Ovarian dynamics and fecundity regulation in blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis , from the Connecticut River, US

Abstract Blueback Herring Alosa aestivalis populations throughout the East Coast have declined precipitously since the late 1980s and were listed as a Species of Concern in 2006 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Natural resource agencies are attempting to restore this species to viable and sustainable levels with fry stockings cultured in hatcheries. To evaluate the long-term contribution of stockings to populations, agencies need an accurate method to track these stocking efforts. Genetic parentage-based tagging is recognized as a feasible means of assessing hatchery contribution of stocked fish to rivers of interest. However, Blueback Herring lack a reliable set of genetic markers to conduct parentage-based tagging. To this end, we analyzed previously described microsatellites as well as new microsatellite markers identified through NextGeneration sequencing to create a suite of 14 Blueback Herring markers useful for parentage-based tagging. The markers were successful in parentage analysis for Blueback Herring collected from the Chowan River, North Carolina. An additional challenge in the management of Blueback Herring is the ability to phenotypically distinguish Blueback Herring from the closely related Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus. Furthermore, recent studies provide evidence that these two species, collectively referred to as river herring, may be hybridizing with one another in some systems. Microsatellite marker AsaC334 can be utilized to discriminate between the two species, as well as to identify their F1 hybrids, thereby providing another genetic tool for hatchery management.

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Evidence for temperature-dependent shifts in spawning times of anadromous alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2019-0140 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 77 (4) ◽

pp. 741-751 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Steven M. Lombardo ◽

Jeffrey A. Buckel ◽

Ernie F. Hain ◽

Emily H. Griffith ◽

Holly White

Keyword(s):

Generalized Additive Models ◽

Additive Models ◽

Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽

Spawning Habitat ◽

Temperature Dependent ◽

Blueback Herring ◽

River Herring ◽

Alosa Aestivalis ◽

Timing Of Spawning

We analyzed four decades of presence–absence data from a fishery-independent survey to characterize the long-term phenology of river herring (alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus; and blueback herring, Alosa aestivalis) spawning migrations in their southern distribution. We used logistic generalized additive models to characterize the average ingress, peak, and egress timing of spawning. In the 2010s, alewife arrived to spawning habitat 16 days earlier and egressed 27 days earlier (peak 12 days earlier) relative to the 1970s. Blueback herring arrived 5 days earlier and egressed 23 days earlier (peak 13 days earlier) in the 2010s relative to the 1980s. The changes in ingress and egress timing have shortened the occurrence in spawning systems by 11 days for alewife over four decades and 18 days for blueback herring over three decades. We found that the rate of vernal warming was faster during 2001–2016 relative to 1973–1988 and is the most parsimonious explanation for changes in spawning phenology. The influence of a shortened spawning season on river herring population dynamics warrants further investigation.

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Lipid content and energy expenditure in the spawning migration of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z86-285 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 64 (9) ◽

pp. 1902-1907 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Robert H. Crawford ◽

R. Roland Cusack ◽

Timothy R. Parlee

Keyword(s):

Lipid Content ◽

Total Lipid Content ◽

Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽

Blueback Herring ◽

Alosa Aestivalis ◽

High Lipid ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Difference ◽

Very High ◽

Immature Fish

For the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) total lipid content was neither size nor sex specific. The lipid content of alewife and blueback herring from the LaHave River, Nova Scotia, was similar at 7.6 and 7.0%, respectively. However, in samples from the Margaree River there was a significant difference in lipid content between alewife and blueback herring (7.8% vs. 5.4%, respectively). The difference appeared to be a consequence of water temperature since late migrants of both species had a significantly lower lipid content. For alewife migration in the LaHave River, a distance of 31 km, lipid content declined by 22%, whereas in the Margaree River lipid loss was 18% over 32 km. Lipid content was also dependent on reproductive maturity, with lipid levels of 14.4, 8.7, and 5.4% in immature, prespawning, and spent alewife from site 1 on the Margaree River. Immature fish were characterized by a very high lipid content associated with the visceral organs. Protein utilization was not evident in the prespawning migration of alewife from the LaHave River. Based on lipid depletion the migration energetics of alewife in the two rivers were similar at 21.68 and 18.53 kJ∙kg−1∙km−1 in the LaHave and Margaree Rivers, respectively.

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Retrospective examination of habitat use by blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) using otolith microchemical methods

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2014-0206 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (7) ◽

pp. 1073-1086 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Molly L. Payne Wynne ◽

Karen A. Wilson ◽

Karin E. Limburg

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Life Histories ◽

First Year ◽

Low Salinity ◽

Blueback Herring ◽

Alosa Aestivalis ◽

Sr:Ca Ratios ◽

Migratory Patterns ◽

Retrospective Examination ◽

Diadromous Species

Understanding the location and duration of habitat use by young fish is important for management and restoration efforts, but is largely unknown in anadromous species. We used otolith microchemistry and ambient water concentrations of Ca, Ba, Mn, and Sr to identify habitat use in the first year of growth for 131 returning adult blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) collected in seven spawning runs along the coast of Maine, USA. Ambient Sr:Ca ratios were correlated with salinity and were used as primary indicators of habitat use. Results revealed variable individual migration histories with several discrete migratory patterns; some fish migrated into seawater well before the end of the first year, while the majority exhibited longer residency in freshwater or low salinity habitat. Total area of available habitats ranged from approximately 213 to 6053 ha fresh water and 204 to 3395 ha estuary. Residency in freshwater or low salinity habitats was positively correlated with extent of freshwater habitat (r = 0.37, P < 0.001). Results emphasize the importance of conserving a variety of habitat types to maintain variation in life histories and ensure plasticity in migratory behavior of diadromous species.

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