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

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

OSTI ID:5720031

Rackowski, J P; Pikitch, E K ^[1]

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1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (USA). Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife

Species profiles are literature summaries of taxonomy, morphology, range, growth characteristics, ecology, life history, and commercial importance of coastal species. Pacific sanddab, Citharichthys sordidus, and speckled sanddab, Citharichthys stigmaeus, are common along the California coast from the intertidal zone to depths of 306 m. Pacific sanddabs spawn from July to September and speckled sanddabs, from April to September. Eggs and larvae are common throughout the range of the species. Average life span is 8--10 years in Pacific sanddabs and 3--4 years in speckled sanddabs. Females of both species live longer than males. Female Pacific sanddabs attain sexual maturity at age 3 and female speckled sanddabs, at age 2. Postlarvae feed on zooplankton; adults eat a variety of crustaceans and fish. Both species prefer sandy bottoms. The speckled sanddab was the most abundant species caught in trawl surveys off southern California. Commercial catch statistics lump both species under sanddabs''. Average annual landings, 1930--70, were 500,000 pounds and from 1971--86, landings rose to 900,000 pounds. Commercial fish buyers paid $0.37 per pound for sanddabs in April, 1987. 48 refs., 9 figs.

• Research Organization: Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (USA); Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC (USA); Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (USA). Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife; Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (USA). Fisheries Research Inst.
• Sponsoring Organization: DOD; DOI
• OSTI ID: 5720031
• Report Number(s): BR-82(11.107); TR-EL--82-4/82(11.107); ON: TI90000582
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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