Shelter Choice in the Gulf Toadfish, Opsanus Beta

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Demski, Leo

Keywords

Opsonus Beta, Shelter Choice, Urea Excretion

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology

Abstract

The gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta, is a benthic fish of the Gulf of Mexico. This fish is assumed in current literature to live in and under hard objects, be they rocks, shells, sponge cavities, or debris, but the toadfish is also found in burrows in sediment of seagrass beds. The common assumption of refuge preference is based on the fish's sound production and reproductive behavior, both of which occur under hard shelter, and on the fact that toadfish can easily be found under rocks and in debris piles. Toadfish have recently been studied for their production of urea, which could be an adaptation to living in the high-ammonia environment of sediment in seagrass beds. The life history and growth pattern of the fish are also considered. The habitat choice of 0. beta and its place in the ecology of sub-tropical seagrass beds deserves further research.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS