Overwintering abundance and distribution of striped bass (Morone saxtilis) in the Hudson River estuary using hydroacoustic techniques

Using a modification of standard techniques, a target strength to length relationship was developed for white perch (Morone americana) and striped bass (Morone saxtilis). This target strength to length relationship was compared to two standard relationships (Love and Foote). The calculated relationship was not found to be significantly different from Love's equation, but was different from Foote's equation. This calculated relationship was applied to hydroacoustic data collected on the Hudson River in December of 1995 and 1997. The goal of the hydroacoustic data collection was to assess the abundance and distribution of overwintering Hudson River striped bass. Results from this study showed that striped bass primarily occupied the lower 38 river miles of the Hudson River. Also, the resulting 1995 abundance estimate was compared to a tagging study and found to show good agreement, with the hydroacoustic estimate being within 2% of the tagging estimate. Data on the 1995 and 1997 abundance of striped bass was then entered into a bioenergetics model for the purposes of examining the effect of striped bass populations on the various Alosa populations in the Hudson River. Of primary interest was the affect of increasing striped bass numbers on already dwindling American shad (Alosa sapidissima) populations. Results from this modeling exercise showed that striped bass have the potential to consume virtually all American shad leaving the Hudson River.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

Year dc:date.available

2002

Author dc:creator

• Nagy, Brian William

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kyle J. Hartman.

• Aquatic sciences

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1567

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-2570