Species composition, distribution, and relative abundance of fishes in the coastal habitat off the southeastern United States

Ichthyofauna of the coastal «10 m depth) habitat of the South Atlantic Bight were investigated between Cape Fear, North Carolina, and the St. John's River, Florida. Trawl collections from four nonconsecutive seasons in the period July 1980 to December 1982 indicated that the fish community is dominated by the family Sciaenidae, particularly juvenile forms. Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) were the two most abundant species and dominated catches during all seasons. Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortin tyrannus) was also very abundant, but only seasonally (winter and spring) dominant in the catches. Elasmobranch fIShes, especially rajiforms and carcharinids, contributed to much of the biomass of fishes collected. Total fish abundance was greatest in winter and lowest in summer and was influenced by the seasonality of Atlantic menhaden and Atlantic croaker in the catches. Biomass was highest in spring and lowest in summer, and was influenced by biomass of spot. Fish density ranged from 321 individuals and 12.2 kg per hectare to 746 individuals and 25.2 kg per hectare. Most species ranged widely throughout the bight, and showed some evidence of seasonal migration. Species assemblages were dominated by ubiquitous year-round residents of the coastal waters of the bight. Diversity (H') was highest in summer, and appeared influenced by the evenness of distribution of individuals among species. (PDF file contains 56 pages.)

Proximate composition and fatty acid and cholesterol content of 22 species of northwest Atlantic finfish

The moisture, fat, ash, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol content are reported for cooked and raw fillets from 22 species of finfish found in the Northwest Atlantic. All but nine species had 1%or less fat. Ocean perch and a spring sampling of mackerel and wolffiSh had about 2% fat, followed by yellowfin tuna, whiting, silver hake, butterfish, and a summer -sampling of mackerel and wolffish with a range of 3-7% fat. Herring had a range of 5-12% fat representing a winter sampling on the low end and summer sampling on the high end of the range. Bluefin tuna (a summer sampling) contained the most fat with a high of 23% fat. Omega-3 fatty acids were present in excess of omega-6 fatty acids. The fattier fISh supplied the most omega-3 fatty acids per gram of tissue. The mean cholesterol content for all species was 57 ± 16 mg/l00 g raw tissue. Finfish from the Northwest Atlantic would appear to fit into the regime for a healthy heart, being low in fat and cholesterol and rich in omega-3 fatty acids.(PDF file contains 42 pages.)

Age determination methods for northwest Atlantic species

The successful application of techniques to enhance detection of age marks in biological specimens is of vital importance in fisheries research. This manual documents age determination techniques used by staff at the Woods Hole Laboratory, National Marine Fisheries Service. General information on procedures for preparing anatomical structures is described, together with criteria used to interpret growth patterns and assign ages. Annotated photographs of age structures are provided to illustrate criteria. Detailed procedures are given for the following species: Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), pollock (Pollachius virens), silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis), red hake (Urophycis chuss), black sea bass (Centropristis striata), weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus), redfish (Sebastes fasciatus), summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), surf clam (Spisula solidissima), and ocean quahog (Arctica islandica). (PDF file contains 142 pages.)

Proximate and fatty acid composition of 40 southeastern U.S. finfish species

This report describes the proximate compositions (protein, moisture, fat, and ash) and major fatty acid profiles for raw and cooked samples of 40 southeastern finfish species. All samples (fillets) were cooked by a standard procedure in laminated plastic bags to an internal temperature of 70'C (lS8'F). Both summarized compositional data, with means and ranges for each species, and individual sample data including harvest dates and average lengths and weights are presented. When compared with raw samples, cooked samples exhibited an increase in protein content with an accompanying decrease in moisture content. Fat content either remained approximately the same or increased due to moisture loss during cooking. Our results are discussed in reference to compositional data previously published by others on some of the same species. Although additional data are needed to adequately describe the seasonal and geographic variations in the chemical compositions of many of these fish species, the results presented here should be useful to nutritionists, seafood marketers, and consumers.(PDF file contains 28 pages.)

Reproduction, maturation, and seed production of cultured species: Proceedings of the Twelfth U.S.-Japan Meeting on Aquaculture, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 25-29, 1983

The United States and Japanese counterpart panels on aquaculture were formed in 1969 under the United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). The panels currently include specialists drawn from the federal departments most concerned with aquaculture. Charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation, the panels have focused their efforts on exchanging information related to aquaculture which could be of benefit to both countries. The UJNR was begun during the Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs in January 1964. In addition to aquaculture, current subjects in the program include desalination of seawater, toxic microorganisms, air pollution, energy, forage crops, national park management, mycoplasmosis, wind and seismic effects, protein resources, forestry, and several joint panels and committees in marine resources research, development, and utilization. Accomplishments include: Increased communication and cooperation among technical specialists; exchanges of information, data, and research findings; annual meetings of the panels, a policy-coordinative body; administrative staff meetings; exchanges of equipment, materials, and samples; several major technical conferences; and beneficial effects on international relations. (PDF file contains 79 pages.)

Meristic variation in Sebastes (Scorpaenidae), with an analysis of character association and bilateral pattern and their significance in species separation

This report presents meristic data for nearly all of the known species of Sebasles. Rudimentary caudal ray counts tend to be higher in more active species. The number of caudal rays supported by the hypurals is consistently 14, whereas the number of branched caudal rays varies between 11 and 13. Vertebral counts and most fin-ray counts tend to be lower in species or populations in warmer latitudes, except for pectoral ray counts which tend to have an opposite geographic pattern. On the basis of the small magnitude of meristic and morphometric differences and the lack of other differences between northern and southern samples of "Sebasles caurinus," Sebaslichlhys vexillaris Jordan and Gilbert is regarded as a junior synonym of Sebasles caurinus Richardson. The patterns of bilateral variation in paired meristics are analyzed and their mechanism discussed. The frequency distribution of pectoral ray counts in their right-left combination is shown to be useful in species separation. No association was found between any combination of two meristic features in any species. The author proposes that intrasample associations between meristic features are evidence of sampling heterogeneity. (PDF file contains 21 pages.)

Additions to a revision of the shark genus Carcharhinus: Synonymy of Aprionodon and Hypoprion, and description of a new species of Carcharhinus (Carcharhinidae)

Features of the valid nominal species of Aprionodon Gill (isodon Valenciennes) and Hypoprion Muller and Henle (hemiodon Valenciennes, macloti Muller and Henle, and signatus Poey), plus those of a previously unrecognized species here described as Carcharhinus leiodon n.sp., are examined and compared with those of Carcharhinus Blainville. Features studied include morphometrics, vertebral numbers and other vertebral characteristics, tooth numbers, color pattern, and some other aspects of external morphology. It is concluded that on these features C. leiodon n.sp. is entirely encompassed within the parameters of Carcharhinus, and that, although A. isodon, H. hemiodon, H. macloti, and H. signatus each extend the range of diversity of Carcharhinus in one or more features, A. isodon is not uniquely different from Carcharhinus, and there is no common pattern of difference between the three species of Hypoprion and Carcharhinus. Accordingly, and because the nature of the teeth of Aprionodon and Hypoprion has been found insufficient to warrant generic distinction from Carcharhinus, the genera Aprionodon and Hypoprion are synonymised with Carcharhinus. A diagnosis and description are given for each of the above species. The descriptions include measurements, counts, and line illustrations that show the whole shark in lateral view, underside of head, nostril, and teeth. The geographic distribution is summarized, as are also the meager biological data available on number of embryos, size at birth, size at sexual maturity, and maximum size. (PDF file contains 32 pages.)

Identification and estimation of size from the beaks of 18 species of cephalopods from the Pacific Ocean

A method of identifying the beaks and estimating body weight and mantle length of 18 species of cephalopods from the Pacific Ocean is presented. Twenty specimens were selected from each of the following cephalopod species: Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis, Dosidicus gigas, Ommastrephes bartramii, S. luminosa, Todarodes pacificus, Nototodarus hawaiiensis, Ornithoteuthis volalilis, Hyaloteuthis pelagica, Onychoteuthis banksii, Pterygioteuthis giardi, Abraliopsis affinis, A. felis, Liocranchia reinhardti, Leachia danae, Histioteuthis heteropsis, H. dofleini, Gonalus onyx, and Loligo opalescens. Dimensions measured on the upper and lower beak are converted to ratios and compared individually among the species using an analysis of variance procedure with Tukey's omega and Duncan's multiple range tests. Significant differences (P =0.05) observed among the species' beak ratio means and structural characteristics are used to construct artificial keys for the upper and lower beaks of the 18 species. Upper and lower beak dimensions are used as independent variables in a linear regression model with mantle length and body weight (log transformed). (PDF file contains 56 pages.)

Utilization of freshwater fish species in Nigeria

The paper examines the pattern of utilization of freshwater fish species in Nigeria. It was observed that although fishermen have a preference for fresh fish sales only 30% of fresh fish captured actually get to the consumers. The rest are preserved by smoke curing (60-65%), salting and sundrying (less than 5%), deep frying and fermentation (about 1%). Constraints to fish utilization were identified which include poor infrastructure, losses of fish and fish products as a result of traditional post harvest technology and socio economic factors. The need for the development of appropriate research to solve the problems of traditional post harvest technology was emphasised

The decline in the commercially important species of fish and predominance of Clarias lazera in Lake Chad

About 86 species of fish have been recorded in the Lake Chad. Most of the species occurring in the lake are widespread including most of the commercially important species. Fish distribution in the lake was adversely affected by the 1972/73 and 1983/84 droughts. The commercially important species before the 1972/73 drought were; Lates, Labeo distichodus, Heterotis, Gymnarchus, Hydrocynus, Citharinus and Bagrus. Other species which had less commercial value at that time include, Clarias, Gnathanemus, Polypterus, Protopterus, Tilapia and Synodontis. Lates niloticus was the most predominant species of commercial importance comprising 50-60% of the total catches of fishermen between 1962 and 1973. Before the 1972/73 drought, occurrence of Clarias lazera was negligible and restricted to long line catches and had little commercial value. As a result of the drought of 1972/73 which resulted in near drying up to the northern sector of the lake, fish populations were confined to isolated pools and were completely scooped out. The remaining fish populations retreated to the southern basin where enough water always remained to hold the surviving representatives of the population. The effects of the drought resulted in occurrence of the little known C. lazera along with other hardy species like Tilapia and Protopterus to dominate the existing fish species composition. In 1976, C. lazera dominated the total catches of fishermen with 85.6%. An overview of the fish population in the lake, their relative abundance, changes in species composition, the effects of drought on the fauna of the lake based on the available data are discussed in this paper

Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic): Alewife/Blueback Herring

This profile covers life history and environmental requirements of both alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), since their distribution is overlapping and their morphology, ecological role, and environmental requirements are similar. The alewife is an anadromous species found in riverine, estuarine, and Atlantic coastal habitats, depending on life cycle stage, from Newfoundland (Winters et al. 1973) to Soutn Carolina (Berry 1964). Landlocked populations are i n the Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, and many other freshwater lakes (Bigelow and Sch roeder 1953; Scott and Crossman 1973). The blueback herring is an anadromous species found in riverine, estuarine, and Atlantic coastal habitats, depending on life stage cycle, from Nova Scotia to the St. Johns River, Florida (Hildebrand 1963)