Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus in Florida, USA, are managed under four geographical regions, including Apalachicola Bay and Cedar Key (northwest region), Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor (southwest region), northeast Florida (northeast region), and the northern Indian River Lagoon (southeast region). Two of these management regions are composed of more than one major estuary system (northwest and southwest regions). However, previous life history research suggests that the management regions do not accurately reflect the unique biological populations of Spotted Seatrout in Florida. Our objective was to determine (1) whether there is significant spatial variation in size structure, the age–length relationship, and recruitment patterns among populations of Spotted Seatrout in Florida; and (2) whether there is agreement in these life history parameters among estuary populations comprising individual management regions. We used long‐term fishery‐independent and fishery‐dependent data sets on recruitment, age, and size structure among six estuaries and the four management regions. Young‐of‐the‐year recruitment patterns and the length‐at‐age relationship over all ages differed significantly among estuarine populations and within management regions. Additionally, all estuaries differed significantly in length distributions of Spotted Seatrout caught by the recreational fishery. Our results highlight the need to understand the relative contributions of estuary‐specific data to regional assessment models if the four‐region boundary scheme for Florida is continued. Moreover, as variation in growth and recruitment among estuaries likely reflects estuary‐specific environmental conditions, we suggest that environmental variables be considered in future assessments and management of this recreationally valuable species.

中文翻译：

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六个佛罗里达河口的大小结构，生长和发现的淘汰赛招募的空间变异性

斑节食者Cynoscion nebulosus在美国佛罗里达州，管理着四个地理区域，包括Apalachicola湾和Cedar Key（西北地区），坦帕湾和夏洛特港（西南地区），佛罗里达州东北（东北地区）和北部印度河泻湖（东南地区） 。其中两个管理区域由一个以上的主要河口系统组成（西北和西南区域）。但是，以前的生活史研究表明，管理区域无法准确反映佛罗里达州发现的西德鲁特的独特生物种群。我们的目标是确定（1）在佛罗里达州的发现的西罗德种群中，大小结构，年龄长度关系和募集模式是否存在显着的空间变异；（2）在组成单个管理区域的河口人口中，这些生活史参数是否一致。我们使用了关于六个河口和四个管理区域的招募，年龄和规模结构的长期与渔业无关的数据集。在河口人口之间和管理区域内，所有年龄段的年青人招募模式和年龄长度关系都存在显着差异。此外，所有河口在休闲渔业捕捞到的斑纹西鲱的长度分布上均存在显着差异。我们的结果强调，如果继续采用佛罗里达州的四区域边界方案，则需要了解河口特定数据对区域评估模型的相对贡献。此外，