A longline a type of fishing gear that is generally used to target pelagic species, such as large tuna and billfish. Baited hooks are attached to a long fishing line via shorter branch lines called snoods or gangions. Longlines can be anchored or freely adrift (with tracking devices so they can be retrieved). In certain open … [Read more…]
Lotic refers to freshwater ecosystems involving flowing water, such as a river, stream, brook or creek. Certain fish species are lotic specialists and have evolved to live in higher flow water, such as darters which prefer to live in swift-moving riffles.
Lentic describes freshwater ecosystems characterized by still water and low flow, such as a lake or pond. Certain fish species have evolved to become lentic specialists, such as the high diversity of cichlid species found in Lake Victoria.
The lateral line is, literally, an observable line down both sides of a fish. It is also a sensory organ system that helps fish detect motion in the water around them. When water along the lateral line is displaced by movement or a vibration nearby, hair cells (similar in form and function to hair cells … [Read more…]
The length of a fish is often used for fish population assessments (e.g., length-age and weight-length relationships) and consequently are often used in recreational fishing regulations. But, just as there is “more than one way to skin a cat,” there is more than one way to measure the length of a fish. Below are three … [Read more…]
The littoral zone is the region of a body of water (lake, river, or ocean) that is near the shore. While there is no exact definition of the zone, in marine systems it is generally considered to extend from the high-water mark to the continental shelf; freshwater systems it is generally considered to be wetland … [Read more…]