David Moulton

Clemson University | CU

Alterations to the functions and connectivity of mangrove–seagrass–patch reef (MSP) seascapes have the potential to impact the survival, foraging activities, and movement of reef-dependent invertebrates (e.g., crabs and shrimp) and fishes. In the current study, we examined carbon flow in the Guánica Biosphere Reserve in southwestern Puerto Rico usi...

Two hypotheses were tested concerning the consequences to adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) of escape from commonly used fishing gear (gillnet, seine net and tangle net). First, by experimentally exposing 214 fish to three commonly used fishing gear types (gillnets, tangle nets, or seine nets) and releasing to complete migration after PIT-t...

The mangrove–seagrass–patch reef (MSP) ecosystem serves as the principal back‐reef nursery for many reef fishes in the Caribbean, but the functional roles of habitats that form this seascape remain unclear. We assessed ecosystem and trophic connectivity of two common reef fishes (schoolmaster, Lutjanus apodus; white grunt, Haemulon plumierii) and o...

Acoustic telemetry was used to examine habitat use and movement of two sympatric gamefishes, red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), at two spatial scales (habitat and bay) within an estuarine complex. Habitat-scale tracking (~ 1 m–1 km) based on an acoustic positioning system revealed that seagrass was used exten...

Acoustic telemetry has quickly become a powerful tool for ecological research in aquatic systems, yet our knowledge of in situ transmitter performance remains limited. Here, we used an experimental approach to test the influence of three biotic factors on the detection range of acoustic transmitters: (1) internal versus external placement of the tr...

A rapid non-destructive alternative to isolate DNA from individual fish larva is presented, based on the suspension of epithelial cells through vortex forces, and the release of DNA in a heated alkaline solution. DNA from more than 6056 fish larvae isolated using this protocol has yielded a high PCR amplification success rate (>93%), suggesting its...