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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Environmental quality for striped bass

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5407487
Effects of environmental changes on the quality of life for striped bass populations can be evaluated objectively with modern procedures of environmental risk analysis. Such analysis requires knowledge of the sources of risk in the context of environmental requirements of the species. A prime environmental requirement of striped bass appears to be a suitable thermal structure that accommodates the hereditary thermal niche, which changes with age. Strong thermal preferences had promoted striped bass survival in the pristine natural estuaries of eastern North America, but they may increase risks to the species in some new environments and in native ones that are altered by man. The magnitude and likelihood of risks for striped bass from many pollutants and physical changes (structures or water flow, for example) depend upon the fish's thermally controlled distribution. The importance of a species' thermal niche and of the thermal structure of aquatic environments for population success is only beginning to be recognized and included in risk assessments.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Health and Environmental Research
OSTI ID:
5407487
Report Number(s):
CONF-800348--1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English