4-10 



Some species of eggs proved particularly difficult to identify 

 to genus due to similar morphology and size (e.g., habr id/ Limanda and 

 Enchelyopus/Urophycis/Peprilus) and were pooled. Based on numerical 

 dominance as well as commercial and/or recreational importance, the 

 following five taxa were selected for detailed discussion: 



Anchoa spp. eggs and larvae 

 Pseudopleuronectes americanus larvae 

 Cynoscion regalis larvae 

 Labrid eggs 

 Urophycis/Enchelyopus/Peprilus eggs 



CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NEW HAVEN HARBOR PLANKTON COMMUNITY 



Phy top lankton 



In New Haven Harbor, phytoplankton biomass estimated by chlor- 



3 

 ophyll a concentrations generally remained at low levels (4 to 5 mg/m ) 



from September through January (Figure 4-2) . From February through 



August, mean chlorophyll a concentrations were usually between 5 and 20 



3 

 mg/m ; however, considerable inter-year variability was evident within 



each month, probably due to differences in timing and magnitude of 

 phytoplankton blooms which may not be fully characterized by once- 

 monthly sampling. From 1971 through 1975, chlorophyll a peaks only 

 rarely exceeding 2 5 mg/m occurred between February and November (Figure 



4-3) . During 1976 and 1977, however, the frequency of occurrence of 



3 

 chlorophyll a peaks greater than 25 mg/m increased; in addition, unlike 



previous years, major late winter (February /March) peaks were also 



observed throughout the harbor. 



Total phytoplankton cell density distributions from 1974 

 through 1977 indicated a general increase in standing stock over time 

 (Figure 4-4) . During 1974 and 1975, the seasonal phytoplankton abun- 



Eggs of the cunner and tautog (the only common Labridae in Long Island 

 Sound) have been identified to species by Richards (Wheatland, 1956; 

 Richards, 1959); however, characteristics adequate for positive iden- 

 tification of early stage eggs have not been documented. 



(Text continued on page 4-15) 



