Date of Award

Spring 1976

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean & Earth Sciences

Program/Concentration

Oceanography

Committee Director

Ray S. Birdsong

Committee Member

James A. Musick

Committee Member

Peter Fleischer

Committee Member

Anthony J. Provenzano

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.O35N466

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of re ­ production, growth, age, abundance, habitat preference, feeding habit and behavior of the naked goby, Gobiosoma Bosci.

Monthly collections were made from January through December. 1974 in Deary Cove a apart of the Lynnhaven estuary, Virginia Beach, Virginia. All fish were measured and sexed in the field.

Most were returned to the population, the remainder. were removed for food habit analyses, determination of fecundity, degree of gonadal maturity and aging. Habitat­ preference and abundance were determined in the field.

Gobiosoma Bosci appears to be an annual species. spawning from April to about August in Deary Cove. Fecundity ranged from 688-1418 in fifteen specimens examined. Growth is more rapid in young fish. and males than in older fish and females. Population densities were found to be 8.0 fish/ m2 in an area with 25% suitable cover. The naked goby is a-sedentary facultative object dweller. The most important food item in the popula­tion investigated was polychaetas with the rest of its diet reflecting functional opportunism. The naked goby does not display territoriality except during spawning and nest guarding. A color anomaly is noted dorsal and caudal fins had black margins.

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DOI

10.25777/57jx-2j07

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