scholarly journals Factors affecting the abundance of age-0 Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) in Chesapeake Bay

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (9) ◽  
pp. 2238-2251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward D. Houde ◽  
Eric R. Annis ◽  
Lawrence W. Harding ◽  
Michael E. Mallonee ◽  
Michael J. Wilberg
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Primary Production ◽  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Atlantic Menhaden ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Brevoortia Tyrannus ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract The abundance of prerecruit, age-0 Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), declined to low levels in Chesapeake Bay in the 1990s, after two decades of high abundances in the 1970s–1980s. Environmental factors and trophodynamics were hypothesized to control age-0 menhaden abundance. Data on age-0 menhaden abundance from seine and trawl surveys were analysed with respect to primary productivity, chlorophyll a (Chl a), and environmental variables. Abundance from 1989 to 2004 was strongly correlated with metrics of primary production and euphotic-layer Chl a, especially during spring months when larval menhaden transform into filter-feeding, phytoplanktivorous juveniles. Correlation, principal components, and multiple regression analyses were conducted that identified factors associated with age-0 menhaden abundance. Primary production, Chl a, and variables associated with freshwater flow, e.g. Secchi disk depth and zooplankton assemblages, were correlated with age-0 menhaden abundance. Lengths of age-0 menhaden were positively related to mean levels of annual primary production. However, lengths were negatively related to age-0 menhaden abundance, indicating that growth may be density-dependent. The identified relationships suggest that numbers of menhaden larvae ingressing to Chesapeake Bay and environmental factors that subsequently control primary productivity and food for juveniles within the Bay may control recruitment levels of Atlantic menhaden.

Conservation, Ecology, and Management of Catfish: The Second International Symposium

2011 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Atlantic Menhaden ◽  
Tidal River ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Blue Catfish ◽  
Brevoortia Tyrannus ◽  
Conflicting Demands ◽  
Peak Abundance

<em>Abstract</em>.—Rapid increase in abundance and expanded distribution of introduced blue catfish <em>Ictalurus furcatus</em> populations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have raised regional management concerns. This study uses information from multiple surveys to examine expansion of blue catfish populations and document their role in tidal river communities. Originally stocked in the James, York, and Rappahannock River systems for development of commercial and recreational fisheries, blue catfish have now been documented in adjacent rivers and have expanded their within-river distribution to oligo- and mesohaline environments. Range expansions coincided with periods of peak abundance in 1996 and 2003 and with the concurrent decline in abundance of native white catfish <em>I. catus</em>. Blue catfish in these systems use a diverse prey base; various amphipod species typically dominate the diet of smaller individuals (<300 mm fork length [FL]), and fishes are common prey for larger blue catfish (>300 mm FL). Recent studies based on stable isotope analyses suggest that adult blue catfish in these systems are apex predators that feed extensively on important fishery resources, including anadromous shads and herrings Alosa spp. and juvenile Atlantic menhaden <em>Brevoortia tyrannus</em>. Minimizing effects on Chesapeake Bay communities by controlling high densities of blue catfish populations is a primary goal of management, but conflicting demands of the commercial and recreational sectors must be resolved. Further, low market demand and human consumption concerns associated with purported accumulation of contaminants in blue catfish pose additional complications for regulating these fisheries.

Predatory demand and impact of striped bass, bluefish, and weakfish in the Chesapeake Bay: applications of bioenergetics models

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1667-1687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle J. Harfmart ◽  
Stephen B. Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
Striped Bass ◽  
Atlantic Menhaden ◽  
Pomatomus Saltatrix ◽  
Brevoortia Tyrannus ◽  
Annual Biomass ◽  
Production Area ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Trophic Linkages ◽  
Bioenergetics Models

We applied bioenergetics models for dominant Chesapeake Bay piscivores, striped bass (Morone saxatilis), bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), and weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), along with site-specific data on diets, growth, and energy density, to examine trophic linkages and the relationship of predatory demand to prey supply. Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli), and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) accounted for 65–99% of the annual biomass of piscivore diets (excluding age-0 striped bass that ate mostly invertebrates). The diets of young piscivores were dominated by anchovy, but menhaden and spot became increasingly important to older fish. Young (age < 2) striped bass ate mostly benthic prey. Older striped bass fed increasingly on pelagic sources, primarily menhaden, but bluefish and weakfish increased benthic resource use from 10% at age 0 to 50% by age 2. Comparison of consumption (supply) to demand (potential consumption) measured the suitability of Chesapeake Bay for predator production. Bluefish came closest to achieving their demand for prey, suggesting that they are more successful predators than either striped bass or weakfish. Results suggest that Chesapeake Bay may be a better nursery than production area for older fish, and prey supply (not temperature) may account for the movements and use of the estuary by older piscivores.

Importance of Latitude and Organic Color on Phytoplankton Primary Productivity in Florida Lakes

1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1145-1150 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Beaver ◽  
Thomas L. Crisman
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Primary Productivity ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Empirical Equations ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Florida Lakes ◽  
Vegetative Season

A characterization of primary productivity patterns in subtropical Florida lakes along increasing gradients of both dissolved organic color and phytoplankton biomass is presented. Volumetric expression of gross primary productivity was more strongly correlated with chlorophyll a and nutrient concentrations than was areal expression. Primary production in clearwater (<75 Pt units) lakes was more predictable than colored (>75 Pt units) lakes. Areal production in Florida lakes was intermediate to the tropical and temperate regions, although volumetric productivity during the vegetative season (May–September) was not significantly different from temperate zone lakes for the same period. Predictive abilities of empirical equations describing primary productivity in Florida lakes are improved by distinguishing colored and clear lakes.

scholarly journals Quantitative PCR Assay for Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii and Mycobacterium shottsii and Application to Environmental Samples and Fishes from the Chesapeake Bay

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (18) ◽  
pp. 6171-6179 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Gauthier ◽  
K. S. Reece ◽  
J. Xiao ◽  
M. W. Rhodes ◽  
H. I. Kator ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
Striped Bass ◽  
Atlantic Menhaden ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Brevoortia Tyrannus ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Obligate Pathogen ◽  
Bay Anchovy ◽  
Very High ◽  
Quantitative Pcr Assay

ABSTRACT Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the Chesapeake Bay are currently experiencing a very high prevalence of mycobacteriosis associated with newly described Mycobacterium species, Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii and M. shottsii. The ecology of these mycobacteria outside the striped bass host is currently unknown. In this work, we developed quantitative real-time PCR assays for M. pseudoshottsii and M. shottsii and applied these assays to DNA extracts from Chesapeake Bay water and sediment samples, as well as to tissues from two dominant prey of striped bass, Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) and bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli). Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii was found to be ubiquitous in water samples from the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay and was also present in water and sediments from the Rappahannock River, Virginia. M. pseudoshottsii was also detected in menhaden and anchovy tissues. In contrast, M. shottsii was not detected in water, sediment, or prey fish tissues. In conjunction with its nonpigmented phenotype, which is frequently found in obligately pathogenic mycobacteria of humans, this pattern of occurrence suggests that M. shottsii may be an obligate pathogen of striped bass.

A Spatially-Explicit Approach for Estimating Carrying Capacity: An Application for the Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) in Chesapeake Bay

Estuaries ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangang Luo ◽  
Kyle J. Hartman ◽  
Stephen B. Brandt ◽  
Carl F. Cerco ◽  
Thomas H. Rippetoe
Keyword(s):  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Atlantic Menhaden ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Brevoortia Tyrannus ◽  
Explicit Approach

scholarly journals Aerial surveys of fish in estuaries: a case study in Chesapeake Bay

2010 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Churnside ◽  
Alexei F. Sharov ◽  
Ronald A. Richter
Keyword(s):  
Chesapeake Bay ◽  
Airborne Lidar ◽  
Atlantic Menhaden ◽  
Relative Standard Error ◽  
Average Depth ◽  
Brevoortia Tyrannus ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Relative Standard ◽  
Coefficient Of Variability

Abstract Churnside, J. H., Sharov, A. F., and Richter, R. A. 2011. Aerial surveys of fish in estuaries: a case study in Chesapeake Bay. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 239–244. The performance of a near-nadir, airborne lidar was compared with that of an airborne imagery (video) system for surveys of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) in Chesapeake Bay, USA. Lidar had a greater probability of detecting a school (0.93 vs. 0.73) as a result of its greater depth penetration, a lesser probability of false identification (0.05 vs. 0.13) because it was less dependent on surface conditions and ambient illumination, and less variability [coefficient of variability of 0.34 vs. 0.73] in repeated coverage of the same area. Video had a lower statistical uncertainty in school detection [relative standard error 0.04 vs. 0.07] as a result of its greater swath width. The average depth penetration of lidar was 12 m, and the average depth of detected schools was 3 m. The performance of both techniques decreased with increasing windspeed, although the effect was smaller for lidar. The school area inferred by the two techniques was nearly the same. An examination of the missed schools and false identifications in lidar and video suggest that a combination of the two techniques would reduce most of the uncertainty associated with the use of either technique alone.

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