@article{tharp_hostetter_paxton_taylor_buckel_2024, title={Artificial structure selection by economically important reef fishes at North Carolina artificial reefs}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2296-7745"]}, DOI={10.3389/fmars.2024.1373494}, abstractNote={Artificial reefs can play an important role in marine fisheries management by supplementing or enhancing natural habitats. Despite their increased use in recent years, the choice of structures used at artificial reefs remains largely haphazard due to the lack of information on reef structure performance. Few studies have examined the use of different artificial reef structures by individual fish. From 2021-2022, we acoustically tagged 72 black sea bass ( Centropristis striata ), 34 gag ( Mycteroperca mircrolepis ), 27 greater amberjack ( Seriola dumerili ), nine almaco jack ( S. rivoliana ), and eight red snapper ( Lutjanus campechanus ) on four artificial reef complexes near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, U.S. Available artificial reef structures consisted of materials of various sizes and heights made of concrete and metal. We tracked tagged fish using a fine-scale positioning system for ~100 days. Black sea bass exhibited high site fidelity to the artificial structure where we caught them, rarely moving away from that structure. The limited movement resulted in low transition probabilities; we conclude that black sea bass do not select for particular artificial structures. Gag and red snapper moved greater distances away from artificial structures and routinely moved between them. Greater amberjack and almaco jack moved the most within the complexes displaying circling behavior around individual structures and were the only species that regularly moved off the artificial reef complexes. Greater amberjack movements away from artificial sites were most commonly directed to surrounding shipwrecks. Whereas gag, red snapper, almaco jack, and greater amberjack used all available structures, they consistently selected for high relief structures, such as vessels, more than other structures. These results will be useful to managers charged with decisions on what types of structures to place at artificial reef complexes to supplement or enhance habitat for economically important fishes.}, journal={FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE}, author={Tharp, Ryan M. and Hostetter, Nathan J. and Paxton, Avery B. and Taylor, J. Christopher and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2024}, month={Apr} }
 @article{allen_govoni_able_buckel_hale_hilton_kellison_targett_taylor_walsh_2024, title={Long-term dynamics of larval and early juvenile spot (<i> Leiostomus</i><i> xanthurus)</i> ) off the US East Coast: relating ocean origins, estuarine ingress, and changing environmental conditions}, volume={122}, ISSN={["1937-4518"]}, DOI={10.7755/FB.122.4.3}, abstractNote={Ichthyoplankton data sets based on collections from estuaries in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey and from ocean cruises off the U.S. East Coast were examined to determine spawning locations in the ocean, cross-shelf distributions of larvae, and movements of spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) into estuaries.Spot spawn during fall and winter near the edge of the continental shelf, primarily south of Cape Hatteras in North Carolina.We documented additional spawning of spot north of Cape Hatteras, close to the coast, in summer and fall.Larval and early juvenile spot enter estuaries from November through May in South Carolina and North Carolina and from January through June in Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey.Numbers of spot per volume of water sampled decreased from south to north among estuaries and in the ocean.Interannual variations in abundance were high, and no long-term trends were determined.Over the decades, median annual lengths of ingressing larval and juvenile spot decreased as annual mean water temperature increased in South Carolina and North Carolina.The timing of ingress was positively correlated with water temperature.Continued increases in water temperature on the East Coast will likely lead to additional changes in oceanic distribution and ingress patterns of spot.Our findings indicate the value of synthesizing information from long-term studies conducted across broad geographic scales.}, number={4}, journal={FISHERY BULLETIN}, author={Allen, Dennis M. and Govoni, John J. and Able, Kenneth W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hale, Edward A. and Hilton, Eric J. and Kellison, G. Todd and Targett, Timothy E. and Taylor, J. Christopher and Walsh, Harvey J.}, year={2024}, pages={162–185} }
 @article{roskar_morley_buckel_2024, title={Seasonality and relative abundance within an elasmobranch assemblage near a major biogeographic divide}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0300697}, abstractNote={Nearshore waters are utilized by elasmobranchs in various ways, including foraging, reproduction, and migration. Multiple elasmobranch species have been previously documented in the nearshore waters of North Carolina, USA, which has a biogeographic break at Cape Hatteras on the Atlantic coast. However, comprehensive understanding of the elasmobranch community in this region is still lacking. Monthly year-round trawling conducted along two ocean transects (near Cape Lookout and Masonboro Inlet in 5 to 18 m depth) in Onslow Bay, North Carolina provided the opportunity to examine the dynamics and seasonal patterns of this community using a multivariate approach, including permutational multivariate analysis of variance and nonparametric BIO-ENV analysis. From November 2004 to April 2008, 21,149 elasmobranchs comprised of 20 species were caught, dominated by spiny dogfish ( Squalus acanthias ) and clearnose skate ( Rostroraja eglanteria ). All species exhibited seasonal variation in abundance, but several key species contributed the most to seasonal differences in species composition within each transect. Spiny dogfish was most abundant in the winter at both locations, comprised mainly of mature females. Although clearnose skate was caught in all seasons, the species was most abundant during the spring and fall. Atlantic sharpnose ( Rhizoprionodon terraenovae ) was one of the most abundant species in the summer, and two distinct size cohorts were documented. Temperature appeared to be the main abiotic factor driving the community assemblage. The extensive year-round sampling provided the ability to better understand the dramatic seasonal variation in species composition and provides new information on the relative abundance of several understudied elasmobranch species that may be of significant ecological importance. Our results underscore the importance of inner continental shelf waters as important elasmobranch habitat and provide baseline data to examine for future shifts in timing and community structure at the northern portion of the biogeographic break at Cape Hatteras.}, number={6}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Roskar, Grace and Morley, James W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2024}, month={Jun} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_gregory_stilson_dukes_gooding_runde_2024, title={Temporal changes in lengths of Dolphinfish revealed by sampling at sportfishing tournaments in the southeastern United States}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.11006}, abstractNote={Abstract Objective Our objective was to use sportfishing tournament data to determine whether sizes of Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus have been changing in the western North Atlantic (WNA) over recent decades. Methods We sampled North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida marine sportfishing tournament landings for Dolphinfish lengths. Linear models were separately fitted to length data for males and females by regressing length against year. A subset of these models (analysis of covariance) considered tournament as a factor. Result An analysis of covariance model with a separate regression slope for each tournament provided the best fit to the data for male and female Dolphinfish. Meaningful temporal declines in the length of males and females were found for four of the five tournaments (no changes in length were observed for the fifth tournament). Median total length declines of 168, 105, 103, and 426 mm were predicted for males, and declines of 354, 133, 131, and 246 mm were predicted for females. Declines in the largest observed sizes of Dolphinfish (97.5% confidence limit) were found for most tournament‐ and sex‐specific combinations of data and could suggest excess fishing mortality on the population. Conclusion Declines in Dolphinfish size in the WNA region could have ramifications for conservation of the population given that these size changes translate into reduced individual fecundity of female Dolphinfish. Causes of the size decline could be fishing effects, environmental effects, or a combination of these. Reductions in individual size may be occurring simultaneously with declines in abundance identified in other recent research using fishery‐dependent data collected in the WNA.}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Buckel, J. A. and Gregory, R. and Stilson, G. R. and Dukes, A. W. and Gooding, E. L. and Runde, B. J.}, year={2024}, month={May} }
 @article{naisbett‐jones_branham_birath_paliotti_mcmains_joel fodrie_morley_buckel_lohmann_2023, title={A method for long‐term retention of pop‐up satellite archival tags (<scp>PSATs</scp>) on small migratory fishes}, volume={102}, ISSN={0022-1112 1095-8649}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15351}, DOI={10.1111/jfb.15351}, abstractNote={AbstractAchieving long‐term retention of pop‐up satellite archival tags (PSATs) has proven difficult for all fishes but is particularly challenging for small migrant species due to the relatively large size of tags. In this study, the authors tested the latest and smallest PSAT model on the market, the mark‐report satellite tag (mrPAT), and developed a simple, cost‐effective method of tag attachment on sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum 1792), a small marine fish. During laboratory trials, the method of tag attachment used in this study outperformed the existing methods with two c. 40 cm fish retaining their tags for 3 months (the duration of the laboratory study). During field deployments, data were successfully obtained for 17 of the 25 tagged fish [37–50 cm fork length (FL)]. Of these, 14 tags (82%) remained on the fish until the pre‐programmed release date resulting in tag retention times of up to 172 days (mean: 140 days). The investigation represents the first extensive study into the feasibility of PSATs for monitoring fishes in this size range. The authors demonstrate that their method of attachment and this latest PSAT model are feasible for c. 5‐month deployments on fishes that are relatively small (c. 45 cm FL). These results with A. probatocephalus represent a potentially significant advance in PSAT methodology for fishes of this size. Future investigations are needed to determine if this method is transferrable to other species in the same size range.}, number={5}, journal={Journal of Fish Biology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Naisbett‐Jones, Lewis C. and Branham, Creed and Birath, Shayla and Paliotti, Savannah and McMains, Andrew R. and Joel Fodrie, Frederick and Morley, James W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Lohmann, Kenneth J.}, year={2023}, month={Mar}, pages={1029–1039} }
 @article{rudershausen_schmidt_merrell_runde_buckel_2023, title={Effectiveness of Venting and Recompression for Increasing Postrelease Survival of Barotraumatized Black Sea Bass across a Range of Depths}, volume={43}, ISSN={0275-5947 1548-8675}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10864}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10864}, abstractNote={AbstractThe effectiveness of venting and recompression for increasing postrelease survival for fish that experience barotrauma has rarely been tested across a range of depths. We conducted a field tag–recapture experiment to test how well venting and recompression each increased postrelease survival of Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata relative to untreated controls at three different depth ranges on the U.S. South Atlantic continental shelf: 24–26, 29–32, and 35–38 m. Venting and recompression were applied by researchers alongside untreated controls at all three depths, and venting by anglers who were inexperienced with this technique was an additional treatment at the intermediate depth. Tests of independence were used to evaluate the association between treatment type (venting versus controls) and postrelease submergence at each depth. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to the tag–recapture data that were collected at each depth to determine whether the experimental treatment influenced postrelease survival. Postrelease submergence was significantly higher in vented fish at the intermediate and deep depths but not at the shallow depth. The hazards rates were not significant for venting and recompression at the shallow and intermediate depths but were at the deepest depth, demonstrating that these techniques practiced at >35 m increased postrelease survival relative to untreated controls. Mean increases in absolute survival at the 35–38 m depth were calculated to be 6.8% and 8.1% relative to controls when using venting and recompression, respectively. The results further suggest that anglers who are unfamiliar with venting do not reduce postrelease survival compared with venting by experienced personnel. These results provide guidance to fishery managers who are tasked with seeking methods to reduce catch‐and‐release mortality for an important reef species. Taken together, the findings from submergence success and survival models suggest that both venting and recompression should be encouraged to increase the postrelease survival of Black Sea Bass that are caught from depths >29 m.}, number={1}, journal={North American Journal of Fisheries Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Schmidt, Hailey M. and Merrell, Jeffery H. and Runde, Brendan J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2023}, month={Feb}, pages={257–267} }
 @article{binion-rock_christian_buckel_2023, title={Identification of important forage fish and implications of increased predator demand through Ecopath modeling}, volume={280}, ISSN={0272-7714}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108164}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecss.2022.108164}, abstractNote={Fisheries on lower trophic levels act as and compete with predators in aquatic ecosystems for potentially limited prey resources. Multiple predators in a system are often managed to achieve a Bmsy that could result in a total predator consumption level the ecosystem cannot support. We developed an Ecopath model for Pamlico Sound, NC and its tributaries to address this issue. The model is comprised of 43 compartments with an emphasis on piscivores and their prey and represents the 2012–13 time period. We estimated total predator demand for fish prey and identified important species of forage fish and top piscivorous predators in Pamlico Sound. We compared local fishing fleet removals and predator consumption in forage fish, penaeid shrimp, and blue crabs. Finally, we evaluated the impact of increased predator demand on the system, by increasing biomass levels of five predators to equal their management thresholds and using mixed trophic impact analysis. Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), anchovy (Anchoa hepsetus and A. mitchilli), spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) were the most important forage fish in the system, representing over 80% of the fish consumed (by weight). Lizardfish (Synodus foetens) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) were top predators based on trophic level, while bluefish and longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) were top predators in terms of total fish consumption. The highest overlap in forage fish usage exists between fisheries and piscivores for Atlantic croaker and spot. Total forage fish removals through predation and harvest was greater than 65% of the production for each of the four-forage fish and, under the higher predator biomass model, total removals exceeded production for spot; total removals in either scenario did not exceed the production of penaeid shrimp and blue crab. Thus, the tradeoff between fisheries for forage fish and piscivores should be considered when assessing and managing fisheries in Pamlico Sound.}, journal={Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Binion-Rock, Samantha M. and Christian, Robert R. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2023}, month={Jan}, pages={108164} }
 @article{gilliland_fessler_paxton_ebert_tharp_runde_bacheler_buckel_taylor_2023, title={Spatial extent and isolation of marine artificial structures mediate fish density}, volume={10}, ISSN={2296-7745}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1240344}, DOI={10.3389/fmars.2023.1240344}, abstractNote={Installations of artificial structures in coastal oceans create de facto habitat for marine life. These structures encompass wide varieties of physical characteristics, reflecting their multiple, diverse purposes and creating a need to understand which characteristics maximize fish habitat. Here, we test how physical characteristics – horizontal area, vertical relief, and spatial isolation – relate to fish density from echosounder surveys over artificial structures like concrete pipes, train boxcars, and ships purposely sunk to function as reefs. Echosounder mapping of 31 artificial reef structures and associated fish across a 200 km linear length of the continental shelf of North Carolina, USA, revealed that structures with greater horizontal area and vertical relief host higher fish densities than smaller, shorter structures. Artificial structure spatial arrangement also relates to fish density, as isolated structures are generally associated with greater localized fish densities than structures closer to one another. Patterns in the relationships between fish density and reef characteristics differed for schooling fish, as there was some evidence that reefs of intermediate area exhibited higher schooling fish density. These results suggest that intentional design and spatial arrangement of marine built structures like artificial reefs relates to and can be deliberately incorporated into siting and deployment decisions to enhance their role as fish habitat.}, journal={Frontiers in Marine Science}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Gilliland, Virginia A. and Fessler, Avery E. and Paxton, Avery B. and Ebert, Erik F. and Tharp, Ryan M. and Runde, Brendan J. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Taylor, J. Christopher}, year={2023}, month={Sep} }
 @article{rudershausen_cross_runde_evans_cope_buckel_2023, title={Total mercury, methylmercury, and selenium concentrations in blue marlin Makaira nigricans from a long-term dataset in the western north Atlantic}, volume={858}, ISSN={0048-9697}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159947}, DOI={10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159947}, abstractNote={Mercury in seafood is a neurotoxicant that threatens human health. Dynamic rates of mercury emission, re-emission, and atmospheric deposition warrant studies into mercury concentrations in fish because many are consumed by humans and can serve as sentinels of mercury levels in the environment. We modeled trends in total mercury content in an apex marine fish predator, Atlantic blue marlin Makaira nigricans, whose muscle tissues were opportunistically sampled from North Carolina (USA) sportfishing tournaments over a discontinuous time period: between 1975 and 77 and 1998-2021 (n = 148). The model-estimated influence of marlin weight on total mercury concentration was constant across years (shared slope) allowing for comparisons of weight-corrected mercury concentrations among years. Weight-corrected total mercury concentrations revealed an inter-decadal decline of approximately 45 % between the 1970s and late 1990s and then variable but relatively stable concentrations through 2021. The mean (SD) wet weight concentration of total mercury was 9.47 (4.11) from 1975 to 77 and 4.17 (2.61) from 2020 to 2021. Methylmercury and selenium were measured on a subset of fish to address questions related to human health and consumption. Methylmercury levels (mean = 0.72 μg/g) were much lower than total mercury (mean = 4.69 μg/g) indicating that total mercury is not a good proxy for methylmercury in Atlantic blue marlin. Selenium, examined as a Se:Hg molar ratio and as a selenium health benefit value (HBVSe), showed high protective value against mercury toxicity. Long-term trends in the concentration of mercury in blue marlin should continue to be monitored to determine whether policies to mitigate anthropogenic contributions to global mercury are achieving their intended goals and to provide information to inform safe human consumption.}, journal={Science of The Total Environment}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Rudershausen, P.J. and Cross, F.A. and Runde, B.J. and Evans, D.W. and Cope, W.G. and Buckel, J.A.}, year={2023}, month={Feb}, pages={159947} }
 @article{runde_rudershausen_bacheler_tharp_buckel_2022, title={Depredation of Demersal Reef Fishes Released with Descender Devices Is Uncommon off North Carolina, <scp>USA}, volume={42}, ISSN={0275-5947 1548-8675}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10815}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10815}, abstractNote={AbstractDescender devices are increasingly recognized as a leading means of barotrauma mitigation for released reef fishes. Yet, some resource users oppose regulations requiring or encouraging descender device use, arguing that predators frequently eat fish during release (depredation), sometimes causing device loss. We synthesized data for over 1,200 descended releases (both videoed and nonvideoed) of 16 species of reef fish off North Carolina, USA. Of 114 videos, we observed possible predators on seven, none of which showed actual depredation. Of 1,176 nonvideoed releases, we lost zero descender devices, indicating that although cryptic depredation may have occurred, equipment loss was nonexistent. The lack of any evidence of depredation in ocean waters off North Carolina provides information to managers that they can use to reinforce education and outreach to encourage descender use.}, number={5}, journal={North American Journal of Fisheries Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Tharp, Ryan M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2022}, month={Aug}, pages={1196–1201} }
 @article{runde_buckel_bacheler_tharp_rudershausen_harms_ben‐horin_2022, title={Evaluation of six methods for external attachment of electronic tags to fish: assessment of tag retention, growth and fish welfare}, volume={101}, ISSN={0022-1112 1095-8649}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14989}, DOI={10.1111/jfb.14989}, abstractNote={AbstractExternal attachment of electronic tags has been increasingly used in fish studies. Many researchers have used ad hoc attachment methods and provided little or no validation for the assumption that tagging itself does not bias animal behaviour or survival. The authors compared six previously published methods for externally attaching acoustic transmitters to fish in a tank holding experiment with black sea bass Centropristis striata (L.). They tracked tag retention, fish growth and external trauma (as a measure of fish welfare) for 60 days. For each of these metrics, the results showed a wide range of responses among tagging treatments. A simple attachment method using a spaghetti tag passed through the dorsal musculature of the fish and tied to the end cap of the transmitter emerged as the preferred option based on high retention, no impact on growth and relatively low detriment to fish welfare. Future field studies using external electronic tagging should consider tag‐related effects that could compromise results when selecting a method for tag attachment.}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Fish Biology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Tharp, Ryan M. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Harms, Craig A. and Ben‐Horin, Tal}, year={2022}, month={Jan}, pages={419–430} }
 @article{bacheler_runde_shertzer_buckel_rudershausen_2022, title={Fine-scale behavior of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) around bait: approach distances, bait plume dynamics, and effective fishing area}, volume={79}, ISSN={["1205-7533"]}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-2021-0044}, abstractNote={ The behavior of fish around bait is poorly understood despite it being important for the fish catching process and estimating relative abundance. We used a fine-scale acoustic positioning system to quantify the movements of 26 red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) around 120 bait deployments in 2019 at a natural reef site (∼37-m deep) in North Carolina, USA. There were 39 instances of tagged red snapper approaching bait during four baiting days, some of which approached due to apparent sensory cues (28%), while most approached incidentally (72%). Tagged red snapper approached bait from initial distances of 1 to 1147 m (median = 27 m; mean = 86 m), and took 0–77 min (mean = 22 min) to approach. Fish were more likely to approach bait if they were located close to, and down-current of, the bait at deployment. Our estimated effective fishing area of 2290 m2 (within which >50% of red snapper responded to bait) could be used along with video counts and other information to estimate densities of red snapper. }, number={3}, journal={CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Runde, Brendan J. and Shertzer, Kyle W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Rudershausen, Paul J.}, year={2022}, month={Mar}, pages={458–471} }
 @article{houck_cohen_harms_runde_rudershausen_buckel_2021, title={Computed Tomographic Assessment of Hooking‐Related Injuries in Recreationally Angled Blue Marlin}, volume={34}, ISSN={0899-7659 1548-8667}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aah.10145}, DOI={10.1002/aah.10145}, abstractNote={AbstractAcute morbidity and mortality of marlins (family Istiophoridae) in hook‐and‐line fisheries have been studied; however, there has been little or no investigation of the skeletal injuries incurred from terminal tackles that could lead to decreased rates of postrelease survival. The objective of this study was to evaluate skeletal injuries in recreationally angled Atlantic Blue Marlin Makaira nigricans from the 2019 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City, North Carolina. We examined heads of six Blue Marlin that were angled using artificial lures rigged with J‐hooks and harvested for weigh‐in. The head of each Blue Marlin was scanned using computed tomography (CT) and examined with gross dissection. The CT interpretation revealed that two Blue Marlin had minimally displaced fractures of the maxilla, one of which also had a fracture to the lachrymal bone. These radiographic lesions were associated with penetrating hook injuries. The CT images also revealed degenerative changes within the quadrate‐articular joint in four Blue Marlin, which was associated with fish weight; the causes and consequences of these degenerative changes are unknown. Although the hooking‐related jaw fractures likely result in acute pain, their impact on postrelease morbidity is unknown and the impact on postrelease mortality is suspected to be small.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Aquatic Animal Health}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Houck, Emma L. and Cohen, Eli B. and Harms, Craig A. and Runde, Brendan J. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2021}, month={Nov}, pages={20–27} }
 @article{runde_bacheler_shertzer_rudershausen_sauls_buckel_2021, title={Discard Mortality of Red Snapper Released with Descender Devices in the US South Atlantic}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1942-5120"]}, DOI={10.1002/mcf2.10175}, abstractNote={AbstractFishery regulations mandate the release of many caught fish, elevating the importance of having accurate estimates of discard mortality. Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus are overfished and undergoing overfishing in the southeast U.S. Atlantic, in part due to the high number of releases that die from discard mortality. We used acoustic telemetry to track the fine‐scale movements of hook‐and‐line‐caught Red Snapper released with descender devices at a hard‐bottom site off North Carolina, USA. Movement characteristics of known‐fate (live and dead) Red Snapper were used to infer fates of other individuals, from which we generated a proportional mortality estimate of 0.08 (95% CI = 0.00–0.17) for successfully descended Red Snapper with no hook trauma. This best‐case mortality estimate was then used in a simulation to estimate overall Red Snapper discard mortality for the recreational fishery in the southeast U.S. Atlantic based on hooking location and a depth of approximately 37 m. For this fishery, we estimated the median proportional rate of discard mortality to be 0.13 (2.5% and 97.5% percentiles = 0.10, 0.17) if all released individuals were descended. This estimate is lower than the discard mortality values (˜0.2–0.3 for the recreational fishery) used in the current Red Snapper stock assessment, but it is likely not reflective of the current reality given that descender use is not 100% in this region; this estimate is also depth specific. Increased use of descender devices will reduce discard mortality for Red Snapper, enhancing efforts to rebuild this stock.}, number={5}, journal={MARINE AND COASTAL FISHERIES}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Shertzer, Kyle W. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Sauls, Beverly and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2021}, month={Aug}, pages={478–495} }
 @article{bacheler_shertzer_runde_rudershausen_buckel_2021, title={Environmental conditions, diel period, and fish size influence the horizontal and vertical movements of red snapper}, volume={11}, ISSN={["2045-2322"]}, DOI={10.1038/s41598-021-88806-3}, abstractNote={AbstractMost demersal fishes are difficult to observe and track due to methodological and analytical constraints. We used an acoustic positioning system to elucidate the horizontal and vertical movements of 44 red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) off North Carolina, USA, in 2019. Mean movement rate and distance off bottom varied by individual, with larger red snapper generally moving faster and spending more time farther off the bottom than smaller individuals. We used generalized additive mixed models that accounted for temporal autocorrelation in the data to show that mean hourly red snapper movement rate was lower during the day than at night and was negatively related to bottom water temperature. Moreover, red snapper spent more time off the bottom during the day than at night, and vertical movements were mostly related to bottom upwelling events that sporadically occurred in May–July. Our results and previous observations suggest that red snapper feed primarily on benthic organisms at night, and display diel vertical migration (i.e., thermotaxis) up to warmer waters (when present) during the day to aid digestive efficiency. Movement is a central organizing feature in ecology, and the sustainable management of fish will benefit from a better understanding of the timing and causes of fish movement.}, number={1}, journal={SCIENTIFIC REPORTS}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Shertzer, Kyle W. and Runde, Brendan J. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2021}, month={May} }
 @article{rudershausen_poland_merrell_pelletier_mikles_buckel_2021, title={Estimating discard mortality using meta-analysis and fishery-dependent sampling}, volume={240}, ISSN={0165-7836}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2021.105962}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2021.105962}, abstractNote={Estimates of discard mortality are difficult to obtain. Meta-analysis or life-history-based approaches to estimate discard mortality could provide informed estimates when direct empirical estimates are not available. We used data from published literature across a variety of fish species to determine if hooking condition (good vs. poor) and species-specific values for the Brody growth coefficient (K: a measure of fish physiology) were meaningful factors influencing discard mortality in hook and line fisheries. We then examined whether a two-step approach, combining condition- and physiology-specific estimates of discard mortality with data on proportion-by-hooking-condition hooking information for a fishery, could result in an estimate of discard mortality for dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus comparable to an empirical estimate. A model with hooking condition, K and their interaction best fitted the published discard mortality data. K was an important negative covariate of discard mortality for good hooking condition, with higher K species experiencing greater rates of survival. In contrast, species in poor condition had similarly low rates of survival across a range of K values. Results suggests that hooking condition is the dominant source of mortality when fish are hooked in vital areas but that physiology should also be taken into account when estimating discard mortality for good condition fish. For the recreational dolphinfish fishery in the southeastern US, we estimated a median proportional discard mortality rate of 0.12 (95 % credible set: 0.07, 0.17) when combining the meta-analysis and field-collected proportion-by-condition data. This estimate was lower than the empirical estimate of dolphinfish discard mortality but the credible sets overlapped (median: 0.25; 95 % credible set: 0.05, 0.39). Estimates of discard mortality from our meta-analytic approach may be applicable to fisheries where empirical estimates of discard mortality are not available and hooking injuries are the dominant source of mortality.}, journal={Fisheries Research}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Rudershausen, P.J. and Poland, S.J. and Merrell, J.H. and Pelletier, C.B. and Mikles, C.S. and Buckel, J.A.}, year={2021}, month={Aug}, pages={105962} }
 @article{runde_buckel_rudershausen_mitchell_ebert_cao_taylor_2021, title={Evaluating the Effects of a Deep-Water Marine Protected Area a Decade After Closure: A Multifaceted Approach Reveals Equivocal Benefits to Reef Fish Populations}, volume={8}, ISSN={2296-7745}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.775376}, DOI={10.3389/fmars.2021.775376}, abstractNote={Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly used to rebuild fish populations. In 2009, eight MPAs were designated off the southeast United States with the goal of rebuilding populations of long-lived deep-water reef fishes. We tested whether reef fish within the largest of these MPAs, the Snowy Wreck Marine Protected Area (SWMPA), have increased in size and abundance relative to a nearby control area and compared to pre-closure. Hurdle models fitted through Bayesian inference on echosounder data collected in 2007–2009 and 2018–2020 yielded no evidence of an MPA effect. Comparisons of catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of all reef fishes yielded similar null results. However, CPUE of reef species with formal stock assessments increased 47% in the SWMPA and decreased 50% in the control area. We found significant increases in mean length of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) inside the SWMPA but not in the control area. We also found community composition changes, including shifts away from groupers (Serranidae; Epinephelinae) and toward snappers (Lutjanidae) and tilefish (Malacanthidae) in both areas, though we did not detect an MPA effect with this analysis. Our equivocal results indicate that more time and stricter enforcement may be necessary before more biological effects of the SWMPA can be detected.}, journal={Frontiers in Marine Science}, publisher={Frontiers Media SA}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Mitchell, Warren A. and Ebert, Erik and Cao, Jie and Taylor, J. Christopher}, year={2021}, month={Nov} }
 @article{rudershausen_merrell_buckel_2021, title={Factors Influencing Colonization and Survival of Juvenile Blue Crabs Callinectes sapidus in Southeastern U.S. Tidal Creeks}, volume={13}, ISSN={1424-2818}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13100491}, DOI={10.3390/d13100491}, abstractNote={Tidal creeks along the southeastern U.S. and Gulf of Mexico coastlines provide nursery habitats for commercially and ecologically important nekton, including juvenile blue crabs Callinectes sapidus, a valuable and heavily landed seafood species. Instream and watershed urbanization may influence the habitat value that tidal creeks provide to blue crabs. We investigated natural and anthropogenic factors influencing juvenile blue crab occupancy dynamics in eight first-order tidal creeks in coastal North Carolina (USA). An auto-logistic hierarchical multi-season (dynamic) occupancy model with separate ecological and observation sub-models was fitted to juvenile blue crab presence/absence data collected over replicate sampling visits in multiple seasons at three fixed trapping sites in each creek. Colonization and survival are the processes operating on occupancy that are estimated with this formulation of the model. Covariates considered in the ecological sub-model included watershed imperviousness, the percent of salt marsh in each creek’s high tide area, percent salt marsh edge, site-level water depth, and site-level salinity. Temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were covariates considered in the observation sub-model. In the ecological sub-model, watershed imperviousness was a meaningful negative covariate and site-level salinity was a positive covariate of survival probability. Imperviousness and salinity were each marginally meaningful on colonization probability. Water temperature was a positive covariate of detection probability in the observation sub-model. Mean estimated detection probability across all sites and seasons of the study was 0.186. The results suggest that development in tidal creek watersheds will impact occupancy dynamics of juvenile blue crabs. This places an emphasis on minimizing losses of natural land cover classes in tidal creek watersheds to reduce the negative impacts to populations of this important species. Future research should explore the relationship between imperviousness and salinity fluctuations in tidal creeks to better understand how changing land cover influences water chemistry and ultimately the demographics of juvenile blue crabs.}, number={10}, journal={Diversity}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Merrell, Jeffery H. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2021}, month={Oct}, pages={491} }
 @article{paxton_harter_ross_schobernd_runde_rudershausen_johnson_shertzer_bacheler_buckel_et al._2021, title={Four decades of reef observations illuminate deep‐water grouper hotspots}, volume={22}, ISSN={1467-2960 1467-2979}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/faf.12548}, DOI={10.1111/faf.12548}, abstractNote={AbstractFish often aggregate to spawn, feed, rest, or avoid predation. Direct observations of very high counts of large‐bodied grouper on deep shipwrecks, however, do not fit into typical descriptions of spawning‐, resource‐, or predation‐driven aggregations. To investigate whether these observations are rare or part of an underlying pattern, we synthesized four decades (1979–2019) of direct observations of groupers on deep‐water (50–300 m) habitats along the southeastern United States (Cape Hatteras, NC to Cape Canaveral, FL). The direct observations, which included 439 remotely operated vehicle transects, 235 human‐occupied vehicle transects, and 881 hook‐and‐line drops, revealed six hotspots of deep‐water groupers on three shipwrecks, two artificial reefs, and one boulder field. Grouper counts at these hotspots (0.10–5.40 grouper per linear m surveyed) exceeded counts of grouper outside of hotspots (<0.01–0.02 grouper per linear m surveyed) by multiple orders of magnitude. Commonalities among the sites with grouper hotspots included that all are relatively isolated structures surrounded by unconsolidated sediments and located in shelf‐edge to upper‐slope depths. Thus, it appears that these isolated habitats, despite their small spatial footprint, represent a disproportionate abundance of deep‐water groupers. Future research efforts should determine how groupers derive sufficient resources from, and thus co‐occur on, these small habitats and how these aggregations relate to the large‐scale dynamics of these populations.}, number={4}, journal={Fish and Fisheries}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Paxton, Avery B. and Harter, Stacey L. and Ross, Steve W. and Schobernd, Christina M. and Runde, Brendan J. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Johnson, Katrina H. and Shertzer, Kyle W. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Mar}, pages={749–761} }
 @article{rudershausen_lombardo_buckel_2021, title={Linking Historical Changes in Salt‐Marsh Coverage to Lost Production of a Nektonic Bioindicator}, volume={13}, ISSN={1942-5120 1942-5120}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mcf2.10147}, DOI={10.1002/mcf2.10147}, abstractNote={AbstractDevelopment reduces the amount of secondary biological production in coastal estuaries. However, the magnitude of this reduction remains largely unknown. We are not aware of studies that have quantified lost secondary biological production in estuaries as a result of interdecadal coastal development of salt‐marsh habitats. Our objective was to demonstrate a technique that combined historical imagery, GIS, and secondary production estimates to quantify the magnitude of lost areal production arising from the development of tidal creeks. We estimated lost production of a dominant salt‐marsh fish MummichogFundulus heteroclitusin Spooners and Pelletier creeks, two second‐order tidal systems in coastal North Carolina. We georeferenced historical (1939) aerial imagery, digitized low‐tide and high‐tide features in historical and contemporary (2019) imagery, and compared the intertidal vegetated area of each creek between periods. The lost intertidal area was then multiplied by creek‐specific published rates of areal production of larval and juvenile age‐0 Mummichog in salt‐marsh cordgrassSpartina alterniflorahabitats. There was a loss of intertidal area and intertidal/subtidal vegetated edge of 72% and 54%, respectively, in Spooners Creek, and 47% and 4%, respectively, in Pelletier Creek. Losses of intertidal area over the last  ~80 years translated into estimated annual losses of 44 and 8 kg of dry weight production (~695,000 and 186,500 individuals) for a single cohort in Spooners and Pelletier creeks, respectively. These estimates represent minimum losses, as some in‐stream development was already visible in the historic imagery and a single cohort’s production was used (not multiple cohorts). We encourage other researchers to use historic imagery to determine changes in aquatic habitats and link losses (or gains) in these habitats to the productivity metrics of important fishes.}, number={2}, journal={Marine and Coastal Fisheries}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Lombardo, Steven M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2021}, month={Apr}, pages={131–139} }
 @article{krause_hightower_poland_buckel_2020, title={An integrated tagging and catch-curve model reveals high and seasonally-varying natural mortality for a fish population at low stock biomass}, volume={232}, ISSN={0165-7836}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2020.105725}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2020.105725}, abstractNote={Rebuilding of exploited fish stocks at low biomass requires accurate mortality estimates. Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) abundance is at historical lows caused by an increasing instantaneous total mortality (Z) in recent years, but uncertainty exists regarding the relative importance of instantaneous fishing mortality (F) and natural mortality (M) to Z. Data from a tag-return study and catch-curve of weakfish in North Carolina were analyzed jointly using a Bayesian statistical framework to estimate seasonal and annual mortality (i.e., F, M, and Z). We accounted for key auxiliary parameters in the tag-return portion of the model (i.e., tag-reporting rate and tag loss) through field studies and an experimental design, including use of high-reward tags and double tagging. Estimates of Z from the joint model were similar in magnitude to the weakfish stock assessment. From mid-2014 to 2017, we estimated a constant annual instantaneous mortality rate of 0.05 yr−1 (95 % credible interval [CrI]: 0.04, 0.07) for F and 2.33 yr−1 (CrI: 2.10, 2.6) for M. In the most recent stock assessment, estimates of M had an upper bound of 1.0; thus, our findings suggest that these estimates of M are biased low and F biased high. Our seasonal analyses showed that a large portion of mortality occurred from fall to spring, coinciding with weakfish migration and overwintering periods on the continental shelf. Through an integrated modeling approach, our study provides insights into the magnitude, timing, and sources of weakfish mortality, and enhances understanding of weakfish population dynamics to guide management strategies.}, journal={Fisheries Research}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Krause, Jacob R. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Poland, Stephen J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2020}, month={Dec}, pages={105725} }
 @article{runde_michelot_bacheler_shertzer_buckel_2020, title={Assigning Fates in Telemetry Studies Using Hidden Markov Models: an Application to Deepwater Groupers Released with Descender Devices}, volume={40}, ISSN={0275-5947 1548-8675}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10504}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10504}, abstractNote={AbstractFate assignment is crucial to the results of survival studies, particularly those that utilize acoustic tagging. Most current methodologies are at least partially subjective; thus, having a means of objectively assigning fates would improve the precision, accuracy, and utility of such studies. We released 57 acoustically tagged fish belonging to six deepwater grouper species off North Carolina, USA, via surface release and recompressed release with descender devices. We applied a three‐state hidden Markov model (HMM) in a novel way: to distinguish movement patterns between fish that were alive and fish that were dead (and might have been eaten by predators). We assigned fates using two approaches that differed in their reliance on HMMs. When HMMs were the predominant source of fate assignment, we estimated survival of 40 deepwater groupers released with descender devices at the continental shelf break (66–120‐m depth) to be 0.46 (95% CI = 0.33–0.65). When a combination of HMMs and prior information was utilized, we estimated survival of the same 40 groupers to be 0.61 (95% CI = 0.47–0.80). Both estimates represented a substantial improvement over the survival of surface‐released groupers (n = 9; survival ~0.0). Furthermore, HMMs estimated zero survival for an additional five descended groupers at a wreck site in 240‐m depth, although one analysis using prior information suggested that survival was possible in that depth. These estimates were aided by the objectivity of HMMs, and we recommend that future survival studies involving acoustic tagging employ similar methodologies. The improved survival of groupers after descending is an important finding for management, as this taxon contains several species of impaired stock status or fishery status.}, number={6}, journal={North American Journal of Fisheries Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Michelot, Théo and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Shertzer, Kyle W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2020}, month={Nov}, pages={1417–1434} }
 @article{scheffel_hightower_buckel_krause_scharf_2020, title={Coupling acoustic tracking with conventional tag returns to estimate mortality for a coastal flatfish with high rates of emigration}, volume={77}, ISSN={0706-652X 1205-7533}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2018-0174}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-2018-0174}, abstractNote={ The addition of acoustic telemetry to conventional tagging studies can generate direct estimates of mortality and movement rates to inform fisheries management. We applied a combined telemetry and tag-return design to southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma), a coastal flatfish that demonstrates limited movements within estuarine habitats coupled with extensive ontogenetic migrations that present unique challenges for estimating mortality rates. The fates of acoustically and conventionally tagged fish were followed during 2014–2016 to estimate annual rates of fishing mortality (F), natural mortality (M), and estuarine emigration (E). Multistate models estimated southern flounder annual F for each of the 3 years at two spatial scales (New River estuary F = 0.49–1.61; North Carolina coast F = 0.36–0.72). Annual rates of emigration were high (E = 1.06–1.67), and direct estimation of this source of loss considerably improved mortality estimates. The model estimated natural mortality as a constant annual rate (M = 0.84), which was similar in magnitude to life-history-based estimates for similar age groups. By accounting for unique behavioral attributes in the study design, the application of multistate tagging models provided robust estimates of mortality and emigration rates for a valuable coastal fishery resource that will inform future efforts to achieve yield and conservation goals. }, number={1}, journal={Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, publisher={Canadian Science Publishing}, author={Scheffel, Trevor K. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Krause, Jacob R. and Scharf, Frederick S.}, year={2020}, month={Jan}, pages={1–22} }
 @article{shertzer_bacheler_pine_runde_buckel_rudershausen_macmahan_2020, title={Estimating population abundance at a site in the open ocean: combining information from conventional and telemetry tags with application to gray triggerfish (<i>Balistes capriscus</i>)}, volume={77}, ISSN={0706-652X 1205-7533}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2018-0356}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-2018-0356}, abstractNote={ Estimates of animal abundance are widely used to support conservation and resource management. For populations in open systems, abundance estimates from tagging data can be highly uncertain or biased. Here, we develop a novel approach to estimate abundance of an open population by pairing two models, each utilizing distinct tagging data. Using data from telemetry tags, we infer movement rates to and from the study site with a Markovian model allowing for an environmental effect. Then, using data from conventional passive tags, we apply a Lincoln–Petersen abundance estimator modified to account for mortality and movement. After developing the model within a Bayesian framework, we demonstrate its application to data on gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) tagged in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina, USA. For this open population, we estimate site abundance to be ∼1000 fish (∼2000 fish·km–2) and additionally find evidence for an effect of hurricanes on movement. The general approach may be useful for fisheries, wildlife, and other ecological studies utilizing multiple tag types, particularly for estimating abundance of an open population. }, number={1}, journal={Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, publisher={Canadian Science Publishing}, author={Shertzer, Kyle W. and Bacheler, Nathan M. and Pine, William E., III and Runde, Brendan J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and MacMahan, Jamie H.}, year={2020}, month={Jan}, pages={34–43} }
 @article{lombardo_buckel_hain_griffith_white_2020, title={Evidence for temperature-dependent shifts in spawning times of anadromous alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis)}, volume={77}, ISSN={["1205-7533"]}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-2019-0140}, abstractNote={ We analyzed four decades of presence–absence data from a fishery-independent survey to characterize the long-term phenology of river herring (alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus; and blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis) spawning migrations in their southern distribution. We used logistic generalized additive models to characterize the average ingress, peak, and egress timing of spawning. In the 2010s, alewife arrived to spawning habitat 16 days earlier and egressed 27 days earlier (peak 12 days earlier) relative to the 1970s. Blueback herring arrived 5 days earlier and egressed 23 days earlier (peak 13 days earlier) in the 2010s relative to the 1980s. The changes in ingress and egress timing have shortened the occurrence in spawning systems by 11 days for alewife over four decades and 18 days for blueback herring over three decades. We found that the rate of vernal warming was faster during 2001–2016 relative to 1973–1988 and is the most parsimonious explanation for changes in spawning phenology. The influence of a shortened spawning season on river herring population dynamics warrants further investigation. }, number={4}, journal={CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES}, author={Lombardo, Steven M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hain, Ernie F. and Griffith, Emily H. and White, Holly}, year={2020}, month={Apr}, pages={741–751} }
 @article{runde_buckel_shertzer_bacheler_rudershausen_sauls_2020, title={Repetitive capture of marine fishes: implications for estimating number and mortality of releases}, volume={77}, ISSN={1095-9289}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa166}, DOI={10.1093/icesjms/fsaa166}, abstractNote={Abstract
               In some fisheries, releases are a high percentage of total catch. Recent tagging data of marine fishes have revealed that recapture of the same individual multiple times occurs frequently. We investigated the magnitude of this phenomenon and its effect on survival using previously collected mark-recapture data of four reef-associated species. We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to examine whether survival varied with release number. For three of four species, survival was significantly higher after the second, third, and/or fourth release as compared to the first release, perhaps resulting from selection for robust individuals. Repetitive recapture implies that the estimated number of unique released fish is biased. Increased survival following later releases as compared to the initial release suggests that the number of dead discards may be similarly overestimated. We analysed the sensitivity of stock assessment results to reduced estimates of dead discards using two of our species that had recently been assessed. We found that reduced estimates of dead discards had a modest effect on assessment results but could nonetheless affect the perception of fishery status. Our findings highlight the need to revise current practices for estimating live and dead discards, either internal or external to stock assessment models.}, number={7-8}, journal={ICES Journal of Marine Science}, publisher={Oxford University Press (OUP)}, author={Runde, Brendan J and Buckel, Jeffrey A and Shertzer, Kyle W and Bacheler, Nathan M and Rudershausen, Paul J and Sauls, Beverly}, editor={Poos, Jan JaapEditor}, year={2020}, month={Nov}, pages={2905–2917} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_2020, title={Urbanization impacts on production and recruitment of Fundulus heteroclitus in salt marsh creeks}, volume={645}, ISSN={0171-8630 1616-1599}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps13378}, DOI={10.3354/meps13378}, abstractNote={It is unclear how urbanization affects secondary biological production in estuaries in the southeastern USA. We estimated production of larval/juvenile Fundulus heteroclitus in salt marsh areas of North Carolina tidal creeks and tested for factors influencing production. F. heteroclitus were collected with a throw trap in salt marshes of 5 creeks subjected to a range of urbanization intensities. Multiple factor analysis (MFA) was used to reduce dimensionality of habitat and urbanization effects in the creeks and their watersheds. Production was then related to the first 2 dimensions of the MFA, month, and year. Lastly, we determined the relationship between creek-wide larval/juvenile production and abundance from spring and abundance of adults from autumn of the same year. Production in marsh (g m-2 d-1) varied between years and was negatively related to the MFA dimension that indexed salt marsh; higher rates of production were related to creeks with higher percentages of marsh. An asymptotic relationship was found between abundance of adults and creek-wide production of larvae/juveniles and an even stronger density-dependent relationship was found between abundance of adults and creek-wide larval/juvenile abundance. Results demonstrate (1) the ability of F. heteroclitus to maintain production within salt marsh in creeks with a lesser percentage of marsh as long as this habitat is not removed altogether and (2) a density-dependent link between age-0 production/abundance and subsequent adult recruitment. Given the relationship between production and marsh area, natural resource agencies should consider impacts of development on production when permitting construction in the southeastern USA.}, journal={Marine Ecology Progress Series}, publisher={Inter-Research Science Center}, author={Rudershausen, PJ and Buckel, JA}, year={2020}, month={Jul}, pages={187–204} }
 @article{krause_hightower_buckel_turnure_grothues_manderson_rosendale_pessutti_2020, title={Using Acoustic Telemetry to Estimate Weakfish Survival Rates along the U.S. East Coast}, volume={12}, ISSN={1942-5120 1942-5120}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mcf2.10095}, DOI={10.1002/mcf2.10095}, abstractNote={AbstractThe Weakfish Cynoscion regalis, an economically important species, has declined over the last 30 years, corresponding with an increase in total mortality according to the most recent stock assessment. We estimated estuarine‐specific and coastwide apparent survival of Weakfish by using a Cormack–Jolly–Seber model to provide insights into the spatiotemporal component of mortality. Telemetered Weakfish (n = 342) were released across five estuaries ranging from North Carolina to New Jersey between 2006 and 2016. In estuaries from Delaware Bay and northward, egress peaked around the third week of September; in North Carolina, egress peaked by the first week of November. For three estuaries with adequate sample sizes, apparent survival estimates were similar and a joint model including all telemetered Weakfish estimated an extremely low annual apparent survival rate of 0.001 (95% credible interval [CrI] = 0.002–0.0003) or annual apparent instantaneous total mortality of 7.25 (95% CrI = 6.28–8.05). At a minimum, 61% of telemetered Weakfish emigrated in the fall, but only 2 of 149 fish with long‐lived transmitters were detected as returning to estuaries the following year. This is a small proportion for a fish that exhibits spawning site fidelity. We conclude that the disappearance of telemetered Weakfish represents mortality that occurs between emigration and the spring spawning period, potentially during overwinter periods on the continental shelf. Our study provides insights into the magnitude, timing, and location of Weakfish loss and facilitates an improved understanding of Weakfish population dynamics for use in stock rebuilding.}, number={5}, journal={Marine and Coastal Fisheries}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Krause, Jacob R. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Turnure, Jason T. and Grothues, Thomas M. and Manderson, John P. and Rosendale, John E. and Pessutti, Jeffrey P.}, year={2020}, month={Sep}, pages={241–257} }
 @article{binion-rock_reich_buckel_2019, title={A spatial kernel density method to estimate the diet composition of fish}, volume={76}, ISSN={["1205-7533"]}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-2017-0306}, abstractNote={ We present a novel spatially explicit kernel density approach to estimate the proportional contribution of a prey to a predator’s diet by mass. First, we compared the spatial estimator to a traditional cluster-based approach using a Monte Carlo simulation study. Next, we compared the diet composition of three predators from Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, to evaluate how ignoring spatial correlation affects diet estimates. The spatial estimator had lower mean squared error values compared with the traditional cluster-based estimator for all Monte Carlo simulations. Incorporating spatial correlation when estimating the predator’s diet resulted in a consistent increase in precision across multiple levels of spatial correlation. Bias was often similar between the two estimators; however, when it differed it mostly favored the spatial estimator. The two estimators produced different estimates of proportional contribution of prey to the diets of the three field-collected predator species, especially when spatial correlation was strong and prey were consumed in patchy areas. Our simulation and empirical data provide strong evidence that data on food habits should be modeled using spatial approaches and not treated as spatially independent. }, number={2}, journal={CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES}, author={Binion-Rock, Samantha M. and Reich, Brian J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2019}, month={Feb}, pages={249–267} }
 @article{rudershausen_runde_buckel_2019, title={Effectiveness of Venting and Descender Devices at Increasing Rates of Postrelease Survival of Black Sea Bass}, volume={40}, ISSN={0275-5947 1548-8675}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10387}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10387}, abstractNote={AbstractWe tested the ability of venting and descender (recompression) devices to increase the relative survival of released Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata, a physoclistous reef species with high discard rates in hook‐and‐line fisheries that operate in the U.S. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. We caught fish via hook and line from waters that were 38 m deep, a depth where Black Sea Bass often exhibit signs of barotrauma and may be unable to submerge after release. Fish were conventionally tagged and vented with either an 11‐gauge cannula or a 16‐gauge needle, descended using a descender (recompression) device, or released as tagged controls (no venting or recompression). Tests of independence were used to determine the relationship between submergence and treatment (excluding recompressed fish) as well as between submergence and tag return rate. Tag‐recapture data were used to inform a Cox proportional hazards model that evaluated the survival of fish treated with each experimental device relative to the control group. A significantly greater proportion of fish submerged when treated with either venting device relative to the controls, and the fish that submerged had a greater proportion of tag returns relative to those that did not submerge. Venting and recompression increased postrelease survival compared with the controls. The results provide guidance to managers who seek methods to reduce discard mortality rates in hook‐and‐line fisheries for this important species. Future studies should examine the use of these devices at a range of depths to determine their effectiveness.}, number={1}, journal={North American Journal of Fisheries Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Runde, B. J. and Buckel, J. A.}, year={2019}, month={Dec}, pages={125–132} }
 @article{rudershausen_poland_merten_buckel_2019, title={Estimating Discard Mortality for Dolphinfish in a Recreational Hook‐and‐Line Fishery}, volume={39}, ISSN={0275-5947 1548-8675}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10348}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10348}, abstractNote={AbstractMinimum length limits are used to manage Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus in the U.S. South Atlantic, but rates of discard mortality are unknown for this fishery and others throughout the species' worldwide range. We estimated discard mortality for Dolphinfish in the U.S. South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico recreational hook‐and‐line fishery by using conventional tag–recapture data. Overall, 4,648 Dolphinfish were tagged in these areas between 2002 and 2018 through the efforts of cooperating (fishery‐dependent) taggers as well as research scientists who employed gear types and fishing styles representative of the recreational fishery for this species. The condition of each tagged and released fish was classified as good or poor depending on hook trauma, bleeding, and postrelease swimming behavior. Numbers of tagged and recaptured fish in each release condition were used to estimate condition‐specific discard mortality by fitting a relative risk model. The model assumption of 100% survival of fish in good condition was scaled downward by using numbers of dying fish in good condition from tank holding and satellite tagging experiments. An overall median rate of discard mortality (0.248; 95% credible interval = 0.053–0.389) for the fishery was estimated by summing the products of each condition‐specific mortality rate and the proportion released in each condition. Given relatively high discard mortality rates (>20%), the results suggest that alternative management strategies (e.g., mandatory retention of hook‐traumatized individuals contributing to a bag limit, regardless of size), educating fishers on the use of alternative gear types (e.g., circle hooks), modifying fishing practices (e.g., trolling with heavy drags to reduce rates of deep hooking), or a combination thereof may be more effective solutions than minimum size or bag limits to control the rates of fishing mortality for Dolphinfish.}, number={6}, journal={North American Journal of Fisheries Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Poland, Stephen J. and Merten, Wessley and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2019}, month={Nov}, pages={1143–1154} }
 @article{hoos_buckel_boyd_loeffler_lee_2019, title={Fisheries management in the face of uncertainty: Designing time-area closures that are effective under multiple spatial patterns of fishing effort displacement in an estuarine gill net fishery}, volume={14}, ISSN={1932-6203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211103}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0211103}, abstractNote={A commonly cited reason for the failure of time-area closures to achieve fisheries management goals is the displacement of fishing effort from inside the closure into the surrounding area still open to fishing. Designing time-area closures that are predicted to achieve management goals under multiple spatial patterns of effort redistribution will increase chances of success. Using data from an estuarine gill net fishery, we tested if there are time-area closures predicted to reduce bycatch of two protected species groups while maintaining target catch under four simulated effort redistribution patterns. We found that the pattern of effort redistribution had a substantial impact on the amount of predicted bycatch in each closure scenario. Multiple closures were predicted to reduce bycatch of these species under all four simulations of effort redistribution. However, some combinations of closure and effort redistribution pattern resulted in estimated bycatch being higher than without a closure. We did not find any time-area closures that resulted in a predicted reduction in bycatch while maintaining target catch at original levels. We demonstrate a simple way for fisheries managers to account for the uncertainty in fishers' behavior by designing time-area closures that are predicted to reduce bycatch under multiple potential patterns of spatial redistribution of fishing effort.}, number={1}, journal={PLOS ONE}, publisher={Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, author={Hoos, Liza A. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Boyd, Jacob B. and Loeffler, Michael S. and Lee, Laura M.}, editor={Januchowski-Hartley, Fraser AndrewEditor}, year={2019}, month={Jan}, pages={e0211103} }
 @article{binion‐rock_buckel_rock_west_paramore_2019, title={Importance of Sample Gear in the Identification of Trophic Guilds and Forage Species in a Large Lagoonal Estuary}, volume={11}, ISSN={1942-5120 1942-5120}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mcf2.10090}, DOI={10.1002/mcf2.10090}, abstractNote={AbstractFood habits in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina, are poorly described despite the estuary's large size and importance as nursery and fisheries habitat. We conducted the first multi‐year, multispecies food habits study in Pamlico Sound, sampling the stomach contents of 16,913 predators representing 25 species. Predators were sampled from fisheries‐independent trawl and gill‐net surveys. We used multivariate analyses to compare diets between surveys, used agglomerative hierarchical cluster analyses and similarity profiles to identify significant trophic guilds, and identified forage fish using multiple approaches (qualitative classification criteria, connectance, and supportive role to fishery ecosystems [SURF]). The diets of predators sampled from the trawl survey were significantly different than predators sampled from the gill‐net survey. Mysids and anchovies were more important for trawl‐caught predators, with the majority of those predators belonging to nonpiscivorous guilds. Half of the gill‐net survey predators were piscivorous and relied more heavily on Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus and sciaenids. Differences in the level of piscivory between the surveys are most likely a result of larger predators being sampled in gill nets relative to trawls. There was little agreement among approaches in forage species identification, and only anchovies in the trawl survey were identified as a forage species using all approaches. Quantitative metrics identified forage species (e.g., Spot Leiostomus xanthurus and invertebrates) that were not identified by qualitative classification criteria. Our work shows the effect of gear size selection on estimates of predator diets and the need to use a variety of gears that sample a wide range of predator sizes. Additionally, the identification of forage species requires an evaluation of criteria outside of life history characteristics and a greater emphasis on the contribution of a prey species to a predator's diet.}, number={6}, journal={Marine and Coastal Fisheries}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Binion‐Rock, Samantha M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Rock, Jason E. and West, Katy and Paramore, Lee M.}, year={2019}, month={Nov}, pages={393–413} }
 @article{runde_rudershausen_sauls_mikles_buckel_2019, title={Low discard survival of gray triggerfish in the southeastern US hook-and-line fishery}, volume={219}, ISSN={0165-7836}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2019.105313}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2019.105313}, abstractNote={We estimated condition-specific survival rates of gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) using a tag-recapture approach and extrapolated these values to produce an overall discard survival estimate for the US South Atlantic recreational hook-and-line fishery. Tag return rates of fish tagged at the seafloor using SCUBA served as a reference for return rates of fish tagged at the surface. We examined the validity of gross necropsy as a proxy for survival by identifying likely causes of discard mortality. Best-condition surface-released fish (no external trauma) had an estimated mean proportional survival of 0.39 (95% confidence interval 0.28, 0.55). For gray triggerfish exhibiting visible trauma, estimated survival was 0.24 (0.10, 0.60). Floating fish had a survival rate of zero. The necropsy-based estimate of gray triggerfish lacking organ displacement closely matched the tag-based estimate of survival. Mean estimated discard survival across all depths for North Carolina was 0.35 (0.10, 0.59) and for Florida was 0.34 (0.08, 0.59). These results have implications for gray triggerfish management because our estimate of discard survival is substantially lower than previously assumed and for future discard survival research given our findings with gross necropsies.}, journal={Fisheries Research}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Sauls, Beverly and Mikles, Chloe S. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2019}, month={Nov}, pages={105313} }
 @article{rudershausen_hightower_buckel_o’donnell_dubreuil_letcher_2019, title={Survival and Density of a Dominant Fish Species Across a Gradient of Urbanization in North Carolina Tidal Creeks}, volume={42}, ISSN={1559-2723 1559-2731}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00575-5}, DOI={10.1007/s12237-019-00575-5}, number={6}, journal={Estuaries and Coasts}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Hightower, J. E. and Buckel, J. A. and O’Donnell, M. J. and Dubreuil, T. and Letcher, B. H.}, year={2019}, month={Jun}, pages={1632–1653} }
 @article{rudershausen_m. lee_lombardo_merrell_buckel_2019, title={Survival and Habitat of Yellow‐Phase American Eels in North Carolina Tidal Creeks}, volume={148}, ISSN={0002-8487 1548-8659}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/tafs.10190}, DOI={10.1002/tafs.10190}, abstractNote={AbstractWe estimated rates of survival as well as effects of habitat on catch rates of juvenile yellow‐phase American Eels Anguilla rostrata in southeastern U.S. tidal creeks. We trapped and marked eels with PIT tags at 24 fixed sites in eight North Carolina tidal creeks and then recaptured and resighted the tagged individuals to estimate apparent survival. Separate Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) models were fitted to mark–recapture data (eight creeks) versus mark–resight data (four creeks) to estimate apparent survival. Median annual apparent survival (Φ) was higher when the CJS model was fitted to mark–resight data (Φ = 0.15) than to mark–recapture data (Φ = 0.013). Negative binomially distributed models were fitted to catch rates of both tagged and untagged eels to test for habitat, development, and seasonal effects. The presence/absence of culverts and season were meaningful covariates of catch rates; greater catches were found at sites possessing culverts and during the spring. Other habitat and development factors at the site, creek, and watershed levels were not important covariates of catch rates. Partitioning the sources of loss of yellow‐phase American Eels from these systems into mortality versus emigration would be useful future research in the southeastern U.S. coastal region. Further study into how culverts affect yellow‐phase American Eel habitation and movement in southeastern U.S. estuaries is also warranted.}, number={5}, journal={Transactions of the American Fisheries Society}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and M. Lee, Laura and Lombardo, Steven M. and Merrell, Jeffery H. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2019}, month={Aug}, pages={978–990} }
 @article{honeycutt_deck_miller_severance_atkins_luckenbach_buckel_daniels_rice_borski_et al._2019, title={Warmer waters masculinize wild populations of a fish with temperature-dependent sex determination}, volume={9}, ISSN={2045-2322}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42944-x}, DOI={10.1038/s41598-019-42944-x}, abstractNote={AbstractSouthern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) exhibit environmental sex determination (ESD), where environmental factors can influence phenotypic sex during early juvenile development but only in the presumed XX female genotype. Warm and cold temperatures masculinize fish with mid-range conditions producing at most 50% females. Due to sexually dimorphic growth, southern flounder fisheries are dependent upon larger females. Wild populations could be at risk of masculinization from ESD due to globally increasing water temperatures. We evaluated the effects of habitat and temperature on wild populations of juvenile southern flounder in North Carolina, USA. While northern habitats averaged temperatures near 23 °C and produced the greatest proportion of females, more southerly habitats exhibited warmer temperatures (>27 °C) and consistently produced male-biased sex ratios (up to 94% male). Rearing flounder in the laboratory under temperature regimes mimicking those of natural habitats recapitulated sex ratio differences observed across the wild populations, providing strong evidence that temperature is a key factor influencing sex ratios in nursery habitats. These studies provide evidence of habitat conditions interacting with ESD to affect a key demographic parameter in an economically important fishery. The temperature ranges that yield male-biased sex ratios are within the scope of predicted increases in ocean temperature under climate change.}, number={1}, journal={Scientific Reports}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Honeycutt, J. L. and Deck, C. A. and Miller, S. C. and Severance, M. E. and Atkins, E. B. and Luckenbach, J. A. and Buckel, J. A. and Daniels, H. V. and Rice, J. A. and Borski, R. J. and et al.}, year={2019}, month={Apr} }
 @article{bacheler_shertzer_buckel_rudershausen_runde_2018, title={Behavior of gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus around baited fish traps determined from fine-scale acoustic tracking}, volume={606}, ISSN={0171-8630 1616-1599}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps12780}, DOI={10.3354/meps12780}, abstractNote={Most reef fish surveys use bait to attract individuals to bite hooks, enter traps, or be counted on underwater video. The behavior of fish around baited gears, however, is poorly understood despite its importance for estimating catchability. We used a fine-scale acoustic positioning system to elucidate the movement behaviors of 11 telemetered gray triggerfish Balistes capriscus around 54 baited fish traps deployed at a 37 m deep site in Raleigh Bay, North Carolina, USA. Median positional error rates from a reference transmitter were 1−2 m, suggesting fish positions were accurate and precise. Overall, 104 170 spatial positions were determined for gray triggerfish over the 42 d study. There were 27 instances of telemetered gray triggerfish responding to baited fish traps. These fish responded from initial distances up to 312 m (mean = 68 m) from traps and spent 4−95% (mean = 35%) of their time within 20 m of traps. Using generalized additive models, we determined that telemetered gray triggerfish were most likely to respond to baited traps when they were initially located close to (<100 m), and down-current from, baited traps. There were substantial differences in gray triggerfish responses and water clarity across the 3 recapture periods, suggesting gray triggerfish use vision, olfaction, and perhaps sound to locate bait. Our modeling approach is general, and could be used to quantify the behavior of myriad organisms around sampling gears in various types of aquatic systems.}, journal={Marine Ecology Progress Series}, publisher={Inter-Research Science Center}, author={Bacheler, NM and Shertzer, KW and Buckel, JA and Rudershausen, PJ and Runde, BJ}, year={2018}, month={Nov}, pages={133–150} }
 @article{runde_buckel_2018, title={Descender Devices are Promising Tools for Increasing Survival in Deepwater Groupers}, volume={10}, ISSN={["1942-5120"]}, DOI={10.1002/mcf2.10010}, abstractNote={AbstractDiscard survival of deepwater (>60 m) groupers (Serranidae; Epinephelinae) is often assumed to be 0% given the severity of barotrauma and the inability of fish to submerge. We used acoustic telemetry to study the activity of 19 deepwater grouper after a recompressed release with a descender device, achieved by rapidly returning fish to a depth where expanded gases can contract. The species tested were the Scamp Mycteroperca phenax (n = 8), Snowy Grouper Hyporthodus niveatus (n = 7), and Speckled Hind Epinephelus drummondhayi (n = 4). Individuals of all three species showed post‐recompression variation in water depth and acceleration indicative of survival, whereas information from other tags indicated discard mortality. Nonparametric Kaplan–Meier survivorship procedures yielded a 14‐d survival estimate of 0.50 (95% confidence interval = 0.10–0.91); although low, this estimate is higher than the currently assumed 0% survival. Additionally, our estimate of discard survival is likely biased low because we assumed that no individuals shed their tag, which is unlikely for our attachment method. A technique to increase discard survival of deepwater groupers may lead to better‐constructed regulations for reef fishes in the southeastern USA and in other areas where these species are caught and released.}, number={2}, journal={MARINE AND COASTAL FISHERIES}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2018}, month={Apr}, pages={100–117} }
 @article{mikles_harms_buckel_rudershausen_2018, title={Examining the Severity of Roof-Hooking Injuries in Dolphinfish: a Comparison between Computed Tomography and Gross Necropsy}, volume={39}, ISSN={0275-5947}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10252}, DOI={10.1002/nafm.10252}, abstractNote={AbstractWe describe hook trauma to the roof of the mouth in Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus and compare computed tomography (CT) scanning to gross necropsy (GN) as a technique for diagnosing hooking injury in fish. Forty‐two Dolphinfish carcasses spanning a range of hook injuries were collected and CT scanned, and 33 of those carcasses were evaluated using GN. Specimens were hooked either in the roof of the mouth, the eye via the roof or upper jaw, or the jaw (control group). In 75% of roof‐hooked individuals, GN revealed nondisplaced to comminuted fractures of the bones of the suspensorium, hematomas in and laceration of the extraocular muscles, and/or damage to the optic nerve. These injuries have the potential to compromise vision and therefore decrease postrelease survival rates of obligate sight‐feeding species such as the Dolphinfish. We evaluated the effectiveness of CT scanning to diagnose injury and found that CT could efficiently and accurately identify fractures and some soft‐tissue damage, but some injuries found in GN (e.g., optic nerve damage) were not observed on CT scans. Based on our findings, it is likely that mortality is greater in Dolphinfish when hooked in the roof of the mouth than when hooked in the jaw. This study demonstrates a novel technique that was effective at diagnosing hooking injuries associated with the roof of the mouth.}, number={1}, journal={North American Journal of Fisheries Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Mikles, Chloe S. and Harms, Craig A. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Rudershausen, Paul J.}, year={2018}, month={Dec}, pages={36–44} }
 @article{rudershausen_merrell_buckel_2018, title={Fragmentation of habitat affects communities and movement of nekton in salt marsh tidal creeks}, volume={586}, ISSN={["1616-1599"]}, DOI={10.3354/meps12385}, abstractNote={Supplement. Code modified from Kéry (2010) for fitting random-intercept binomially distributed generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) (logit links) via Bayesian inference to data on movement of adult Fundulus heteroclitus past road and reference crossings in North Carolina tidal creeks. GLMMs were run through R software by calling JAGS software. Similar code was used for additional models fitted to other combinations of covariates (see Table 3).}, journal={MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Merrell, Jeffery H. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2018}, month={Jan}, pages={57–72} }
 @article{ellis_hightower_buckel_2018, title={Relative importance of fishing and natural mortality for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) estimated from a tag-return model and corroborated with survey data}, volume={199}, ISSN={["1872-6763"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2017.11.004}, abstractNote={The spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is one of the most economically important sportfish in the U.S. South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, including at its northern distributional extent in North Carolina and Virginia. The recent stock assessment for this region used an assumed fixed rate of natural mortality (M), obtained from a general life-history relationship based on weight. However, biased estimates of fishing mortality (F) could result if the life-history proxy failed to capture either the magnitude or temporal variation in M. Data from the first comprehensive tag-return study of spotted seatrout in this region were used in a Bayesian statistical modeling framework to estimate F and M. Both laboratory and field studies, including high-reward and double tagging, were conducted to obtain estimates of auxiliary parameters (i.e., tag-reporting rate, tag loss, and tagging mortality) necessary for the tag-return model. There was no measured mortality associated with tagging, but reporting rate and loss of internal anchor tags limited returns in this study. From 2008 to 2012, tag-return model estimates of bimonthly instantaneous mortality rates ranged from 0.003 to 0.067 2-mo−1 for F and from 0.002 to 2.850 2-mo−1 for M. Annual estimates of F were much lower than M for the three years studied, and annual M-estimates were higher than those used for spotted seatrout in this region's recent stock assessment. Bimonthly estimates of total mortality rate (Z) from tag-return data were similar to bimonthly estimates of Z from an independent analysis of concurrent gill net survey data, which corroborates the variability and magnitude of mortality estimates determined from tagging. A strong seasonal influence (i.e., winter severity) on annual loss of spotted seatrout was observed, suggesting that future assessments and management measures for this stock would be improved by explicitly accounting for temporal variation in M in models of fishery population dynamics.}, journal={FISHERIES RESEARCH}, author={Ellis, Timothy A. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2018}, month={Mar}, pages={81–93} }
 @article{runde_harris_buckel_2018, title={Symposium Review: Using Electronic Tags to Estimate Vital Rates in Fishes}, volume={43}, ISSN={0363-2415}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/FSH.10077}, DOI={10.1002/FSH.10077}, abstractNote={FisheriesVolume 43, Issue 6 p. 268-270 Column: 2017 Annual Meeting Symposium Review: Using Electronic Tags to Estimate Vital Rates in Fishes Brendan J. Runde, Brendan J. Runde bjrunde@ncsu.edu Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 303 College Cir., Morehead City, NC, 28557Search for more papers by this authorJulianne E. Harris, Julianne E. Harris U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office, Columbia River Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Vancouver, WASearch for more papers by this authorJeffrey A. Buckel, Jeffrey A. Buckel Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NCSearch for more papers by this author Brendan J. Runde, Brendan J. Runde bjrunde@ncsu.edu Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 303 College Cir., Morehead City, NC, 28557Search for more papers by this authorJulianne E. Harris, Julianne E. Harris U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office, Columbia River Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Vancouver, WASearch for more papers by this authorJeffrey A. Buckel, Jeffrey A. Buckel Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NCSearch for more papers by this author First published: 25 June 2018 https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10077Citations: 2Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume43, Issue6June 2018Pages 268-270 RelatedInformation}, number={6}, journal={Fisheries}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Runde, Brendan J. and Harris, Julianne E. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2018}, month={Jun}, pages={268–270} }
 @article{ellis_buckel_hightower_poland_2017, title={Relating cold tolerance to winterkill for spotted seatrout at its northern latitudinal limits}, volume={490}, ISSN={["1879-1697"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jembe.2017.01.010}, abstractNote={In the absence of winter thermal refugia, acute cold stress can lead to episodic mass mortality (winterkill) in fishes. Populations existing near the northern extent of a species' latitudinal range, such as spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier, 1830), in North Carolina, USA, are particularly vulnerable to winterkill. Information on cold tolerance for spotted seatrout is incomplete, which limits understanding of a likely important source of natural mortality for this species. In this study, two laboratory experiments for controlled exposure of spotted seatrout to dynamic decreases in water temperature were conducted in order to determine cold tolerance as affected by either rapid or prolonged exposure to low-temperature extremes across upper- (10) and lower-estuarine (30) salinities. Under rapid exposure, spotted seatrout were unable to maintain equilibrium at temperatures ≤ 4°C, with a small but measured mitigating effect of high salinity on the onset of observed physiological stress. No fish survived prolonged exposure (2 d) to 3 °C but spotted seatrout were tolerant of exposures to 5 °C for approximately 5 d, after which survival precipitously declined. Survival after 10-d exposure to 7 °C was high but not absolute. Salinity had no measured effect on mortality rates in the prolonged exposure trials. These empirical estimates of low-temperature thresholds, along with previously determined field estimates of instantaneous winter natural mortality rate (M), were used to develop models for predicting M. Historic daily water temperatures were used to estimate winter M of spotted seatrout from 1994 to 2015. Predictions of M suggest winterkill (≥ 50% population loss) in eight of the last 22 years; these years correspond to anecdotal and fishery-independent observations of winterkill events in North Carolina. The results of this study provide strong evidence for thermally-limited overwinter survival of spotted seatrout at its northern latitudinal limits, where winterkill events can have population-level impacts.}, journal={JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY}, author={Ellis, Timothy A. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Poland, Stephen J.}, year={2017}, month={May}, pages={42–51} }
 @article{ellis_buckel_hightower_2017, title={Winter severity influences spotted seatrout mortality in a southeast US estuarine system}, volume={564}, ISSN={["1616-1599"]}, DOI={10.3354/meps11985}, abstractNote={MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 564:145-161 (2017) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11985 Winter severity influences spotted seatrout mortality in a southeast US estuarine system Timothy A. Ellis1,*, Jeffrey A. Buckel1, Joseph E. Hightower2 1Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, 303 College Circle, Morehead City, NC 28557, USA 2Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7617, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA *Corresponding author: taellis@ncsu.edu ABSTRACT: Winterkill in spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus is associated with extreme cold conditions throughout much of the species' geographic range. However, rigorous study is needed to confirm longstanding but largely untested assumptions that acute cold stress drives overwinter loss. We provide the first direct field-based estimates of spotted seatrout survival relative to the severity of cold temperatures. Spotted seatrout overwintering in North Carolina, USA, estuaries were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters and monitored during 3 consecutive and variable winters from 2009 to 2012. Fates of telemetered fish were inferred from daily movements and used in a multistate capture-recapture model to estimate instantaneous rates of natural mortality (M), fishing mortality, and emigration. Natural death was inferred for 7 fish in 2009/2010 (n = 34 telemetered spotted seatrout at risk), 6 fish in 2010/2011 (n = 9 fish at risk), and 1 fish in 2011/2012 (n = 65 fish at risk), and when estimable, weekly M ranged from 0.001 to 0.187. Daily estimates of natural mortality increased quickly with declining water temperatures (T), M = 1/[1 + e-(-0.714-0.756T)], and indicated that cold-stun deaths occurred when water temperatures were below ~7°C. Our results provide direct evidence that winterkill in spotted seatrout at its northern limits of distribution is related to the severity of low water temperatures and demonstrate that the simultaneous monitoring of telemetry-tagged animals and abiotic conditions is an effective approach to determine lethal environmental limits. KEY WORDS: Cynoscion nebulosus · Telemetry · Multistate · Capture-recapture · Survival · Winterkill · Cold tolerance · Temperature-dependent mortality · Mortality rate Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Ellis TA, Buckel JA, Hightower JE (2017) Winter severity influences spotted seatrout mortality in a southeast US estuarine system. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 564:145-161. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11985Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 564. Online publication date: February 03, 2017 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2017 Inter-Research.}, journal={MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES}, author={Ellis, Timothy A. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hightower, Joseph E.}, year={2017}, month={Feb}, pages={145–161} }
 @article{rudershausen_hightower_buckel_2016, title={Can optimal trap mesh size be predicted from body depth in a laterally-compressed fish species?}, volume={179}, ISSN={["1872-6763"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2016.03.007}, abstractNote={We used fish body depth to predict trap center-to-center mesh sizes that would optimize size selection of black sea bass Centropristis striata for both current and proposed minimum size limits for this species. We fished trap types of five different square mesh sizes/configurations: (1) 38.1 mm mesh, (2) 38.1 mm mesh on five sides and 50.8 mm mesh on one side (back panel trap), (3) 50.8 mm mesh, (4) 57.2 mm mesh, and (5) 63.5 mm mesh. The 38.1 mm mesh trap was the control trap type. Back panel traps are the minimally legal mesh configuration in this region while 50.8 mm mesh traps are commonly used in this fishery to further reduce culling of sub-legal black sea bass by fishers. Two previously untested mesh sizes, 57.2 and 63.5 mm, were evaluated because a previously published morphometric relationship between black sea bass body depth and total length (TL) predicted that the diagonal openings of these two respective mesh sizes would retain black sea bass close to the current (279 mm) and proposed minimum TL limits (305 mm). We estimated size selection of each experimental trap type by comparing catches of control and experimental traps. All but the back panel trap displayed relatively steep selection around the fish length at which 50% of individuals were selected (l50). Initial size at retention (l10) by the 57.2 and 63.5 mm trap types were nearly identical to current and proposed minimum fish sizes, respectively. Predictions from the body depth: TL relationship were very similar to estimates of l10 and l50, based on uncompressed body depth and compression to 93%. The 57.2 mm mesh and 63.5 mm mesh trap types maintained catches of legal fish but reduced catches of sub-legal fish compared to the back panel and 50.8 mm mesh trap types. Relative to back panel and 50.8 mm mesh traps, use of 57.2 mm mesh traps would reduce rates of discard and discard mortality given current size limits in this fishery.}, journal={FISHERIES RESEARCH}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Hightower, J. E. and Buckel, J. A.}, year={2016}, month={Jul}, pages={259–270} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_dueker_poland_hain_2016, title={Comparison of fish and invertebrate assemblages among variably altered tidal creeks in a coastal landscape}, volume={544}, ISSN={["1616-1599"]}, DOI={10.3354/meps11597}, abstractNote={Table S1. Habitat characteristics and environmental measurements of watershed, creek, and water quality metrics for six tidal creeks in coastal North Carolina (USA) sampled with a 1 m throw trap and wire mesh minnow traps monthly from spring-fall 2012 and 2013. Metrics apply only to that portion of each creek over which fish data were collected (see Methods for details). Minnow trap sampling was conducted in all six creeks; throw trap sampling occurred in each creek except Webb Creek. Measurements with associated parenthesis are: average (standard error).}, journal={MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Buckel, J. A. and Dueker, M. A. and Poland, S. J. and Hain, E.}, year={2016}, month={Feb}, pages={15–35} }
 @article{brewer_rudershausen_sterba-boatwright_merrell_buckel_2016, title={Survival, Tag Retention, and Growth of Spot and Mummichog following PIT Tag Implantation}, volume={36}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1080/02755947.2015.1135213}, abstractNote={AbstractWe conducted three laboratory studies to determine the effects of surgically implanted, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags on survival, tag retention, and growth in two abundant estuarine fishes. The effects of the 12.5‐mm PIT tags were examined in Spot Leiostomus xanthurus, and the effects of the 12.5‐mm and 8.4‐mm tags were examined in Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus. For each experiment, Spot and Mummichogs were divided into three size‐groups: small, medium, and large. Tagged Spot had lower survival rates than the untagged conspecifics with the exception of the larger Spot, where there was no difference in survival rates. Large Spot also had the highest tag retention (86%) and tagging “success” (i.e., 80% survived and retained their tag). There was no significant difference in the survival rate between the 12.5‐mm tagged and untagged Mummichogs; there was no significant effect of Mummichog size on survival, tag retention, or success; and success for all 12.5‐mm tagged Mummichogs was 87%. Survival estimates were 90%, 95%, and 100% for the small, medium, and large 8.4‐mm tagged Mummichogs; and tag retention was 100% for the survivors. Within the medium and large sized Spot and Mummichogs (for both 8.4‐mm and 12.5‐mm tags), there was no effect of PIT tag presence on growth (length or weight). Spot should be >68 mm TL to obtain a tag success of >90% using 12.5‐mm PIT tags. Tagging was successful for Mummichogs in the smallest sized groups examined but there was also an indication of lower growth rates for Mummichogs <50 mm marked with 12.5‐mm PIT tags. Mummichogs should thereby be >50 mm when initially tagged with 12.5‐mm PIT tags and more than ~36 mm TL when tagged with 8.4‐mm PIT tags. PIT tags can be used to successfully mark relatively small Spot and Mummichogs, potentially allowing for robust estimates of their demographic rates.Received April 2, 2015; accepted December 16, 2015 Published online May 31, 2016}, number={3}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Brewer, Melissa A. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Sterba-Boatwright, Blair D. and Merrell, Jeffery H. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2016}, pages={639–651} }
 @article{rudershausen_price_buckel_2015, title={Can bycatch in a flatfish gillnet fishery be reduced with rectangular mesh?}, volume={22}, ISSN={["1365-2400"]}, DOI={10.1111/fme.12141}, abstractNote={AbstractGillnets fished in North Carolina, USA, estuaries have high rates of bycatch relative to the target catch of southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma Jordan & Gilbert. This study tested whether rectangular‐mesh gillnets would maintain catch rates of southern flounder and reduce fish bycatch relative to conventional diamond‐mesh gillnets in two North Carolina estuaries. In the Neuse River estuary, catch rates of legal southern flounder were not different between the two mesh shapes, but the bycatch of red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus) and other fish species was reduced with rectangular‐mesh net. In the Newport River estuary, southern flounder and red drum catches were reduced in rectangular‐mesh net, but the decrease was greater for red drum. Catches of sublegal southern flounder were reduced in the rectangular‐mesh net in both estuaries. Reduced catch rates of sublegal southern flounder and bycatch species suggest rectangular mesh may help manage stocks of estuarine fish species in areas where gillnets are used to target flatfishes.}, number={5}, journal={FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND ECOLOGY}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Price, A. B. and Buckel, J. A.}, year={2015}, month={Oct}, pages={419–431} }
 @article{buckel_2014, title={Billion-Dollar Fish: The Untold Story of Alaska Pollock}, volume={39}, ISSN={0363-2415 1548-8446}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03632415.2014.903841}, DOI={10.1080/03632415.2014.903841}, abstractNote={FisheriesVolume 39, Issue 5 p. 221-221 Book Review Billion-Dollar Fish: The Untold Story of Alaska Pollock Jeffrey A. Buckel, Jeffrey A. Buckel Department of Applied Ecology, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NCSearch for more papers by this author Jeffrey A. Buckel, Jeffrey A. Buckel Department of Applied Ecology, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NCSearch for more papers by this author First published: 21 May 2014 https://doi.org/10.1080/03632415.2014.903841Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume39, Issue5May 2014Pages 221-221 RelatedInformation}, number={5}, journal={Fisheries}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2014}, month={May}, pages={221–221} }
 @article{callihan_godwin_buckel_2014, title={Effect of demography on spatial distribution: movement patterns of the Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River stock of Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) in relation to their recovery}, volume={112}, ISSN={["1937-4518"]}, DOI={10.7755/fb.112.2-3.3}, number={2-3}, journal={FISHERY BULLETIN}, author={Callihan, Jody L. and Godwin, Charlton H. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2014}, pages={131–143} }
 @article{morley_buckel_2014, title={Effects of temperature and prey size on predator-prey interactions between bluefish and bay anchovy}, volume={461}, ISSN={["1879-1697"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jembe.2014.08.023}, abstractNote={Little is known about the behavioral responses of fishes at low temperatures. Of particular interest are predator–prey interactions because feeding at low temperature is necessary for the overwinter survival of many species. This experiment examined how low temperatures affect behavioral interactions between bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix L.) and two sizes of bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli V.) prey. Temperature had an effect on multiple responses of predator–prey encounters including the approach distance of bluefish towards prey, attack and escape speeds, and prey handling time. The reaction distance of prey was important in determining the outcome of an attack; anchovy reacting at a greater distance from an attacking bluefish escaped more often. However, temperature did not have an effect on either reaction distance or bluefish capture success. The influence of prey size depended on how capture success was defined. Bluefish ability at catching prey was not affected by anchovy size, but larger prey were ingested less frequently due to a greater incidence of prey being dropped in trials with large anchovy. Further, bluefish had greater difficulty handling and ingesting prey at lower temperatures, especially for larger prey. At the lowest temperature treatment small anchovy were readily consumed, but no attacks were made on larger prey. This shows that bluefish modify prey size-selectivity behavior based on temperature, which probably results from a perceived inability to handle and ingest large prey at low temperatures. These results suggest that at low winter temperatures bluefish are restricted to smaller prey.}, journal={JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY}, author={Morley, James W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2014}, month={Dec}, pages={449–457} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_dubreuil_o'donnell_hightower_poland_letcher_2014, title={Estimating movement and survival rates of a small saltwater fish using autonomous antenna receiver arrays and passive integrated transponder tags}, volume={499}, DOI={10.3354/meps10656}, abstractNote={We evaluated the performance of small (12.5 mm long) passive integrated transpon- der (PIT) tags and custom detection antennas for obtaining fine-scale movement and demographic data of mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus in a salt marsh creek. Apparent survival and detection probability were estimated using a Cormack Jolly Seber (CJS) model fitted to detection data col- lected by an array of 3 vertical antennas from November 2010 to March 2011 and by a single hor- izontal antenna from April to August 2011. Movement of mummichogs was monitored during the period when the array of vertical antennas was used. Antenna performance was examined in situ using tags placed in wooden dowels (drones) and in live mummichogs. Of the 44 tagged fish, 42 were resighted over the 9 mo monitoring period. The in situ detection probabilities of the drone and live mummichogs were high (~80�100%) when the ambient water depth was less than ~0.8 m. Upstream and downstream movement of mummichogs was related to hourly water depth and direction of tidal current in a way that maximized time periods over which mummichogs uti- lized the intertidal vegetated marsh. Apparent survival was lower during periods of colder water temperatures in December 2010 and early January 2011 (median estimate of daily apparent sur- vival = 0.979) than during other periods of the study (median estimate of daily apparent survival = 0.992). During late fall and winter, temperature had a positive effect on the CJS detection proba- bility of a tagged mummichog, likely due to greater fish activity over warmer periods. During the spring and summer, this pattern reversed possibly due to mummichogs having reduced activity during the hottest periods. This study demonstrates the utility of PIT tags and continuously oper- ating autonomous detection systems for tracking fish at fine temporal scales, and improving esti- mates of demographic parameters in salt marsh creeks that are difficult or impractical to sample with active fishing gear.}, journal={Marine Ecology Progress Series}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Buckel, J. A. and Dubreuil, T. and O'Donnell, M. J. and Hightower, J. E. and Poland, S. J. and Letcher, B. H.}, year={2014}, pages={177–192} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_hightower_2014, title={Estimating reef fish discard mortality using surface and bottom tagging: effects of hook injury and barotrauma}, volume={71}, ISSN={0706-652X 1205-7533}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2013-0337}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-2013-0337}, abstractNote={ We estimated survival rates of discarded black sea bass (Centropristis striata) in various release conditions using tag–recapture data. Fish were captured with traps and hook and line from waters 29–34 m deep off coastal North Carolina, USA, marked with internal anchor tags, and observed for release condition. Fish tagged on the bottom using SCUBA served as a control group. Relative return rates for trap-caught fish released at the surface versus bottom provided an estimated survival rate of 0.87 (95% credible interval 0.67–1.18) for surface-released fish. Adjusted for results from the underwater tagging experiment, fish with evidence of external barotrauma had a median survival rate of 0.91 (0.69–1.26) compared with 0.36 (0.17–0.67) for fish with hook trauma and 0.16 (0.08–0.30) for floating or presumably dead fish. Applying these condition-specific estimates of survival to non-tagging fishery data, we estimated a discard survival rate of 0.81 (0.62–1.11) for 11 hook and line data sets from waters 20–35 m deep and 0.86 (0.67–1.17) for 10 trap data sets from waters 11–29 m deep. The tag-return approach using a control group with no fishery-associated trauma represents a method to accurately estimate absolute discard survival of physoclistous reef species. }, number={4}, journal={Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, publisher={Canadian Science Publishing}, author={Rudershausen, P.J. and Buckel, J.A. and Hightower, J.E.}, editor={Jech, Josef MichaelEditor}, year={2014}, month={Apr}, pages={514–520} }
 @article{callihan_godwin_dockendorf_buckel_2014, title={Growth and Mortality of Hatchery-Reared Striped Bass Stocked into Nonnatal Systems}, volume={34}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1080/02755947.2014.951805}, abstractNote={AbstractCross‐stocking involves the use of fish from nonnatal sources to augment populations. This practice may not be effective, especially if fish from different populations are not well adapted to the environmental conditions of the areas intended for enhancement. Yet, the ecological consequences of cross‐stocking have received little attention, particularly in coastal environments. We used tag return data (1990–2010) from an ongoing stock enhancement program to compare the growth and mortality of hatchery‐reared Striped Bass Morone saxatilis of Roanoke River origin between their natal (Albemarle Sound estuary) and two nonnatal systems (Tar‐Pamlico and Neuse rivers) in North Carolina. Despite their Roanoke River origin, stocked juveniles exhibited high fidelity (>90%) to nonnatal systems and similarly high growth as in their natal habitat (von Bertalanffy K values were statistically similar among systems and ranged from 0.54 to 0.61). However, time‐at‐liberty estimators of total mortality (Z) indicated stocked Striped Bass experienced significantly higher mortality in nonnatal (Z values, 0.48–0.51) versus natal (Z = 0.33) systems. Therefore, while cross‐stocking may not contribute to stock rebuilding, it appeared to be an effective management tool for supporting local put‐and‐take fisheries for this recreationally and commercially important species.Received March 11, 2014; accepted July 16, 2014}, number={6}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Callihan, Jody L. and Godwin, Charlton H. and Dockendorf, Kevin J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2014}, pages={1131–1139} }
 @article{butler_hanrahan_buckel_rudershausen_juanes_smith_2014, title={Size-Selective Feeding in Captive and Free-Ranging Atlantic Bluefin Tuna}, volume={6}, ISSN={["1942-5120"]}, DOI={10.1080/19425120.2014.886644}, abstractNote={AbstractWe examined size‐selective feeding in captive and free‐ranging Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus. For the captive study, Bluefin Tuna were maintained in a cylindrical net‐pen enclosure (30.5 m in diameter; 15.2 m deep) located 32.2 km offshore of Virginia. Tests of prey size selectivity by captive Bluefin Tuna were observed using underwater video. In free‐ranging Bluefin Tuna, size selection was examined by comparing the sizes of Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus found in stomach contents with the sizes of those collected during the fall purse‐seine fishery for Atlantic Menhaden off the North Carolina coast. Captive Bluefin Tuna selected larger prey when prey length : predator length ratios (PPRs) were less than 10%; however, size selectivity was not observed when the PPRs exceeded 10%. For free‐ranging Bluefin Tuna, PPRs were mostly greater than 10% (12.98 ± 0.06% [mean ± SE]), and there were no significant differences in length between Atlantic Menhaden from stomach contents and those from purse‐seine collections. The minimum and median sizes of Atlantic Menhaden prey increased with increasing predator size; however, the maximum size of Atlantic Menhaden prey did not change, indicating that the smallest Bluefin Tuna sampled could consume the largest Atlantic Menhaden. We conclude that the relatively small size of forage fishes commonly observed in Bluefin Tuna stomachs was likely due to the high abundance of these fishes in the environment rather than to active selection for small prey.Received August 29, 2013; accepted January 14, 2014}, number={1}, journal={MARINE AND COASTAL FISHERIES}, author={Butler, Christopher M. and Hanrahan, Brian and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Juanes, Francis and Smith, Joseph W.}, year={2014}, pages={81–88} }
 @article{morley_buckel_lankford_2013, title={Relative contribution of spring- and summer-spawned bluefish cohorts to the adult population: effects of size-selective winter mortality, overwinter growth, and sampling bias}, volume={70}, ISSN={["1205-7533"]}, DOI={10.1139/cjfas-2012-0332}, abstractNote={ Length distributions of juvenile bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) are bimodal, consisting of spring- and summer-spawned fish. Research during the 1990s from the northeastern United States suggested that the summer cohort contributes little to the adult population and that overwinter mortality may limit their survival. We examined length distributions of juvenile bluefish from before and after winter and found that the mean length of the summer cohort increased during winter. Based on a winter-growth experiment and temperatures from the two winters examined, changes in mean length were due to size-selective mortality for one year class and growth for the other. Despite evidence for winter mortality, summer-spawned bluefish were commonly caught at age 1. We reexamined the relative contribution of each cohort to the adult population using archived scales from North Carolina fisheries. Cohort origin of adults was determined by back-calculating length at age 1. One-third of adults consisted of summer-spawned fish, contrasting with previous research from the northeast. The differences in relative cohort abundance between the northeastern and southeastern United States arise from sized-based migration in age-1 and age-2 bluefish (the dominant age groups sampled in these studies) and the size-selective gear and sampling season in which they were collected. }, number={2}, journal={CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES}, author={Morley, James W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Lankford, Thomas E., Jr.}, year={2013}, month={Feb}, pages={233–244} }
 @article{friedl_buckel_hightower_scharf_pollock_2013, title={Telemetry-Based Mortality Estimates of Juvenile Spot in Two North Carolina Estuarine Creeks}, volume={142}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1080/00028487.2012.730108}, abstractNote={AbstractWe estimated natural mortality rates (M) of age‐1 Spot Leiostomus xanthurus by using a sonic telemetry approach. Sonic transmitters were surgically implanted into a total of 123 age‐1 Spot in two North Carolina estuarine creeks during spring 2009 and 2010, and the fish were monitored by using a stationary acoustic receiver array and manual tracking. Fates of telemetered Spot were inferred based on telemetry information from estimated locations and swimming speeds. Potential competitors of age‐1 Spot were assessed through simultaneous otter trawl sampling, while potential predators of Spot were collected using gill nets and trammel nets. The number of inferred natural mortalities was zero in 2009 (based on 29 telemetered Spot at risk) and four in 2010 (based on 52 fish at risk), with fish being at risk for up to about 70 d each year. Catches of potential competitors or predators did not differ between years, and age‐1 Spot were not found in analyzed stomach contents of potential predators. Our estimated 30‐d M of 0.03 (95% credible interval = 0.01–0.07) was lower than that predicted from weight‐based (M = 0.07) and life‐history‐based (M = 0.06–0.36) estimates. Our field‐based estimate of M for age‐1 Spot in this estuarine system can assist in the assessment and management of Spot by allowing a direct comparison with M‐values predicted from fish size or life history characteristics. The field telemetry and statistical analysis techniques developed here provide guidance for future telemetry studies of relatively small fish in open, dynamic habitat systems, as they highlight strengths and weaknesses of using a telemetry approach to estimate M.}, number={2}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Friedl, Sarah E. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Scharf, Fred S. and Pollock, Kenneth H.}, year={2013}, month={Mar}, pages={399–415} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_bolton_gregory_averett_conn_2012, title={A comparison between circle hook and J hook performance in the dolphinfish, yellowfish tuna, and wahoo troll fishery off the coast of North Carolina}, volume={110}, number={2}, journal={Fishery Bulletin}, author={Rudershausen, P.J. and Buckel, J.A. and Bolton, G. and Gregory, R. and Averett, T. and Conn, P.}, year={2012}, month={Apr}, pages={156–175} }
 @article{morley_buckel_lankford_2012, title={Comparing Multiple Predictors of Energy Content in Juvenile Bluefish}, volume={141}, ISSN={["0002-8487"]}, DOI={10.1080/00028487.2012.675909}, abstractNote={AbstractThe need to estimate energetic status in fish is common, but determining energy content is costly. We examined the relationship between the energy density of wild juvenile bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix (115–310 mm) and multiple indicators of energetic status to develop regression models for predicting bluefish energy content. Energy density was strongly related to the percent dry mass of whole fish (r2 = 0.99) but poorly related to residual wet mass (r2 = 0.33), a commonly used condition index. Energy density was related to three hepatosomatic indices: liver wet mass (r2 = 0.45), liver dry mass (r2 = 0.64), and liver energy content (r2 = 0.70). Energy density was nonlinearly related to percent dry weight in muscle tissue (r2 = 0.93) and energy density in muscle tissue (r2 = 0.83). A biphasic pattern of lipid storage was found in muscle tissue, with very little lipid stored until after a threshold in percent dry weight is exceeded. Using our predictive equation, the energy content in whole bluefish can be determined using the percent dry weight of muscle tissue. However, our predictive model should only be used for wild‐caught bluefish because laboratory‐held fish exhibited higher lipid : protein ratios in muscle tissue.}, number={4}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Morley, James W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Lankford, Thomas E., Jr.}, year={2012}, pages={1109–1116} }
 @article{bacheler_buckel_paramore_2012, title={Density-dependent habitat use and growth of an estuarine fish}, volume={69}, ISSN={0706-652X 1205-7533}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f2012-098}, DOI={10.1139/f2012-098}, abstractNote={ Density dependence can stabilize or destabilize population size through negative or positive feedback controls operating over different spatial and temporal scales. While many species have been shown to exhibit density dependence, the topic has received little attention in estuaries where environmental variability and larval supply are often considered to be the primary drivers of population dynamics. We used multiple long-term, fishery-independent data sets and a unique modeling approach to test the hypothesis that juvenile red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ) exhibit density-dependent habitat use and growth rates in estuaries in North Carolina, USA. Age-1 red drum exhibited density-dependent habitat use after accounting for environmental and landscape variables, disproportionately increasing northward and coastward in the study area at high abundance. Apparent individual growth rates of age-0 and age-1 red drum were generally negatively related to the abundance of their own age classes, but evidence of density-dependent growth rates for age-2 red drum was weak to nonexistent. Changes in spatial distribution of red drum when overall abundance was high did not overcome density-dependent effects on individual growth rates. Thus, density-dependent effects have potential negative feedbacks on population growth in estuaries and should not be ignored in future theoretical or empirical estuarine studies. }, number={11}, journal={Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, publisher={Canadian Science Publishing}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Paramore, Lee M.}, editor={Rochet, Marie-JoëlleEditor}, year={2012}, month={Nov}, pages={1734–1747} }
 @article{adamski_buckel_martin_ahrenholz_hare_2012, title={FERTILIZATION DATES, PELAGIC LARVAL DURATIONS, AND GROWTH IN GAG (MYCTEROPERCA MICROLEPIS) FROM NORTH CAROLINA, USA}, volume={88}, ISSN={["1553-6955"]}, DOI={10.5343/bms.2012.1003}, abstractNote={We estimated pelagic larval duration (PLD) and age from the otolith microstructure of post-larval and juvenile gag, Mycteroperca microlepis (Goode and Bean, 1879). These estimates were used to: (1) estimate spawning periods; (2) evaluate lunar periodicity in spawning; (3) assess relationships between PLD and fertilization date, ingress date, capture date, and size at capture; and (4) compare juvenile growth rates in two consecutive years and with rates determined in previous studies. Postlarval and juvenile gag were collected from late spring to early fall of 2007 and 2008 using a variety of gear types; otoliths from postlarvae collected in previous years were also examined. Estimated fertilization dates ranged from February to April with concentrations aligned with the first and third quarters of the lunar cycle. The mean PLD was approximately 45 d for fish collected as postlarvae or juveniles despite a 6 mo range of collection dates (April-September). The distributions of PLDs were similar among sampling months suggesting no effect of PLD on subsequent survival. Although there was no relationship between PLD and date of ingress, PLD was shorter for fish with later fertilization dates. Juvenile growth rates derived from length and estimated ages were approximately 1.4 mm d-1 during summer months and did not differ between years. Our findings support the timing (January-April) of fishing closures on aggregations of spawning gag in the southeast US and suggest that post-settlement survival is not linked to PLD}, number={4}, journal={BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE}, author={Adamski, Kyle M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Martin, Gretchen Bath and Ahrenholz, Dean W. and Hare, Jonathan A.}, year={2012}, month={Oct}, pages={971–986} }
 @article{wuenschel_able_buckel_morley_lankford_branson_conover_drisco_jordaan_dunton_et al._2012, title={Recruitment Patterns and Habitat Use of Young-of-the-Year Bluefish along the United States East Coast: Insights from Coordinated Coastwide Sampling}, volume={20}, ISSN={["1547-6553"]}, DOI={10.1080/10641262.2012.660999}, abstractNote={Protracted spawning and pulsed juvenile production are common in coastal spawning fishes, the phenology of which determines potential environmental effects on recruitment. This article examines bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), a cosmopolitan coastal spawning species that produces multiple cohorts of juveniles utilizing both estuarine and coastal habitats as nurseries along the U.S. east coast. To determine recruitment on a coastwide basis, ocean (bottom, neuston, and surfzone) and estuarine habitats were sampled in Florida and North Carolina south of Cape Hatteras in the South Atlantic Bight, and Maryland, New Jersey, and New York in the Middle Atlantic Bight. This coordinated sampling effort across multiple habitats with multiple gears on a coastwide basis allowed the resolution of the occurrence, growth, and movement of cohorts along the coast. Production of the spring-spawned cohort occurred in both South Atlantic Bight and Middle Atlantic Bight habitats, while summer-spawned cohort production was limited to the Middle Atlantic Bight. Information from the present study is synthesized with prior research to develop a conceptual model of the seasonal patterns of YOY bluefish habitat use and to emphasize the value of coordinated sampling at a large spatial scale in understanding recruitment processes in this and potentially other important marine species.}, number={2}, journal={REVIEWS IN FISHERIES SCIENCE}, author={Wuenschel, Mark J. and Able, Kenneth W. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Morley, James W. and Lankford, Thomas and Branson, A. C. and Conover, David O. and Drisco, Damien and Jordaan, Adrian and Dunton, Keith and et al.}, year={2012}, pages={80–102} }
 @article{adamski_buckel_shertzer_martin_taylor_2011, title={Developing Fishery-Independent Indices of Larval and Juvenile Gag Abundance in the Southeastern United States}, volume={140}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1080/00028487.2011.601213}, abstractNote={AbstractWe developed an index describing the abundance of gags Mycteroperca microlepis at the planktonic postlarval stage, and we assessed the index's potential for use in stock assessment. Data on postlarval gags were collected weekly at the Pivers Island bridge near Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, during the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's bridgenet program (ichthyoplankton sampling, November–May 1986–2008); additionally, ichthyoplankton were sampled nightly during spring in 2007 and 2008. Catch of juvenile gags was examined in relation to several factors to assist in developing and refining fishery‐independent surveys; juveniles were sampled with a small trawl in seagrass beds at 15–20 randomly selected stations near Beaufort Inlet every 2 weeks during June–September 2007 and 2008. Catches of postlarval and juvenile gags were low in both gear types. From 1986 to 2008, weekly concentrations of postlarval gags were highest from mid‐April to mid‐May, and peak ingress coincided with new moon periods. Juvenile gags were caught throughout the June–September sampling period, and the highest catch per unit effort was observed in July and August. Time of year, percent seagrass coverage, seagrass species, and location inside the estuary influenced juvenile gag catch per unit effort. Growth rates of juvenile gags were rapid (∼1.5 mm/d) during summer months and did not differ between years. An annual index of postlarval abundance (adjusted for lunar effects) was developed. The spawning stock biomass from the most recent gag stock assessment was positively correlated with the postlarval abundance index; therefore, this index could be used as a fishery‐independent index of spawning stock biomass.}, number={4}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Adamski, Kyle M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Shertzer, Kyle W. and Martin, Gretchen Bath and Taylor, J. Christopher}, year={2011}, month={Jul}, pages={973–983} }
 @misc{hunsicker_ciannelli_bailey_buckel_white_link_essington_gaichas_anderson_brodeur_et al._2011, title={Functional responses and scaling in predator-prey interactions of marine fishes: Contemporary issues and emerging concepts}, volume={14}, number={12}, journal={Ecology Letters}, author={Hunsicker, M. E. and Ciannelli, L. and Bailey, K. M. and Buckel, J. A. and White, J. W. and Link, J. S. and Essington, T. E. and Gaichas, S. and Anderson, T. W. and Brodeur, R. D. and et al.}, year={2011}, pages={1288–1299} }
 @article{rudershausen_mitchell_buckel_williams_hazen_2010, title={Developing a two-step fishery-independent design to estimate the relative abundance of deepwater reef fish: Application to a marine protected area off the southeastern United States coast}, volume={105}, ISSN={["0165-7836"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2010.05.005}, abstractNote={Reliable data on reef fishes inhabiting the southeastern United States (North Carolina to Florida) continental shelf large marine ecosystem are difficult to obtain; catch quotas and time and area closures limit the collection of fishery-dependent samples. Further, unbiased fishery-independent samples are expensive to collect with conventional fishing gear. Consequently, stock assessments are often data-limited, especially for deepwater reef species. We estimated the relative abundance of deepwater reef fish with a double sampling approach using fisheries acoustics and conventional fishing gear (hook and line and chevron traps). Double sampling occurred within the newly-created Snowy Wreck Marine Protected Area and a nearby control site. Reef fish concentrations were identified by a single-beam Simrad ES60 transceiver with a transducer operating at 38 kHz. Hook and line samples were collected at 73 acoustic events, and chevron trap samples were collected at 20 acoustic events. The relationship between fisheries acoustic data and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data was examined to develop a model to predict species-generic CPUE at unfished locations. Akaike's Information Criteria (AIC) found equal support for linear, exponential, and power relationships between acoustic backscatter and CPUE for each conventional fishing gear. Further model development would be aided by refining acoustic target information and applying complimentary fish sampling gears (i.e., split-beam fisheries acoustics gear, underwater video). Given further development, a double sampling design should be useful to estimate the relative abundance of important deepwater reef species over a wide area of the shelf break off the southeastern United States, utilizing either survey vessels or vessels-of-opportunity to rapidly collect acoustic samples.}, number={3}, journal={FISHERIES RESEARCH}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Mitchell, W. A. and Buckel, J. A. and Williams, E. H. and Hazen, E.}, year={2010}, pages={254–260} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_edwards_gannon_butler_averett_2010, title={Feeding Ecology of Blue Marlins, Dolphinfish, Yellowfin Tuna, and Wahoos from the North Atlantic Ocean and Comparisons with Other Oceans}, volume={139}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/t09-105.1}, abstractNote={AbstractWe examined diet, dietary niche width, diet overlap, and prey size–predator size relationships of blue marlins Makaira nigricans, dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus, yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares, and wahoos Acanthocybium solandri caught in the western North Atlantic Ocean during the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament (BRT) in 1998–2000 and 2003–2009 and dolphinfish captured outside the BRT from 2002 to 2004. Scombrids were important prey of blue marlins, yellowfin tuna, and wahoos; other frequently consumed prey included cephalopods (for yellowfin tuna and wahoos) and exocoetids (for yellowfin tuna). Dolphinfish diets included exocoetids, portunids, and conspecifics as important prey. Blue marlins and wahoos consumed relatively few prey species (i.e., low dietary niche width), while dolphinfish had the highest dietary niche width; yellowfin tuna had intermediate niche width values. Maximum prey size increased with dolphinfish size; however, the consumption of small prey associated with algae Sargassum spp. occurred across the full size range of dolphinfish examined. Most interspecific diet overlap values with dolphinfish were not significant; however, blue marlins, yellowfin tuna, and wahoos had significant diet overlap due to their reliance on scombrid prey. Prey types found in blue marlins, dolphinfish, and wahoos were more consistent among BRT years than prey found in yellowfin tuna. The prey of yellowfin tuna and wahoos collected during BRT years correlated with historic (early 1980s) diet data from North Carolina, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Bahamas. Based on principal components analysis, diets from several oceans clustered together for blue marlins, dolphinfish, yellowfin tuna, and wahoos. Although differences were found, the diets of each predator were largely consistent both temporally (e.g., over the past three decades in the Gulf Stream) and spatially (among oceans), despite potential effects of fishing or environmental changes.}, number={5}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Edwards, Jason and Gannon, Damon P. and Butler, Christopher M. and Averett, Tyler W.}, year={2010}, month={Sep}, pages={1335–1359} }
 @article{butler_rudershausen_buckel_2010, title={Feeding ecology of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in North Carolina: Diet, daily ration, and consumption of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)}, volume={108}, number={1}, journal={Fishery Bulletin (Washington, D.C.)}, author={Butler, C. M. and Rudershausen, P. J. and Buckel, J. A.}, year={2010}, pages={56–69} }
 @article{bacheler_hightower_burdick_paramore_buckel_pollock_2010, title={Using generalized linear models to estimate selectivity from short-term recoveries of tagged red drum Sciaenops ocellatus: Effects of gear, fate, and regulation period}, volume={102}, ISSN={["1872-6763"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2009.12.007}, abstractNote={Estimating the selectivity patterns of various fishing gears is a critical component of fisheries stock assessment due to the difficulty in obtaining representative samples from most gears. We used short-term recoveries (n = 3587) of tagged red drum Sciaenops ocellatus to directly estimate age- and length-based selectivity patterns using generalized linear models. The most parsimonious models were selected using AIC, and standard deviations were estimated using simulations. Selectivity of red drum was dependent upon the regulation period in which the fish was caught, the gear used to catch the fish (i.e., hook-and-line, gill nets, pound nets), and the fate of the fish upon recovery (i.e., harvested or released); models including all first-order interactions between main effects outperformed models without interactions. Selectivity of harvested fish was generally dome-shaped and shifted toward larger, older fish in response to regulation changes. Selectivity of caught-and-released red drum was highest on the youngest and smallest fish in the early and middle regulation periods, but increased on larger, legal-sized fish in the late regulation period. These results suggest that catch-and-release mortality has consistently been high for small, young red drum, but has recently become more common in larger, older fish. This method of estimating selectivity from short-term tag recoveries is valuable because it is simpler than full tag-return models, and may be more robust because yearly fishing and natural mortality rates do not need to be modeled and estimated.}, number={3}, journal={FISHERIES RESEARCH}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Burdick, Summer M. and Paramore, Lee M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Pollock, Kenneth H.}, year={2010}, month={Mar}, pages={266–275} }
 @article{bacheler_buckel_hightower_paramore_pollock_2009, title={A combined telemetry - tag return approach to estimate fishing and natural mortality rates of an estuarine fish}, volume={66}, ISSN={["1205-7533"]}, DOI={10.1139/F09-076}, abstractNote={A joint analysis of tag return and telemetry data should improve estimates of mortality rates for exploited fishes; however, the combined approach has thus far only been tested in terrestrial systems. We tagged subadult red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ) with conventional tags and ultrasonic transmitters over 3 years in coastal North Carolina, USA, to test the efficacy of the combined telemetry – tag return approach. There was a strong seasonal pattern to monthly fishing mortality rate (F) estimates from both conventional and telemetry tags; highest F values occurred in fall months and lowest levels occurred during winter. Although monthly F values were similar in pattern and magnitude between conventional tagging and telemetry, information on F in the combined model came primarily from conventional tags. The estimated natural mortality rate (M) in the combined model was low (estimated annual rate ± standard error: 0.04 ± 0.04) and was based primarily upon the telemetry approach. Using high-reward tagging, we estimated different tag reporting rates for state agency and university tagging programs. The combined telemetry – tag return approach can be an effective approach for estimating F and M as long as several key assumptions of the model are met.}, number={8}, journal={CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Paramore, Lee M. and Pollock, Kenneth H.}, year={2009}, month={Aug}, pages={1230–1244} }
 @article{bacheler_paramore_buckel_hightower_2009, title={Abiotic and biotic factors influence the habitat use of an estuarine fish}, volume={377}, ISSN={["0171-8630"]}, DOI={10.3354/meps07805}, abstractNote={For migratory fishes that occupy multiple habitats, surveys conducted at different scales may be required to assess habitat use. We used generalized additive models (GAMs) to relate water quality, microhabitat, geographic, and temporal factors to catches of 2 age classes of subadult red drum Sciaenops ocellatus from a 6 yr fishery-independent gill net survey in North Carolina, USA. Age-1 and age-2 red drum were most often caught in shallow, nearshore waters; in some regions, both showed a preference for seagrass. Age-1 red drum were primarily captured at 2 different salin- ity ranges (0 to 5 and 20 to 30 psu), while age-2 red drum abundance was not related to salinity. A smaller-scale analysis of 36 telemetered age-2 red drum in a small tributary of the Neuse River showed a negative response to salinity, a positive response to dissolved oxygen, a dome-shaped response to prey evenness, and a positive response to total prey. Although subadult red drum can tol- erate a wide variety of environmental conditions, our research suggests that they associate with both abiotic and biotic factors in very specific ways. Habitat use patterns of subadult red drum were age-, scale-, and sometimes region-dependent, highlighting the need for examining habitat use patterns of estuarine organisms at multiple life history stages and scales if generalities about how species respond to abiotic and biotic factors are sought.}, journal={MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Paramore, Lee M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hightower, Joseph E.}, year={2009}, pages={263–277} }
 @article{scharf_buckel_juanes_2009, title={Contrasting patterns of resource utilization between juvenile estuarine predators: the influence of relative prey size and foraging ability on the ontogeny of piscivory}, volume={66}, ISSN={["0706-652X"]}, DOI={10.1139/F09-030}, abstractNote={ In aquatic systems, ontogenetic patterns of resource utilization strongly influence growth and survival, particularly during early life stages. We compared prey resource use and evaluated potential factors affecting the timing of the shift to piscivorous feeding in two juvenile estuarine fish predators: striped bass ( Morone saxatilis ) and bluefish ( Pomatomus saltatrix ). In New York Bight estuaries, bluefish shift to piscivory earlier in ontogeny and consume larger relative prey fish sizes compared with striped bass. Predator gape allometries are similar and did not determine maximum prey sizes eaten. Experimental results revealed marked differences in foraging abilities between predators, with bluefish realizing much greater foraging efficiency compared with striped bass feeding on identical fish prey. Both predators demonstrated lower feeding efficiency and grew relatively poorly when feeding on invertebrates compared with fish prey. When held together under limited prey conditions, bluefish exploited a greater proportion of available prey at the expense of striped bass. Our findings highlight the importance of the availability of appropriately sized forage fishes to the ontogeny of piscivory and provide evidence that predator–prey size relationships and disparate foraging abilities can generate inter- and intra-specific variation in patterns of resource utilization and predator growth. }, number={5}, journal={CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES}, author={Scharf, Frederick S. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Juanes, Francis}, year={2009}, month={May}, pages={790–801} }
 @article{buckel_pessutti_rosendale_link_2009, title={Interactions between bluefish and striped bass: Behavior of bluefish under size- and number-impaired conditions and overlap in resource use}, volume={368}, ISSN={["1879-1697"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jembe.2008.09.002}, abstractNote={A decline in bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix L.) recreational landings during the 1990s and the early 2000s led to multiple theories on the ultimate cause. One theory was that a large portion of the bluefish population moved offshore and was unavailable to nearshore recreational fishers; one reason given for the movement offshore was increased competition with striped bass (Morone saxatilis W.). We conducted laboratory experiments (feeding and non-feeding) to examine behavioral interactions between adult bluefish and sub-adult striped bass in a large (121,000 L) research aquarium. Additionally, we examined diet and habitat overlap of bluefish and striped bass from the fall and spring bottom trawl surveys conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Observations of feeding trials for the following treatments were made: non-impaired (i.e., same number and size of bluefish and striped bass), size-impaired (i.e., large striped bass/small bluefish), number-impaired (i.e.,10 striped bass/3bluefish), and single-species controls. Within a species, there was no difference in a variety of behavioral measures (e.g., attack rate, capture success, ingestion rate, and activity) between mixed- and control treatments under non-impaired or size-impaired conditions. However, behavior of number-impaired bluefish differed from control and size-impaired fish suggesting that striped bass may have a negative influence on bluefish foraging when bluefish are “out-numbered”. Feeding had a strong effect on swimming speeds for both species. Diet and habitat overlap between bluefish and striped bass in continental shelf waters was low. Overall, foraging behavior in mixed-species treatments and field observations suggest no competitive interactions between adult bluefish and sub-adult striped bass.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY}, author={Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Pessutti, Jeffrey P. and Rosendale, John E. and Link, Jason S.}, year={2009}, month={Jan}, pages={129–137} }
 @article{taylor_mitchell_buckel_walsh_shertzer_martin_hare_2009, title={Relationships between Larval and Juvenile Abundance of Winter‐Spawned Fishes in North Carolina, USA}, volume={1}, ISSN={1942-5120 1942-5120}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/c08-015.1}, DOI={10.1577/c08-015.1}, abstractNote={AbstractWe analyzed the relationships between the larval and juvenile abundances of selected estuarine‐dependent fishes that spawn during the winter in continental shelf waters of the U.S. Atlantic coast. Six species were included in the analysis based on their ecological and economic importance and relative abundance in available surveys: spot Leiostomus xanthurus, pinfish Lagodon rhomboides, southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma, summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus, Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus, and Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus. Cross‐correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between the larval and juvenile abundances within species. Tests of synchrony across species were used to find similarities in recruitment dynamics for species with similar winter shelf‐spawning life‐history strategies. Positive correlations were found between the larval and juvenile abundances for three of the six selected species (spot, pinfish, and southern flounder). These three species have similar geographic ranges that primarily lie south of Cape Hatteras. There were no significant correlations between the larval and juvenile abundances for the other three species (summer flounder, Atlantic croaker, and Atlantic menhaden); we suggest several factors that could account for the lack of a relationship. Synchrony was found among the three southern species within both the larval and juvenile abundance time series. These results provide support for using larval ingress measures as indices of abundance for these and other species with similar geographic ranges and winter shelf‐spawning life‐history strategies.}, number={1}, journal={Marine and Coastal Fisheries}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Taylor, J. Christopher and Mitchell, Warren A. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Walsh, Harvey J. and Shertzer, Kyle W. and Martin, Gretchen Bath and Hare, Jonathan A.}, year={2009}, month={Jan}, pages={12–21} }
 @article{bacheler_paramore_burdick_buckel_hightower_2009, title={Variation in movement patterns of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) inferred from conventional tagging and ultrasonic telemetry}, volume={107}, number={4}, journal={Fishery Bulletin (Washington, D.C.)}, author={Bacheler, N. M. and Paramore, L. M. and Burdick, S. M. and Buckel, J. A. and Hightower, J. E.}, year={2009}, pages={405–419} }
 @article{schwenke_buckel_2008, title={Age, growth, and reproduction of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) caught off the coast of North Carolina}, volume={106}, number={1}, journal={Fishery Bulletin}, author={Schwenke, K.L. and Buckel, J.A.}, year={2008}, month={Jan}, pages={82–92} }
 @article{bacheler_hightower_paramore_buckel_pollock_2008, title={An Age-Dependent Tag Return Model for Estimating Mortality and Selectivity of an Estuarine-Dependent Fish with High Rates of Catch and Release}, volume={137}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/T07-146.1}, abstractNote={AbstractRed drum Sciaenops ocellatus support commercial and recreational fisheries in North Carolina, but the stock was overfished in the 1980s because fishing was unregulated. Subsequent fishery regulations increased subadult survival into adult age‐classes, but overall stock status is difficult to assess because of migration to ocean waters, prohibited harvest of older fish, and relative importance of catch and release. We analyzed 24 years of tagging data from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to assess the effects of two regulation changes (effected in 1991 and 1998) on fishing mortality rate (F) and selectivity (SEL) patterns of red drum. We used an age‐dependent tag return model that accounted for both harvest and catch‐and‐release fishing. Using external estimates of natural mortality (M) and annual tag retention rate, we obtained precise estimates of annual F; an overall tag reporting rate (λ); and fate‐specific, age‐specific, and regulation‐period‐specific SEL. Estimated F of fully selected red drum was high and variable before 1991 (mean F = 2.38) but decreased in magnitude and variability after 1991. A dome‐shaped pattern of SEL was observed for harvested fish in all regulation periods; maximum SEL occurred at age 2, when red drum were of harvestable size and found in more‐accessible estuarine waters. Selectivity for caught‐and‐released red drum generally decreased for younger ages and increased for older ages in later regulation periods. The λ was estimated at 18% and was generally insensitive to changes in the inputs of M or tag retention rate. As catch‐and‐release fishing increases, tag return models may be important tools for studying fish populations, as long as practical issues, such as λ, tag loss, timing of tagging, and hooking and tagging mortality, are addressed.}, number={5}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Hightower, Joseph E. and Paramore, Lee M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Pollock, Kenneth H.}, year={2008}, month={Sep}, pages={1422–1432} }
 @article{rudershausen_baker_buckel_2008, title={Catch rates and selectivity among three trap types in the US South Atlantic black sea bass commercial trap fishery}, volume={28}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1577/M07-159.1}, abstractNote={AbstractWe compared selectivity and catch rates of black sea bass Centropristis striata between two experimental trap types: back‐panel traps (50.8‐mm‐mesh back panels; 38.1‐mm mesh in all other panels), which represent the new legal minimum mesh configuration; and all‐panel traps (50.8‐mm mesh in all panels), which are electively used by a subset of fishers. Catches in both experimental trap types were compared with catches in control traps (38.1‐mm mesh in all panels). Traps were fished from October 2006 to March 2007 in waters 12–30 m deep in Onslow Bay, North Carolina. Correlation analyses were used to examine postrelease condition of discarded black sea bass in relation to fish density in traps and capture depth. We found that mean catch rates of sublegal‐sized black sea bass (<254 mm total length) were lower for control traps than for both experimental traps and were lower for back‐panel traps than for all‐panel traps; however, catch rates of legal‐sized fish were not different among trap types. Median black sea bass size increased with trap mesh size. Modeled selectivity for each experimental trap type was relatively knife‐edged (i.e., characterized by a narrow selection range); both experimental trap types caught smaller proportions of sublegal‐sized fish and higher proportions of legal‐sized fish than did control traps. Estimated immediate mortality rates of black sea bass discards were 3.7 (control), 1.1 (back panel), and 0.7% (all panel). Less‐favorable release condition was positively correlated with fish density and depth. Combining immediate discard mortality over observed depths (common depths for this fishery) and losses from observable barotrauma, the assumed mortality rate of discarded black sea bass in the U.S. South Atlantic commercial trap fishery (15%) may be too high.}, number={4}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Baker, M. Scott, Jr. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2008}, month={Aug}, pages={1099–1107} }
 @article{rudershausen_williams_buckel_potts_manooch_2008, title={Comparison of Reef Fish Catch per Unit Effort and Total Mortality between the 1970s and 2005-2006 in Onslow Bay, North Carolina}, volume={137}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/T07-159.1}, abstractNote={AbstractStock assessments indicate many reef fish species have declined in size and abundance in the Atlantic Ocean off the southeastern coast of the United States. However, commercial fishers often state that stock assessments do not match their observations. We compared fishery‐independent catch per unit effort (CPUE) and species composition data between the 1970s and 2005‐2006 for reef fishes in the vicinity of Onslow Bay, North Carolina. Additionally, total mortality (Z) was estimated by means of a length‐based catch‐curve analysis. Effort (drops) by rod and reel focused on three sites, two inshore (30 m deep) and one offshore (125 m). The CPUE was compared between periods within each site and larger area (inshore, offshore). The CPUEs of red porgyPagrus pagrus, vermilion snapperRhomboplites aurorubens, black sea bassCentropristis striata, and gray triggerfishBalistes capriscuswere greater in the 1970s than in 2005‐2006 at specific capture sites. Conversely, the CPUEs of red grouperEpinephelus morio, white gruntHaemulon plumieri, and bank sea bassC. ocyurawere greater in 2005‐2006 than in the 1970s. The CPUEs of snowy grouperE. niveatus, blueline tilefishCaulolatilus microps, and gagMycteroperca microlepisremained steady or increased between periods. Estimates ofZfor snowy grouper, blueline tilefish, red porgy, white grunt, and vermilion snapper were generally greater in 2005‐2006 than in the 1970s. Apex species caught in the 1970s but not in 2005‐2006 included red snapperLutjanus campechanus, silk snapperL. vivanus, warsaw grouperE. nigritus, and speckled hindE. drummondhayi. Catch rates and composition may have differed owing to differences in captains' skills and electronics despite efforts to standardize the fishing methods between periods. Estimates of total mortality are generally inconsistent with fisher observations and agree with recent stock assessments concluding that important reef species are overfished. Altogether, our results suggest that fishing and possibly other variables have affected the abundance and mortality of major species in this fishery.}, number={5}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Williams, Erik H. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Potts, Jennifer C. and Manooch, Charles S., III}, year={2008}, month={Sep}, pages={1389–1405} }
 @article{tuomikoski_rudershausen_buckel_hightower_2008, title={Effects of age-1 striped bass predation on juvenile fish in western Albemarle Sound}, volume={137}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/T05-239.1}, abstractNote={AbstractHistorically, the fisheries for adult river herring (i.e., alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and blueback herring A. aestivalis) and American shad A. sapidissima were economically important in Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. Stocks of these species are in decline, while stocks of striped bass Morone saxatilis have increased roughly 10‐fold in the Albemarle Sound‐Roanoke River since the early 1990s. The goal of this study was to quantify the predatory impact of age‐1 striped bass on age‐0 prey fishes by estimating striped bass consumption rates and comparing loss rates from predation with total prey loss rates using catch curves. Age‐1 striped bass and their potential prey were collected with beach and purse seines from western Albemarle Sound from spring to fall, 2002 and 2003. Commercially and ecologically important prey in one or both years included river herring, American shad, Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus, and yellow perch Perca flavescens. Predation by age‐1 striped bass had a marked effect on juvenile American shad densities in 2002 but little effect in 2003. Conversely, predation by age‐1 striped bass explained none of the loss in juvenile yellow perch in 2002 but accounted for nearly all of the loss early in 2003. In most cases, predation by age‐1 striped bass did not greatly influence juvenile alewife numbers. Juvenile blueback herring were preyed on during late summer and fall, but the predatory impact could not be confirmed because of apparent downstream emigration into the study area. Thus, for some species, these predator‐prey linkages are important in determining year‐class strength and should be incorporated into multispecies population models.}, number={1}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Tuomikoski, Jack E. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Hightower, Joseph E.}, year={2008}, month={Jan}, pages={324–339} }
 @article{bacheler_paramore_buckel_scharf_2008, title={Recruitment of juvenile red drum in North Carolina: Spatiotemporal patterns of year-class strength and validation of a seine survey}, volume={28}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1577/M07-144.1}, abstractNote={AbstractSixteen years of data from a North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries seining survey were analyzed to assess the validity of the survey, describe spatial and temporal patterns in recruitment of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus, and evaluate factors that potentially contribute to recruitment variation. Overall, 11,817 age‐0 red drum (total length = 11–104 mm) were collected in the survey during 1991–2006. Annual estimates of red drum recruitment were variable over time and showed no long‐term trend. The dome‐shaped catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE) pattern of all annual cohorts indicated that the seine survey captured peak abundance levels each year; the spatial coverage of the survey also appeared to be adequate. Regional correlations within North Carolina were strongest for areas that were adjacent to one another, and the North Carolina statewide index was not correlated with indices from Florida or Texas, suggesting that factors controlling recruitment of red drum operate at a scale of tens to hundreds of kilometers. Age‐0 red drum were caught at temperatures ranging from 8.5°C to 33.5°C and at salinities from 0.0 to 34.7 practical salinity units (psu; 1 psu ≈ 1‰). A generalized additive model explained only 8.1% of the variation in age‐0 abundance, suggesting that early juvenile abundance cannot be predicted with these abiotic factors. Variation in loss rates of age‐0 red drum appeared to be independent of variation in cohort density. The CPUE of age‐0 red drum was correlated with harvest of age‐2 fish 2 years later, suggesting that additional modification of year‐class strength after the early juvenile stage is moderate or weak. Results of this study have improved our understanding of red drum recruitment patterns while simultaneously validating the seine survey.}, number={4}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Paramore, Lee M. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Scharf, Frederick S.}, year={2008}, month={Aug}, pages={1086–1098} }
 @article{rudershausen_buckel_2007, title={Discard composition and release fate in the snapper and grouper commercial hook-and-line fishery in North Carolina, USA}, volume={14}, ISSN={["1365-2400"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2400.2007.00530.x}, abstractNote={Abstract  Minimum size limits may be ineffective for reef fishes because they often sustain barotrauma when caught from deep (>20 m) waters. A study was undertaken in conjunction with hook‐and‐line commercial fishermen to calculate discard percentages and evaluate potential release mortality of eight economically important species: black sea bass, Centropristis striata (Linnaeus), red grouper, Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes), snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus (Valenciennes), gag, Mycteroperca microlepis (Goode and Bean), scamp, Mycteroperca phenax (Jordan and Swain), vermilion snapper, Rhomboplites aurorubens (Cuvier), white grunt, Haemulon plumieri (Lacepède) and red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus). Fishing with baited hook and line occurred in 2004 and 2005 in Onslow Bay, NC, in waters 19–150 m deep. Sub‐legal discard rates were 15% for vermilion snapper, 25% for red porgy, 7% for red grouper, 33% for gag, 35% for scamp and 12% for black sea bass. Although mortality based on post‐release behaviour was relatively low, higher mortalities estimated from models incorporating hooking location and depth of capture suggest that minimum size limits may not provide the population benefits intended by management in the North Carolina reef fishery.}, number={2}, journal={FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND ECOLOGY}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Buckel, J. A.}, year={2007}, month={Apr}, pages={103–113} }
 @article{slater_lankford_buckel_2007, title={Overwintering ability of young-of-the-year bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix: effect of ration and cohort of origin on survival}, volume={339}, ISSN={0171-8630 1616-1599}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps339259}, DOI={10.3354/meps339259}, abstractNote={Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix have experienced declines in recruitment and adult abun- dance along the US East Coast since the mid-1980s. At the onset of winter, young-of-the-year (YOY) bluefish exhibit a multimodal size distribution including larger, spring-spawned fish (spring cohort) and smaller, summer-spawned fish (summer cohort). Declines in the adult stock appear to coincide with declines in recruitment success of the summer cohort. We investigated the hypothesis that poor recruitment success of the summer cohort results from size-selective winter mortality. Winter meso- cosm experiments were conducted to examine the effects of cohort of origin (spring vs. summer) and food availability (fed vs. unfed) on winter survival of YOY bluefish. Spring fish entered winter with sig- nificantly greater lipid reserves than summer fish. When fed, both cohorts stored lipids during late fall, depleted lipid reserves during winter, and experienced high overwinter survival. When starved, both cohorts mobilized lipids from multiple depots (liver, viscera, white muscle, red muscle, skin) and sum- mer fish experienced starvation mortality ~6 wk prior to spring fish. Although summer fish were more susceptible to winter starvation than spring fish, their starvation endurance (>90% survival probabil- ity after 120 d) appeared more than adequate to survive natural winter conditions. Interestingly, spring fish suffered a brief mortality event during January when water temperatures dropped briefly below 6°C, suggesting that larger individuals are less tolerant of acute cold stress. The remarkable starvation endurance of summer-spawned bluefish, coupled with their capacity for rapid lipid storage during fall and reduced rates of lipid depletion at low temperatures, implies that members of this cohort are physiologically well-equipped to survive their first winter of life. Our findings are inconsistent with the hypothesis that winter starvation accounts for decreased recruitment of the summer cohort to the western Atlantic stock.}, journal={Marine Ecology Progress Series}, publisher={Inter-Research Science Center}, author={Slater, JJ and Lankford, TE, Jr and Buckel, JA}, year={2007}, month={Jun}, pages={259–269} }
 @article{morley_buckel_lankford te_2007, title={Winter energy storage dynamics and cohort structure of young-of-the-year bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix off North Carolina}, volume={334}, ISSN={0171-8630 1616-1599}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps334273}, DOI={10.3354/meps334273}, abstractNote={The ecology of overwintering young-of-the-year bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix off North Carolina, USA, was examined for the 2001 and 2002 year-classes, to test the hypothesis that over- winter mortality affects the recruitment of summer-spawned bluefish. A trawling survey was con- ducted in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, from October 2001 to May 2002 and from September 2002 to June 2003 to determine bluefish abundance, cohort structure, energy density of white muscle and liver, and gut fullness. Up to 4 transects ranging from 0.4 to 16.1 km from shore were sampled monthly. Abundance of bluefish in Onslow Bay was high during the fall and declined with decreas- ing temperature in both years. Winter abundance was related to winter severity, with higher catches during the more mild winter of 2001 to 2002. At least 3 young-of-the-year cohorts were observed in both years. Gut fullness values generally followed temperature patterns, with reduced feeding during the winter. Energy reserves in white muscle and liver tissues peaked in November with larger fish having disproportionately more energy. However, by mid-winter there was little difference in energy reserves between the cohorts. These data suggest that larger fish deplete a greater portion of their energy stores as the season progresses while smaller fish deplete energy more slowly. Catch data show that summer-spawned bluefish survive the winter, but the magnitude of overwinter mortality remains uncertain.}, journal={Marine Ecology Progress Series}, publisher={Inter-Research Science Center}, author={Morley, JW and Buckel, JA and Lankford TE, Jr}, year={2007}, month={Mar}, pages={273–286} }
 @article{scharf_buckel_rose_juanes_cowan_2006, title={Effects of variable prey and cohort dynamics on growth of young-of-the-year estuarine bluefish: Evidence for interactions between spring- and summer-spawned cohorts}, volume={135}, ISSN={["0002-8487"]}, DOI={10.1577/T05-075.1}, abstractNote={AbstractPrevious field studies of bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix have documented variation in young‐of‐the‐year (age‐0) growth rates among years and between spring‐ and summer‐spawned cohorts. However, the potential factors responsible for generating variable growth in age‐0 bluefish have not been investigated. We constructed an individual‐based model that combined size‐dependent bluefish foraging with a bioenergetics model to quantify the potential effects of variable prey fish dynamics on first‐summer growth of juvenile bluefish. We used long‐term monitoring data to define baseline conditions and calibrate the model. We then performed three simulation experiments designed to assess the effects of initial density and arrival timing of prey species and bluefish cohorts on bluefish length distributions on October 1. Simulation experiments indicated that spring‐spawned bluefish were robust to fluctuations in prey dynamics because of a spawning strategy that ensures temporal overlap with a diversity of prey fish species. In contrast, summer‐spawned bluefish were sensitive to variation in prey fish dynamics because of their dependence on a single prey species. Model results also revealed the potential for the time of arrival and the initial density of the spring‐spawned cohort to affect the growth of the summer‐spawned cohort. Our findings demonstrate that population‐level interactions between bluefish and their prey can be complex and have a considerable influence on the early growth rates of the summer‐spawned cohort.}, number={5}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Scharf, Frederick S. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Rose, Kenneth A. and Juanes, Francis and Cowan, James H., Jr.}, year={2006}, month={Sep}, pages={1266–1289} }
 @article{buckel_hines_mcarthur_2006, title={Incidental catch and discard of red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, in a large mesh Paralichthyidae gillnet fishery: experimental evaluation of a fisher's experience at limiting bycatch}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1365-2400"]}, DOI={10.1111/j.1365-2400.2006.00485.x}, abstractNote={Abstract  The ability of a commercial fisher to limit red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus), bycatch was evaluated by comparing the catch of directed sets (net site chosen by the commercial fisher) vs randomly placed gillnets during 70 days of gillnetting (n = 691 sets). Catch rate did not differ between directed sets and nets set randomly. Thus, fisher experience did not lead to reduced bycatch; however, this may have been influenced by overall low red drum bycatch (0.41 fish net−1 for 12 h sets and 0.59 fish net−1 for 24 h sets). Catch rates of southern flounder were much higher at 3.97 and 3.37 fish net−1 for 12 h and 24 h sets, respectively. Fishing 10 nets per day, the catch of red drum exceeded the daily bag limit of seven red drum on 23% of the days. Of the 326 red drum retrieved from gillnets, 32.5% were dead at the time of retrieval; but only 15 of the 106 dead red drum had to be discarded due to size limits, and six were discarded dead based on bag limits. Current fisheries management regulations (bag limit and window limit of 457–686 mm) are supported by these findings given the conditions (e.g. red drum densities) at which the study was performed.}, number={2}, journal={FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND ECOLOGY}, author={Buckel, JA and Hines, RJ and McArthur, TC}, year={2006}, month={Apr}, pages={113–119} }
 @article{bethea_carlson_buckel_satterwhite_2006, title={Ontogenetic and site-related trends in the diet of the Atlantic sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae from the Northeast Gulf of Mexico}, volume={78}, number={2}, journal={Bulletin of Marine Science}, author={Bethea, D. M. and Carlson, J. K. and Buckel, J. A. and Satterwhite, M.}, year={2006}, pages={287–307} }
 @article{leblanc_buckel_conover_brownawell_2006, title={Tests of bioaccumulation models for polychlorinated biphenyl compounds: A study of young‐of‐the‐year bluefish in the Hudson River estuary, USA}, volume={25}, ISSN={0730-7268 1552-8618}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1897/05-444r.1}, DOI={10.1897/05-444r.1}, abstractNote={AbstractA field‐based study regarding uptake of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) by young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) was initiated to test a steady‐state model of bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in a rapidly growing fish. Determination of prey composition as well as size‐dependent growth and specific consumption rates for YOY bluefish from separate field and laboratory studies enabled the input of these species‐specific parameters into the model. Furthermore, the time and duration of the exposure of YOY bluefish to dissolved PCBs from a well‐characterized system (Hudson River, USA) was well known. Patterns of accumulation of individual PCB congeners differed relative to the accumulation of total PCBs, with the greatest net accumulation occurring for the higher‐molecular‐weight congeners. Comparison of lipid‐normalized bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) with the octanol–water partition coefficients of individual PCB congeners revealed bluefish to be above the BAFs predicted by lipid‐based equilibrium partitioning, suggesting that uptake from food is an important source of PCBs in YOY bluefish. Comparison of measured BAFs with values predicted by a steady‐state, food‐chain model showed good first‐order agreement.}, number={8}, journal={Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry}, publisher={Wiley}, author={LeBlanc, Lawrence A. and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Conover, David O. and Brownawell, Bruce J.}, year={2006}, month={Aug}, pages={2067–2076} }
 @article{brennan_leber_blankenship_ransier_debruler_2005, title={An evaluation of coded wire and elastomer tag performance in juvenile common snook under field and laboratory conditions}, volume={25}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1577/M04-003.1}, abstractNote={AbstractFrom 1997 to 2002, retention of coded wire tags (CWTs) and visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags was evaluated in a series of stock enhancement studies with common snook Centropomus undecimalis (60–230 mm fork length (FL)). These experiments were conducted in both field and laboratory settings in Sarasota, Florida. Retention rates of CWTs were stable after 30 d and remained greater than 97% even 1 year after tagging. Retention of VIE tags was compared among different body implant locations, implant techniques, and fish sizes. Body location had the strongest influence on VIE retention, and tags implanted in the fins (anal and caudal) had significantly higher retention rates (mean ± SE = 76 ± 9%) than those implanted in the head (adipose eyelid, jaw, and preorbital nose tissue; 5.6 ± 1.8%, P = 0.038) 1 year after tagging. After 1 year, however, most VIE tags—regardless of body location—were nearly indistinguishable or lost. Fish implanted with two VIE marks had consistently higher mean tag retention rates and visibility than those with single marks (86% versus 64% mean retention in the caudal fins 7–12 months after tagging). Fish size at tagging was not a significant contributor to tag loss. Tagging rates were slowest with VIEs: 250–400 fish per hour and 200–300 fish per hour when one and two VIE marks, respectively, were injected per fish. Tagging mortality was less than 1.6%. No significant differences in tag retention or mortality were found between field and laboratory trials. Overall, we recommend CWTs implanted in cheek muscle and at least two VIE marks implanted in the caudal fin as tagging methods and locations for juvenile common snook because of the ability to tag large numbers of fish, high tag retention, and low tagging mortality.}, number={2}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Brennan, NP and Leber, KM and Blankenship, HL and Ransier, JM and DeBruler, R}, year={2005}, month={May}, pages={437–445} }
 @article{bacheler_wong_buckel_2005, title={Movements and Mortality Rates of Striped Mullet in North Carolina}, volume={25}, ISSN={0275-5947 1548-8675}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/m04-033.1}, DOI={10.1577/m04-033.1}, abstractNote={AbstractStriped mullet Mugil cephalus is an economically important species to commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as an ecologically significant detritivore linking lower trophic levels with a wide variety of estuarine and marine fish and birds. Despite this importance, striped mullet migration patterns and mortality rates are poorly understood. Approximately 15,000 striped mullet were tagged in North Carolina between 1997 and 2001, and monthly movement information was collected on recovered individuals (n = 384) from commercial and recreational fishermen and state agency personnel. A tag return model was used to estimate an instantaneous total mortality rate, and this rate was partitioned into natural and fishing components by means of life history methods. Nearly all (98.2%) striped mullet were recovered in North Carolina, the remaining few being recovered in nearby states. Striped mullet moved southward of their tagging locations and had the highest daily movement rate between the months of August and November. Movements corresponded to the months when spawning migrations are thought to occur in North Carolina. A smaller but substantial proportion of fish were recovered north of their tagging locations in late fall. Instantaneous total mortality rates of 2.12 and 1.71 were estimated using the two most parsimonious models for individuals larger than 300 mm fork length, comparing well with preliminary estimates from an independent statistical catch‐at‐age model. Concomitant holding tank experiments suggested that tag retention and posttagging survival, two central assumptions of the tag return model, were extremely high for adult striped mullet. These results will be incorporated into the North Carolina striped mullet fishery management plan currently in development.}, number={1}, journal={North American Journal of Fisheries Management}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Bacheler, Nathan M. and Wong, Richard A. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2005}, month={Feb}, pages={361–373} }
 @article{rudershausen_tuomikoski_buckel_hightower_2005, title={Prey selectivity and diet of striped bass in western Albemarle Sound, North Carolina}, volume={134}, ISSN={["1548-8659"]}, DOI={10.1577/T04-115.1}, abstractNote={AbstractWe collected 1,399 striped bass Morone saxatilis from western Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, during May through October of 2002 and 2003 to characterize diet, prey type selectivity, and prey size selectivity. Herrings Alosa spp., Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus, bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli, silversides Menidia spp., and yellow perch Perca flavescens dominated the diets of age‐1 striped bass, while Atlantic menhaden dominated the diets of older striped bass. Selectivity was calculated for three categories of striped bass (ages 1, 2, and 3+ [3–7]) based on fish prey collections from a 61‐m beach seine and a 76‐m purse seine. Striped bass of all ages primarily consumed fish prey regardless of the month or year. Each age category of striped bass selected for one or more species of prey from the suborder Clupeoidei. Age‐1 striped bass selectivity of Alosa spp. generally increased with the progression of each sampling season, whereas selectivity for Atlantic menhaden, Menidia spp., and yellow perch decreased over time within each season. Striped bass of all ages displayed strong selection for Atlantic menhaden and strong selection against spiny‐rayed fish prey. Striped bass displayed selection for specific prey, although the mechanisms responsible for selection appear to vary through time and may differ for different prey types. Striped bass either displayed neutral size selectivity or selected for relatively small prey. The mean and maximum sizes of fish prey increased with increases in striped bass size, but the minimum prey size changed little. Our results of seasonal and age‐specific changes in selectivity will be valuable for modeling the impact of striped bass predation on resource prey species.}, number={5}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY}, author={Rudershausen, PJ and Tuomikoski, JE and Buckel, JA and Hightower, JE}, year={2005}, month={Sep}, pages={1059–1074} }
 @article{bacheler_buckel_2004, title={Does hook type influence the catch rate, size, and injury of grouper in a North Carolina commercial fishery?}, volume={69}, ISSN={["1872-6763"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.fishres.2004.07.001}, abstractNote={Members of the Epinephelinae subfamily of serranids (“grouper”) are heavily exploited by both recreational and commercial hook-and-line fishermen on the continental shelf of the southeastern United States. However, aspects of groupers’ biology and ecology render them extremely vulnerable to overexploitation, including slow growth, late reproduction, large size, and long life span. In addition to direct fishing mortality, hook and release mortalities likely occur when grouper are caught and released, due to injuries sustained from hooking as well as those associated with retrieval from deep waters. Here, we evaluated four hook sizes and styles (5/0 “J”, 7/0 “J”, 9/0 “J”, and 12/0 circle hooks) during the summer of 2003 by their ability to reduce catches of sublegal grouper and non-target species in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, USA. A total of 1249 fish representing 33 species were landed during 20 days of commercial fishing activities. The most common grouper landed were red grouper Epinephelus morio (n = 459), gag grouper Mycteroperca microlepis (n = 55), and scamp grouper Mycteroperca phenax (n = 50). Overall, 6.8% of grouper landed were below the minimum size limit, and the proportion of sublegal grouper caught per day decreased with depth. Catch rates for small grouper (i.e., <50.8 cm fork length), non-target individuals, and sharks varied across hook treatments, while catch rates for large grouper (i.e., ≥50.8 cm fork length) did not. Circle hooks significantly reduced gut hooking in all groupers as well as non-target species. The proportion of grouper and non-target fish that bled varied across hooking locations, with more fish bleeding from gut and gill hooking than jaw hooking. Finally, the proportion of red and gag grouper with distended stomachs was positively related to the water depth in which the fish were caught. These results suggest a tradeoff between fishing in shallow water to reduce depth-related injuries to grouper and fishing in deeper water to minimize the catch of sublegal grouper.}, number={3}, journal={FISHERIES RESEARCH}, author={Bacheler, NM and Buckel, JA}, year={2004}, month={Oct}, pages={303–311} }
 @article{buckel_sharack_zdanowicz_2004, title={Effect of diet on otolith composition in Pomatomus saltatrix, an estuarine piscivore}, volume={64}, DOI={10.1111/j.1095-8649.2004.00393.x}, number={6}, journal={Journal of Fish Biology}, author={Buckel, J. A. and Sharack, B. L. and Zdanowicz, V. S.}, year={2004}, pages={1469–1484} }
 @article{bethea_buckel_carlson_2004, title={Foraging ecology of the early life stages of four sympatric shark species}, volume={268}, ISSN={["0171-8630"]}, DOI={10.3354/meps268245}, abstractNote={Sharks may have an important role in marine ecosystems in relation to populations of fish and invertebrates at lower trophic levels. Fishery management plans stress the need for an ecosystem approach, but few quantitative studies on the foraging ecology of sharks have been published. Stomach contents and catch data of early life stages of Atlantic sharpnose Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, blacktip Carcharhinus limbatus, finetooth Carcharhinus isodon, and spinner sharks Carcharhinus brevipinna taken from fishery independent surveys in Apalachicola Bay, Florida, USA, were examined to test for overlap in resource use. Young-of-the-year Atlantic sharpnose sharks were found to feed mainly on shrimp, juveniles on sciaenids, and adults on clupeids. Young-of-the-year blacktip sharks were found to feed mainly on sciaenids, whereas juveniles fed on clupeids. The primary prey of young-of-the-year and juvenile finetooth and spinner sharks was clupeids. Eight of 10 prey size-selectivity tests showed neutral selection. Compared to relative prey sizes published for teleost piscivores, Atlantic sharpnose and finetooth sharks consume relatively small-sized prey while blacktip sharks consume relatively large prey. Regardless of maturity state and species, diet overlap was high for species-life stage combinations that are similar in size; however, species-life stages did not show significant habitat overlap. Prey categories shared by similar-sized species may not be limiting, although shark species may have alleviated competition pressure by partitioning the resource of time or space.}, journal={MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES}, author={Bethea, DM and Buckel, JA and Carlson, JK}, year={2004}, pages={245–264} }
 @article{buckel_stoner_2004, title={Negative effects of increasing group size on foraging in two estuarine piscivores}, volume={307}, ISSN={["0022-0981"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.jembe.2004.02.003}, abstractNote={The effect of predator density on per capita ingestion rates in two estuarine predators, age-0 bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix L.) and age-1 striped bass (Morone saxatilis W.), was examined in a 121,000-l research aquarium. Group size treatments were 3, 6, 12, and 24 predators; each treatment was provided with 100 prey (mummichog killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus L.) during a 22-h feeding trial. The behaviors of predator and prey were recorded. Predator type and group size had a significant effect on per capita ingestion rates. Bluefish had significantly higher per capita ingestion rates compared to striped bass. For bluefish, per capita ingestion rate was highest in the three predator group, while for striped bass, individuals in the six predator treatment had the highest ingestion rates. From these maxima, per capita ingestion rate values declined to their lowest values in the 24 predator treatment for both species. Several factors that may be responsible for lowered per capita ingestion rates at higher group sizes include predator interference, prey depletion, and anti-predator behaviors of prey. For juvenile bluefish and striped bass being a member of a relatively large group may lead to decreased individual ingestion rates. Given that large group sizes of these species occur in nature, we conclude that these foraging costs must be outweighed by benefits of group membership.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY}, author={Buckel, JA and Stoner, AW}, year={2004}, month={Aug}, pages={183–196} }
 @article{scharf_buckel_mcginn_juanes_2003, title={Vulnerability of marine forage fishes to piscivory: effects of prey behavior on susceptibility to attack and capture}, volume={294}, ISSN={0022-0981}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0022-0981(03)00260-0}, DOI={10.1016/s0022-0981(03)00260-0}, abstractNote={We conducted a series of size-structured laboratory experiments to quantify and compare the susceptibility of several estuarine and marine forage fishes to attack and capture by piscivorous predators. Size-dependent estimates of capture success, handling time, and prey profitability were generated from single-species experiments offering bay anchovy, Atlantic menhaden, Atlantic silverside, and age-0 striped bass to piscivores. Bay anchovy and Atlantic menhaden were most susceptible to capture and yielded high profitability compared to Atlantic silverside and age-0 striped bass prey. Variation in capture success among forage species was particularly influential in generating disparate profitability functions. Although morphological differences among forage species contributed to variation in susceptibility to predation, behavioral analyses indicated that variable reaction distances to approaching predators and activity levels of prey may explain a large fraction of the observed differences in susceptibility. When several forage species were offered to predators simultaneously in larger enclosures, mortality was highest and occurred earlier for bay anchovy and Atlantic menhaden compared to other prey, which points to the strong influence of predator capture success on overall forage fish vulnerability. Our results demonstrate species-specific differences among forage fishes in the ability to avoid attack and capture by piscivores, and we conclude that the expression of antipredator behaviors contributes significantly to variation in forage species vulnerability.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Scharf, Frederick S and Buckel, Jeffrey A and McGinn, Patricia A and Juanes, Francis}, year={2003}, month={Sep}, pages={41–59} }
 @article{buckel_mckown_2002, title={Competition between juvenile striped bass and bluefish: resource partitioning and growth rate}, volume={234}, ISSN={["0171-8630"]}, DOI={10.3354/meps234191}, abstractNote={The potential for competition to influence the population dynamics of bluefish Pomato- mus saltatrix and striped bass Morone saxatilis through interactions at the juvenile stage was exam- ined. Habitat and diet utilization were compared between juvenile striped bass and bluefish in 3 New York Bight marine embayments. Juvenile bluefish and striped bass were seldom captured together during the summer and early fall, suggesting low habitat overlap at the scale of a beach seine haul. Diet overlap was also low; age-0 bluefish (spring- and summer-spawned cohorts) had a more pisci- vorous diet than age-0 and age-1 striped bass. A 60d laboratory growth experiment tested for inter- ference competition between age-0 bluefish (spring-spawned) and age-1 striped bass fed fish prey in mixed- and single-species treatments. In the growth experiment, bluefish grew significantly faster than striped bass; however, within a species, there was no significant difference in growth between the mixed- and single-species treatments. Additionally, long-term field-monitoring data showed that annual estimates of growth rate for bluefish and striped bass were not correlated with annual esti- mates of their potential competitor's density. These field and laboratory data provide no evidence for competitive interactions between juvenile striped bass and bluefish.}, journal={MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES}, author={Buckel, JA and McKown, KA}, year={2002}, pages={191–204} }
 @inbook{juanes_buckel_scharf_2002, place={Malden, MA}, title={Feeding ecology of piscivorous fishes}, volume={1}, ISBN={9780632064830}, booktitle={Handbook of Fish Biology and Fisheries}, publisher={Blackwell Publishing}, author={Juanes, F. and Buckel, J.A. and Scharf, F.S.}, editor={Hart, P.J.B. and Reynolds, J.D.Editors}, year={2002}, pages={267–283} }
 @article{scharf_buckel_juanes_2002, title={Size-dependent vulnerability of juvenile bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli to bluefish predation: Does large body size always provide a refuge?}, volume={233}, ISSN={0171-8630 1616-1599}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps233241}, DOI={10.3354/meps233241}, abstractNote={Bay anchovy are known to be an important component of food webs in estuarine and coastal waters along the US east coast. Despite their role as a primary forage species for several top- level predators in these systems, very little is known about their behavioral interactions with preda- tors and the vulnerability of post-larval life stages to predation. In this study, we examined the vul- nerability of juvenile bay anchovy to age-0 bluefish predation using a size-structured laboratory design. For a range of bay anchovy and bluefish body sizes, we determined predator capture success, handling time costs, feeding rates, and prey profitabilities as functions of relative prey size. We eval- uated bluefish size selection when offered different sizes of bay anchovy simultaneously and identi- fied behavioral characteristics of prey that may contribute to disparate rates of attack. Bluefish cap- ture success was high on small relative prey sizes ( 50% of predator size), demonstrating that even large bay anchovy are highly susceptible to capture. Handling time and capture success relationships were combined with prey body mass to generate dome-shaped profitability curves that peaked at relative prey sizes of 0.50, which is much higher than typically observed for piscivore-prey interactions. Bluefish exhibited strong selection patterns and significantly higher attack rates on large bay anchovy. Disparate attack distributions on large and small bay anchovy appeared to be caused partly by differences in prey behavior among size groups. Our results suggest that bay anchovy may not achieve a refuge from predation with increased body size and support the importance of predation in shaping bay anchovy life history.}, journal={Marine Ecology Progress Series}, publisher={Inter-Research Science Center}, author={Scharf, FS and Buckel, JA and Juanes, F}, year={2002}, pages={241–252} }
 @article{juanes_buckel_scharf_2002, title={Symposium review: biology, ecology and life history of bluefish}, volume={12}, ISSN={["0960-3166"]}, DOI={10.1023/A:1025344418159}, number={4}, journal={REVIEWS IN FISH BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES}, author={Juanes, F and Buckel, J and Scharf, F}, year={2002}, pages={429–430} }
 @article{juanes_buckel_scharf_2001, title={Predatory behaviour and selectivity of a primary piscivore: comparison of fish and non-fish prey}, volume={217}, ISSN={0171-8630 1616-1599}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps217157}, DOI={10.3354/meps217157}, abstractNote={Young-of-the-year (YOY) bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix become piscivorous at about 40 mm total length, coinciding with a habitat shift from offshore waters to estuarine nursery areas. Although YOY bluefish are primarily piscivorous in estuarine waters, shrimp prey can often be an important component of diets in mid-summer. In this study, we first compare the feeding behaviour and prey selection patterns of bluefish feeding on fish Menidia menidia and sand shrimp Crangon septemspinosa prey in a series of laboratory experiments, and then assess prey-type selectivity in the field. Compared to consuming fish prey, ingesting shrimp prey involved added manipulation and close inspection by the predator. Feeding on shrimp prey resulted in lower attack success rates, longer handling times, and lower relative profitabilities than feeding on fish prey. When given a choice, bluefish selectively ingested fish prey over similarly-sized shrimp prey. The results of these experiments suggest that species-specific differences in prey response lead to the observed differ- ences in predator behaviour and selectivity. Examination of field-collected spring-spawned bluefish showed that their diet was dominated by fishes; however, sand shrimp were important prey in early summer. Selectivity index values showed that bluefish exhibited positive selection for fishes and avoidance of shrimp. The occurrence of shrimp in bluefish diets probably results from high relative abundance of shrimp and the small size of shrimp relative to fish prey. We conclude that the timing of bluefish entry into estuaries relative to peaks in abundance of various prey could have a strong effect on bluefish size at the end of the growing season and, therefore size-dependent survival.}, journal={Marine Ecology Progress Series}, publisher={Inter-Research Science Center}, author={Juanes, F and Buckel, JA and Scharf, FS}, year={2001}, pages={157–165} }
 @article{buckel_stoner_2000, title={Functional response and switching behavior of young-of-the-year piscivorous bluefish}, volume={245}, ISSN={0022-0981}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0022-0981(99)00155-0}, DOI={10.1016/s0022-0981(99)00155-0}, abstractNote={Young-of-the-year (YOY) bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (L.) impose significant mortality on recently metamorphosed striped bass, Morone saxatilis (W.) in the Hudson River estuary. Field observations indicate that bluefish selectivity on striped bass increases with increasing striped bass density suggesting a density-dependent feeding response. Functional response and switching experiments were conducted to aid in determining the mechanism for this response. The type of functional response exhibited by bluefish under several prey treatments was examined. These were striped bass alone, Atlantic silversides, Menidia menidia (L.) alone, striped bass with a background density of alternative prey, and striped bass in the presence of eelgrass Zostera marina (L.). The functional response of bluefish to increasing prey density was more similar to a type I or II model than a type III model under all treatments. Switching was examined by providing bluefish both striped bass and silversides at five different ratios with and without a prey refuge, eelgrass. Bluefish did not exhibit a type III functional response or switching behavior suggesting that these mechanisms do not explain the observed density-dependent selectivity pattern in the field. Switching experiments did suggest that the presence of prey refuge can determine selectivity by YOY bluefish in the field. The abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation and other prey refuge may be important in controlling the predatory impact of bluefish on striped bass in the Hudson River.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Buckel, Jeffrey A and Stoner, Allan W}, year={2000}, month={Mar}, pages={25–41} }
 @article{bell_buckel_stoner_1999, title={Effects of alternative prey on cannibalism in age‐1 bluefish}, volume={55}, ISSN={0022-1112 1095-8649}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00734.x}, DOI={10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00734.x}, abstractNote={Age‐1 bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix were offered both age‐0 bluefish and age‐1 Atlantic silversides Menidia menidia in the following proportions: 0:1·0, 0·25:0·75, 0·5:0·5, 0·75:0·25, 1·0:0. Atlantic silversides were consumed in greater proportion than offered throughout all treatments suggesting strong selection for silversides. There was no evidence of prey‐switching. The behavioural processes leading to age‐1 bluefish selection of Atlantic silversides was investigated. The proportion of attacks on each prey species was distributed randomly, or slightly higher on age‐0 bluefish; however, capture success was greater on silversides than on age‐0 bluefish prey. Therefore, age‐1 bluefish did not actively select for silversides and the observed selection pattern is a result of passive processes. These findings suggest that prey switching between age‐0 bluefish and an alternative prey probably does not act as a stabilizing mechanism in the bluefish population and confirm the importance of capture success in determining piscivore selectivity patterns.}, number={5}, journal={Journal of Fish Biology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Bell, G. W. and Buckel, J. A. and Stoner, A. W.}, year={1999}, month={Nov}, pages={990–1000} }
 @article{buckel_fogarty_conover_1999, title={Foraging habits of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, on the U.S. East Coast continental shelf}, volume={97}, number={4}, journal={Fishery Bulletin (Washington, D.C.)}, author={Buckel, J. A. and Fogarty, M. J. and Conover, D. O.}, year={1999}, pages={758–775} }
 @article{buckel_conover_steinberg_mckown_1999, title={Impact of age-0 bluefish (<i>Pomatomus saltatrix</i>) predation on age-0 fishes in the Hudson River estuary: evidence for density-dependent loss of juvenile striped bass (<i>Morone saxatilis</i>)}, volume={56}, ISSN={0706-652X 1205-7533}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f98-173}, DOI={10.1139/f98-173}, abstractNote={ We measured bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) weights, densities, and prey sizes during the summers of 1992 and 1993 and diets over a 4-year period (1990-1993) in the Hudson River estuary. This information was used to estimate the loss of young-of-the-year (YOY) striped bass (Morone saxatilis) resulting from YOY bluefish predation. We then compared this predation mortality with the total loss of striped bass in the system. Data from sampling surveys conducted since the mid-1970's were used to examine relationships between bluefish abundance and striped bass recruitment levels. YOY striped bass, bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), and Alosa spp. dominated YOY bluefish diets. There were ontogenetic and interannual differences in YOY bluefish diets. Bluefish avoided striped bass at low densities but selected for them at high densities, suggesting a density-dependent feeding response. In the early summer of 1993, bluefish predation accounted for 50-100% of the total estimated loss of YOY striped bass. A significant negative correlation exists between the relative magnitude of striped bass recruitment and bluefish abundance. We conclude that YOY bluefish are important predators of estuarine fish and can have a substantial impact on their recruitment. }, number={2}, journal={Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, publisher={Canadian Science Publishing}, author={Buckel, Jeffrey A and Conover, David O and Steinberg, Nancy D and McKown, Kim A}, year={1999}, month={Feb}, pages={275–287} }
 @article{buckel_fogarty_conover_1999, title={Mutual prey of fish and humans: A comparison of biomass consumed by bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, with that harvested by fisheries}, volume={97}, number={4}, journal={Fishery Bulletin (Washington, D.C.)}, author={Buckel, J. A. and Fogarty, M. J. and Conover, D. O.}, year={1999}, pages={776–785} }
 @article{buckel_letcher_conover_1998, title={Effects of a Delayed Onset of Piscivory on the Size of Age-0 Bluefish}, volume={127}, ISSN={0002-8487 1548-8659}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1998)127<0576:eoadoo>2.0.co;2}, DOI={10.1577/1548-8659(1998)127<0576:eoadoo>2.0.co;2}, abstractNote={Abstract Variation in advection or other physical forces may accelerate or delay arrival of young marine fishes into productive nearshore habitats, thereby affecting the length of the available growing season. The bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix is an oceanic spawner whose juvenile stages, upon entry into estuarine waters, become piscivorous and thereby experience greatly increased growth. Size attained during the growing season may therefore be determined by time of arrival into estuarine habitats. We exposed bluefish recently recruited to an estuary to three diet shift treatments in which test fish were fed adult brine shrimp Artemia sp. for 0, 10, or 20 d before they were switched to piscine prey. Bluefish that had a delayed onset of piscivory were smaller after 40 d of growth, indicating that they did not fully compensate for prior periods of slow growth. These bluefish did exhibit immediate moderate growth compensation (about 6% over 10 d) resulting from increased consumption rates, but relatively low g...}, number={4}, journal={Transactions of the American Fisheries Society}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Letcher, Benjamin H. and Conover, David O.}, year={1998}, month={Jul}, pages={576–587} }
 @article{scharf_buckel_juanes_conover_1998, title={Predation by juvenile piscivorous bluefish (<i>Pomatomus saltatrix</i>): the influence of prey to predator size ratio and prey type on predator capture success and prey profitability}, volume={55}, ISSN={0706-652X 1205-7533}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f98-056}, DOI={10.1139/f98-056}, abstractNote={ Capture success, handling time, prey vulnerability, and prey profitability were examined as a function of prey length/predator length ratio for age-0 juvenile bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) feeding on juvenile striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia). For each prey species, bluefish capture success declined linearly and handling time increased exponentially with increasing length ratios between 0.20 and 0.65. However, bluefish capture success was lower and handling times increased at a faster rate when feeding on juvenile striped bass compared with Atlantic silverside. Prey vulnerability, measured as bluefish predation rate, declined exponentially with increasing length ratios for each prey species. Profitability curves were dome shaped for each prey species; however, profitability values and the location of dome peaks differed between prey species. Capture success functions were combined with field length distributions to generate expected frequency distributions of length ratios included in bluefish diets. Comparisons resulted in good agreement between expected and observed sizes in bluefish diets, illustrating the importance of capture success in determining piscivore diets. Our results indicate that, for juvenile fishes, prey-specific morphological and behavioral differences can have significant effects on the outcome of predator-prey interactions and that size-based predation components are best represented as continuous functions of relative fish size. }, number={7}, journal={Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences}, publisher={Canadian Science Publishing}, author={Scharf, Frederick S and Buckel, Jeffrey A and Juanes, Francis and Conover, David O}, year={1998}, month={Jul}, pages={1695–1703} }
 @article{scharf_buckel_juanes_conover_1997, title={Estimating piscine prey size from partial remains: Testing for shifts in foraging mode by juvenile bluefish}, volume={49}, ISSN={["1573-5133"]}, DOI={10.1023/A:1007318918434}, number={3}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES}, author={Scharf, FS and Buckel, JA and Juanes, F and Conover, DO}, year={1997}, month={Jul}, pages={377–388} }
 @article{buckel_conover_1997, title={Movements, feeding periods, and daily ration of piscivorous young-of-the-year bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, in the Hudson River estuary}, volume={95}, number={4}, journal={Fishery Bulletin (Washington, D.C.)}, author={Buckel, J. A. and Conover, D. O.}, year={1997}, pages={665–679} }
 @article{buckel_conover_1996, title={Gastric Evacuation Rates of Piscivorous Young-of-the-Year Bluefish}, volume={125}, ISSN={0002-8487 1548-8659}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1996)125<0591:geropy>2.3.co;2}, DOI={10.1577/1548-8659(1996)125<0591:geropy>2.3.co;2}, abstractNote={Abstract Estimates of gastric evacuation rates (GER) are needed to calculate consumption rates of fish from field-collected data on stomach contents. The results of 16 GER experiments designed to determine the effects of body size, prey type, and temperature on the GER in young-of-the-year (age-0) bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix are presented. The linear, square-root, and exponential GER models similarly fit the data. Temperature had a highly significant effect on age-0 bluefish GER. However, there was no significant difference in GER between small (5.14 g wet weight) and large (35.99 g wet weight) age-0 bluefish. Among the three different prey types tested (age-0 striped bass Morone saxatilis, bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli, and age-0 Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus) there was no significant difference in GER. The exponential relation between bluefish GER and temperature can be used in estimating age-0 bluefish consumption rates in the field.}, number={4}, journal={Transactions of the American Fisheries Society}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Conover, David O.}, year={1996}, month={Jul}, pages={591–599} }
 @article{buckel_steinberg_conover_1995, title={Effects of temperature, salinity, and fish size on growth and consumption of juvenile bluefish}, volume={47}, ISSN={0022-1112 1095-8649}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1995.tb01935.x}, DOI={10.1111/j.1095-8649.1995.tb01935.x}, abstractNote={Consumption and growth rates of juvenile bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix increased with increasing temperature and decreased with increasing fish size in short‐term (7 days) experiments. Salinity had no effect on growth or consumption rate in a short‐term experiment. In a long‐term (90 days) mesocosm experiment, consumption and growth rates declined with increasing body size. Predictive equations developed from short‐term experiments did not adequately predict observed consumption rates in the mesocosm experiment. However, growth in the mesocosm experiment was similar to field growth. Also, mesocosm consumption rates and consumption rates calculated using field growth and mesocosm growth efficiencies were similar to published independent field estimates of consumption rate. Our results indicate that experiments to determine the effects of temperature and the allometry of body size on growth and consumption rates should be conducted over long time periods simulating field conditions. Juvenile bluefish have rapid growth and their individual cumulative consumption is large. This result suggests that bluefish may have a large effect on their prey populations. This effect has yet to be quantified.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Fish Biology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Buckel, J. A. and Steinberg, N. D. and Conover, D. O.}, year={1995}, month={Oct}, pages={696–706} }
 @article{juanes_buckel_conover_1994, title={Accelerating the onset of piscivory: intersection of predator and prey phenologies}, volume={45}, ISSN={0022-1112 1095-8649}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1994.tb01083.x}, DOI={10.1111/j.1095-8649.1994.tb01083.x}, abstractNote={Piscivorous fishes tend to be able to consume other fishes early in development and generally experience a dramatic increase in growth after the ontogenetic diet shift to piscine prey. Hence, an acceleration of the onset of piscivory may be favoured strongly by natural selection. Temperate freshwater piscivores, for example, becomes piscivorous at a relatively young age by spawning in advance of, and thereby achieving a size advantage over, the young of their piscine prey. Research in various North American estuaries suggests that young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix, an offshore‐spawning estuarine‐dependent marine fish, may accelerate the onset of piscivory by being advected to higher latitudes and timing their estuarine entry with the appearance of small coastal fishes. This hypothesis was tested by: (i) determining the annual recruitment date of YOY bluefish and their prey; and (ii) examining the diet and prey size preferences, and predator size‐prey size relationships, of YOY bluefish in two different estuarine systems: Great South Bay, and the lower Hudson River. Results suggest that the relationships between bluefish and their prey are determined by a complex interplay between recruitment timing of both predator and prey, prey size availability, predator selectivities, and the timing of vernal warming. It is concluded that YOY bluefish migration into northern estuaries at an advanced size provides them with a predatory size advantage over their principal piscine prey thereby facilitating an early diet shift to piscivory white minimizing the time spent as planktivores.}, number={sA}, journal={Journal of Fish Biology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Juanes, Francis and Buckel, Jeffrey A. and Conover, David O.}, year={1994}, month={Dec}, pages={41–54} }