Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific Southwest): Striped bass

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5089375

Hassler, T J

Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, morphology, range, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal aquatic species. They are designed to assist in environmental impact assessment. The striped bass supports one of the most important sport fisheries in the Pacific Southwest. The only population of striped bass of consequence in the Pacific Southwest is in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary and Pacific Ocean within 40 km of San Francisco Bay. Males mature at age 2 or 3 and females at ages 4 to 7. Striped bass are anadromous and spawn in fresh- or nearly fresh-water from April to June in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and the Delta area formed by the rivers. The semibuoyant eggs require a minimum current of 30.5 cm/s during development to keep them from settling to the bottom and dying. Year-class size of striped bass in the estuary has been correlated with survival during early life. The abundance of young bass, mean FL 38 mm, has been associated with river outflow from the Delta and the percentage of the river inflow diverted. The abundance of striped bass in the estuary has steadily declined since the 1960's; the decline is believed to be related to a combination of toxic substances and entrainment of young bass. Temperature, salinity, and river discharge are also important environmental factors affecting the survival of striped bass. 109 refs., 5 figs., 6 tabs.

• Research Organization: Humboldt State Univ., Arcata, CA (USA). California Cooperative Fishery Research Unit; Fish and Wildlife Service, Slidell, LA (USA). National Wetlands Research Center
• OSTI ID: 5089375
• Report Number(s): BR-82(11.82); TR-EL-82-4; ON: TI88009314
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
DISEASES
ECOLOGY
FEEDING
FISHERIES
FISHES
FOOD
GROWTH
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
LARVAE
LIFE CYCLE
MORTALITY
PACIFIC OCEAN
PARASITIC DISEASES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
REPRODUCTION
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
SEAS
STRIPED BASS
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES