The importance of newly-opened tidal inlets as spawning corridors for adult Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

摘要: Abstract The ability to emigrate from estuarine nursery areas spawning grounds is essential for the persistence of dependent species such as Red Drum, (Sciaenops ocellatus). Typically in this region, tidal inlets are only mechanism transfer. Cedar Bayou, a natural inlet, was deliberately closed 1979 but recently dredged and reopened. inlet allows direct water exchange between Gulf Mexico Mesquite Bay, Texas, USA, represents unique opportunity study species’ migration processes. Adult Drum were implanted with acoustic transmitters that allowed us track their movement patterns before after reopening Bayou. goals to: 1) determine if choose routes opportunistically Texas waters; 2) elucidate general residency estimates bays. showed relatively little during pre-opening period summer, even restored. Once open, fish actively traversed through Bayou months commonly associated migrations coincident drop temperature. These results demonstrate corridors opportunistically, thus opening can provide maturing greater connectivity estuaries open Mexico.