Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Levell, Samantha

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology

Abstract

Syngnathids: pipefish, seahorses, and seadragons in the family Syngnathidae, are an evolutionarily unique, yet often understudied group of species typically found in shallow seagrass habitats, defined by their collection of extremely specialized adaptations, which include but are not limited to: male pregnancy, elongated and rigid bodies with bony plates, small fins not well suited for swimming, and fused jaws that form long and thin snouts. This study examines the species Syngnathus louisianae, a large pipefish native to coastal waters, namely seagrass and sargassum habitats, in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast. This species was chosen for this study over other syngnathid species, because it is not well known, rarely caught in surveys, and is a local species here in Sarasota. Using frozen samples primarily collected by the FWC’s (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) FIM, (Florida Fishers and Independent Monitoring Program) a program that surveys various shallow and coastal marine habitats all over Florida, this study looks to learn more about this unknown species. A total of 65 individuals at various life stages were dissected and examined. It was found that the species typically becomes sexually mature at around 15 - 17 cm in length, and likely shares similarities in life history to the closely related Syngnathus floridae, such as seasonal migration to deeper waters.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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