• Atlantic herring: Generally more abundant in the Gulf 

 of Maine than in the Mid-Atlantic region. Spawning is 

 in coastal oceanic waters primarily north of Cape Cod, 

 and larvae are transported shoreward. 



• Bay anchovy: All life stages occur in estuaries, 

 although adults may move offshore. The bay anchovy 

 is a key forage species that is one of the most abundant 

 fishes in Mid-Atlantic estuarine waters, but it is not 

 common north of Cape Cod. 



• Channel catfish: A freshwater species that is also 

 important in low-salinity riverine estuaries, such as the 

 Chesapeake Bay tributaries. 



• Rainbow smelt: Not common south of New York. 

 Spawning occurs primarily in fresh water, and there are 

 many landlocked freshwater populations. 



• Atlantic salmon: Spawning occurs in cold freshwater 

 streams. Restoration efforts are underway in the 

 Connecticut River watershed and elsewhere in New 

 England to re-establish self-sustaining runs. 



• Gadids (Atlantic cod, haddock, pollock, and Atlantic 

 tomcod): Atlantic cod, haddock, and pollock are gen- 

 erally more abundant in the Gulf of Maine than in the 

 Mid-Atlantic region. Atlantic tomcod is not common 

 south of New York. 



• Oyster toadfish: An estuarine resident, and a bottom 

 predator of molluscs and crustaceans. Adhesive eggs 

 are quite large (5 mm diameter). 



• Sheepshead minnow: An estuarine resident, and all 

 life stages are euryhaline and eurythermal. Tends to 

 prefer open bottom to heavily vegetated areas. 



• Killifishes: For the purposes of this report, the ELMR 

 Program has compiled information for Fundulus spe- 

 cies collectively. Major species in Mid-Atlantic estuar- 

 ies include mummichog (F. heteroclitus) , striped killi- 

 fish (F. majalis), and banded killifish (F diaphanus). 

 Banded killifish is a primarily freshwater species, but 

 also occurs in tidal fresh and mixing zones of Mid- 

 Atlantic estuaries. Mummichog and striped killifish are 

 euryhaline and are found throughout the estuarine 

 salinity gradient. Less common species include spotf in 

 killifish (F. luciae) and bayou killifish (F pulvereus, 

 formerly F confluentus) (Hardy 1978, Lee et al. 1980, 

 Robins et al. 1991). Spotfin killifish is found in higher 

 estuarine salinities, and is generally not abundant. The 

 lower Chesapeake Bay may be the northernmost range 

 of the bayou killifish. 



• Silversides: The two Men/d/a species that commonly 

 occur in Mid-Atlantic estuaries are M. menidia, Atlantic 



silverside, and M. beryllina, inland silverside (Robins et 

 al. 1 991 ). The Atlantic silverside is generally found in 

 moderate to highersalinity estuarine waters from Florida 

 to Nova Scotia. The inland silverside occurs primarily 

 in low salinity estuarine waters and inland fresh waters, 

 and is not common north of Cape Cod. Although these 

 two species do occur together, they are not generally 

 known to hybridize (Johnson 1975). Silversides are 

 one of the most abundant forage fishes of Mid-Atlantic 

 estuaries, and they often form schools near the surface 

 in shallow waters. Spawning behavior is periodic and 

 may be affected by tidal cycle, lunar phase, and day- 

 light, but most silversides die after their first spawning. 



• Northern pipefish: Life stages considered are adults 

 (A), mating (M), juveniles (J), and larvae (L). During 

 mating, the female deposits eggs into the males' brood 

 pouch for fertilization and incubation. Young pipefish 

 are considered larvae from the time of hatching (about 

 1-2 weeks after mating) until they reach a length of 

 approximately 20 mm. The ELMR Program does not 

 identify an egg stage for this species. 



• White perch: Spawning occurs in fresh water above 

 and below head-of-tide, and in low salinity estuarine 

 waters. Eggs are demersal. Juveniles and adults 

 typically remain in the estuary and do not migrate to 

 sea. Landlocked freshwater populations also exist. 



• Striped bass: Spawning occurs in the spring in 

 freshwater rivers, and in low-salinity tidal waters where 

 there is sufficient current. Eggs are non-adhesive and 

 semi-buoyant. Juveniles tend to form schools and 

 remain in estuarine waters. Adults may move offshore, 

 or stay within the estuary. 



• Yellow perch: A primarily freshwater species that is 

 also native to the low salinity tidal reaches of many Mid- 

 Atlantic estuaries, and can be considered semi-anadro- 

 mous. Adults ascend freshwater tributaries in early 

 spring for spawning. 



• Bluefish: Spawning, egg and larval development 

 occur offshore. Juveniles and adults enter estuaries to 

 feed in the spring and summer, then move out to sea 

 and southward in the winter. The bluefish is a primarily 

 visual predator, and often schools. 



• Pinfish: Juveniles are the predominant life stage 

 within estuaries. Spawning and eggs are typically 

 found offshore. Larvae are transported to inlets, but 

 usually attain juvenile size before they enter bays. 

 Subadults and adults may remain in some bays before 

 migrating offshore for spawning. Juveniles and adults 

 are euryhaline, but usually more abundant in higher 

 salinities. 



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