alewife and blueback herring - usgs … than for each species separ- ately. marshal 1 (1977) ,...

REFERENCE COPY Do Not Rernwe from the Library

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Nntbnl W- Re-wrrh C p n ~ r

Biological Report 82(11.111) 700 Cajun Dome Bou teltsl,rd TR EL-82-4 ~ugust 1989 Lafayette, Louisiana -2-SC6

Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (South Atlantic)

ALEWIFE AND BLUEBACK HERRING

Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Ecology Group

Waterwavs Ex~eriment Station

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

B i o l o g i c a l Report 82( 11.111) TR EL-82-4 August 1989

Species P r o f i l e s : L i f e H i s t o r i e s and Environmental Requirements o f Coastal Fishes and Inve r teb ra tes (South A t l a n t i c )


E a r l L. Bozeman, J r . and

Michael J. Van Den Avyle Georgia Cooperat ive F i sh and Wild1 i f e Research U n i t

School o f Fores t Resources U n i v e r s i t y o f Georgia

Athens, GA 30602

P r o j e c t O f f i c e r David Moran

U.S. F i sh and W i l d l i f e Serv ice Na t i ona l Metlands Research Center

1010 Gause Boulevard S l i d e l 1 , LA 70458

Performed by U.S. Army Corps o f Engineers

Coastal Ecology Group Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n

Vicksburg, MS 39180

and

U.S. Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r F i sh and W i l d l i f e Serv ice Research and Development

Nat iona l Wetlands Research Center Washington, DC 20240

This series may be referenced as follows:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983-19 . Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coas t a l f ishes and invertebrates. U.S. Fish Wildl . Serv. Biol . Rep. 82(11). U.S. Anny Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4.

This profile may be cited as follows:

Bozeman, E.L., Jr., and M.J. VanDen Avyle. 1989. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South Atlantic) --alewife and blueback herring. U.S. Fish Wildl . Serv. Biol . Rep. 82( 11.111). U.S. Anny Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. 17 pp.

PREFACE

This species p r o f i l e i s one o f a se r i es on coasta l aquat ic organisms, p r i n c i p a l l y f i s h , o f spor t , commercial, o r eco log ica l importance. The p r o f i l e s are designed t o prov ide coasta l managers, engineers, and b i o l o g i s t s w i t h a b r i e f comprehensive sketch o f t he b i o l o g i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and environmental requirements o f the species and t o descr ibe how popu la t ions o f t he species may be expected t o reac t t o environmental changes caused by coasta l development. Each p r o f i 1 e has sec t ions on taxonomy, 1 i f e h i s to ry , eco log i ca l r o l e , environmental requirements, and economic importance, i f app l icab le . A t h ree - r i ng b inde r i s used f o r t h i s se r i es so t h a t new p r o f i l e s can be added as they are prepared. This p r o j e c t i s j o i n t l y planned and f inanced by the U.S. Army Corps o f Engineers and the U.S. F i sh and W i l d l i f e Service.

Suggestions o r quest ions regard ing t h i s r e p o r t should be d i r e c t e d t o one of the f o l l owing addresses.

In fo rmat ion Trans fer S p e c i a l i s t Nat iona l Wetlands Research Center U.S. F i sh and W i l d l i f e Serv ice NASA-Slidell Computer Complex 1010 Gause Boulevard S l i d e l l , LA 70458

U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n A t t e n t i on: WESER-C Post O f f i c e Box 631 Vicksburg, MS 39180

CONVERSION TABLE

M e t r i c t o U . S . Customary

m i l l i m e t e r s (mm) cen t ime te rs (cm) meters (m) meters (m) k i l o m e t e r s (km) k i l o m e t e r s (km)

square meters (m2) 10.76 square k i lometers (km2) 0.3861 hectares (ha) 2 .471

l i t e r s (1) cub ic meters (m3) cub ic meters (m3)

m i l l i g r a m s (mg) grams (g) k i 1 ograms (kg) m e t r i c tons (t) m e t r i c tons (t)

k i l o c a l o r i e s ( k c a l ) Ce ls ius degrees ( O C )

U . S . Customary t o M e t r i c

inches 25.40 inches 2.54 f e e t ( f t ) 0.3048 fathoms 1.829 s t a t u t e m i l e s ( m i ) 1.609 n a u t i c a l m i l e s (nmi) 1.852

square f e e t ( f t2) square m i l e s ( m i 2 ) acres

g a l l o n s ( g a l ) cub ic f e e t ( f t3) a c r e - f e e t

ounces (oz) ounces (oz) pounds ( l b ) pounds ( l b ) s h o r t tons ( t o n )

B r i t i s h thermal u n i t s (Btu) Fahrenhe i t degrees (OF)

To Obta in

inches inches f e e t fathoms s t a t u t e m i 1 es n a u t i c a l m i l e s

square f e e t square m i l e s acres

ga l 1 ons cub ic f e e t a c r e - f e e t

ounces ounces pounds pounds s h o r t tons

B r i t i s h thermal u n i t s Fahrenhe i t degrees

m i l l i m e t e r s cen t ime te rs meters meters k i l o m e t e r s k i l o m e t e r s

square meters square k i lometers hec ta res

1 i t e r s cub ic meters c u b i c meters

m i l l i g r a m s grams k i 1 ograms m e t r i c tons m e t r i c tons

k i l o c a l o r i e s C e l s i u s degrees

CONTENTS

PAGE

PREFACE ................................................................... .......................................................... CONVERSION TABLE ........................................................... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

............................................................. PROFILE SCOPE NOMENCLATURE. TAXONOMY. AND RANGE ......................................... ........................................ MORPHOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION AIDS

A l e w i f e ................................................................. B lueback H e r r i n g ........................................................ ............................................. A i d s F o r Spec ies S e p a r a t i o n ............................................ REASON FOR INCLUSION I N SERIES .............................................................. LIFE HISTORY Spawning ................................................................ Eggs .................................................................... L a r v a e .................................................................. J u v e n i l e s ............................................................... A d u l t s .................................................................. .................................................... GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................ Growth Rates ............................................................... THE FISHERY

ECOLOGICAL ROLE ........................................................... Food .................................................................... ............................................................. C o m o e t i t o r s ............................................................... P r e d a t o r s

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................ ............................................................. Temperature ................................................................ S a l i n i t y ........................................................ D i s s o l v e d Oxygen ........................................... S u b s t r a t e and System F e a t u r e s .............................................. E n v i r o n m e n t a l Contaminants

LITERATURE CITED ..........................................................

iii i v v i

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Richard Christie of the Dennis Wildlife Research Center, Bonneau, South Carolina, and Sara Winslow of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Elizabeth City, for their reviews of this manuscript. We also appreciate Sue Anthony for typing and preliminary editing.

F igu re 1. A. a l ew i f e ; 0 . blueback h e r r i n g .


PROFILE SCOPE

Th i s p r o f i l e addresses 1 i f e h i s t o - r i e s and envi ronmenta l requi rements o f bo th a1 ewi f e and b l ueback h e r r i n g (F i gu re 1) because t h e morphology, e c o l o g i c a l r o l e , and envi ronmenta l requi rements o f t h e two species a r e s i m i l a r . The f i s h a r e marketed t oge the r as " r i v e r h e r r i n g " o r " a l ew i f e , " and a r e o f t e n combined i n commercial f i s h i n g s t a t i s t i c s . The blueback h e r r i n g i s p l e n t i f u l th rough-

ou t most of t h e South A t l a n t i c Region (Cape Hat te ras , N o r t h Caro l ina , t o Cape Canaveral, F l o r i d a ) and i s emphasized here. The a l e w i f e i s more l i m i t e d i n d i s t r i b u t i o n i n t h e South At1 a n t i c Region, o c c u r r i n g o n l y i n waters o f No r t h C a r o l i n a and no r t he rn South Caro l i na . Most o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e on a l e w i f e 1 i f e h i s t o r y i s f rom s tud ies i n t h e Middle and No r th A t l a n t i c Regions o r f rom s tud ies of 1 andlocked popu la t i ons i n t h e Great Lakes. Inasmuch as a p p l i c -

abi 1 i t y of some of t h e s e d a t a , p a r t i c u - 1 a r l y t hose de sc r ib ing environmental requi rements , t o sou theas t e rn popul a - t i o n s of t h e a l ewi f e i s unknown, t h i s information should be appl i ed wi th cau t i on .

NOMENCLATURE, TAXONOMY, AND RANGE

S c i e n t i f i c names........... ...... Alosa seudoharen us (Wi 1 son) a n d 7

-tchi 11 1 -

. - - . - . -

Pre fe r r ed common names.. ...... .Alewife and blueback he r r i ng (F igure 1 ) .

Other common names (both s p e c i e s ) . .... r i v e r h e r r i n g , g l u t h e r r i n g , saw- be1 l y , goggle-eye, b l ackbe l ly , summer h e r r i n g , kyak, branch her- r i n g , greyback, o ldwife , gaspereau.

Class .................... Oste ich thyes . Order .................... Clupeiformes. Family ...................... Clupeidae.

Geographic range: The a l ewi f e is an anadromous s p e c i e s occur r ing i n r i v e r i n e , e s t u a r i n e , and A t l a n t i c coas t a l waters from Newfound1 and (Winters e t a l . 1973) t o nor thern South Carol ina (Berry 1964). Reports o f t h e a l ewi f e i n F lo r ida waters a r e ques t ionable (McLane 1955; Williams and Grey 1975). The Grea t Lakes and Finger Lakes con t a in 1 and1 ocked popula t ions of t h e s p e c i e s (Bigel ow and Schroeder 1953; S c o t t and Crossman 1973). The blueback h e r r i n g is an anadromous spec i e s occu r r i ng i n r i v e r i n e , e s t u a r i n e , and At1 a n t i c coas t a l waters from Nova S c o t i a ( S c o t t and Crossman 1973) t o t h e S t . Johns River , F lor ida (Hildebrand 1963). Landlocked popula t ions of blueback he r r i ng occur i n coas t a l p l a in l akes and s eve ra l sou theas t e rn r e s e r v o i r s . The coas t a l d i s t r i b u t i o n s of t h e a l ewi f e and blueback he r r i ng i n t he South A t l a n t i c Region a r e shown i n Figure 2.

MORPHOLOGY AND IDENTIFICATION AIDS

The fo l lowing information was taken from Jones e t a1. (1978).

Alewife

Dorsal r ays 12-19 (usual l y 13-14) ; anal rays 15-21 ( u s u a l l y 17-18) ; l a t - e r a l l i n e s c a l e s 42-54. P repe lv i c s c u t e s (modif ied s c a l e s along t h e ven t r a l mid1 i n e ) 17-21 (usual 1y 19-20); p o s t e l v i c s c u t e s 12-17 ( u s u a l l y 14-15 P ; g i l l r ake r s on f i r s t arch 38-46. Body s t r o n g l y compressed and deep. Mouth ob l ique ; a n t e r i o r end of lower jaw t h i c k , heavy, and extend- ing t o middle of o r b i t . Eye l a r g e , diameter g r e a t e r than snout length . Color d o r s a l l y gray t o gray-green; l a t e r a l l y s i l v e r wi th prominent dark shoulder spo t ; f i n s pa le yel low t o green.

B l ueback Herring

Dorsal r ays 15-20; anal r ays 15-21; l a t e r a l l i n e s c a l e s 46-54. Prepe lv ic s c u t e s 18-21; pos tpe lv i c s c u t e s 12-16; g i l l r ake r s on f i r s t arch 41-52. Body moderately compressed and e longa te ; eye d iameter sma l l , equal t o o r l e s s than snout l eng th . Upper jaw wi th d e f i n i t i v e median notch; no t e e t h on premaxil- l a r i e s . Color d o r s a l l y b lue t o blue-green; 1 a t e r a l l y s i 1 ve r with prominent dark shoulder spo t ; f i n s pa l e yel low t o green.

Aids f o r Spec ies Separa t ion

w. Unfe r t i l i zed a l ewi f e eggs a r e green , and blueback he r r i ng eggs a r e amber. Oil d r o p l e t s o f f e r t i l i z e d eggs a r e numerous and uniformly t i n y i n t h e a l ewi f e bu t a r e of unequal s i z e and s c a t t e r e d i n t h e blueback he r r i ng (Kuntz and R a d c l i f f e 1917; Norden 1968).

Larvae. The number of myomeres between anal ven t and i n s e r t i o n of do r sa l f i n i s 7-9 (mean 8.0) i n t h e a lewife and 11-13 (mean 11.8) i n t h e blueback he r r i ng (Chambers e t a l . 1976).

Adults . Adults can be d i s t i n - guished ex t e rna l 1y by ind iv idua l s c a l e

NORTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA

M I L E S

K I L O M E T E R S

A TL AN TIC OCEAN

Alewife

a Blueback herring

Figure 2 . Coastal d is t r ibu t ions o f a lewi fe and b l ueback herr ing i n the South A t l a n t i c Region.

3

markings. Scales come together on the d i v i d i n g l i n e on a lew i fe b u t n o t on b l ueback h e r r i n g (O 'Ne i l l 1980; MacLellan e t a l . 1981). Although dorsal c o l o r a t i o n has been c i t e d as spec ies -d i s t i nc t i ve i n f resh specimens (B ige l ow and Schroeder 1953), MacLellan e t a l . (1981) found no detec tab le d i f f e r e n c e and observed t h a t dorsal co l o r a t i o n appeared t o vary w i t h l i g h t cond i t ions . I n t e r n a l - l y , t h e pe r i t onea l l i n i n g i s pale, gray, o r s i l v e r y w i t h dark punctua- t i o n s i n t he a l e w i f e and un i fo rm ly dark i n t he blueback h e r r i n g (Leim and Scot t 1966; Sco t t and Crossman 1973). The shapes o f t h e o t o l i t h s are d i s - t i n c t i v e (Sco t t and Crossman 1973; P r i c e 1978; O ' N e i l l 1980).

REASON FOR INCLUSION I N SERIES

Both the a l e w i f e and blueback he r r i ng have decl ined i n commercial importance i n t he South A t l a n t i c Region over t h e pas t 15 years (Rul i f - son e t a l . 1982). They are ecolog- i c a l l y impor tan t species due t o t h e i r t r o p h i c l e v e l . Both species are p lank t ivorous and are important l i n k s between zooplankton and p i sc i vo res i n es tuar ine and marine food webs.

LIFE HISTORY

Spawning

Alewives and blueback h e r r i n g spawn from l a t e w i n t e r t o e a r l y summer i n t he South A t l a n t i c Region. Marshal l (1977) and Sholar (1975) repor ted spawning runs o f alewives from mid-March t o l a t e May i n t he Neuse River , North Carol ina. B l ueback h e r r i n g spawn i n t h e S t . Johns River , F lo r i da , from January t o e a r l y May (Wi l l iams e t a1 . 1975). Blueback her- r i n g spawning runs occur l a t e r i n the season w i t h increas ing 1 a t i tude, and cont inue i n t o June i n North Caro l ina r i v e r s ( S t r e e t 1970; Sholar 1975;

Sholar 1977; Bulak and C u r t i s 1978; Hawkins 1979; F isher 1980).

Spawning temperature requirements f o r e i t h e r species are poo r l y de f ined because spawning runs o f t e n co inc ide and most spawning temperatures have been recorded fo r " r i v e r he r r i ng " r a t h e r than f o r each species separ- a t e l y . Marshal 1 (1977) , however, repor ted r i p e alewives a t temperatures o f 15-20 "C i n t he Neuse River , North Carol ina. Spawning a c t i v i t y o f b lueback h e r r i n g has been observed a t temperatures as low as 13 "C i n the Neuse R iver , North Carol ina (Hawkins 1979). Spawning a c t i v i t y peaks a t 17-19 "C i n North Carol ina and South Caro l ina (Sholar 1977, Bulak and C u r t i s 1978) and a t 17-20 " C i n Georgia and nor thern F l o r i d a ( S t r e e t 1970; Wi l l iams e t a l . 1975). Both species cease spawning when tempera- t u res exceed 27 " C (Hawkins 1979).

Although a v a r i e t y o f spawning h a b i t a t s a re used by both species, b l ueback h e r r i n g p r e f e r s h a l l ow areas covered w i t h vegeta t ion (Frankensteen 1976), o l d r i c e f i e l d s ( C h r i s t i e 1978), and r i v e r swamps and small t r i b u t a r i e s above t i d a l i n f l uence (Godwin and Adams 1969; S t r e e t 1970). Brackish and t i d a l areas are r a r e l y used by blueback h e r r i n g f o r spawning (Loesch and Lund 1977). I n cont ras t , alewives have been repor ted spawning i n b a r r i e r beach ponds (Bigelow and Welsh 1925) and brack ish streams ( K i s s i l 1974), as w e l l as a t upstream, m i d - r i v e r s i t e s (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953); they spawn over a de t r i tus-covered bottom w i t h at tached vegetat ion, s t i c k s , o r o ther organic mat te r and occasional l y over a hard sand bottom (Cooper 1961). Spawning i n both species occurs d i u r n a l l y and noc tu rna l l y , a1 though most a c t i v i t y i s nocturnal (Graham 1956; Edsal l 1964). Bl ueback he r r i ng make repeat spawning runs and r e t u r n t o t h e same r i v e r t o spawn. Thus, r a c i a l d i f f e rences may e x i s t between r i v e r s and management o f t he f i s h e r y may need t o be on a r i v e r - b y - r i v e r basis ( C h r i s t i e 1984).

4

Fecundity est imates o f b l ueback h e r r i n g i n the Altamaha River, Georgia, were 120,000-400,000 e gs per female , and averaged 244,000 q S t r e e t 1970). Wi l l iams e t a1 . (1975) e s t i - mated t h a t blueback h e r r i n g i n the S t . Johns River, F lor ida , contained 150,,000-349,000 eggs (mean, 262,000). There are no reported fecund i t y est imates f o r a lew i fe i n the South A t l a n t i c Region. Smith (1907) repor- t e d t h a t alewives i n t h e Potomac River, V i r g i n i a , contained an average o f 102,800 eggs per female, and K i s s i l (1969) est imated t h a t alewives i n Connecticut r i v e r s produced 229,000 eggs per female.

U n t i l water-hardened, eggs o f both species are adhesive and w i l l s i n k unless buoyed by r i v e r o r t i d a l cur rents . Wi th in 24 h a f t e r spawning, t he eggs l o s e t h e i r adhesive proper ty (Loesch and Lund 1977; Jones e t a l . 1978). F e r t i l i z e d blueback eggs are ye1 1 owi sh and have scat tered, unequal - s ized o i 1 drop1 e ts , whereas a1 ewi fe eggs are amber and have numerous small o i l d rop le ts (Kuntz and R a d c l i f f e 1917; Norden 1968). Egg diameters are 0.80-1.27 mm i n t h e a lew i fe and 0.87- 1.11mm i n t h e blueback h e r r i n g (Mansueti 1956; Norden 1968). Incubat ion t imes f o r b l ueback h e r r i n g eggs are 80-94 h a t 20-21 'C and 55- 58 h a t 22-24 'C (Cianci 1969; Morgan and Pr ince 1976). Comparative incubat ion t imes f o r a lew i fe eggs are 89 h a t 21.1 'C (Edsal l 1970) and 72 h a t 23.8 'C (Kel logg 1982).

Larvae

Yo1 k-sac 1 arvae of bo th species are 2.5-5.0 mm t o t a l length (TL) a t hatching and average 5.0 mm TL a t yo1 k-sac absorpt ion (Mansueti 1956; Norden 1968). This stage l a s t s 2-5 days i n the a lew i fe and 2-3 days i n the blueback h e r r i n g (Mansueti 1956; Cianci 1969; Jones e t a l . 1978).

The l a r v a l stage (from yolk-sac absorpt ion t o t ransformat ion i n t o t h e j u v e n i l e stage) l a s t s 2-3 weeks i n both species. Larva l alewives are 4.3-19.9 mm standard l eng th (SL), and 1 arva l b l ueback h e r r i n g are 4 .O-15.9 mm SL (Cooper 1961; Jones e t a l . 1978). Jones e t a1 . (1978) presented d e t a i l e d drawings o f t h e developmental stages o f eggs, yolk-sac larvae, and advanced 1 arvae of both species.

Juveni les

Transformation t o the j u v e n i l e stage i s completed i n both species a t about 20 mm TL. Scales f i r s t appear when juven i l es are 25-29 mm TL and are f u l l y developed a t 45 mm TL (Hi 1 debrand 1963 ; Norden 1968).

Nursery areas f o r j u v e n i l e b lueback h e r r i n g i n t h e Neuse River, North Carol ina, are character ized by deep, b lack water d r a i n i n g hardwood swamps, w i t h l i t t l e s a l i n i t y o r cu r ren t and w i t h a mud o r d e t r i t u s bottom (Marshall 1977). Juven i l e a l e w i f e and b l ueback h e r r i n g were present i n South Creek estuary, North Carol ina, i n spr ing (Ru l i f son 1985). I n t h e South A t l a n t i c Region, j u v e n i l e blueback h e r r i n g remain i n pr imary nursery areas u n t i l October and then begin m ig ra t i ng t o shallow, h igh-sa l i n i t y es tuar ies f o r overwinter ing. These secondary nurser ies are used u n t i 1 year1 ings migrate t o sea i n the sp r ing (Spi tsbergen and Wol f f 1974).

Primary nursery areas f o r alewives are the lower reaches o f r i v e r s i n brackish water o r t i d a l l y in f luenced freshwater. Migra t ion pat terns of j u v e n i l e alewives are n o t as c l e a r l y def ined as those o f blueback her r ing . The f i s h migrated from primary nursery areas i n November i n t h e Cape Fear River, North Carol i na (Shol a r 1977), b u t j uven i l es o f 24-105 mm TL were captured i n freshwater Lake Ma ttamuskeet, North Carol ina, dur ing June, November, and January, even though access t o coastal areas was maintained a t a11 times (Tyus 1972).

Juven i l e a lewives use h igh-sa l i n i t y es tua r i es as secondary nu rse r i es be fo re m i g r a t i n g t o sea i n w i n t e r and e a r l y s p r i n g (Ho l land and Ye lver ton 1973).

Adu l ts

B l ueback h e r r i n g and a1 ewives reach sexual m a t u r i t y by age 111 o r I V (Loesch 1969) a t about 250 mm TL (Johnson e t a l . 1978). Females o f both species a re l a r g e r than males o f t h e same age (W i l l i ams e t a l . 1975; Sholar 1977). Blueback h e r r i n g sex r a t i o s (ma1 e:female) i n No r th Ca ro l i na ranged from 1:2.80 i n t h e Northeast Cape Fear R i ve r (F ischer 1980) t o 1:0.65 i n t he Neuse R i ve r (Marshal l 1977). Corresponding ranges o f sex r a t i o s f o r t h e a l e w i f e were from 1:3.0 i n t he Cape Fear R i v e r (F i sche r 1980) t o 1:0.45 i n t h e Northeast Cape Fear R i ve r (Sho la r 1977). I n o f f s h o r e Nor th Carol i n a waters, male b l ueback h e r r i n g were o n l y s l i g h t l y outnumbered by females, 1:1.02 (Johnson e t a l . 1978).

A f t e r spawning, adu l t s o f bo th species r e t u r n t o t h e ocean, where they i n h a b i t a narrow band o f coas ta l water c l ose t o n a t a l es tua r i es (Jones e t a1 . 1978). D i s t r i b u t i o n o f paren- t a l s tocks d u r i n g w i n t e r i s n o t w e l l def ined, b u t t hey a re presumed t o ove rw in te r i n o f f s h o r e waters up t o 145 m deep (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953; H i 1 debrand 1963).

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS

Growth Rates

No pub l i shed da ta e x i s t on growth r a t e s o f j u v e n i l e a lewives o r blueback h e r r i n g i n t h e South A t l a n t i c Region, b u t some i n fo rma t i on i s a v a i l a b l e based on average s i zes o f j u v e n i l e s a t d i f f e r e n t t imes o f t h e year i n va r i ous r i v e r s . Juven i l e b l ueback h e r r i n g i n t he Cape Fear R i ve r , Nor th Caro l ina , grew f rom 49.3 mm f o r k l e n g t h (FL) i n J u l y t o a mean o f 57.4 mm FL i n

November (Davis and Cheek 1966). Mean f o r k l eng ths o f j u v e n i l e s i n t h e A1 tamaha R iver , Georgia, increased f rom 34.8 mm FL i n J u l y t o 60.6 mm FL i n November, o r a 25.8 mm inc rease over f o u r months (Godwin and Adams 1969). Juven i l e a l e w i f e i n t h e Neuse River , No r th Carol ina, increased from 35 mm FL i n June t o 75 mm FL i n November (Hawkins 1979), whereas j u v e n i l e s i n t he White Oak, Cape Fear, and Northeast Cape Fear R ivers , Nor th Carol ina, increased from 47 mm FL i n J u l y t o 81 mm FL i n December (Davis and Cheek 1966; Sholar 1975).

Hol 1 and and Ye1 ve r ton (1973) es t imated r e l a t i o n s between f o r k l e n g t h and age, and f o r k l e n g t h and we igh t f o r a lewives and blueback h e r r i n g f rom t h e Chowan R i ve r and o f f s h o r e No r th Carol i n a (Table 1) . ,Adult blueback h e r r i n g and a lewives a t t a i n a maximum s i z e o f about 290 mm FL (females) and 270 mm FL (males) by age V I I o r V I I I (Ho l land and Ye l ve r ton 1973). The o l d e s t r epo r ted blueback h e r r i n g and a lewives (age I X ) f rom t h e South A t l a n t i c Region were c o l l e c t e d i n Albemarle Sound (Ho l land e t a l . 1975).

THE FISHERY

Blueback h e r r i n g and a lewives a r e marketed t oge the r and l a b e l e d as " r i v e r h e r r i n g " o r "a l ew i f e " i n many f i s h e r i e s s t a t i s t i c s . Both species a re s o l d f r e s h o r s a l t e d f o r human consumption, b u t most a re used f o r f i s h meal and f i s h o i l i n f e r t i l i z e r , p e t food, and domestic animal food. Some a r e used f o r f i s h i n g b a i t , and some a re marketed f o r c rab and c r a y f i s h b a i t . Roe f rom these species i s canned and i s h i g h l y va lued as food (Joseph and Davis 1965; Pate 1974; S t r e e t and Davis 1976; M e r r i n e r 1978).

U.S. commercial land ings o f r i v e r h e r r i n g (bo th species combined) a1 ong t h e A t l a n t i c coas t were 4,949 m e t r i c tons ( t ) i n 1980 and 3,754 t i n 1981.

Table 1. Fork l e n g t h (FL; i n mm) - age (A; i n years) and f o r k length-weight (W; i n grams) r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f a l e w i f e and blueback h e r r i n g f rom t h e Chowan R i v e r and o f f s h o r e No r th Caro l ina . Equations repo r ted by Ho l land and Ye lver ton (1973).

Speciesa and Sex

A1 ew i fe C

C

Of fshore. NC W = 2.42 x l o m 6 FL 3.34

Of fshore, NC A = 190.50 FL 0.18

Chowan R i v e r a t Tunis , NC W = 7.49 x 10'~ F L ~ ' ~ ~

Chowan R i v e r a t Tunis . NC W = 7.78 x 10 -6 FL3.13

Chowan R i v e r a t Tunis, NC A = 172.70 FL 0.22



B l ueback H e r r i ng C Of fshore, NC W = 4.51 x 10'~ F L ~ . ~ ~

C Of fshore, NC A = 130.60 FL 0.37

M Chowan R i v e r a t Tunis. NC W = 9.01 x 10'~ FL 3.08

Chowan R i v e r a t Tunis, NC W = 2.15 x 10 '~ FL 2.92


Chowan R i v e r a t Tunis. NC A = 197.90 FL 0.10

F Chowan R i v e r a t Tunis , NC A = 200.90 FL 0.12

- - - -- - - - -- -

a~ = sexes combined; M = males; F = females

These land ings were wor th $779.000 and $671,000, r e s p e c t i v e l y (NMFS 1982). The 1 a rges t r i v e r h e r r i n g f i s h e r y i n t h e South A t l a n t i c Region i s i n No r th Caro l ina . From 1972 t o 1981, No r th Carol i n a r i v e r h e r r i n g land ings (31,357 t ) accounted f o r over 97% o f t he t o t a l f o r t h e South A t l a n t i c Region and were wor th about $3 m i l l i o n (Ru l i f son e t a l . 1982). No r th Ca ro l i na r i v e r h e r r i n g land ings i n 1985 were 11,548 thousand pounds, t h e h ighes t s i nce 1972 when t h e ca t ch was 11,237 thousand pounds (Wins1 ow e t a1 . 1985)

F i s h i n g e f f o r t f o r bo th species i s concentrated i n r i v e r s d u r i n g s p r i n g spawning runs. I n No r th Caro l ina , they a re e x p l o i t e d by anchor g i l l

nets , d r i f t g i l l nets , hau l seines, and pound ne ts (Pate 1974). Pound ne ts r e c e n t l y produced about 95% o f t he y e a r l y ca t ch (McCoy 1976). I n South Carol ina , t h e p r i n c i p a l comner- c i a 1 gears used are haul se ines and d i p ne ts (Bulak e t a l . 1979); i n F l o r i d a , haul se ines and occasional 1 y pound ne t s a re used (Wi l l i ams e t a l . 1975). There i s no commercial e x p l o i - t a t i o n of blueback h e r r i n g i n Georgia, a l though some o f t h e f i s h a re caught i n c i d e n t a l l y by f ishermen seeking American shad, A. sa id iss ima, and h i c k o r y shad, - A . - m e d h l i f s o n e t a1. 1982).

A1 ewi f e and b l ueback h e r r i n g popu la t ions appear t o be d e c l i n i n g i n t h e South A t l a n t i c Region. Comer-

c i a 1 land ings i n Nor th Ca ro l i na have decreased s i nce 1969, and F l o r i d a land ings a re no l onge r repor ted . I n 1975, South Ca ro l i na imposed a quota on commercial land ings i n an e f f o r t t o reverse popu la t i on dec l i nes i n t h e Cooper R i ve r and Lake Moul t r i e ( C u r t i s 1976). Several f a c t o r s seem t o be causing t h i s general dec l i ne . A1 e- wives and blueback h e r r i n g do n o t reach rep roduc t i ve m a t u r i t y u n t i l age I 1 1 o r I V and, u n l i k e American shad t h a t d i e a f t e r spawning once, these two species r e l y on repea t spawners t o ma in ta i n t h e i r popu la t i on l e v e l s . The inshore f i s h e r y i s based on t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f s e x u a l l y mature adu l ts ; o v e r f i s h i ng decreases t he abundance o f o l d e r i n d i v i d u a l s , thus decreasing annual spawning p o t e n t i a l (Pate 1974). The o f f s h o r e Nor th Carol i n a f i s h e r y was es tab l i shed i n 1967 as a t r a w l f i s h e r y t h a t e x p l o i t s sexual l y immature a1 ewives and b lueback h e r r i n g (NMFS 1982). The com- b ined e f f e c t o f t h e two f i s h e r i e s has apparen t ly p layed an impo r tan t r o l e i n t h e d e c l i n e o f t h e Nor th Ca ro l i na popu la t ions (Rul i f s o n e t a1 . 1982).

The s t a t u s o f blueback h e r r i n g and a l e w i f e f i s h e r i e s i n Nor th Ca ro l i na and recommendations f o r management were summarized by Loesch e t a l . (1977), Johnson e t a l . (1978), Rul i f - son e t a l . (1982), and Winslow e t a1. (1985)

ECOLOGICAL ROLE

Food

The a l e w i f e and blueback h e r r i n g a r e p r i m a r i l y zoopl ank t i vores , b u t f i s h eggs, crustacean eggs, i n s e c t s and i n s e c t eggs, and small f i shes may be impo r tan t food f o r t h e l a r g e r f i s h ( ~ i gel ow and Schroeder 1953) . Larvae beg in feed ing on zooplankton immedi- a t e l y a f t e r t he f o rma t i on o f a func- t i o n a l mouth (about 6 mm TL). They f i r s t r e l y on smal l c ladocerans and copepods and beg in t o feed on l a r g e r zooplankton species as t h e i r mouths

can accommodate them (Norden 1968; N ig ro and Ney 1982). Davis and Cheek (1966), who compared t h e food o f juve- n i l e a l e w i f e and blueback h e r r i n g i n t h e Cape Fear R iver , Nor th Carol ina, r epo r ted t h a t blueback h e r r i n g se lec ted copepods and d i p t e r a n l a r v a e more f r e q u e n t l y than d i d alewives, whereas a1 ewives consumed more ost racods , i n s e c t eggs, and i n s e c t pa r t s . The amounts o f crustacean eggs i n t h e d i e t s were s i m i l a r f o r bo th species. No ben th i c organisms o r d e t r i t u s were found i n t h e stomach con ten ts o f e i t h e r species.

The stomachs o f a l l a d u l t blueback h e r r i n g cap tured i n o f f s h o r e Nor th Ca ro l i na and examined f o r food con- t a i n e d amphi pods, copepods, isopods , cumaceans , mysids , and decapod larvae; none conta ined f i s h o r f i s h remains (Ho l land and Ye1 ve r ton 1973). A1 ew i f e stomachs examined i n the same s tudy con ta ined u n i d e n t i f i e d f i s h remains i n a d d i t i o n t o zooplankton. A f t e r spawning i n f reshwater , a d u l t a lewives feed p r i n c i p a l l y on t h e cadd is f l y Brachvcentrus sp (Cooper 1961).

Alewives feed t h ree ways. Two are s i z e - s e l e c t i v e ( i n f a v o r o f l a r g e r p rey ) : 1) p a r t i c u l a t e feed ing on i n d i v i d u a l prey; and 2 ) gu lp ing , i n which t he mouth opens and c l oses more s l ow ly than i n p a r t i c u l a t e feed ing . The t h i r d method i s f i l t e r i n g w i t h t he mouth he ld agape. The feed ing method used depends on an i n t e r a c t i o n o f f i s h s i ze w i t h p rey s ize , type, and d e n s i t y (Janssen 1976).

Competi tors

Few s tud ies have been conducted on compe t i t i ve i n t e r a c t i o n s o f a l ew i f e and blueback h e r r i n g . Some competi- t i o n f o r food may occur between t h e two species due t o s i m i l a r i t i e s i n d i e t and feed ing behavior . Loesch e t a l . (1982a) descr ibed a s p a t i a l sepa- r a t i o n between young a lewives and blueback h e r r i n g i n t h e same h a b i t a t , which may l ead t o reduced compe t i t i on f o r food.

Predators

Alewives and blueback h e r r i n g a re prey f o r many r i v e r i n e , es tuar ine , and mar ine p i s c i v o r e s (Cooper 1961), i n c l u d i n g g u l l s and t e rns (Lar idae) , green herons (Butor ides v i rescens) , o t t e r ( L u t r a canadensis), and mink (Mustela v i son ) . Reported f i s h preda- t o r s on j u v e n i l e a lewives and blueback h e r r i n g i n c l u d e American ee l , Angui l l a r o s t r a t a , and w h i t e perch, Morone americana ( K i s s i l 1969). and cha in p i c k e r e l , ESOX n i ge r , largemouth bass, M ic rop te rus salmoides, y e l l o w perch, Perca f lavescens, and pumpkinseed, Lepomis g i bbosus (Cooper 1961). Predators on adul t s a re b l ue f i s h . Pomatomus s a l t a t r i x , weakf ish; Cvnoscion reaa l i s and s t r i ~ e d bass ~- m x a t i l i s (Cooper 1961; Tyus 1972). Blueback h e r r i n q p l a y an . - impo r tan t eco log i ca l r o i e i n t h e Santee-Cooper System, South Caro l ina . Since 1975, an average o f 5.3 m i l l i o n h e r r i n g pass upstream annua l l y through t h e Pinopol i s Nav iga t i on Lock. These f i s h he lp t o ma in ta i n an impor tan t s t r i p e d bass s p o r t f i s h e r y i n Lakes Mar ion and M o u l t r i e (Bulak and C u r t i s 1978).

E f f e c t s on Freshwater Ecosvstems

Spawning a lewives c o n t r i b u t e a subs tan t i a1 n e t inc rease i n carbon, n i t rogen, and phosphorus t o smal l streams. Most o f t h e i n p u t comes f rom m o r t a l i t y o f t h e f i s h . Increased n u t r i e n t s f rom alewives l e a d t o f a s t e r mi c r o b i a1 decomposit ion o f 1 e a f 1 i t t e r , and probab ly b e n e f i t i n v e r t e b r a t e s t h a t feed on decaying l i t t e r . These i n v e r t e b r a t e s a re impor tan t prey o f f i s h e s (Durb in e t a1 . 1979).

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Temperature

Hatching success o f blueback h e r r i n g eggs exposed t o s imu la ted power p l a n t thermal regimes (7-20 "C above ambient) was 10%-14% below t h a t

o f c o n t r o l eggs (Schubel and Auld 1973). The ha t ch ing success o f b lueback h e r r i n g and a lew i fe eggs was n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t e d by temperature increases o f 6-10 " C f o r 2.5-60.0 min (Schubel 1974). Larvae frorr eggs s t ressed by pro longed exposure t o e l eva ted temperatures, however, showed a v a r i e t y o f de fo rm i t i es , i n c l u d i n g shortened bodies, en1 arged f i n f o l d s , and curved o r t w i s t e d spines. The magnitude and frequency o f d e f o r m i t i e s were d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o e leva ted temperature l e v e l s and t ime o f exposure (Koo and Johnson 1978). Incuba- t i o n temperatures below 10.6 "C r e s u l - t e d i n 69% d e f o r m i t i e s i n a l e w i f e l a r v a e (Edsa l l 1970).

There i s no i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e on t h e e f f e c t s o f temperature on juve- n i l e b l ueback h e r r i n g . Upper 1 e t h a l temperature 1 i m i t s and c r i t i c a l t h e r - mal maxima ( t h e mean temperature a t which exper imenta l f i s h l o s e e q u i l i b - r ium) f o r j u v e n i l e a l e w i f e c o l l e c t e d from Lake Michigan exceeded those o f a d u l t s by 3 t o 6 "C and increased w i t h h i ghe r acc l ima t i on temperatures. The p r e f e r r e d temperature was cons is - t e n t l y h i ghe r f o r j u v e n i l e s than f o r a d u l t s (O t to e t a l . 1976). Some j u v e n i l e a lewives su rv i ved and f e d a t temperatures o f 34.4-35.0 "C (Dorfman and Westman 1970). For a no r the rn a1 ewi f e popul a t i on, McCaul ey and Binkowski (1982) r e p o r t e d an upper i n c i p i e n t 1 e t h a l temperature o f 31- 34 'C f o r adul t s . F i sh were acc l imated f i r s t a t 27 'C.

I n heat-shock t e s t s w i t h a d u l t a lewives from Lake Michigan, c r i t i c a l thermal maxima and upper l e t h a l tem- pe ra tu re 1 i m i t s increased as acc l ima- t i o n temperatures increased; a t equal acc l ima t i on temperatures, t he c r i t i c a l thermal maximum was n o t a f f e c t e d by f i s h age. I n cold-shock t e s t s w i t h a d u l t a lewives from Lake Michigan, temperatures l e s s than 3 "C caused 100% m o r t a l i t y regard less o f t he acc l ima t i on temperature. Some f i s h su rv i ved a temperature decrease o f 10 "C i f t h e lower t e s t temperature was

n o t below 3 "C (O t to e t a l . 1976). No i n fo rma t ion i s a v a i l a b l e on tempera- t u r e ef fects on a d u l t blueback her r ing . A lew i fe and b l ueback h e r r i n g on the open ocean were most f requen t l y caught a t 4-7 'C (Neves 1981).

S a l i n i t y

Although 1 i t t l e i n fo rma t ion e x i s t s on s a l i n i t y to lerances o f alewives and blueback he r r i ng , they are apparent ly e f f i c i e n t osmoregulators i n f reshwater o r sa l twa te r and are h i g h l y t o l e r a n t of sa l i n i t y changes. Chi t tenden (1972) observed no m o r t a l i t y o f a d u l t blueback h e r r i n g from e i t h e r gradual o r abrupt sa l i n i t y changes, i n c l uding t rans fers from f reshwater t o seawater and t h e reverse. Blood and muscle e l e c t r o l y t e concentrat ions were s imi 1 a r i n alewives he ld i n seawater and i n f reshwater a t t h e same temper- a tu re (Stanley and Colby 1971). The existence o f 1 and1 ocked , reproducing populat ions i n 1 akes and rese rvo i r s i nd i ca tes t h a t n e i t h e r species requ i res a sa l twa te r environment t o complete i t s l i f e cycle.

Dissolved Oxygen

Mass m o r t a l i t i e s o f j u v e n i l e blueback h e r r i n g occurred i n t h e lower 48 km o f t h e Connecticut R i ve r dur ing June and J u l y i n 1965-67 and 1971, when d isso lved oxygen concentrat ions f e l l below 1.3 m /L a t 24.6 "C and 3.6 mg/L a t 27.6 "C 4 Moss e t a l . 1976).

I n 1 aboratory s tud ies , j u v e n i l e alewives responded t o d isso lved oxygen concentrat ions below 2.0 mg/L by moving t o t he sur face o f t h e t e s t chamber. They can su rv i ve f o r a t l e a s t 5 min a t concentrat ions as low as 0.5 mg/L i f al lowed access t o an area o f 3.0 mg/L o r h igher concent ra t ion i n which t o recover (Dorfman and Westman 1970).

Substrate and System Features

Requirements f o r spawning h a b i t a t are more spec ia l i zed i n t h e blueback

h e r r i n g than i n t he a lewi fe . Blueback h e r r i n g p r e f e r shal low, vegetated areas w i t h slow cur rent , whereas a le - wives use a v a r i e t y of spawning s i t e s , from brack ish t i d a l water and b a r r i e r beach ponds t o upstream m id - r i ve r s i t e s . Changes i n water cu r ren ts o r substrates i n spawning r i v e r s may a f f e c t blueback h e r r i n g more than alewives because o f t he more s p e c i f i c spawning s i t e requirements o f b l ueback he r r i ng .

Schubel and Wang (1973) found t h a t h igh l e v e l s o f suspended sediment caused a de lay i n ha tch ing o f several hours. However, Auld and Schubel (1978) found t h a t 100 mg/L o r l e s s o f suspended sediment had no e f f e c t on t h e hatch ing success o f a lew i fe o r b l ueback h e r r i n g eggs.

Juven i le alewives and blueback h e r r i n g i n t he Cape Fear R iver , North Carol ina, were found i n areas w i t h 4 t o 22 ppm f r e e carbon d iox ide , 5 t o 32 ppm a1 kal i n i t y , 2.4-10.0 mg/L d isso lved oxygen, and a H o f 5.2 t o 6.8 (Davis and Cheek 1966r.

I n pooled samples taken throughout t h e year, alewives on the open sea were captured most o f t e n a t 56-110 m depths, and blueback h e r r i n g a t 27-55 m. Evidence suggests t h a t both species are v e r t i c a l migrators, f o l l o w i n g t h e d ie1 movements o f zooplankton i n t h e water column (Neves 1981).

Environmental Contaminants

The LC-50 ( l e t h a l concent ra t ion f o r 50% o f f i s h tes ted) o f t o t a l r es idua l c h l o r i n e f o r b l ueback h e r r i n g eggs i n the Potomac River , Maryland, ranged from 0.20 t o 0.32 ppm, and a l l l a r vae exposed t o sub le tha l concentra- t i o n s o f t o t a l r es idua l c h l o r i n e were deformed (Morgan and Pr ince 1976). The body t i ssues o f j u v e n i l e alewives and blueback h e r r i n g from t h e Chicko- hominy and James Rivers, V i r g i n i a , contained kepone concentrat ions grea-

t e r than 0.3 ppm -- the a c t i o n l e v e l found i n f i s h from the Rappahannock f o r poss ib l e c l o s u r e o f a f i s h e r y River , V i r g i n i a , o r t he Potomac R iver , (Johnson e t a l . 1978; Loesch e t a l . Maryland (Loesch e t a l . 1982b). 1982b). Less than 0.3 ppm kepone was present i n young a1 ewives and b l ueback S ta tus of water qua1 i t y and system h e r r i n g from t h e Mat taponi and f ea tu res o f major r i v e r systems of t h e Parnunkey R ivers , V i r g i n i a , and no South A t l a n t i c B i g h t a re shown i n de tec tab le concen t ra t i on o f kepone was Table 2 .

Nassau I I I 1 x 1 1 x 1 I I 1 x 1 T m x r l I I I 1 x 1 S t . Johns Tomoka

1) e . g . . Heavy metals , o r g a n i c s . 2) Locks and b a r r i e r s . 3) A g r i c u l t u r a l dra inage; a g r i c u l t u r a l and domestic non-point source p o l l u t i o n : o v e r f i s h i n g . 4) A g r i c u l t u r a l and domestic non-point source p o l l u t i o n .

Tab le 2 . System f e a t u r e s and wate r qua1 i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s t h a t may a f f e c t popu la t ions o f a l e w i f e o r b lueback h e r r i n g i n t h e South A t l a n t i c B i g h t (from R u l i f s o n e t a l . 1982b) .

12

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Ber ry , F. H. 1964. Review and emendaticn o f f a m i l y C l upeidae. Copeia 1964:720-730.

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Bulak, J . S., and T. A. C u r t i s . 1978. Santee Cooper Red ivers ion P r o j e c t , Annu. P r o j . Rep., P r o j . SCR 1-2. S.C. W i l d l . Mar. Res. Dep., D i v . W i l d l . Freshwater F ish . 79 pp.

Bulak, 2. S., J. S. Tuten, and T. A. C u r t i s . 1979. Santee Cooper b l ueback h e r r i n g s tud ies . Annu. Prog. Rep., P r o j . SCR 1-3, 1 Jan. 1979 t o 30 Sept. 1979. S.C. W i l d l . Mar. Res. Dep., Div . W i l d l . Freshwater Fish. 116 pp.

Chambers, J . R., J. A. Musick, and J. Davis. 1976. Methods o f d i s t i n - gu i sh ing l a r v a l a l e w i f e f rom l a r v a l blueback h e r r i n g . Chesapeake Sci . 17:93-100.

Chit tenden, M. E. 1972. S a l i n i t y to1 erance of young b l ueback he r r i ng ,

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Morgan, R. P., 11, and R. D. Pr ince. 1976. Ch lo r i ne t o x i c i t y t o e s t u a r i n e f i s h eggs and la rvae . Chesapeake B i o l . Lab. Univ. Ed. C t r . Envi ron. Es tua r i ne Stud. Ref. No. 76-116 CBL. 122 pp.

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Species P r o f i l e s : L i f e H i s t o r i e s and Environmental Requirements I kugust 1989 of Coastal Fishes and I n v e r t e b r a t e s (South A t l a n t i c ) - - A l e w i f e Is.

50272 -101

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I I. Pertorrnlng Organizat!on Rept. No.

3. Rec8p8ent'a Acceauon No.

12. Soonwrtng Organiratlon Name and ~ d d r e s s 1 13. 710. oi R ~ W R 6. Permd Covered

2. REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE

E a r l L . Bozeman, J r . , and Michael J. Van Den Avv le 9. Pedorming Organization name and Address

Georgia Cooperat ive F i sh and Wild1 i f e Research U n i t School o f Fo res t Resources U n i v e r s i t y o f Georgia Athens, GA 30602

1. REPORT NO.

B i o l o g i c a l Report 82(11.111) *

10. Pro~ect/Tash/Worh Unlt No.

11. Contrac~(Cl or Granl(G1 NO.

(c)

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*U.S. Army Corps o f Engineers Report No. TR ED-82-4

U.S. Department o f t he I n t e r i o r U.S. A m y Corps o f Engineers F i s h and W i l d l i f e Serv ice Waterways Experiment S t a t i o n

16. Abstract (Limit: 200 rorda)

Nat iona l Wetlands Research Center P.O. Box 631

Species p r o f i l e s are summaries o f t he l i t e r a t u r e on taxonomy, l i f e h i s t o r y , and environmental requirements o f coas ta l f i s h e s and aqua t i c i n v e r t e b r a t e s . They are prepared t o a s s i s t w i t h impact assessment. The a l e w i f e (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback h e r r i n g (A. a e s t i v a l i s ) a re m o r p h o l o g i c a l l y and e c o l o g i c a l l y s i m i l a r anadromous species o f c lune ids . The blueback h e r r i n g i s common throughout t h e South A t l a n t i c Region, b u t t he a lew i fe occurs p r i m a r i l y i n Nor th Caro l i na and no r the rn p a r t s o f South Caro l i na . These species spawn i n s p r i n g i n f reshwater o r brack ish , t i d a l l y i n f l u e n c e d p o r t i o n s of coasta l r i v e r s . Blueback h e r r i n g i n i t i a l l y use f reshwa te r h a b i t a t s f o r nu rse ry areas, and then m ig ra te downr iver t o b rack i sh e s t u a r i e s , where they ove rw in te r p r i o r t o m i g r a t i n g t o sea the f o l l o w i n g sp r ing . Alewives use b rack i sh water o r t i d a l f reshwater as nursery areas u n t i l they m ig ra te t o coasta l waters i n w i n t e r o r t he f o l l o w i n g s p r i n g . Landlocked popu la t i ons o f b l ueback h e r r i n g occur i n several southeastern r e s e r v o i r s . Both species are e c o l o g i c a l l y impor tan t by s e r v i n g as prey f o r many o t h e r f i shes; they a re economical ly impor tan t because they suppor t commercial i nsho re and o f f s h o r e f i s h e r i e s . L i t t l e i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e on environmental f a c t o r s t h a t l i m i t these species i n the South A t l a n t i c Region. Adu l t s of bo th species have broad s a l i n i t y to lerances, b u t b l ueback h e r r i n g appear t o r e q u i r e access t o f reshwater f o r successfu l rep roduc t i on .

14.

17. Document Anelpis a. D e u r r m o n

Washinaton. DC 20240 V ickJura . MS 39180 IS. Supplementary Notes

Es tua r ies Growth Coastal r i v e r s Feeding Coastal areas Spawning C l upei dae

b. Idmtlt3enlOp.n.End.d Terms

A1 ewi f e H a b i t a t requirements A1 osa pseudoharengus B l ueback h e r r i n g Alosa a e s t i v a l i s

c. C O U T l FieldlGmup

18. Aw~llabillty Slatem.... 1 19. S*curnty Class (Thm R e w n l I 21. No. oi Pal -8

Unl i m i t e d / U n c l a s s i f i e d 1 17 -- 8 m s.c r u t ~ Cl ja n h i P a ~ e ) I 22. Pnce i ~ n c Y a s s ~ f i e d I

5.. In.rruct,ons on R*r.rr. OPTIONAL FORM 272 ( 1 - 7 1 (Formerly NTIS-351

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alewife and blueback herring - usgs … than for each species separ- ately. marshal 1 (1977) ,...

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