Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South Atlantic): Alewife and blueback herring

Technical Report · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5414359

Bozeman, Jr, E L; Van Den Avyle, M J ^[1]

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1. Georgia Univ., Athens, GA (USA). Georgia Cooperative Fishery Research Unit

Species profiles are summaries of the literature on taxonomy, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and aquatic invertebrates. They are prepared to assist with impact assessment. The alewife ({ital Alosa pseudoharengus}) and blueback herring ({ital A. aestivalis}) are morphologically and ecologically similar anadromous species of clupeids. The blueback herring is common throughout the South Atlantic Region, but the alewife occurs primarily in North Carolina and northern parts of South Carolina. These species spawn in spring in freshwater or brackish, tidally influenced portions of coastal rivers. Blueback herring initially use freshwater habitats for nursery areas, and then migrate downriver to brackish estuaries, where they overwinter prior to migrating to sea the following spring. Alewives use brackish water or tidal freshwater as nursery areas until they migrate to coastal waters in winter or the following spring. Landlocked populations of blueback herring occur in several southeastern reservoirs. Both species are ecologically important by serving as prey for many other fishes; they are economically important because they support commercial inshore and offshore fisheries. Little information is available on environmental factors that limit these species in the South Atlantic Region. Adults of both species have broad salinity tolerances, but blueback herring appear to require access to freshwater for successful reproduction. 76 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (USA). Coastal Ecology Group; Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC (USA); Georgia Univ., Athens, GA (USA). Georgia Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
• Sponsoring Organization: DOI
• OSTI ID: 5414359
• Report Number(s): BR-82(11.111); TR-EL--82-4/82(11.111); ON: TI90002535
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BASELINE ECOLOGY
COASTAL WATERS
ECOLOGY
ESTUARIES
FEEDING
FISHERIES
FISHES
GROWTH
HABITAT
LIFE CYCLE
MIGRATION
POPULATION DYNAMICS
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
REPRODUCTION
SEAS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SURFACE WATERS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES