Developing Spawning Protocols and Embryological Benchmarks for a Tropical Marine Fish (Albula spp.) in Captivity

• Other Authors: Halstead, William Robert III (author)
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Florida Atlantic University
• Subjects: Albula; Bonefish; Fishes > Induced spawning; Ontogeny; Reproductive biology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013135

Relying on field research to complete the life history for certain fish species can be inadequate, but laboratory research can be used to fill these gaps. These gaps exist for Bonefish (Albula spp.), a tropical marine fish and popular sportfish. In this study, aquaculture techniques were applied to Bonefish in a captive setting at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) to induce spawning and describe early ontogeny. Photothermal manipulations and hormone injections were used to induce gonad maturation and spawning, which was achieved once at CEI and is the first record of hormone-induced spawning for Bonefish. From that spawn, egg and larval development were recorded and described through 26 hours and 56 hours respectively, representing the first record of these early life stages for Bonefish. This work expands upon what is known about Bonefish reproductive biology and will be useful for management and future captive research. === Includes bibliography. === Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. === FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection