Fishes of North Carolina Outer Shelf Reefs

1. During 2001-2003 research cruises, we targeted various outer shelf hardgrounds (68-129 m depth) off North Carolina, including two stations located within a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA). Since 2001, we have made 15 submersible dives with the Johnson Sea Link, 9 of which were in the MPA. In 2003, we also documented by ROV the Snowy Wreck (~120 ft fishing vessel), which was previously undocumented. Our overall objectives are to document community structure, relative species abundance, and hardground habitat. Surface and mid-water collections were also taken for trophodynamic studies, larval fish distribution analyses, and Sargassum vs. open water habitat comparisons. We will continue this sampling in 2004. Hemanthias vivanus Anthias tenuis Hemanthias leptus Pronotogrammus martinicensis Anthiines are the most abundant fishes on hardgrounds off North Carolina. It was originally thought that schools of these fishes consisted mostly of Hemanthias vivanus. Our collections have revealed that these schools also comprise Anthias tenuis and Hemanthias leptus. Pronotogrammus martinicensis is also observed in these schools, as well as solitary individuals. Many subtropical and tropical fishes inhabit North Carolina hardgrounds, including commercially important snappers and groupers. These photographs represent some commercially important species frequently seen on submersible dives. Mycteroperca interstitialis and Mycteroperca phenax are two abundant groupers observed on hardgrounds within the MPA. Rhomboplites aurorubens and Lutjanus buccanella (not shown) are two snapper species that frequent MPA and other hardgrounds. Other commonly observed fishes include various carangids, chaetodontids, holocentrids, labrids, muraenids, pomacentrids, pomacanthids, priacanthids, and sciaenids. Species on the right are only a few of these commonly observed. Priacanthus arenatus Pristigenys alta Corniger spinosus Mycteroperca microlepis (gag grouper) Holacanthus tricolor Chaetodon sedentarius Prognathodes aya Bicolor Phase Brown Phase Mycteroperca interstitialis (yellowmouth grouper) Muraena robusta Holocentrus bullisi Dactylopterus volitans Prognathodes guyanensis Parasphyraenops incisus Liopropoma aberrans Brown Phase Cat’s Paw Phase Mycteroperca phenax (scamp) Canthigaster jamestyleri Caranx lugubris Centropyge argi Epinephelus drummondhayi (speckled hind, kitty mitchell) Paranthias furcifer (creole-fish) Epinephelus niveatus (snowy grouper) Cypselurus comatus Rypticus saponaceus Serranus annularis Epinephelus adscensionis (rock hind) Epinephelus cruentatus (graysby) Fishes of North Carolina Outer Shelf Reefs Steve W. Ross1, Andrea M. Quattrini1, and Kenneth J. Sulak2 1 University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409 and 2 United States Geological Survey, Coastal Ecology and Conservation Research Group, Center for Aquatic Resource Studies, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653 The invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans, was observed with the Johnson Sea Link submersible several times in August 2002-2003 at hardgrounds located within the proposed MPA. At two stations, fourteen individuals were observed in 2002 and at least 8 individuals were observed in 2003. This was the first lionfish (Pterois volitans) collected by the Johnson Sea Link submersible off North Carolina. This specimen (133 mm SL, 181 mm TL) was collected with the suction/rotenone device in August 2003 at a station (JSLII-03-3435) located within the proposed MPA. New Records We have documented four new records to the continental United States and ten new records to North Carolina from collections and observations on outer shelf reefs. Continental United States New Records: Apogon gouldi, Liopropoma aberrans, Parasphyraenops incisus, and Prognathodes guyanensis North Carolina New Records:Canthigaster jamestyleri, Caranx lugubris, Centropyge argi, Cypselurus comatus, Gymnothorax vicinus, Liopropoma mowbrayi, Lepophidium staurophor, Prognathodes aculeatus, Rypticus saponaceus, and Serranus annularis Table 1. Species observed with the Johnson Sea Link submersible on North Carolina outer shelf hardgrounds (68-129 m depth) in 2001-2003. (*) Denotes species collected with the rotenone/suction device on the submersible. Serranus annularis ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration for funding (SW Ross and KJ Sulak, PIs). We also thank Andy David (NOAA/NMFS) and Lance Horn (NURC, UNC Wilmington).