1984 - 1985 
Ludwig, G. M., J. E. Skjeveland, and N. A. Funicelli (1990) Survival of Florida Bay fish 
tagged with internally anchored spaghetti tags. Fla. Sci. . 53:38-42. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] Studies were 
conducted from January 1984 to September 1985 to determine movement and estimate 
population sizes of certain commercial and sport fishes in the coastal marine waters of 
the Everglades National Park (Florida Bay - Ten Thousand Islands) and experiments to 
determine mortality caused by tagging and the amount of tag shedding were conducted 
as part of that research. The percent survival of Florida Bay white mullet, striped 
mullet, spotted seatrout, and gray snapper marked with internally anchored spaghetti 
tags was 22, 67, 75, and 100, respectively. Unmarked fish of the same species had 
survival percentages of 27, 77, 75, and 100, respectively. Transporting the fish up to 
16 km from the point of capture did not significantly decrease survival in either tagged 
or untagged fish. 
1984 - 1985 
Mengel, L. J., M. R. Dewey, H. E. Bryant, N. A. Funicelli, G. M. Ludwig, and D. A. Meineke 
(1989) Relative abundance and standing stock estimates for finfish in Florida Bay trammel 
nets. Symp. on Florida Bay: A Subtropical Lagoon. Miami, FL. June, 1987. Bull. Mar. Sci. . 
44(1 ):51 8-9. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY] This study was part of a cooperative effort by the US Fish and 
Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and NOAA/NMFS, to address the 
management needs of Everglades National Park. The relative abundance and standing 
stocks of the major sport and commercial fish species was estimated from quantitative 
trammel net samples. Usually, 60 random samples were collected throughout the Park 
each month: 42 in Florida Bay; 6 in Whitewater Bay; and 12 along the west coast. 
Standing stocks were estimated by dividing the average number of fish caught per set 
by the area sampled and multiplying it by the total area. Sample efficiency was 
determined by another study and reported separately. Efficiencies for standard sets 
varied from 6.8% for gray snapper to 58% for striped and white mullet. From June 
1984 to June 1985, 689 random sets yielded 86 species. Seventy-two species were 
taken in 477 sets in Florida Bay. Sixty species were taken in 135 sets on the west 
coast. Whitewater Bay (77 net sets) catches yielded 27 species. The west coast had 
consistently higher fish density than Florida Bay. The order of decreasing relative 
abundance for 10 most prevalent species in our Florida Bay catches were: pinfish, sea 
catfish, gray snapper, spotted seatrout, cravelle jack, grafftopsail catfish, striped 
mullet, white mullet and red fish. The order of decreasing relative abundance for 10 
most prevalent species in our west coast catches were sea catfish, grafftopsail 
catfish, striped mullet, spotted seatrout, pinfish, crevalle jack, white mullet, gray 
snapper, sheepshead and red drum. Monthly relative abundance was estimated by 
habitat type and physical parameters. Oyster reefs had the highest relative abundance 
of fish (70 fish/set) while sand and rock flats had the greatest species diversity (48 
species collected). 
1984 - 1985 
Perrine, D. (1987) Some possible effects of the declawing of female stone crabs, Menippe 
mercenaria. M. S. Thesis, University of Miami., Coral Gables, FL. 36 pp. 
Sixty female stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria) were paired and held in individual 
aquaria or individual cages in large tanks supplied with running seawater. One member 
of each pair had both claws removed. The other retained both claws. Otherwise both 
members received identical treatment. During a 4-month period (March-June, 1985) 
declawed crabs produced more egg masses than crabs with claws. This was significant 
(chi square goodness of fit; P < 0.05) for the first three months. The spawning season 
287 
