T48 College of Forestry 



life. In only a few cases were there colonies of a single or 

 of several species. This is in contrast with marine shores, 

 and in fact some bodies of fresh water, where one, two, or 

 more species may cover a restricted area. Such for example 

 are the marine genera Liiforiiia and Mya. In rivers and 

 lakes certain species of mussels as well as some gastro- 

 pods (Vivipara, Cauipelorna, Pleuroceridae) are confined to 

 restricted areas. 



Nearly all of the animals listed on these tables are of food 

 value to fish. Among the mollusks all but the mussels, Gonio- 

 hasis, Campeloma, Vivipara, Gillia, Somatogyrns, Lymncea, 

 Pseitdosuccinea, Acella and Segnientina are eaten by fish of 

 New York State. In other waters some of the excepted 

 mollusks are also eaten. Of the associated animals, all are 

 believed to be of food value. Among the mollusks, Sphcerium, 

 Pisidium, Amnicola, Valvata, Planorhis, and Galha are of 

 special food value and are apparently eagerly sought by fish. 



The abundance and variety of animal life in Lower South 

 Bay recalls the animal communities of the oyster beds of 

 the Schleswig-Holstein sea-flats described by Mobius ('83, 

 pp. 721-722), and called by him a Biocoenosis ('83, p. 723). 

 His description of a marine oyster-bed community or biocoe- 

 nosis is of special interest in connection with the Oneida Lake 

 animal communities. " Every oyster-bed is thus, to a certain 

 degree, a community of living beings, a collection of species, 

 and a massing of individuals, which find here everything neces- 

 sary for their growth and continuance, such as suitable soil, 

 sufficient food, the requisite percentage of salt, and a tem- 

 perature favorable to their development. Each species which 

 lives here is represented by the greatest number of individuals 

 which can grow to maturity subject to the conditions which 

 surround them, for among all species the number of indi- 

 viduals which arrive at maturity at each breeding period is 

 much smaller than the number of germs produced at that time. 

 The total number of mature individuals of all species living 

 together in any region is the sum of the survivors of all germs 

 which have been produced at all past breeding or brood 

 periods; and this sum of matured germs represents a certain 



