@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{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{rudershausen_lombardo_stilson_o'donnell_2023, title={Relating absolute abundance of an estuarine fish to habitat area in an urbanizing environment}, volume={719}, ISSN={["1616-1599"]}, DOI={10.3354/meps14387}, abstractNote={Organisms that rely on salt marsh habitat are an important trophic link, helping to maintain estuarine ecosystem productivity. We used GIS to quantify intertidal (assumed salt marsh) area from aerial photographs taken in 1939 and from software-supplied satellite imagery taken in 2021 for tidal creeks in North Carolina (USA) that have experienced minor (<20%), moderate (20-60%), or substantial (>60%) losses of intertidal habitat over the 8 decades. The current (2022) absolute abundance of adult Fundulus heteroclitus, a trophically important resident fish in US Atlantic estuaries, was estimated over each season in each creek by fitting a Lincoln-Petersen model to tag-recapture data. Current abundances of F. heteroclitus were lowest in creeks with the lowest intertidal area. The median and 2.5/97.5 credible intervals of the posterior probability distribution for the slope of a regression model relating current fish abundance to current intertidal area were positive, demonstrating that intertidal area was a meaningful covariate of abundance. Loss of intertidal area in the creeks between 1939 and 2021 ranged from 8 to 93%. The correlation between current intertidal area and historical loss of this habitat was negative and significant (Pearson r = -0.91, p = 0.012). Parameters from the regression relating current abundance to intertidal area were used to estimate historic F. heteroclitus abundances in each creek using GIS-derived estimates of historic intertidal area. Historic abundances were predicted to have been on average (across study creeks) 7.5 times greater in 1939 than in 2022. Reduced abundances, and thus reduced trophic relay by F. heteroclitus to higher-order consumers, can be expected in estuaries that have lost salt marsh due to inter-decadal development.}, journal={MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Lombardo, S. M. and Stilson, G. R. and O'Donnell, M. J.}, year={2023}, month={Sep}, pages={77–92} }
 @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{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{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{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{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{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{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{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{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{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{rudershausen_hightower_2016, title={Retention Probability Varies with Cull Ring Size in Traps Fished for Blue Crab}, volume={36}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1080/02755947.2015.1114539}, abstractNote={AbstractThe blue crab Callinectes sapidus is a commercially important crustacean species fished along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastlines. Cull rings on traps are required to allow for egress of sublegal blue crabs in commercial and recreational fisheries in this region. We undertook a study to estimate contact selectivity (retention probability) of traps with different cull‐ring sizes fished for male crabs. We estimated retention probability using logistic models and catch data from 38.1‐mm square mesh traps, each affixed with one size of cull rings (58.7, 60.3, or 61.9 mm internal diameter), and fished along with control traps (no cull rings). Each experimental trap type displayed relatively steep retention around its l50, the carapace width at which 50% of individuals are selected. The l50 for traps with 58.7‐mm cull rings was less than the minimum legal crab size in North Carolina (127 mm carapace width) while the l50 for traps with 60.3‐mm or 61.9‐mm cull rings was greater than the minimum legal size. Mean catch rates of legal male crabs were not statistically different among the three experimental trap types; however, catch rates of sublegal males were significantly lower in traps with the two larger cull ring sizes. We conclude that traps with 61.9‐mm cull rings are most appropriate for the North Carolina trap fishery because they maintain catch rates of legal males but show the greatest reduction in catch rates of sublegal males. The use of larger cull‐ring sizes would reduce rates of fishing mortality resulting from excessive trap confinement, injury during commercial culling, or intentional harvest by fishers who do not cull their catch.Received April 29, 2015; accepted October 22, 2015}, number={1}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Rudershausen, P. J. and Hightower, Joseph E.}, year={2016}, pages={122–130} }
 @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{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{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_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{rudershausen_turano_2009, title={The Effect of Cull Rings on Catch Rates of Blue Crabs Callinectes sapidus in the North Carolina Trap Fishery}, volume={29}, ISSN={["1548-8675"]}, DOI={10.1577/M08-228.1}, abstractNote={AbstractWe sampled seven North Carolina estuaries (Currituck, Core, Albemarle, Bogue, and eastern Pamlico sounds and the Cape Fear and Pamlico rivers) to determine the separate and interacting effects of cull ring size and the number of cull rings per trap on the catch rate (catch per trap) of blue crabs Callinectes sapidus. Since a single minimum cull ring size is required in North Carolina and regional differences in blue crab shape may mediate its effectiveness, we also measured subsamples of male and mature female blue crabs to determine whether there were shape differences among estuaries. The cull ring sizes tested in Currituck and Core sounds were 58.7, 60.3, and 61.9 mm. The smallest two sizes were tested in the other five estuaries. We also varied the number of cull rings from two to four per trap. Thus, there were nine treatments in Currituck and Core sounds and six in the other estuaries. Three blue crab types dominated the catches: legal males (≥127 mm), sublegal males, and mature females. Increasing ring size and number did not significantly affect the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of legal males except in Currituck Sound, where they positively affected CPUE. Increasing ring size negatively affected the CPUE of sublegal males in all estuaries except eastern Pamlico Sound, where if had no effect. Increasing ring number negatively affected the CPUE of sublegal males in two estuaries: Currituck and Albemarle sounds. Increasing ring size negatively affected the CPUE of mature females in two pairwise cases in one estuary (Core Sound); ring size and number did not impact the CPUE of mature females in other estuaries. Despite the apparent differences in the shapes of blue crabs among estuaries, the influences of cull ring size and number were consistent. Our data indicate that a 1.6‐ or 3.2‐mm increase in cull ring size would not negatively impact the catch rates of legal blue crabs but would increase the escapement of sublegal blue crabs.}, number={4}, journal={NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT}, author={Rudershausen, Paul J. and Turano, Marc J.}, year={2009}, month={Aug}, pages={1152–1164} }
 @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{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{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} }