Sargassumfish

AGE, GROWTH & MORTALITY After hatching both Larvae and juveniles are pelagic using the brown algae Sargassum as a transient habitat (Kacem, H., 2015). Sargassum is used by dozens of juvenile species as a relatively safe home for development (Wells & Rooker, 2004). Its presence is constant and reliable throughout their habitats and its size makes it a highly heterogenous environment that allows for the dispersal of each type of juvenile into its own niche (Wells & Rooker, 2004). Once the temperature begins to drop B. capriscus leaves the Sargassum and becomes benthic like its older counterparts (Kacem, H., 2015). It takes between a year or two for an individual to reach sexual maturity (Kacem, H., 2015). B. capriscus are aged by “counting translucent…