Figure 10. — Transplants with new root and 

 long- shoot growth. 



Table 5. — Growth data on turtle grass transplants Uiat showed IDO percent 

 survival for 160 days 



and two resulted in 100 percent plant sur- 

 vival. To anchor plants in the substrate and 

 nullify the eroding effect of currents, one of 

 the methods used steel construction rod and 

 the other method 5-cm. diameter metal pipe. 

 In each method, before planting, the grass 

 was washed to remove adhering sediments 

 and dipped in the hormone, Napthalene Acetic 

 Acid. None of the transplants had tips on 

 their long-shoots. All continued to bear green 

 leaves after planting and at the end of 5 

 months had put out new roots and developed 

 new long-shoots with tips (fig. 10). Table 5 

 shows growth data on turtle grass transplants 

 that had 100 percent survival for 160 days. 



Further studies are necessary before large- 

 scale transplanting of sea grasses can be 

 unequivocally recommended. The conditions 

 that determine the suitability of proposed 

 transplanting areas need to be learned, addi- 

 tional plantings using the successful methods 

 need to be made in varied environments, and 

 the economic feasibility of a sizeable trans- 

 plantation should be determined. 



FAUNAL PRODUCTION PROJECT 

 John H. Finucane 



The results of our preliminary fish farming 

 experiment with the pompano, Trachinotus 

 carolinus , have helped determine some of the 

 problems associated with aquaculture in 

 Florida, especially in the Tampa Bay area. 

 The methods and techniques developed from 

 this study will help provide information for 

 other similar research with marine animals. 



Pompano Aquaculture 



Part of the success of rearing pompano in 

 captivity depends on suitable water. In our 

 impoundment at the mouth of Tampa Bay 

 (fig. 11), tides were mainly responsible for 

 water movement, and daily fluctuations in 

 water chemistry were usually small. Water 

 temperature during the year was 13.0 to 

 32.6° C, and salinity 30.59 to 36.26 p.p.t. 

 Total phosphate, total nitrogen, oxygen, and 

 pH were all within the normal limits expected 

 during this period. In our test area, only 

 temperature adversely affected the pompano. 

 When water temperature was less than 18 C, 

 the pompano ate less, and, at about 13 C, 

 they became inactive and stopped feeding, 

 Sonne fish never resumed feeding. 



Since successful fish farming depends also 

 on the elimination of animals that connpete 

 for food and space, Antimycin A (Fintrol 5- 

 and -15)""^ was used to poison undersirable fish 

 species before pompano were stocked. Our 



^ References to trade names in this publication do not 

 imply endorsement of commercial products. 



11 



