Ecology of the barracudinas (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae), a ubiquitous but understudied mesopelagic predatory fish family, in the Gulf of Mexico

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 prompted an enormous survey effort to
assess the under-studied, deep-ocean ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting
samples and datasets afforded a unique opportunity to study the ecology of a poorly
known group of mesopelagic fishes, the barracudinas (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae).
Here we address several important data gaps regarding the ecology of the Paralepididae.
Our results indicate that a majority of barracudina species are efficient at avoiding
research-sized nets, suggesting that their overall abundance has been historically underestimated.
Notable differences in vertical distribution, seasonal abundances of sizes
classes, and diets were observed among the three major sub-groups of the family, with
potential implications to ecosystem-based management of deep-pelagic fisheries. This
thesis is dedicated to all the fish, squids, and shrimps that gave their lives to make these
data and to those that endured the hardship of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.