Winter Mass Mortality of Animals in Texas Bays

Abstract

These assessments are the largest In area and most comprehensive to be documented In the literature with known levels of precision. Methodology used provides reasonably precise estimates which managers can use to assess extensive widespread kills and subsequent Impacts on affected populations. It Is recommended that managers consider reducing fishing mortality on the remaining economically Important populations after extensive kills to speed recovery of those populations.

Physicochemical environments and tolerances of cyprinodontoid fishes found in estuaries and salt marshes of eastern North America

“…seven days. Species of interest that were identified as being killed were: C. variegatus, A. xenica, F. grandis, F. similis, L. parva, P. latipinna, and unidentified killifish (likely F. pulvereus and/or F. jenkinsi) (McEachron et al 1994). …”

“…The advent of ''natural catastrophes'', generally shortterm but extreme alterations in one or more of these conditions can result in fish kills, sometimes of massive proportions. Examples include: sudden drops in environmental temperatures accompanying cold fronts (e.g., Gunter 1941Gunter , 1947McEachron et al 1994); elevated water temperatures (e.g., Bailey 1955;Gallaway and Strawn 1974); hurricanes (e.g., Tabb and Jones 1962) and cyclonic winds (e.g., Cyrus 1988); reductions in DO concentrations falling to, or near to, anoxic levels, (e.g., Seliger et al 1985;Smith and Able 2003); increases in DO concentrations to supersaturated levels (Renfro 1963;Woodbury 1941); and dramatic increases in salinity following evaporation of water from isolated pools (e.g., Simpson and Gunter 1956;Gilmore et al 1982). Some of these events occur on a very short timescale of hours to a few days, while others extend over longer time scales, but appearances of dead fishes may be sudden occurrences.…”

Diseases and Mortalities of Fishes and Other Animals in The Gulf of Mexico

“…Many of the fish as well as clams, gastropods, and starfish that died along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico became lethargic and rolled up on the beach by the heavy surf caused by the norther. In the 1980s, Texas coasts experienced three winter mass mortalities with 14 million fish killed in December 1983, 11 million in February 1989, and another 6 million in December 1989(McEachron et al 1994. McEachron et al (1994) used a stepwise, standardized approach to sampling, which they admitted caused an underestimated mortality count, especially for small (<200 mm [8 in]) animals as well as the illegal activities of fishermen removing dead and dying fish prior to the census.…”

“…In the 1980s, Texas coasts experienced three winter mass mortalities with 14 million fish killed in December 1983, 11 million in February 1989, and another 6 million in December 1989(McEachron et al 1994. McEachron et al (1994) used a stepwise, standardized approach to sampling, which they admitted caused an underestimated mortality count, especially for small (<200 mm [8 in]) animals as well as the illegal activities of fishermen removing dead and dying fish prior to the census. The composition of the fish species accounting for over 50 % in each freeze were striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus), and bay anchovy.…”

Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico

“…Drastic events, such as red tides (Riley et al 1989), brown tides (Buskey and Hyatt 1995), and extreme freezes (McEachron et al 1994), in the Gulf of Mexico can significantly increase fish mortality and cause large-scale die-offs. Subtle and long-term changes can cause a gradual shift of the fish community from more temperate species to more tropical species or vice versa for a given region in the Gulf of Mexico (O'Connell et al 2004).…”