Selection of estuarine nursery habitats by wild-caught and hatchery-rearedjuvenile red drum in laboratory mesocosms

We examined patterns of habitat selection in wild-caught and hatchery-reare d early juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, using mesocosm experiments. Experiments were performed in the presence and absence of a pinfish, Lagod on rhomboides. We hypothesized that newly recruited red drum would have dis tinct patterns of habitat selection, and these patterns could be influenced by the presence of a pinfish predator. Red drum were introduced to replica te mesocosms containing all possible pair-wise comparisons of four differen t habitat types: marsh Spartina alterniflora, non-vegetated bottom/sand, oy ster reef Crassostrea virginica, and seagrass Halodule wrightii. Wild-caugh t and hatchery-reared red drum showed distinctively different patterns of h abitat selection. In general, wild-caught red drum selected structured habi tats, while hatchery-reared fish did not show strong selection for any habi tat type. When a predator was present, wild-caught red drum either changed habitat selection or showed significant selection for other structured habi tats. This predator effect was similar albeit weaker for hatchery-reared re d drum, but as in the trials without a predator, overall habitat selection was reduced compared to wild-caught red drum. Our results suggest that in t he absence of seagrass, other habitat types such as marshes and oyster reef s may be important recruitment habitat for red drum. Additionally, hatchery -dependent behaviors may need to be assessed in designing stock enhancement programs.