Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (North Atlantic)
Species profiles are literature summaries of the taxonomy, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and aquatic invertebrates. They are designed to assist with environmental impact assessments. The rainbow smelt is an abundant forage fish for commercially and recreationally valuable fishes such as striped bass and bluefish on the East Coast and several species of salmon and trout in the Great Lakes. The rainbow smelt also supports an important sportfishery throughout most of its range. In 1976, the total smelt harvest in the coastal waters of New England was 105,000 lb. Coastal rainbow smelt are anadromous, spawning in freshwater and maturing in saline water. Spawning peaks in spring. Salinities above 12 ppt were fatal to eggs. Reported fecundities are 7,000 to 44,000 eggs per female. Smelt are always found in shallow water (<6 m deep) and within 2 km of the shore. Larval and juvenile smelt along the coast feed on planktonic crustaceans. Larger juveniles and adults feed on euphausiids, amphipods, on planktonic crustaceans. Larger juveniles and adults feed on euphausiids, amphipods, polychaetes, and fish. Smelt move locally to search for optimum water temperatures. 46 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Univ., Amherst, MA (USA). Dept. of Forestry and Wildlife Management
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOI
- OSTI ID:
- 5674272
- Report Number(s):
- BR-82(11.106); TR-EL-82-4/82(11.106); ON: TI90001150
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (South Atlantic): Bluefish
Species profiles: Life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (Pacific Northwest): Lingcod
Related Subjects
FISHES
BASELINE ECOLOGY
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
ANIMAL GROWTH
ATLANTIC OCEAN
COASTAL WATERS
ESTUARIES
FEEDING
FISHERIES
HABITAT
LIFE CYCLE
MIGRATION
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
REPRODUCTION
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ECOLOGY
GROWTH
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
520100* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)