Fisheries Behavioral Ecology - Abstracts
Hurst, T.P. and D.O. Conover. 2002. Effects of temperature and salinity on survival of young-of-the-year Hudson River striped bass (Morone saxatilis): implications for optimal overwintering habitats. Canadian Journal Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 59:787-795.
Abstract
We examined the role of salinity, body size, and energetic state in determining low temperature tolerance of
young-of-the-year (YOY) striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and used this information to map optimal overwintering habitat
in the Hudson River estuary. A long-term experiment compared survival at 15 ppt and 30 ppt. In additional experiments, winter-acclimated fish were exposed to temperature declines (2.3°C·day-1 to 1°C·week-1) at salinities from 0 ppt
to 35 ppt. Highest survival at low temperatures was consistently observed at intermediate salinities. These results suggest
that the observed distribution of overwintering striped bass is related to physiological constraints on osmoregulatory
ability at low temperatures. Low temperature tolerance appeared unrelated to body size and energetic state.
Salinity profiles were used to describe the location and extent of optimal wintering habitats under various hydrographic
regimes. The location of optimal habitats was displaced by over 27 km along the river axis because of variation in salinity
regime. Changes in the availability of optimal habitat may be responsible for variation in recruitment to the Hudson
River population. These results demonstrate the need to consider a holistic approach encompassing all seasons of
the year in assessing habitat requirements of fishes.
Last updated
26 April, 2007
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