The Across-Shelf Larval, Postlarval, and Juvenile Fish Assemblages Collected at Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms West of the Mississippi River Delta

摘要: A cross-shelf transect of three oil and gas platforms in the north-central Gulf was sampled to examine role that (hard substrate habitat) may play early life history stages reef-dependent reef-associated fishes. The ichthyoplankton juvenile fish assemblages were at Green Canyon 18 (219-m depth, shelf slope), Grand Isle 94 (60-m mid-shelf ), South Timbalier 54 (22-m inner ) with passive plankton nets light traps. At all sites, clupeiforms dominant taxa collected, comprising 59-97% total catch. Reef-dependent fishes (e.g., pomacentrids scarids) relatively rare platforms, while serranids, carangids, blenniids) generally more common. High numbers piscivorous juveniles (synodontids, scombrids, carangids) indicating predation during be important determining local reef assemblages. Similarity indices indicated larval collected differed across shelf. Overall, across-shelf patterns distributions similar those adults. Taxonomic richness (genus level) highest platform, possibly a result its proximity high density upstream surrounding which create favorable conditions for recruitment There no significant differences taxonomic diversity among net collec- tions, but trap significantly platform. With limited amount hard-substrate habitat available northern Gulf, addition artificial habitats (platforms) increase chances adult finding suitable spawning habitat, as well number settlement sites fishes, particularly where are most dense (mid- ).