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Northern pipefish, Syngnathus fuscus, occurrences over the Mid-Atlantic Bight continental shelf: evidence of seasonal migration

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Data from several areas in the northern Mid-Atlantic Bight indicate northern pipefish, Syngnathus fuscus, undergo seasonal, inshore-offshore migrations. Resident in estuaries during spring through fall, they move into nearshore continental shelf waters off Cape Cod in late September–October and off Long Island and New Jersey in November. Return to estuaries occurs in March–April. Most (> 90%) continental shelf otter trawl collections in fall (September–November) were at water temperatures of 10–15°C. Most (> 80%) spring (March–May) collections occurred at water temperatures of 3–6°C. The majority of offshore collections were within 20 km of the coast and over 90% were in depths between 10 and 20 m. Length frequency data reveal both young-of-year and older fish migrate, possibly to avoid colder estuarine water temperatures in winter.

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Author notes

  1. Mark A. Lazzari

    Present address: Florida Marine Research Institute, 100 Eighth Ave., SE, 33701, St. Petersburg, FL, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Coastal and Environmental Studies, Rutgers University, 08903, New Brunswick, NJ, USA

    Mark A. Lazzari

  2. Marine Field Station, Rutgers University, Great Bay Boulevard, 08087, Tuckerton, NJ, USA

    Kenneth W. Able

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  1. Mark A. Lazzari
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  2. Kenneth W. Able
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Lazzari, M.A., Able, K.W. Northern pipefish, Syngnathus fuscus, occurrences over the Mid-Atlantic Bight continental shelf: evidence of seasonal migration. Environ Biol Fish 27, 177–185 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001671

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