11-93 



Summary of Representati-ve Species 



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Winter Flounder 



The winter flounder is regionally important as a commercial 

 and recreational species, although there is virtually no exploitation of 

 this species in New Haven Harbor. The importance of this species to the 

 harbor lies in its roles in the food web, both as potential prey for 

 summer flounder, gulls, mergansers and cormorants, as well as a predator 

 on the zooplankton, and benthic epifauna and infauna. Because winter 

 flounder is an abundant, resident species, its trophic importance cannot 

 be overemphasized. New Haven Harbor is apparently not a major spawning 

 ground or adult feeding ground, but has some importance as a nursery 

 where winter flounder spend their first and second years. 



Windowpane 



The windowpane is an abundant resident species of no present 

 commercial or recreational significance, although Moore (1947) found 

 potential commercial value for the windowpane. Windowpanes spawn, 

 feed and mature in New Haven Harbor, apparently completing their entire 

 life cycle there. This species is probably a significant predator on 

 the zooplankton, mysid and sand shrimp populations in the harbor. 

 Juvenile windowpanes probably are preyed upon by the same predators as 

 winter flounder. New Haven Harbor's windowpane population appears to be 

 similar in density to other suitable coastal areas in Long Island Sound. 



Cunner 



Gunner, although year-round residents of New Haven Harbor, are 

 of ecological importance only during spring, sxommer and fall due to 



