breder development and growth continue until1940), along beaches (Gunter 1945), 8 the larvae are about 16-20 mm standardto 32 km offshore (Broadhead 1953), length (SL), at which time they mi-and in water deeper than 40 m grate to inshore waters and estuaries(Anderson 1958). In the Gulf of (Kilby 1949; Anderson 1958). The mi-Mexico, mullet were observed spawning grant larvae have two spines and nine65 to 80 km offshore in water 1,000 to rays in the anal fin (the "Querimana"1,800 m deep (Arnold and Thompson stage) until they reach 35-45 - SL,1958). These observations indicate at which time the first ray fuses intothat mullet spawn over a wide range of a third spine and the adipose eyelidcoastal waters but the current consen- becomes apparent. The mullet is thensus is that most spawn offshore. considered a juvenile (Anderson 1958).

The spawning season of striped Juvenile striped mullet 40 to 69mullet usually begins in October, mm SL reach a "definitive state* ofpeaks in November-December, and ends osmoregulatory capability. For exam-in February (Anderson 1958; Rivas ple, they tolerate salinities of 0 to1980). Along Florida's west coast, 35 ppt, whereas they could not havestriped mullet spawn from October previously survived in freshwater.through May at Cedar Key and from Juveniles spend the rest of theirDecember through July at Bayport first year of life in coastal waters, I(Kilby 1949). In Australia some fe- salt marshes, and estuaries, and oftenmales spawn only in alternate years move to deeper water in the fall when(Thomson 1955), and evidence from the adults migrate offshore to spawn,Louisiana (Shireman 1975) suggests yet large numbers of immature mulletthis may also be true for mullet in overwinter in estuaries. After theU.S. waters. The estimated fecundity first year, mullet inhabit the sea,of striped mullet is 0.5 to 2.0 mil- salt marshes, estuaries, or freshwater

" lion eggs per female, depending on the rivers (Nordlie et al. 1982). Appar-

3

• I- -

ently in some instances, females mullet commonly migrate much furthergreatly outnumber the males in brack- (up to 560 kin), usually in a southerly .Ish and freshwater habitats (Shireman direction, and are considered a single1975; Collins 1981). population. Fish returning from

spawning migrations on the gulf coastAdults usually have less fat reserves and

more eroded fins and lesions on theThe length at which mullet mature body than do premigratory mullet (M.R.

ranges from about 200 to 300 mm SL; Collins, University of Florida,the females mature at a slightly larg- Gainesville; unpublished data).er size than the males. Although somemature in their second year of life,most mature in their third year GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS(Broadhead 1953, 1958; Rivas 1980).On the northern gulf coast of Florida, Growth rates of striped mulletthe growth rate and size at maturity along the gulf coast of Florida in-of striped mullet increased progres- crease from west to east along thesively from west to east. Mullet may panhandle and to the south along thelive 4 years or more (Rivas 1980); the peninsula, possibly due to a slightmaximum age reported is 13 years increase in coastal water temperatures(Thomson 1963). (Broadhead 1958). In a tagging study,

Broadhead (1953) found that growth .Mature mullet migrate offshore to during spring and summer is twice that

spawn in the fall and winter, often in of fall and winter: 7.3 * 1.8large schools. Mullet that mature in m/quarter for the first and fourthfreshwater either migrate to the sea quarters of the year, 16.4 t 2.7to spawn or resorb their gonads mm/quarter for the seccrnd, and 19.1 ±(Shireman 1975). Swimming speed dur- 2.7 mm/quarter for the third. Theing migration is much greater than mean fork lengths of mullet from fourthat predicted to be energetically gulf coast areas for each year of lifeoptimal, probably because of the in- are given in Table 1.creased hydromechanical efficiency -

provided by schooling and the selec-tive force of heavy predation during Table 1. Mean fork lengths (mm) ofspawning migrations (Peterson 1976).Fishing for mullet is heaviest during striped mullet at various ages fromspawning migrations when schools are four gulf coast areas of Florida aslarge, the condition of the fish is calculated from scale analysisexcellent, and the prized roe (gonads) (Broadhead 1958).are largest.

In a mullet tagging study, 2,779recoveries from 12,647 tagged mullet Year of liferevealed that 91% were recovered with-in 32 km of the release point; only 2% Area 1 2 3 4were recovered more than 160 km .-_-

away. These results together with .a ....other tagging studies and meristic Pensacola 142 207 263 ..analyses (Broadhead 1953; Broadhead ,and Mefford 1956; De Sylva et al. Apalachicola 134 207 271 --

1956), indicate that Florida gulfcoast mullet are divided into three Cedar Key 175 258 307 --

loosely knit populations, the southFlorida population extending northward Homosassa 178 269 319 366to the Steinhatchee area. East coast

4

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-- --.- .~E............. . .- "- o.

AL* .. o**..,

Females, are larger and grow taste. In brackish and saltwater ::7slightly fE.3ter than males of the same areas, mullet are sometimes snagged 0age (Broadhead 1958). In the Cedar with treble hooks, but most often someKey and Crystal River areas, mullet type of net is used. Sport fishermenlonger than 28 cm SL are predominantly usually use a cast net or seine, butfemales (Collins 1981). In the Gulf some use short lengths of gill nets orof Mexico, the growth in length of trammel nets.mullet gradually slows as the fishbecome larger, and reaches an asymp- Commercialtote at an average length of 600 mmTL, at probably 5-6 years of age In general, sport and commercial(Rivas 1980). Length-weight relation- mullet fishermen employ the same types

ships for striped mullet in the gulf of nets, but commercial seines, gill

are given in Figure 3. nets, and trammel nets are usuallymuch longer. Seines are now used moreon the east coast than on the west .

FISHERIES coast because of the abundance ofsmooth bottoms near sandy beaches onthe east coast. Nets with largestmeshes are used in the fall when mul-

Striped mullet along the Florida let are gravid and fat. Many gill

gulf coast are used as bait for a wide nets and trammel nets are longer thanvariety of fishes and are regarded as 500 m and are usually set from a ,

an excellent food fish. In fresh and boat. When mullet are in open water

brackish waters, mullet are sometimes either net is set to completely encir-caught with hook and line. Earthworms cle the school; when the school is

may be used for bait, but oatmeal and near a shoreline the net is set in a

chicken laying mash are more popu- half-circle from shore to shore; andlar. Mullet from freshwater often in intertidal coves or creeks the netshave a muddy or hydrogen sulfide-like are used to completely block off an

area, catching the mullet as theyleave with the ebb tide. Fishing maybe carried out day or night, and some-times two boats work together,combining their nets and encircling aschool from opposite directions. When

I. s,)V,4 SEXES NOT SPAWNING seines or nets are used, many mullet2 ,UALES SPAWNING escape by jumping over the float line

. . , and, in the case of gill and trammel, nets, they may avoid the net. Small

mullet escape through the mesh.

- The commercial landings of mulletwere not reported by species until1958. Since then, Florida has pro-duced 80% to 90% of the U.S. striped

4.. mullet catch from the Gulf of MexicoI (Rivas 1980). The annual Florida

catch of striped mullet in 1958-1981........ fluctuated from a high of 35 million

. .--------- ---- . ..... lb in 1964 to a low of 16.8 million lbin 1976 (Table 2). Gulf coast land- " "'

Figure 3. Length-weight relationships Ings contributed about 80% of theof striped mullet from Florida's gulf catch. Mullet also are Importantcoast in 1951 (Broadhead 1953). baitflsh, especially in the sport

5

2..

-...........

Table 2. Annual catch of striped ly, minimum lengths of 9 to 11 inches

mullet (millions of pounds) in Flori- FL (depending on local ordinances) areda, 1958-81. Data compiled from the only regulations (Rivas 1980).annual catch statistics, National Although landings and fishing intensi-Marine Fisheries Service, Washington, ty for striped mullet declined fromD.C. 1964 to 1977, catch-per-unit-of-effort

and the average size of the fish re-mained unchanged. This relationshipsuggests that the lack of demand

Year Catch Year Catch Year Catch rather than a scarcity of mullet lim-its the fishing (Rivas 1980).

1958 32.3 1966 27.0 1974 25.1ECOLOGICAL ROLE

1959 30.6 1967 23.3 1975 23.2There has been some discrepancy

1960 30.9 1968 20.4 1976 16.8 concerning the diet of juvenilestriped mullet but most authors now

1961 33.0 1969 25.5 1977 18.8 agree that larval mullet primarily eatmicrocrustaceans (De Silva 1980). The

1962 32.8 1970 23.1 1978 22.0 fact that larvae, successfully reared ,to 20 mm SL, were fed entirely on

1963 32.6 1971 23.8 1979 25.7 animal material illustrates the depen-dence of larval and postlarval mullet

1964 35.0 1972 26.9 1980 29.6 on zooplankton (Nash et al. 1974). InFlorida's Indian River lagoon the

1965 31.4 1973 26.7 1981 31.0 stomach contents of nearly 400 stripedmullet larvae up to 35 mm SL wereexamined. Larvae up to 15 m SL fedalmost entirely on copepods (70%) andmosquito larvae (30%); those from 15

fishery for billfish. They commonly to 25 mm SL fed on copepods (50%),bring a higher price as bait than as mosquito larvae (15%), and plant de-food fish. bris (35%); and larvae from 25 to 35

mm SL fed primarily on plant debrisMost (65%) striped mullet are (80%) and copepods (10%) (Harrington

marketed in the Southeast United and Harrington 1961). The proportion .-.

States. The remainder are marketed in of sand and detritus in the gut oflarge northeastern, midwestern, and juveniles increases with length, indi-California cities. Of the total cating that they tend to take morecatch, about 25% is marketed fresh, food from the bottom as they grow63% frozen in the round, 6% smoked, older (De Silva and Wijeyaratneand 6% as roe. Marketing in other 1977). The exceptions are juvenilesforms has been attempted, but failed that feed from the water column orbecause mullet turn rancid within 60 surface when suitable foods are plen-days and consumer acceptance is poor tiful there. For example, in oneoutside of the southeast (Cato et al. study mullet 35-80 mm long fed on a1976; Rivas 1980). bloom of the dinoflagellate Krypto-

peridinium sp. (Odum 1968). The rate -

Management of dgestion or retention time of food ."-

in juveniles varies with both salinity

Closed seasons and other regula- and body weight. In Sri Lanka, ations have been used to manage the study of juvenile mullet 10 to 50 mmFlorida mullet in the past, but most long showed that digestion rate in- --

have since been eliminated. Current- creases with body weight and that both ..

6

" _

digestion and ingestion rates in- let. Mullet up to 35 cm long are fed. creased with salinity from 1 ppt to 30 on by spotted seatrout (Cynoscion

ppt (Perera and De Silva 1978). Food nebulosus) (Breuer 1957). Altoiu C-- "evacuation times ranged from about hediet of striped mullet overlapsthree to six hours. those of a variety of aquatic species,

competition has not been documented. "Adult striped mullet have beenr-

described as herbivorous, detri- Parasitic infections and infesta-tivorous, and "interface" feeders. tions are common in mullet. Of nearlyThe diet and feeding behavior of 300 adult mullet from freshwater andmullet may vary by location, but their saltwater sites on Florida's gulfmajor food is either epiphytic and coast, no individuals were found with-benthic microalgae, macrophyte detri- out parasites on either the gills ortus, or inorganic sediment parti- body surface (M. R. Collins, Univ. ofcles. Although sediment particles Fla., Gainesville; unpublishedfunction as a grinding paste in the data). Striped mullet serve as de-gizzard-like pyloric portion of the finitive or intermediate hosts forstomach, some small particles are rich many parasites including flagellates,in adsorbed micro-organisms and are ciliates, myxosporidians, monogeneanselectively ingested for their food and digenean trematodes, nematodes,value (Odum 1970). acanthocephalans, leeches, argulids, A

copepods, and isopods (Paperna 1975;Mullet commonly feed by sucking Overstreet 1978; Paperna and Over-

up the top layer of sediment, which is street 1981). Extensive parasite-rich in detritus and microalgae, pri- induced mortalities of mullet in themarily diatoms in the Cedar Key area wild have not apparently been report-(Collins 1981), and by grazing on ed.epiphytes and epifauna from seagrassesand other substrates. They also in-gest surface scum when large concen- ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTStrations of microalgae are present atthe air-water interface (Odum 1970), Temperatureand feed on swarming polychaetes(Nereis succinea) in the water column An analysis of the worldwide(Mshop and Mglarese 1978). In some distribution of striped mullet sug-freshwater habitats striped mullet gests that mullet are not permanentfeed primarily on the epiphytes and residents in waters with temperaturesepifauna of aquatic macrophytes and on below 160C or where water temperaturesbenthic filamentous green algae fail to reach 180C. On Florida's gulf(Collins 1981), but they also ingest coast, young striped mullet live insediment for trituration (grinding). salt marsh pools at temperatures fromThe time of most intense feeding ap- 130C to 34.5 0C (Kilby 1949). Waterparently varies with location. In all temperatures probably regulate theFlorida habitats studied by Odum length of time that young mullet stay(1970) feeding varied with the height in estuaries. Mullet less than 50 mmof the tide, whereas in saltwater SL prefer temperatures from 30.0' to(Cedar Key) and freshwater (Crystal 32.5 0C and mullet from 50 to 130 mm SLRiver) sites studied by Collins (1981) prefer temperatures from 19.50 tofeeding was strictly diurnal and unre- 20.0°C. For all sizes of fish thelated to tidal stage. temperature selected tends to decrease

as salinity increases. In experimentsThe major predators of juvenile with Hawaiian striped mullet 78-122 mm

and adult mullet are fishes and birds SL, the upper lethal temperature was(Thomson 1963). In Florida, sharks between 27.00 and 29.6uC for fishsometimes feed heavily on large mul- acclimated at 210C in freshwater and

7

~~~~~~~~.......--............... ..........-. . . - . •°,° ... .,. ............. * o

the lower lethal temgerature was be- above. Larvae were held from one totween 10.20 and 15.01C (Sylvester et four days in concentrations of 4.0-7.9al. 1974). The upper lethal tempera- ppm DO, and those held for 4 daysture for mullet acclimated at 261C in had a mean survival of 0-8% at 4.0-5.4saltwater (32 ppt) ranged from 29.00 ppm, 21% at 6.4 ppm, and 84% at 7.9

- to 33.0°C, and the lower lethal ppm. Although 7.9 ppm in this in-temperature ranged from 10.40 to stance is 146% saturation, there was14.OC. The critical thermal maximum no evidence of gas bubble disease. No(CTM) of Hawaiian mullet (70 to 125 m specific data on oxygen requirementsSL) is affected both by acclimation were found for adult mullet, but pre-temperature and by time of day liminary experiments with caged fish(Sylvester 1975). Mean CTM increased show that they survive at an oxygenfrom 38.50 to 41.3 0C for fish accli- concentration of 4.4 ppm DO at 290Cmated at 20.00 and 29.0°C, respec- and a salinity of 28 ppt (M. R.tively, and mean CTM is about 0.50C Collins, Univ. of Fla., Gainesville; -higher at midday than in morning or unpublished data). In a study ofevening. Critical thermal maxima and schools of migrating mullet, DO wasminima were not available for adult 29% lower at the trailing than themullet. leading edges, suggesting that theSalinity continual breaking up and reforming of

the school and changing of positionwithin the school allow fish at theAdult mullet have been reported center and trailing edge access to

from waters with a salinity ranging water higher in DO (McFarland and Mossfrom 0 ppt (Collins 1981) to 75 ppt 1967).(Simmons 1957). Using fish induced tospawn in the laboratory, Sylvester et Depthal. (1975) found that egg survival washighest at a salinity of 32 ppt (the Mullet live in a wide range ofhighest salinity tested), whereas the habitats and depths and spawn primari-greatest survival of larvae was at 26 ly in relatively deep cool coastalppt in tests from 24 to 36 ppt. When waters. The larvae move inshore tojuvenile mullet are 40-70 mm SL they shallow waters along beaches and inreach a definitive state of osmoregu- salt marshes. In Hawaii, schools oflatory capability and can tolerate mullet less than 50 n SL were alwayssalinities from freshwater to full found in waters of minimal depth,seawater (Nordlie et al. 1982). including the swash zone and tide

pools, despite near-lethal tempera-Dissolved Oxygen tures (Major 1978). Juveniles greater .. *.

than 50 mm SL prefer slightly deeperMullet larvae apparently cannot waters beyond the swash zone, but

survive in dissolved oxygen (DO) con- during flood tides they may move intocentrations below 4 ppm (Sylvester et shallow waters vacated by smalleral. 1975). Over a range of 1.0 to 8.0 mullet. The preference of fish less .- --ppm DO, eggs incubated in the labora- than 50 an SL for extremely shallowtory for 48 h had a survival rate water apparently permits them to es-of 0%-3% at concentrations 4.5 ppm and cape most predators and to feed with-below, and 85%-90% for 5.0 ppm and out serious competition (Major 1978).

- . . :-

, ...** *.* *...-*.* -*:..- -..

iT .. . .--.

LITERATURE CITED

Anderson, W. W. 1958. Larval devel- cephalus L. in Florida, as deter-

opment, growth, and spawning of mined from tagging during 1949-

striped mullet (Mu il cephalus) 1953. Fla. Board Conserv.along the south c coast of Tech. Ser. No. 18. 31 pp.

the United States. U.S. FishWildi. Serv. Fish. Bull. 58:501- Cato, J. C., P. B. Youngberg, and R.

519. Raulerson. 1976. Production,prices, and marketing: an econom-

Arnold, E. L., and J. R. Thompson. ic analysis of the Florida mullet1958. Offshore spawning of the fishery. Pages 10-62 in J. C.

striped mullet M ugl cephalus in Cato and W. E. McMullog6h, eds.-the Gulf of Meico eia Economics, biology, and food

1958:130-132. technology of mullet. Fla.Sea Grant Program Rep. No. 15.

Bishop, J. M., and J. V. Miglarese.1978. Carnivorous feeding in Collins, M. R. 1981. The feedingadult striped mullet. Copeia periodicity of striped mullet,1978:705-707. Mugil cephalus L., in two Florida

habitats. J. Fish Biol. 19:307- ..:Breder, C. M.. Jr. 1940. The spawn- 315.

ing of Mugil cephalus on the Flor-ida wesT -coast Copela 1940:138- De Silva, S. S. 1980. Biology of139. juvenile grey mullet: a short

review. Aquaculture 19:21-36.Breuer, J. P. 1957. Ecological sur-

vey of Baffin and Alazan Bays, De Silva, S. S., and M. J. S.Texas. Publ. Inst. Mar. Sci. Wijeyaratne. 1977. Studies onUniv. Tex. 4:135-155. the biology of young grey mullet,

Ba a G C 1Mu.il cephalus L. II. Food andBroadhead, G. C. 1953. Investiga- feeding. Aquaculture 12:157-167.

tions of the black mullet, Icephalus L., in northwest De Sylva, D. P., H. B. Stearns, and D.

or Fla. Board Conserv. C. Tabb. 1956. Populations of

Tech. Ser. No. 7. 33 pp. the black mullet (Mug.l cephalusL.) in Florida. F~a. Board ..-

Broadhead, G. C. 1958. Growth of the Conserv. Tech. Ser. No. 19. 45black mullet, (Mu11 cephalus L.) pp.in west and nor estFTi da.Fla. Board Conserv. Tech. Ser. Gunter, G. 1945. Studies on marineNo. 25. 29 pp. fishes of Texas. Publ. Inst. Mar.Sct. Univ. Tex. 1:1-190." -'', .

Broadhead, G. C., and H. P. Mefford. S Uv x.;1

1956. The migration and exploita- Harrington, R. W., and E. S. Harring-tion of the black mullet, Mugil ton. 1961. Food selection among

9

..........................................

*' .. ... .................................................. "" .

fishes invading a high subtropical Overstreet, R. M. 1978. Marine mala-salt marsh: from onset of flood- dies? Worms, germs, and othering through the progress of a symbionts from the northern Gulfmosquito brood. Ecology 42:646- of Mexico. Miss.-Ala. Sea Grant666. Consort. Pub1. MASGP-78-021. 14U -..

.1~, pp-Hoese, H. D., and R. H. Moore.

1977. Fishes of the Gulf of Paperna, 1. 1975. Parasites andMexico-Texas, Louisiana, and adja- diseases of the grey mulletcent waters. Texas A&M (Mugilidae) with special referenceUniversity Press, College to the seas of the Near East.Station. 327 pp. Aquaculture 5:65-80.

Kilby, J. D. 1949. A preliminary Paperna, I., and R. M. Overstreet.Kilb, J•D. 149. A prlimiary1981. Parasites and diseases of lreport on the young striped mullet 1981. Pagests nddieaeso

____ ______ n to glfmullets (Mugilidae). Pages 411-Mugil cephalus L. in two gulf 493 in 0. H. Oren, ed. Aquacul-coastal areas of Florida. Q. J. tureof grey mullets. Interna-la. Acad. Sci. 11:7-23. tional Biological Program 26.

Major, P. F. 1978. Aspects of estua- Cambridge University Press,rine intertidal ecology of juve- Cambridge, England.nile striped mullet, M 1ceha- Perera, P. A. B., and S. S. Delus, in Hawaii. U.S. atl. ar. Silva. 1978. Studies on thelTsh• Serv• Fish. Bull. 76:299- biology of young grey mullet313. (Mu il cephalus) digestion. Mar.

Bio 44T33TB7.McFarland, W. N., and S. A. Moss.

1967. Internal behavior in fish Peterson, C. H. 1976. Cruising speedschools. Science 156:260-262. during migration of the striped

mullet Mugil cephalus: an evolu-Nash, C. E., C. M. Kuo, and S. C. tionary responseto predation.

McConnel. 1974. Operational Evolution 30:393-396.procedures for rearing larvae of Rivas, L. R. 1980. Synopsis of know-the grey mullet (Mugl cephalus ledge on th taxonomioloy,

"L.). Aquaculture 3:15--Z4 ledge on the taxonomy, biology, ].--distribution, and fishery of the

Gulf of Mexico mullets (Pisces:Nordlie, F. G., W. A. Szelistowski, Mugilldae). Pages 34-53 in M.

and W. C. Nordlie. 1982. Onto- Flandorfer and L. Skupien, eds.genesis of osmotic regulation in Proceedings of a workshop forthe striped mullet, Mugil cephalus potential fishery resources of theL. J. Fish. Biol. 20.7--6 northern Gulf of Mexico. Miss.-

Ala. Sea Grant Consort. Publ.Odum, W. E. 1968. Mullet grazing on MASGP-80-012.

a dinoflagellate bloom. Chesa-_ ~~~peake Sci • 9:202-204. "". .''Shehadeh, Z. H., C. M. Kuo, and K. K. Vo.

Odum, W. E. 1970. Utilization of the Mllisen. 1973. Induced spawningdirect grazing and plant detritus of grey mullet M 11 cephalus L.food chains by the striped mullet with fractionate~lao 'pituitaryMu.11 cephalus. Pages 222-240 in extract. J. Fish Biol. 5:471-478.ITT. Steele, ed. Marine fo--.-chains. Oliver and Boyd, Ltd., Shireman, J. V. 1975. Gonadal devel-Edinburgh, Scotland. opment of striped mullet (Mugil -

10

-.. .................. ........... . ... . .. . ... .:.-:.'..,: ..,- .., . .. .. ,. .,.- .-. .- ---.. • .,.. ..... . . , . . .. , . , . : .- ., ...- ., . ..-. - ° ° ' .- , ' ; ,' . , ., ',. ,- .- ,-..- ., ,-., -

cephalus) in fresh water. Prog. Sylvester, J. R., C. E. Nash, and C.Fish-CuTt 37:205-208. R. Einberson. 1975. Salinity and

oxygen tolerances of eggs andSimmons, E. Gi. 1957. Ecological larvae of Hawaiian striped mullet,

survey of the upper Laguna Madre Mug lcpau91 .Fs llof Texas. Publ. Inst. Mar. Sci. 7.67M-620Univ. Tex. 4:156-200.

Sylvester, J. R. 1975. Critical Thomson, J. M. 1955. The movementsthermal maxima of three species of and migrations of mullet (uiHawaiian estuarine fish: a com-

paatvesud. . ih io.cephalus L.). Aust. J. Mar.7:257-262. . . is Bol Freshwater Res. 6:328-347.

Sylvester, J. R., C. E. Nash, and C.E. Emberson. 1974. Preliminary Thomson, J. M. 1963. Synopsi s ofstudy of temperature tolerance in biological data on the grey mulletjuvenile Hawaiian mullet (Mu gil Mul cephaluJs Linnaeus 1758.cephalus). Prog. F is h -u t. Aust. CS..R .0. Div. Fish

36:99-10Oceanogr. Fish. Synop. 1. 66 pp.

2114

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-Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, mroroholorv, dis-- -

tribution, life history, biological and physical environments, and environ-mental requirements of coastal species of fishes and aquatic invertebrates.-T4hey are designed to assist in environmental impdct assessment and Dermitreview. The striped mul let-, (Mugi .cephalus) is a valuable food fish andbaitfish. About 31 million pounds were landed in Florida in 1931. Strined'-ullet are caught with hook and line, trammel nets, gill nets, and seines,and liv snaocing. Some striped mullet spawn along beaches, but they usuallyspair; offshore in relatively deep (to 1,800 m) cool waters. Juveniles spendtheir first year in salt mrarshes, estuaries, and coastal waters. Stripedjiullet usually avoid water colder than 160 C. *

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