Skipjack shad

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Skipjack herring
Skipjack herring fish alosa chrysochloris.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Family: Alosidae
Genus: Alosa
Subgenus: Pomolobus
Species:
A. chrysochloris
Binomial name
Alosa chrysochloris
(Rafinesque, 1820)
Synonyms [2]

Pomolobus chrysochlorisRafinesque, 1820

The skipjack herring (Alosa chrysochloris) is a North American, migratory, fresh- and brackish water fish species in the herring family Alosidae. [3] The name skipjack shad comes from the fact that it is commonly seen leaping out of the water while feeding. [4] Other common names include blue herring, golden shad, river shad, Tennessee tarpon, and McKinley shad. The skipjack shad is restricted to the Gulf of Mexico drainage basins. Skipjack are found in clear to moderately turbid water in areas with flow. Because they are a migratory species, dams often impede their reproduction. Records suggest that this species was much more abundant in the Upper Mississippi River basin before it was impounded. Currently, skipjack is most abundant in the Upper Mississippi River below the mouth of the Ohio River. They are known as an "early-run" species as they migrate to spawn in the early spring. [5]

Distribution

Currently skipjack herring are restricted to the Gulf of Mexico and its drainage, in the United States. The Gulf of Mexico drainage includes the Mobile River basin, the ACF basin (Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint River), the Mississippi basin, and the Rio Grande basin. [6] Records indicate that this species was more abundant in the upper Mississippi River before it was impounded, and currently skipjack herring are most abundant in the upper Mississippi River below the mouth of the Ohio River. [5] In recent years, human modifications to the middle Missouri River have made conditions more favorable for skipjack shad and their distribution has expanded upstream to the Nebraska-South Dakota border. [5] Skipjack herring were historically found in the northern upper Mississippi River and the St. Croix River; however, there have only been four records of skipjack shad in Wisconsin waters since the 1950s. [5] Because this fish is a migratory species, dams have diminished its distribution. It cannot continue to migrate northward over dams; therefore it is rare to see a skipjack in the upper reaches of the Gulf of Mexico drainages.

Ecology

Skipjack herring are a migratory schooling species. They are a euryhaline species that can enter brackish and freshwater bodies. They can be anadromous but are not obligated to be because they can complete their life cycle in freshwater. [7] Skipjack shad are strongly migratory within rivers and prefer fast flowing water where they are renowned for leaping. [4] They are found in clear to moderately turbid waters in large rivers and reservoirs usually within the current over sand or gravel. [8] In one study, skipjack herring have been found to feed on other shad/herring species such as the threadfin shad, the gizzard shad and young of the year herring species. In some extreme cases, it was shown that they could rely on cannibalism to survive. [9] They are also known to feed on small fishes, mostly shad, while the juveniles feed on insects. [4] The maximum size of the shad/herring utilized by skipjack shad was found to be about 30-35% of the skipjack's body length. [9] There is not much data on the predators of the skipjack shad. Larger fish species, seabirds, and humans prey upon them. In fact, it is shown that fish species in the family Clupeidae including the skipjack herring comprise up to 45% of the diet of these avian species. [10]

Life history

The spawning season for skipjack herring is from early March to late April in the southern extent of its range. [11] In the upper Mississippi river drainage spawning time is from early May to early July. [12] Females produce about 100,000 to 300,000 eggs per year, presumably after 2 to 3 years of growth with an average size being 11.8 inches (30 cm) [7] Spawning is thought to occur in the depths of main channel over coarse sand-gravel bars. [11] Spawning temperature range is between 16 and 21 °C (61 and 70 °F). Eggs are broadcast over the substrate. [13] Skipjack shad young may reach total lengths of 75–150 millimetres (3.0–5.9 in) during their first year. [7] The maximum length in adults is 20 inches, but they are most commonly found to be between 12 and 18 inches (300–460 mm). [4] The oldest specimen of skipjack herring reported was four years old. [11] High population rates and the fact that there it has little to no interest to fisheries tells us that humans do not have much influence on life history. Impoundments have changed their distribution slightly, but they have no trouble spawning as a result.

Management

Human impacts on skipjack herring populations seem to be minimal in the southern parts of their distribution. Dams have limited the natural distribution of the species. Skipjacks are no longer found in high numbers in the northern reaches of their distribution because of their inability to migrate over large impoundments. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) webpage tells us that "Further research into the species' life history and ecological requirements is needed. It is known that lock and dam structures hinder migration of skipjack herring during the early spring. If the skipjack herring is to be reestablished in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where they are nearly extirpated, fish passage features such as ladders or lifts will be required on Mississippi River lock and dams." [14] In Minnesota, the construction of a fish passage facility is being considered at U.S. Lock and Dam 3 near Red Wing and could help skipjack herring migration in the Mississippi River drainage. The Minnesota DNR Division of Ecological Services received a State Wildlife Grant to conduct surveys for rare fish species in the Mississippi River from the Twin Cities to the Iowa border. These surveys were conducted from 2006 to 2008, and while the skipjack shad was a targeted species, none were found. [14] In addition to the extirpation of the skipjack herring from Minnesota and Wisconsin, the ebony shell ( Fusconaia ebena ) and elephant ear ( Elliptio crassidens ), both state endangered mussels for which the skipjack is the sole host during their larval stages, are threatened to be extirpated as well. [14]

In order to keep their distribution from shrinking further, humans need to decrease the number of dams that are constructed, or construct dams that skipjack shads are able to migrate through. In addition to hindering their migration, dams reduce flow. Skipjacks prefer areas with fast flowing water. [4] In addition, it is necessary to keep turbidity and siltation levels down, as this species will only live in waters that are clear to moderately turbid. [8] Sampling of skipjack has been performed through the use of gillnetting and electro fishing. [9] These methods are best utilized beneath impoundments over sand or gravel substrates around spawning time each spring, where they are most abundant. [5] Sampling should be done across the entire native range to document its abundance in different locations and human induced changes. For now, skipjack have a stable abundance in the southern part of its distribution, and need more management plans put into place in the northernmost reaches of its distribution.[ citation needed ]

Systematics

While the skipjack shad has been attributed to the subgenus Potomolobius of the genus Alosa along with other North American shad species, it has been found to be phylogenetically the most basal of the Alosa species, which are also found in Europe and Western Asia. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alewife (fish)</span> Species of North American shad

The alewife is an anadromous species of herring found in North America. It is one of the "typical" North American shads, attributed to the subgenus Pomolobus of the genus Alosa. As an adult it is a marine species found in the northern West Atlantic Ocean, moving into estuaries before swimming upstream to breed in freshwater habitats, but some populations live entirely in fresh water. It is best known for its invasion of the Great Lakes by using the Welland Canal to bypass Niagara Falls. Here, its population surged, peaking between the 1950s and 1980s to the detriment of many native species of fish. In an effort to control it biologically, Pacific salmon were introduced, only partially successfully. As a marine fish, the alewife is a US National Marine Fisheries Service "Species of Concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American shad</span> Species of fish

The American shad is a species of anadromous clupeid fish naturally distributed on the North American coast of the North Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Florida, and as an introduced species on the North Pacific coast. The American shad is not closely related to the other North American shads. Rather, it seems to form a lineage that diverged from a common ancestor of the European taxa before these diversified.

<i>Alosa</i> Genus of fishes

Alosa is a genus of fish, the river herrings, in the family Alosidae. Along with other genera in the subfamily Alosinae, they are generally known as shads. They are distinct from other herrings by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. Several species can be found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Also, several taxa occur in the brackish-water Caspian Sea and the Black Sea basin. Many are found in fresh water during spawning and some are only found in landlocked fresh water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sauger</span> Species of fish

The sauger is a freshwater perciform fish of the family Percidae that resembles its close relative, the walleye. The species is a member of the largest vertebrate order, the Perciformes. It is the most migratory percid species in North America. Saugers have two dorsal fins; the first is spiny and the posterior dorsal fin is soft-rayed. Their paired fins are in the thoracic position and their caudal fin is truncated, which means squared off at the corners, a characteristic of the family Percidae. Another physical characteristic of saugers is their ctenoid scales, which are common in advanced fishes. Saugers have a fusiform body structure, and as a result are well adapted predatory fishes and are capable of swimming into fast currents with minimal drag on their bodies. They may be distinguished from walleyes by the distinctly spotted dorsal fin, by the lack of a white splotch on the caudal fin, by the rough skin over their gills, and by their generally more brassy color, or darker color in some regions. The typical sauger is 300 to 400 g in weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black redhorse</span> Species of fish

The black redhorse is a species of freshwater fish endemic to Ontario and the eastern half of the United States, where it lives in streams and small to medium rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal darter</span> Species of fish

The crystal darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. This small North American fish is found in small, moderate, and swift rivers in the drainage basins of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. It is now extirpated from a majority of its range along the Ohio River.

The hickory shad, fall herring, mattowacca, freshwater taylor or bonejack is a member of the family Alosidae, ranging along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to the Gulf of Maine. It is an anadromous fish species, meaning that it spawns in freshwater portions of rivers, but spends most of its life at sea. It is subject to fishing, both historic and current, but it is often confused with or simply grouped together with American shad in catch statistics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allis shad</span> Species of fish

The allis shad is a widespread Northeast Atlantic species of fish in the Alosidae family. It is an anadromous fish which migrates into fresh water to spawn. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the western Baltic Sea and the western Mediterranean Sea. In appearance it resembles an Atlantic herring but has a distinctive dark spot behind the gill cover and sometimes a row of up to six spots behind this. It sometimes hybridises with the twait shad. This fish becomes mature when three or more years old and migrates to estuaries, later swimming up rivers to spawn. Populations of this fish have declined due to overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction. Conservation of this species is covered by Appendix III of the Bern Convention and Appendix II and V of the European Community Habitats Directive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twait shad</span> Species of fish

The twait shad or twaite shad is a species of fish in the family Alosidae. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is an anadromous fish which lives in the sea but migrates into fresh water to spawn. In appearance it resembles an Atlantic herring but has a row of six to ten distinctive spots on its silvery flanks. They become mature when three or more years old and migrate to estuaries, later swimming up rivers to spawn. Populations of this fish have declined due to overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction. Conservation of this species is covered by Appendix III of the Bern Convention and Appendix II and V of the European Community Habitats Directive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blueback herring</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted sucker</span> Species of fish

The spotted sucker is a species of sucker (fish) that is native to eastern North America. The spotted sucker inhabits deep pools of small to medium rivers over clay, sand or gravel. They are occasionally found in creeks and large rivers. Through its life stages, the spotted sucker goes from a mid-depth predator to a bottom forager. Spotted suckers have a lifespan of approximately six years and spawn in April and May. Limited knowledge of the occurrence, abundance, and natural history of this species has been an impediment to status assessment and the determination of need for conservation measures within this family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontic shad</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilt darter</span> Species of fish

The gilt darter is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It can be found in a number of states in the Mississippi River drainage of the United States although it has been extirpated from some river systems in which it was at one time present, mostly due to siltation and pollution problems. Males are more colorful than females and can grow to a length of about 9 cm (3.5 in). It is a benthic fish that feeds primarily on small aquatic insect larvae. Males form territories during the breeding season in late spring and early summer. Spawning typically takes place at the upper ends of riffles with sandy and gravelly bottoms interspersed with larger cobbles. Some organisations are endeavouring to conserve populations of the gilt darter and re-introduce it to states where the fish has been extirpated but suitable habitat still exists.

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References

  1. ↑ Robertson, R.; Caruso, J. (2019) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. "Alosa chrysochloris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T196673A143863055. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T196673A143863055.en . Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Alosa chrysochloris (Rafinesque, 1820)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Faria, R.; Weiss, S.; Alexandrino, P. (1 July 2006). "A molecular phylogenetic perspective on the evolutionary history of Alosa spp. (Clupeidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 40 (1): 298–304. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.02.008. PMID   16581269.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitehead, Peter James Palmer (1985). Clupeoid Fishes of the World. Food & Agriculture Org. ISBN   978-92-5-102340-2.[ page needed ]
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Neebling, Travis; Quist, Michael (1 January 2008). "Observations on the Distribution and Status of Western Sand Darter, Spotted Gar, and Skipjack Herring in Iowa Rivers". Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science. 115 (1): 24–27.
  6. 1 2 Bowen, B. R.; Kreiser, B. R.; Mickle, P. F.; Schaefer, J. F.; Adams, S. B. (April 2008). "Phylogenetic relationships among North American Alosa species (Clupeidae)". Journal of Fish Biology. 72 (5): 1188–1201. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01785.x.
  7. 1 2 3 Etnier, David A.; Starnes, Wayne C. (1993). The Fishes of Tennessee. University of Tennessee Press. ISBN   978-0-87049-711-7.[ page needed ]
  8. 1 2 Page, Lawrence M.; Burr, Brooks M.; Beckham, Eugene C.; Peterson, Roger T. (1991). A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes: North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN   978-0-395-53933-0.[ page needed ]
  9. 1 2 3 McLean, R. B.; Griffith, J. S.; McGee, M. V. (1985). "Threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense Günther, mortality: causes and ecological implications in a South-eastern United States reservoir". Journal of Fish Biology. 27 (1): 1–12. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb04004.x.
  10. ↑ Tibbs, John E.; Galat, David L. (1998). "The influence of river stage on endangered least terns and their fish prey in the Mississippi River (USA)". Regulated Rivers: Research & Management. 14 (3): 257–266. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1646(199805/06)14:3<257::AID-RRR500>3.0.CO;2-9.
  11. 1 2 3 Wolfe, John C (1969). Biological studies of the skipjack herring, Alosa chrysochloris, in the Apalachicola River (Thesis). OCLC   28760440.
  12. ↑ Coker, Robert E. (1929). "Studies of common fishes of the Mississippi river at Keokuk". Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries. 45: 141–225.
  13. ↑ Galat, David L.; Clark, Sandra J. (2002). Fish spawning and discharge-temperature coupling along the Missouri River. 6th Annual Missouri River Natural Resources Conference, Missouri River Science. p. 40.
  14. 1 2 3 "Alosa chrysochloris : Skipjack Herring". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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