Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South Atlantic). American eel
The American eel, Anguilla rostrata, is an ecologically and economically important catadromous species that occupies freshwater streams, rivers, brackish estuaries, and the open ocean during various phases of its life cycle. Adult eels apparently spawn in the Sargasso Sea, and ocean currents transport the developing larvae northward until the young metamorphose into juveniles capable of swimming shoreward and moving upstream into coastal areas, estuaries, and rivers. Developing eels commonly remain in freshwater or brackish area for 10 to 12 years before migrating to spawn. American eels tend to be bottom-dwellers and feed on a variety of fauna that occupy the same habitats. Eels occupy areas having wide ranges of temperature, salinity, and other environmental factors, suggesting broad tolerance limits, but few studies of requirements have been reported. Salinity patterns and water currents created by river discharges into coastal areas apparently provide the gradient that cues shoreward migration of juvenile eels. Alteration of patterns of freshwater inflows to estuaries and bays could affect upstream migrations. 73 references, 3 figures, 1 table.
- Research Organization:
- Georgia Univ., Athens (USA). School of Forest Resources
- OSTI ID:
- 6169337
- Report Number(s):
- FWS/OBS-82/11.24; ON: TI85900647
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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