The Atlantic Goliath Grouper, a large, long-lived reef fish in the southeastern United States, was fished to near extinction decades ago. It is now showing signs of recovery in Florida waters due to protection from fishing in state and federal waters that started in 1990. While providing some optimism for their future, recent discovery of high mercury levels in this species is cause for concern. Indeed, I contend that such levels could not only impede their full recovery but present a human health problem if the fishery were re-opened. For my dissertation, I investigated their spawning patterns and trophic ecology, the latter of which included investigations of the organisms in their diet that lead to mercury accumulation in their tissues. Mercury presents a problem because of its neurotoxic effects and its ability to bioaccumulate in some forms. My research demonstrates that mercury levels in Goliath Grouper are not only much higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s suggested safe levels for human consumption, but that they are likely impacting the overall health and reproductive potential of this iconic species. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Biological Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2019. / February 25, 2019. / diet, Goliath Grouper, health, mercury, spawning patterns, trophic ecology / Includes bibliographical references. / Felicia C. Coleman, Professor Directing Dissertation; Markus Huettel, University Representative; Scott C. Burgess, Committee Member; R. Dean Grubbs, Committee Member; Thomas E. (Tom) Miller, Committee Member; Joseph L. Travis, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_709794 |
| Contributors | Malinowski, Christopher Robert (author), Coleman, Felicia C. (Professor Directing Dissertation), Huettel, Markus (University Representative), Burgess, Scott C. (Committee Member), Grubbs, R. Dean (Committee Member), Miller, Thomas E. (Committee Member), Travis, Joseph (Committee Member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Biological Science (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, doctoral thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (176 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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