Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduced clupeids in a southern reservoir: more evidence for system-specific reproductive styles

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Synopsis

Latitudinal trends in reproductive characteristics are evident for some species of Clupeidae. However, selection for life history styles may operate at the population level. The reproductive cycles of alewifeAlosa pseudoharengus and threadfin shadDorosoma petenense in Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee, were monitored over two spawning seasons on the basis of a gonadosomatic index (GSI). Inshore movements normally associated with spawning migrations were monitored using gill nets in spring 1989. GSI values peaked for both species at least one month earlier in 1989 than in 1988 due to warmer water temperatures earlier in the year. Highest GSI values for female alewife occurred each year when surface water temperatures were about 20° C; threadfin shad GSI values peaked at temperatures of 22°–26° C. Trends in male GSI values in both species were similar to those in females. Alewives were not abundant in warm (> 22° C), shallow water after 1 May 1989, but alewife GSI values remained high after this date, suggesting that elevated inshore temperatures limited alewife reproduction. All aspects of alewife reproduction were comparable to other populations of alewife but did not follow latitudinal trends. Threadfin shad reproductive characteristics were similar to other published accounts. We suggest that thermal regimes and reservoir trophic status are important factors for clupeid reproduction and population-level analysis is suggested when considering reproductive styles. Further, our ability to predict the ecology of introduced species in freshwater systems is impaired when species considered have not coevolved or evolved in marine environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Bagenal, T.B. 1968. Fecundity, pp. 160–169. In: W.E. Ricker (ed.) Methods for Assessment of Fish Production in Freshwater, International Biological Programme Handbook 3, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1990. Epigenesis of an epigeneticist: the development of some alternative concepts on the early ontogeny and evolution of fishes. Guelph Ichthyol. Rev. 1: 1–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, E.H., Jr. 1972. Population biology of alewives in Lake Michigan, 1949–1970. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 29: 477–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns, J.W. 1966. Threadfin shad. pp. 481–488. In: A. Calhoun (ed.) Inland Fisheries Management, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flath, L.E. & J.S. Diana. 1985. Seasonal energy dynamics of the alewife in southeastern Lake Michigan. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 114: 328–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffith, J.S. 1978. Effects of low temperature on the survival and behavior of threadfin shad,Dorosoma petenense. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 107: 63–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidinger, R. & F. Imboden. 1974. Reproductive potential of young-of-year threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) in southern Illinois lakes. Trans. III. State Acad. Sci. 67: 397–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hlavek, R.R. & C.R. Norden. 1978. The reproductive cycle and fecundity of the alewife in Lake Michigan. Wis. Acad. Sci. Arts and Lett. 68: 80–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin-Larrimore, E.R. 1989. Alewife and threadfin shad ecology in Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee. M. Sc. Thesis, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville 66 pp.

  • Irwin, E.R. & P.W. Bettoli. 1991. Use of an electronic bacterial colony counter to estimate fecundity. Prog. Fish Cult. 53: 133–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, R.M. 1979. Predator-prey relations in reservoirs. pp. 123–134. In: R.H. Stroud & H. Clepper (ed.) Predator-Prey Systems in Fisheries Management, Sport Fishing Institute, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessop, B.M. 1993. Fecundity of anadromous alewives and blueback herring in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 122: 85–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J.E. 1971. Maturity and fecundity of threadfin shad,Dorosoma petenense (Günther), in Central Arizona Reservoirs. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 100: 74–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilambi, R.V. & R.E. Baglin Jr. 1969. Fecundity of the threadfin shad,Dorosoma petenense, in Beaver and Bull Shoals reservoirs. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 98: 320–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kissel, G.W. 1974. Spawning of the anadromous alewife,Alosa pseudoharengus, in Bride Lake, Connecticut. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 103: 312–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, C.C. & J.J. Ney. 1982. Suitability of alewife as a pelagic forage fish for southeastern reservoirs. Proc. Annual Conf. Southeastern Assoc. Fish and Wildlife Agencies 34: 137–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler, C.C., J.J. Ney & W.E. Kelso. 1986. Filling the void: development of a pelagic fishery and its consequences to littoral fisheries in a Virginia mainstream reservoir. pp. 166–277. In: G.E. Hall & M.J. Van Dean Avyle (ed.) Reservoir Fisheries Management: Strategies for the 80's, Southern Division American Fisheries Society, Bethesda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambou, V.W., 1965. Observations on size distribution and spawning behavior of threadfin shad. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 94: 385–386.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. McAllister & J.R. Stauffer. 1980. Atlas of North American Fishes. Publication of the North Carolina Biological Survey, Raleigh. 867 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leggett, W.C. & J.E. Carscadden. 1978. Latitudinal variation in reproductive characteristics of American shad (Alosa sapidissima): evidence for population specific life history strategies in fish. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 35: 1469–1478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, H.W. & P.B. Moyle. 1981. Ecological analysis of species introductions into aquatic systems. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 110: 772–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLean, R.B., P.T. Singley, D.M. Lodge & R.A. Wallace. 1982. Synchronous spawning of threadfin shad. Copeia 1982: 952–955.

  • Moyle, P.B., H.W. Li & B.A. Barton. 1986. The frankenstein effect: impact of introduced fishes on native fishes in North America. pp. 415–426. In:> R.H. Stroud (ed.) Fish Culture in Fisheries Management, American Fisheries Society, Bethesda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ney, J.J. 1981. Evolution of forage-fish management in lakes and reservoirs. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 110: 725–728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ney, J.J. & D.J. Orth. 1986. Coping with future shock: matching predator stocking programs to prey abundance. pp. 81–92. In: R.H. Stroud (ed.) Fish Culture in Fisheries Management, American Fisheries Society, Bethesda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nigro, A.A. & J.J. Ney. 1982. Reproduction and early-life accomodations of landlocked alewives to a southern range extension. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 111: 559–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, R.L. 1981. Managementof forage fishesin impoundments of the southern United States. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 110: 738–750.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noble, R.L. 1986. Predator-prey interactions in reservoir communities. pp. 166–277. In: G.E. Hall & M.J. Van Den Avyle (ed.) Reservoir Fisheries Management: Strategies for the 80's, Reservoir Committee, Southern Division American Fisheries Society, Bethesda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norden, C.R. 1967. Age, growth and fecundity of the alewife,Alosa pseudoharengus (Wilson), in Lake Michigan. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 96: 387–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odell, T.T. 1934. The life history and ecological relationships of the alewife (Pomolobus pseudoharengus Wilson) in Seneca Lake, New York. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 64: 118–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rawstron, R.R. 1964. Spawning of the threadfin shad,Dorosoma petenense, at low water temperatures. Calif, Fish Game 50: 58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, T.J. 1992. Density and distribution of clupeids in Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee, M. Sc. Thesis, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, 60 pp.

  • Rothschild, B.J. 1966. Observations on the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) in Cayuga Lake. N.Y. Fish Game J 13: 188–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, R.D. 1992. Walleye and clupeid interactions in Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee, M. Sc. Thesis, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville. 80 pp.

  • Shelton, W.L., C.D. Riggs & L.G. Hill. 1982. Comparative reproductive biology of the threadfin and gizzard shad in Lake Texoma, Oklahoma-Texas. pp. 47–51. In: C.F. Bryan, J.V. Connor & F.M. Truesdale (ed.) The Fifth Annual Larval Fish Conference, Louisiana Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit, Baton Rouge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strange, R.J., K.D. Lee & D.C. Peterson. 1985. Age and growth, food habits, and forage value of the alewife in Watauga Reservoir, Tennessee. Proc. Annual Conf. Southeastern Assoc. Fish and Wildlife Agencies 39: 156–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strawn, K. 1965. Resistance of threadfin shad to low temperatures. Proc. Annual Conf. Southeastern Assoc. Game and Fish Comm. 17: 290–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisa, M.S. & J.J. Ney. 1991. Compatibility of alewives and gizzard shad as reservoir forage fish. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 120: 157–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walton, C.J. 1983. Growth parameters for typical anadromous and dwarf stocks of alewives,Alosa pseudoharengus (Pisces, Clupeidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 9: 277–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Elise R. Irwin

    Present address: Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, U.S.A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN, 38505, U.S.A.

    Elise R. Irwin & Phillip W. Bettoli

Authors
  1. Elise R. Irwin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Phillip W. Bettoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit is jointly sponsored by Tennessee Technological University, the National Biological Survey, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Irwin, E.R., Bettoli, P.W. Introduced clupeids in a southern reservoir: more evidence for system-specific reproductive styles. Environ Biol Fish 42, 151–159 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001993

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001993

Key words

Search

Navigation