Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South Atlantic). Atlantic Menhaden

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5273582

Rogers, S G; Van Den Avyle, M J

Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, range, life history, environmental requirements, and significance of coastal aquatic species. The Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, contributes 25% to 40% of the landings of the largest commercial fishery (by weight) in the United States. Landings for 1979 to 1981 averaged about 400,000 mt (440,920 t) and $38 million annually. All ages are important prey for many fishes and birds; the species is a seasonally important and migratory component of estuarine and shelf fish assemblages. In the South Atlantic, major spawning occurs from December through February near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in shelf waters that are 100 to 200 m (328 to 655 ft) deep. Larval Atlantic menhaden feed on zooplankton and move shoreward to estuaries after 1 to 3 months at sea. With growth, the juveniles gradually change to a less-selective, filter-feeding mode and generally migrate from estuaries to open shelf areas during late fall. Fish that exit estuaries everywhere along the Atlantic seaboard eventually disperse throughout the species' range. Atlantic menhaden occur in a broad range of temperatures and salinities. Larvae move toward low-salinity areas upon entering estuaries, and prejuveniles are dependent on low-salinity marsh habitats and river shoals for nurseries. 88 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Georgia Univ., Athens (USA). School of Forest Resources
• OSTI ID: 5273582
• Report Number(s): FWS/OBS-82/11.11; ON: DE84900749
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FISHES
ECOLOGY
ATLANTIC OCEAN
COASTAL WATERS
ESTUARIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FISHING INDUSTRY
HABITAT
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TAXONOMY
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGY
DISTRIBUTION
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)