vive predation and starvation before 

 they enter the state's nursery grounds. 

 Their findings will translate to other 

 estuarine fish and lead to a better 

 understanding of why fluctuations 

 exist. 



David Checkley, an NCSU 

 oceanographer, is taking a closer look 

 at the young fish that survive migra- 

 tion to find clues to the mystery. 



By looking at protein layers in the 

 ear bones of menhaden, Checkley 

 can determine the fish's age and the 

 water temperature at which it 

 developed. Using satellite imagery, he 

 can map where spawning took place. 



Knowing conditions of early growth 

 creates a better understanding of the 



conditions that help the larvae survive, 

 Checkley says. And it may explain 

 why populations vary year-to-year. 



With his research, Checkley can 

 look at the number of eggs spawned 

 each year and help predict how many 

 adult menhaden will survive. And 

 because menhaden are similar 

 biologically to other fish that roam the 

 oceans, his findings can be applied to 

 species around the world. 



As Checkley looks to solve some 

 questions about young menhaden, Ed 

 Noga of the NCSU College of Veteri- 

 nary Medicine will address a problem 

 plaguing the old of the species. 



Angry, open sores have been 

 eating away at the flesh of menhaden 



and other fish in the Albemarle- 

 Pamlico estuary. Noga diagnosed the 

 culprit as a disease called ulcerative 

 mycosis. 



He links the cause of the disease to 

 a bacteria found in the water. To learn 

 more about the bacteria, Noga will 

 develop a laboratory model of the 

 disease. And he'll also look at how en- 

 vironmental changes, primarily water 

 quality, affect its growth. 



As NCSU scientists try to unravel 

 some mysteries concerning traditional 

 stocks, Charles Peterson of the UNC 

 Institute of Marine Science will con- 

 centrate on a new stock— soft-shelled 

 or steamer clams. 



Seafood connoisseurs in the North- 



