ML072060558

Fws/Usace - Species Profile: Spot

ML072060558
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Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	02/01/1989
From:	Huish M, Moran D, Pendleton E, Phillips J Univ of North Carolina, US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, US Dept of the Army, Corps of Engineers
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Davis J NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-3835
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References
TR EL-82-4 82(11.98)
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Biological Report 82(11.98) TR EL-82-4 February 1989 Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic)

SPOT Coastal Ecology Group Fish and Wildlife Service Waterways Experiment Station U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Biological Report 82(11.98)

TR EL-82-4 February 1989 Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic)

SPOT by J. M. Phillips, M. T. Huish, and J. H. Kerby North Carolina Cooperative Fishery Research Unit U.S. Fish and wildlife Service North Carolina State University Zoology Department Raleigh, NC 27695 and D. P. Moran U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Research Center 1010 Gause Blvd.

Slidell, LA 70458 Project Manager Edward Pendleton U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Research Center 1010 Gause Boulevard Slidell, LA 70458 Performed for Coastal Ecology Group Waterways Experiment Station U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg, MS 39180 and U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Research and Development Washington, DC 20240

This series may be referenced as follows:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1988. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 82(11.). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4.

This profile may be referenced as follows:

Phillips, J.M., M.T. Huish, J.H. Kerby, and D.P. Moran. 1989. Species profiles:

life histories and environmental requirements of coastal fishes and invertebrates (mid-Atlantic)--spot. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep.

82(11.98). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR EL-82-4. 13 pp.-

CONVERSION TABLE Metric to U.S. Customary Multiply B03 To Obtain millimeters (mm) 0.03937 inches centimeters (cm) 0.3937 inches meters (m) 3.281 feet meters (m) 0.5468 fathoms kilometers (km) 0.6214 statute miles kilometers (km) 0.5396 nautical miles 2

square meters (M )

2 10.76 square feet square kilometers (km ) 0.3861 square miles hectares (ha) 2.471 acres liters (1) 0.2642 gallons 3

cubic meters (m ) 35.31 cubic feet 3

cubic meters (m ) 0.0008110 acre-feet milligrams (mg) 0.00003527 ounces grams (g) 0.03527 ounces kilograms (kg) 2.205 pounds metric tons (t) 2205.0 pounds metric tons (t) 1.102 short tons kilocalories (kcal) 3.968 British thermal units Celsius degrees ('C) 1.8( 0 C) + 32 Fahrenheit degrees U.S. Customary to Metric inches 25.40 millimeters inches 2.54 centimeters feet (ft) 0.3048 meters fathoms 1.829 meters statute miles (Wi) 1.609 kilometers nautical miles (nmi) -1.852 kilometers 2

square feet (ft ) 0.0929 square meters square miles (mi 2 ) 2.590 square kilometers acres 0.4047 hectares gallons (gal) 3 3.785 liters cubic feet (ft ) 0.02831 cubic meters acre-feet 1233.0 cubic meters ounces (oz) 28350.0 milligrams ounces (oz) 28.35 grams pounds (lb) 0.4536 kilograms pounds (lb) 0.00045 metric tons short tons (ton) 0.9072 metric tons British thermal units (Btu) 0.2520 kilocalories Fahrenheit degrees (IF) 0.5556 (OF - 32) Celsius degrees iv

CONTENTS Page PREFACE ........................ .................................... . i.i.

CONVERSION FACTORS ................... ........... .... ........ ...... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ... ............................. .... ............ .. vi NOMENCLATURE/TAXONOMY/RANGE ............ ........................... . 1I..

MORPHOLOGY/IDENTIFICATION AIDS ...... ........................ ........ 1 REASON FOR INCLUSION IN SERIES ................... ....................... 3 LIFE HISTORY ............................ .................... . ......... 3 Spawning ....................................... ................. 3 Eggs, Larvae, and Juveniles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Migrations .... .................. . ....................... . .... 4 GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS ....................... ........................... 5 COMMERCIAL AND SPORT FISHERIES ......... ............................. 6 ECOLOGICAL ROLE . . ...................

. ..................... . .. ...... 6 Food ...... ............................. 6 Predation ................ ................................. ...... 7 ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................. 8 Temperature, Salinity, and Dissolved Oxygen ............ ................ 8 Chemical Tolerances ........................ ........................... 8 LITERATURE CITED ................... ....................... ........... 9 v

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are sincerely grateful to Mrs. Dorothy Wright for typing and placing this document on computer and for proofreading the material.

The work was supervised by the North Carolina, Cooperative Fishery Research Unit which is sponsored by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina State University, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

We are thankful for peer reviews by William Hettler of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort, North Carolina, and Charles Wenner of the South Carolina Marine Resources Research Institute, Charleston.

vi

F/X -,

Figure 1. Spot (Mid-Atlantic).

SPOT NOMENCLATURE/TAXONOMY/RANGE MORPHOLOGY/IDENTIFICATION AIDS Scientific name ............. Leiostomus Dorsal spines and rays X-XI+I, xanthurus Lacepede (Figure 1 3 29-35; anal spines and rays II, 12-13; Preferred common name ............. Spot vertebrae 25 (10 precaudal and 15 Other common names ....... Flat croaker, caudal); lateral line scales, 72-77; Norfolk spot, golden croaker (during gill rakers short, 8 to 12 on the spawning season), croaker, goody, upper limb and 20 to 24 on the lower Cape May goody, silver gudgeon, limb of the first arch (Hildebrand and lafayette, roach, chub, jimmy Schroeder 1927; .Miller and Jorgenson Class ..................... Osteichthyes 1973; Chao 1978). Body rather short Order ...................... Perciformes and deep, with five marginal and five Family .............. Sciaenidae - drums upper pores on the snout, and five Geographic range: Estuarine and mental pores at the tip of the lower coastal waters from Cape Cod to the jaw, barbels absent; tail broad and Bay of Campeche in Mexico (Dahlberg truncate in young but notably concave 1976; Ross 1980); especially in adults (Chao and Musick 1977; abundant in the estuaries in summer Hildebrand and Schroeder 1927).

and. fall from Delaware Bay to Pelvic fins moderately long, inserted Georgia. Also reported to occur in just behind the base of the pectoral freshwater as far as 23 mi upstream fins; pectoral fins reach well beyond from brackish water (Raney and the tips of the pelvic fins in adults, Massman 1953; Massman 1954) (Figure much shorter in young (Hildebrand and 2). Schroeder 1927). Larvae with an 1

,.~, .~

NEW YORK A TLANT/C OCEAN BALTIMORE 4

MILES 0 50 100 O 50 100 KILOMETERS El Coastal distribution

!RAS Figure 2. Distribution of spot in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

2

oblique terminal mouth becoming reflections above; silvery underneath; inferior once larval length reaches sides with 12 to 15 oblique yellowish about 25 mm (Hildebrand and Cable bars, becoming indistinct in very 1930). The number of premaxillary and large fish; a large yellowish-black dentary teeth increase until fish shoulder spot present, except in very length reaches 60 mm (SL), at which young; fins mostly pale yellow; dorsal time the dentary teeth begin to fall and caudal fins more or less dusky; out, becoming completely absent in anal and pelvics also partly dusky in fish greater than 100 mm (SL) in large fish (Hildebrand and Schroeder length (Govoni 1987). Upper jaw 1927; Pearson 1928).

somewhat protrusible, gape small; villiform teeth in broad bands on the premaxillaries (juveniles only), and REASON FOR INCLUSION IN SERIES inner row of dentaries enlarged, canines absent (Chao and Musick 1977). Spot are important to both recreational anglers and commercial Larval spot 7-15 mm long can be fishermen in the Mid-Atlantic Region separated from other sciaenids by the (Pacheco 1962a; Kjelson and Johnson presence of 12 anal rays and the 1976; Hodson et al. 1981b; Ross 1980).

absence of pigmentation (Pearson They constitute a major proportion of 1928). Postlarvae of spot and the biomass and numbers of fish Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias present in estuarine waters of this undulatus) can be differentiated by region (Pacheco 1962a; Kjelson and their caudal fins, which are squarely Johnson 1976; Markle 1976; Shenker and truncated in spot and pointed in Dean 1979). Consequently, they are Atlantic croakers (Welsh and Breder considered to be important in the 1923). Larval and postlarval structure and function of these development in spot was described by estuarine ecosystems (Kjelson and Hildebrand and Cable (1930), Johnson Johnson 1976).

(1978),and Powell and Gordy (1980).

LIFE HISTORY Color in life: an ill-defined row of faint melanophores on each Spawning side of the anterior body in newly hatched larvae. A faint dorsal and a Females as small as 214 mm have faint ventral melanophore located been found with ripening ova about midbddy and several more faint (Hildebrand and Schroeder 1927). The melanophores at the dorsal midline largest fish in the population shortly after hatching. Dorsal generally spawn first (Hildebrand and melanophores decreasing and ventral Cable 1930). Most spawn offshore over melanophores increasing in number as the outer continental shelf, from larvae grow. Finally, a single row October to March (Hildebrand and Cable of melanophores along the ventral 1930; Ross 1980; Lewis and Judy 1983; midline becomes established in the Miller et al. 1984; Warlen and Chester late yolk-sac stage and persists 1985). According to Lewis and Judy throughout. the larval period (Powell (1983) some spot spawn inshore.

and Gordy 1980). Laboratory spawning has been induced at temperatures of 17.5-25.0 oC at a Fish 20-50 mm long, mostly pale; photoperiod of 8 h light and 16 h dark sides of head silvery; sides of body (Hettler and Powell 1981). Most and back each with a row of dark spawning off the coast of North b l otches composed of dusky Carolina occurs 75-95 km offshore punctations, besides other irregularly (Warlen and Chester 1985), and peaks placed dusky points. Fish longer than in December and January (Lewis and 50 mm, bluish gray with golden Judy 1983; Warlen and Chester 1985).

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Eggs, Larvae, and Juveniles 1976; Lewis and Judy 1983; Warlen and Chester 1985). Off North Carolina, From laboratory-induced spawning, larvae collected near the Gulf Stream the number of eggs produced per female were 29 days old and < 4 mm standard

..ranges from 30,000 to 60,000 (Hettler length (SL). Their average age is 59 and Powell 1981). Eggs occur in the days (11.3-15.6 mnm SL) when they first water above the Continental Shelf in enter the Newport River estuary winter (Powell and Gordy 1980; (Warlen and Chester 1985). Larvae Stickney and Cuenco 1982). Egg less than 11 mm long are rarely diameters range from 0.72 to 0.87 mm collected in the estuaries, but (Powell and Gordy 1980) . The postlarvae are common in nearshore and incubation period lasts about 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> estuarine waters (Kjelson and Johnson at a water temperature of 20 oC 1976). Near the inlets, the larvae (Powell and Gordy 1980). The eggs and metamorphose to juveniles (Miller et preflexion larvae (larvae in which the al. 1984).

notochord has not yet begun to flex) are buoyant; the larvae probably In the York and Cape Fear Rivers become demersal during the flexion and their respective tributaries, age stage (Lewis and Judy 1983; Kendall et 0 spot are densest upstream (Chao and al. 1984). Larvae are about 1.5-1.7 Musick 1977, Weinstein 1979);

mm long at hatching (Hildebrand and yearlings are densest in the lower Cable 1930; Powell and Gordy 1980; reaches (Chao and Musick 1977). The Warlen and Chester 1985), and begin highest density reported for juvenile feeding when they are 3 days old at 24 0

spot was 14.9/m2 in Rose Bay, N.C.

Q, and when they are 6 days old at 18 (Gilliam et al. 1985). Seagrass oC (Powell and Chester 1985). Larvae meadows and tidal creeks are important up to 21,days old exhibit irreversible nursery habitats for postlarval and starvation when unfed for three days juvenile spot (Spitsbergen and Wolff (Powell and Chester 1985). Older 1976; Wolff 1976; Weinstein 1979; larvae (60-90 days) have 50% mortality Weinstein and Brooks 1983). . These after 20 days without food (Powell and spot constitute as much as 80% and 90%

Chester 1985). of the total number of fish present in seagrass meadows and tidal creeks, In the offshore waters of North respectively, but appear to prefer Carolina (6 to about 63 nautical miles marsh creeks over seagrass meadows from land), spot larvae are most dense (Weinstein and Brooks 1983).

in mid-water and at the bottom during the day and appear to migrate to the surface at night (Kjelson et al. Migrations 1976). In the nearshore waters (< 5 nautical miles from land), In North Carolina, larvae first larval concentrations are greatest on the move inshore (to the Newport River bottom during both night and day estuary) from mid-December to mid-(Kjelson et al. April and, in Onslow Bay at that time, 1976). In data collected in one year from January to are thought to be passively April, the average densities of larval transported by the water currents spot ranged from 0 to 59 + 81 (SD) per (Warlen and Chester 1985). Juvenile 1000 m3 of water in the nearshore area spot first occur in marshes of the of Onslow Bay, and from 14 + 13 (SD) Albemarle Sound and Neuse River to 892 + 689 (SD) in Beauf~rt Inlet estuaries in February (Hester 1975; (Kjelson-et al. 1976). Miller et al. 1984). The mechanism by which the postlarvae move into the tidal creeks and marshes is unclear.

The mean age and length of spot One speculation is that they stay on larvae vary inversely with the the bottom during the day and on ebb distance from shore (Kjelson et al. tides, moving to the surface at night 4

when flood tides carry them into tidal of 5-155 days, although several fish creeks and marshes (Weinstein et al. moved 178-200 mi (Pacheco 1962b).

1980). Spot may also move into the nursery areas of drowned river valley estuaries (where the downstream GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS surface flow of the less dense Initial growth of larval spot off freshwater causes a displacement of water in the lower layers, resulting the North Carolina coast has been in the movement of saltwater upstream reported to be about 7% of body length along the bottom of the estuary). per day (Warlen and Chester 1985).

However, neither of these mechanisms Average instantaneous growth rates is important in shallow sounds with (in dry weight) of larvae are about narrow inlets and low lunar tidal 0.20 pg/pg/day at 18-23 days of age amplitudes such as those in Pamlico and decrease to about 0.14 pg/pg/day Sound (Miller et al. 1984). There, at 23-48 days (Warlen et al. 1979).

the spot may move into the nurseries By the time spot move into coastal by bottom currents created when and estuarine waters, which are northwesterly winds build up water often cooler than 10 OC, growth against the barrier islands resulting rates decrease to less than 1.5% of in a countercurrent flow in the body length per day (Warlen and opposite direction toward the nursery Chester 1985). In moving from inlets areas (Miller et al.. 1984). Overall, to nursery, areas in the Pamlico Sound, early postlarval spot probably have spot may increase from about 15 to 20 little direct control over their mm in length and 0.075-0.179 g in wet horizontal movements due to the weight (Miller et al. 1985). But strength of the horizontal currents. spot may be as small as 16 mm when But the vertical currents are usually they reach the nursery areas in the weak enough to allow postlarval spot James River, Va. (McCambridge and some potential control over their Walden 1984). Currin et al. (1984),

vertical movements; these in a literature review, reported that movements are, in turn, probably the instantaneous daily growth rates of way they control their horizontal juvenile spot ranged from 0.021 to direction of migration (J. Miller, 0.040 g/g/d. Growth rates of spot in North Carolina State University, Rose Bay, N.C., have been estimated to Raleigh; pers. comm.). be 3% per day by weight (Miller 1985).

McCambridge and Walden (1984) reported When spot first arrive in Rose that growth rates of spot (63-224 mm Bay, N.C., they tend to occur mostly TL) range from 10.5 to 19.1 mm along the shallow edges of the bay; TL/month.

they disperseto all depths by April, but their densities remain greatest in Annual production of juvenile the shallows (Currin 1984). In the spot in Rose Bay has been reported at Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound 7.5 g/m 2 , or 745 kg/ha, although it estuaries, young spot remain in the may be 10 times as high in areas near estuaries until September or October, the headwaters (Miller 1985). About and then migrate to the sea (Pacheco one-third of spot production in Rose 1962a; Hester 1975). In Neuse River Bay is in the areas less than 1.75 m estuaries, most spot leave by June in depth, or about one-fourth of the (and probably move to Pamlico Sound) bay's area (Miller 1985). Currin et presumably due to decreases in al. (1984) indicated that annual spot dissolved oxygen (Hester 1975). production ranges from 0.25 to 7.51 Movements of spot 150-255 mm in fork g/m 2 ; however, the large range in length (FL) (based on tagging studies production is attributed not to growth within or between estuaries in the rate differences, but to differences lower Chesapeake Bay) generally in the biomass (or numbers) of spot ranged from 5 to 74 mi over a period present.

5

Most spot are of age classes 0-I County, N.C., most of the spot landed and few are older than III; in trawls between 1969 and 1971 (about predominance of smaller fish may be an 463,000 pounds) were sold as scrap artifact of collecting gear fish (Wolff 1972). Additional inefficiency for larger spot (Pacheco incidental captures in shrimp trawls 1962a). The largest spot reported was *and with miscellaneous gears were 360 mm TL (Ross 1980). Lengths by age estimated to equal about 32 million are variable and overlap: age-O, 80- pounds; although these fish were 181 mm; age-i, 122-230 mm; age-2, 215- returned to the water, few are likely 290 mm; age-3, 275 mm (Welsh and to have survived (Wolff 1972).

Breder 1923; Hildebrand and Cable 1930; Pacheco 1962a). North of the Chesapeake Bay, combined catches of spot have not Determinants of year-class reached 100,00.0 lb since 1958, and strength have not been adequately from 1960 to 1965, the combined catch investigated. Joseph (1972) suggested has been less than 1,000 lb (Joseph that year-class strength is determined 1972).

by the time postlarvae enter the estuarine nursery grounds-- indicating that year-to-year population ECOLOGICAL ROLE fluctuations are due to environmental changes at the spawning grounds or in Food waters traversed by the larvae as Early stages of spot (1-10mm) eat they move toward the estuaries.

plankton such as pteropods, larval Since large-scale mortalities of pelecypods, and cyclopoid copepods juveniles are not observed in the (Govoni et al. 1983). Spot 11-20 mm nursery grounds, reduction in popu-long feed primarily on calanoid, lation numbers occurs during larval harpacticoid and cyclopoid copepods, and post-larval stages. Significant mysids, and amphipods (Kjelson et al.

numbers of juvenile spot, however, 1975; Livingston 1982; Currin 1984).

are killed incidentally by trawlers In the process of migrating to the in Pamlico Sound, N.C. (Wolff 1972). estuaries from the Continental Shelf, larval . spot (and other species) may significantly decrease the zooplankton COMMERCIAL AND SPORT FISHERIES 1974).

standing crop (Thayer et al.

Juvenile spot are nonterritorial, The commercial fishery for spot benthic, grazing generalists (Hodson is concentrated along the Atlantic et al. 1981a; Woodward 1981; coast from the Chesapeake Bay through Livingston 1982) that forage the Carolinas (C. Manooch, National effectively regardless of substrate Marine Fisheri-es Service, Beaufort, type (Gerry 1981)--though they prefer N.C.; pers. comm.' B. Kelly, pers. sand or mud (Ross 1980; Cowan and comm.). From 1972 to 1986, the Birdsong 1985). Juvenile spot largest commercial landings of spot sometimes reduce benthic infaunal were in North Carolina (Table 1). densities and species richness Most of the fish presently landed (Virnstein 1977). In the York River there are probably used for human estuary, as spot increase in size to consumption (C. Manooch, per. comm.; greater than 20 mm SL. calanoids and B. Kelly, per. comm.). In North nematodes decrease in importance in Carolina, spot are primarily captured the diet while harpacticoids, in gill nets or haul seines (Wolff amphipods, and polychaetes increase 1972);however, substantial numbers of in importance. All sizes of spot spot are landed in the scrap fisheries present eat bivalve siphons and in North Carolina, some of which are maldanid polychaete tails (Smith sold for industrial use. In Carteret et al. 1984). Juvenile spot in 6

Table 1. Commercial landings (thousands of pounds) of spot and their value (thousands of dollars) by state along the Mid-Atlantic coast, from 1972-86.

(U.S. Dep. Commerce, and N.C. landings, N.C. Div. Marine Fisheries; unpubl. data).

NY NJ DEL MA VA NC Year lbs $ lbs $ lbs $ lbs $ lbs $ lbs $

1972 *

• 1 1 *

• 74 12 2,951 322 3,902 378 1973 *

• 10 1 *

• 27 5 2,576 361 5,398 676 1974 *

• 11 2 *

• 37 5 2,251 349 5,607 .625 1975 *

• 59 11 7 4 103 11 1,918 276 8,300 861 1976 3 1 1 1 8 1.2 16 3 1,192 224 2,647 348 1977 6 1 20 3 11 3 16 2 1,867 388 3,805 469 1978 1.2 0.3 11 3 19 3 31 5 3.205 593 4,879 627 1979 0.3 0.1 2 0.3 18 4 11 2 2,541 513 7,304 1,430 1980 1 0.6 2 0.5 5 2 6 2 1,795 591 7,100 1,494 1981 *

• 6 3 11 3 14 5 1,025 411 3,511 824 1982 *

• 2 0.3 2 2 6 2 1,017 390 .4,919 1,080 1983 *

• 0.8 0.4 *

• 129 53 1,568 490 2,952 685 1984 *

• 0.1 0.02 *

• 43 18 735 261 3,487 814 1985 *

• 2 0.4 17 5 8 4 1,562 574 4,044 874 1986 *

• 7 2 86 30 104 43 1,840 589 3,354 772

• None reported the shallow bays of Pamlico Sound, spot (about 9-25 mm SL) and juvenile N.C., feed primarily on harpacticoids, spot (> about 25 mm SL) range from nematodes, clam siphons, dipterans, 4.3% to 9.0% of body weight,probably and polychaetes (Gerry 1981; Currin depending on food availability.

1984). (Kjelson et al. 1975; Kjelson and Johnson 1976). Using these daily Adult spot feed by scooping up ration values, Currin et al. (1984) benthic sediments in their mouth, calculated mean consumption to be from followed by chewing and then spitting 5.89 to 284.4 mg (dry wt)/m 2 daily.

out unwanted material (Roelofs 1954).

Their main diet consists of polychaete Predation annelids and copepods, with decapods, nematodes, and diatoms making up food Chaetognaths (arrow-worms) are items of lesser importance (Roelofs one of the most abundant planktonic 1954; Chao and Musick 1978). predators in the waters over the Different diets of spot in different Continental Shelf during and immedi-locations are probably due to the ately after the winter spawning of presence of different prey types spot. But their predation on larval (Currin 1984). spot is thought to be less important than their effect as a competitor for Kjelson et al. (1975) reported food (Clements 1979). Large fish, that larvae begin feeding at dawn, and which may be predators of juvenile attain a maximum gut content by about spot, usually live in the deeper areas midday; however, Hodson et al. (1981a) of bays where salinities are stable, found that stomachs of spot (9-124 mm rather than in the shallower areas SL) are fuller at night than during where salinity fluctuates greatly; the day. Daily rations of postlarval however, spot occur in both deep and 7

shallow areas of bays (Gerry 1981; move away from their primary nursery Miller et al. 1984). In Rose Bay, grounds due to their decreased N.C., from mid-May to mid-July, the tolerance of salinity fluctuations as instantaneous daily mortality of spot the fish age (Miller et al. 1984), and was -0.0313--a large proportion of yet recent experiments indicate that which was credited to predation in salinity fluctuations do not influence deep areas of the bay (Currin 1984; juvenile spot distributions (Moser Miller et al. 1984). Spot are 1985).

considered to be of some importance as a food 'for cormorants (Phalacrocorax For juvenile spot at 28 °C auritus) and spotted seatrout exposed for I and 96 h, the LC 5 0 (Cynoscion nebulosus) (Pearson 1928; values for dissol-ved oxygen are 0.49 Thayer et al. 1976). Spot are also, and 0.70 mg/L, and the LC9 5 values are to a limited degree, a food source for 0.43 and 0.60 mg/L (Burton et al.

striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in 1980). Oxygen consumption by spot Albemarle Sound, N.C. (Nianooch 1972); (respiration rate) increases with fish but they have been a major component weight, swimming speed, .and activity in the diet of striped bass in the (Neumann et al. 1981). Spot appear to Chesapeake Bay (Hollis 1952). be more efficient oxygen consumers than striped bass or white perch (Morone americanus) (Neumann et al.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS 1981).

Temperature, Salinity, and Dissolved Oxygen Chemical Tolerances Spot have been found at temperatures of 8-31 oC (Wolff 1976). Chemicals that reach the The lower lethal temperature for spot estuarine system in runoff, in treated is thought to be 4-5 oC, varying with sewage, and in water used to cool the size of fish, the rapidity of the power plants may form compounds that temperature drop, and the duration of are toxic to fish. The hatching exposure (Dawson 1958). In the success of spot eggs tends to be laboratory, postlarval and juvenile inversely related to concentrations of spot smaller than 25 mm SL have an 5-chlorouracil (a chloro-organic upper -incipient lethal temperature of compound) at greater than 40 ppb 35.2 °C at a salinity of 20 ppt. At (Warlen and Lewis 1976). In larval increasing salinities, time to, death spot exposed to chlorine -produced increases, but the lethal temperature oxidants at 0.47 ppm for 3-30 min at 9 decreases (Hodson et al. 1981b). 'C, survival ranged from 80% to 100%.

When the temperature was raised to 12 Spot have been found at oC with a concentration of 0.43 ppm, salinities of 0-60 ppt (Hedgpeth 1967; however, survival fell from 40% to zero Wolff 1976; Cowan and Birdsong 1985). as exposure time increased from 5 to Juvenile spot in York River 30 min (Warlen and Lewis 1977). In tributaries occur primarily in creeks postlarval spot exposed to copper in with salinities of 16 ppt or greater the form of CuC1 2 , toxicity increased (Smith et. al. 1984). In Pamlico with time: LC50 values decreased from Sound, N.C., spot are most abundant in 0.59 mg Cu/L for 4 days of exposure, tributaries with relatively low to 0.16 mg Cu/L for 14 days of salinities (Spitsbergen and Wolff exposure (Engle and Thuotte 1976).

1976). Early life history stages of The LC50 values based on pCu (negative spot appear to be able to tolerate log of the free cupric ion activity) relatively high salinity fluctuations ranged from 9.0 to 9.2 for egg to (Gerry 1981; Gilliam et al. 1985). hatching, and 8.4 to 8.6 for larvae But it has been speculated,that spot (Engle et al. 1976).

8

LITERATURE CITED Burton, D.T., L. Richardson, and C. comparison of tidal and nontidal Moore. 1980. Effect of oxygen nursery areas. Estuaries 7:451-reduction rate and constant low 459.

dissolved oxygen concentrations on two estuarine fish. Trans. Am. Dahlberg, M.D. 1976. Guide to coast-Fish. Soc. 109:552-557. al fishes of Georgia and nearby states. University of Georgia Chao, L.N. 1978. A basis for Press, Athens. 187 pp.

classifying western Atlantic Sciaenidae (Teleoste: Perci-Dawson, C.E. 1958. A study of the formes). U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. biology and life history of the Serv. Circ. 415. 64 pp. spot, Leiostomus xanthurus Chao, L.N., and J.A. Musick. 1977. Lacepede, with special reference to Life history, feeding habitý and °South Carolina. Contri. Bears functional morphology of juvenile Bluff Lab. No. 28, pp. 48.

sciaenid fishes in the York River Estuary, Virginia. U.S. Natl. Mar. Engle, D.W., W.G. Sundra, and R.M.

Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. 75:657-702. Thuotte. 1976. The effects of cupric ion activity on the survival Clements, L.C. 1979. Preliminary of eggs and postlarvae of the spot, studies on chaetognaths as plank- Leiostomus xanthurus. Pages 431-tonic predators of fish larvae. 436 in Atlantic Estuarine Ann. Rep. U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Fisher--es Center annual report to Serv. Lab., Beaufort, N.C. the Energy Research and Development Agency, U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv.,

Cowan, J.H., and R.S. Birdsong. 1985. Beaufort, N.C.

Seasonal occurrence of larval and juvenile fishes in a Virginia Engle, D.W., and R.M. Thuotte. 1976.

Atlantic coastal estuary with The effects of copper on the emphasis on drums - (Family survival of postlarval fish. Pages Sciaenidae). Estuaries 8:48-59. 423-430 in Atlantic Estuarine Fish eries Center annual report to the Currin, B.M. 1984. Food habits ana Energy Research and Development food consumption of juvenile spot, Agency, U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv.,

Leiostomus xanthurus, and croaker, Beaufort, N.C.

Micropogonias undulatus, in their nursery areas. M.S. Thesis. North Fisheries of the United States, 1985.

Carolina State University, Raleigh. U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., Curr.

103 pp. Fish. Stat. No. 8380. 122 pp.

Currin, B.M., J.P. Reed, and J.M. Gerry, L.R. 1981. The effects of Miller. 1984. Growth, production, salinity fluctuations and salinity food consumption, and mortality of gradients on the distribution of juvenile spot and croaker: a juvenile spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, 9

and croaker, Micropogonias Hildebrand, S.F., and W.C. Schroeder.

undulatus. M.S. Thesis. North 1927. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay.

Carolina State University, Raleigh. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 43:1-366.

57 pp.

Hodson, R.G., J.0. Hackman, and C.R.

Govoni, J.J. 1987. The ontogeny of Bennett. 1981a. Food habits of dentition in Leiostomus xanthurus. young spots in nursery areas of the Copeia 1987:1041I-046. Cape Fear River estuary, North Carolina. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.

Govoni, J.I., .EE. Hoss, and A.J. 110:495-501.

Chester. 1983. Comparative feeding of three species of larval fishes in the Northern Gulf of Hodson, R.G., R.G. Fechelm, and R.J.

Mexico: Brevoortia patronus, Monroe. 1981b. Upper temperature Leiostomus xanthurus, and tolerance of spot, Leiostomus xanth-Micropogonias undulatus. Mir. Ecol. urus, from the Cape Fear River estu-Prog. Ser. 13:189-199. ary, North Carolina. Estuaries 4:345-356.

Gunter, G. 1950. Correlation between temperature of water and size of Hollis, E.H. 1952. Variations in the marine fishes on the Atlantic and feeding habits of the striped bass, Gulf Coasts of the United States. Roccus saxatilis (Walbaum) in Copeia 1950:298-304. Chesapeake Bay. Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Collect. Yale Univ.

Hata, D.N. 1985. Aspects of the life 14:111-131.

history and population dynamics of the spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, in Johnson, G.D. 1978. Development of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (May fishes in the Mid-Atlantic Bight.

1985). M.S. Thesis. Texas A&M Vol . IV. Carangidae through University. 88 pp. Ephippidae. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv.

Biol. Serv. Program FWS/OBS-78/12.

Hedgpeth, J.W. 1967. Ecological Pages 203-211.

aspects of the Laguna Madre, a hypersaline estuary. Pages 383-389 in G. H. Lauff, ed. Estuaries. Joseph, E.B. 1972. The status of American Association for the the sciaenid stocks of the Middle Advancement of Science Publ. No. 83. Atlantic Coast. Chesapeake Sci.

13:87-100.

Hester, J.M. , Jr. 1975. Nekton population dynamics in the Albemarle Kendall, A.W.,Jr., E.H. Ahlstrom, and Sound and Neuse River estuaries. H.G. Moser. 1984. Early life M.S. Thesis. North Carolina State history stages of fishes and their University, Raleigh. 129 pp. characteristics. Pages 11-22 in Ontogeny and systematics of fishes.

Special Publication No. 1. American Hettler, W.F., and A.B. Powell. 1981.

Society of Ichthyologists and Egg and larval fish production at Herpetologists. Allen Press Inc.,

the NMFS Beaufort Laboratory, N. C., Lawrence, KS.

USA. Rapp. P.-V. Reun. Cons. Int.

Explor. Mer 178:501-503.

Kielson, M.A., D.S. Peters, G.W.

Thayer, and G.N. Johnson. 1975.

Hildebrand, S.F., and L.E. Cable. The general feeding ecology of 1930. Fourteen teleostean fishes at postlarval fishes in the Newport Beaufort, N.C. Bull. U.S. Bur. River Estuary. U.S. Natl. Mar.

Fish. 46:383-488. Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. 73:137-144.

10

Kjelson, M.A., and G.N. Johnson. the James River, Virginia.

1976. Further observations of the Estuaries 7:478-480.

feeding ecology of postlarval pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides, and Miller, G.L. , and S.C. Jorgenson.

spot, Leiostomus xanthurus. U.S. 1973. Meristic characters of some Natl.. Mar. Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. marine fishes of the western

.74:423-432. Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Natl. Mar.

Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. 71:301-312.

Kjelson, M.A., G.N. Johnson, R.L.

Garner, and J.P. Johnson. 1976. Miller, J.M. 1985. The effects of The horizontal-vertical distribution freshwater discharge into primary and sample variability of ichthyo- nursery areas for juvenile fish and plankton populations within the shellfish: criteria for their nearshore and offshore ecosystems of protection. Pages 62-84 in Water Onslow Bay. Pages 287-341 in management and estuarine nurseries.

Atlantic Estuarine Fisheries Center University of North Carolina Sea annual report to the Energy Research Grant Publication 85-2.

and Development Agency, U.S. Natl.

Mar. Fish. Serv., Beaufort, N.C.

Miller, J.M., J.P. Reed, and L.

Lewis, R.M., and M.H. Judy. 1983. Pietrafesa. 1984. Patterns, The occurrence of spot, Leiostomus mechanisms and approaches to the xanthurus, and Atlantic croaker, study of migrations' of estuarine-Mfcropogonias undulatus, larvae in dependent fish larvae and juveniles.

Onslow Bay an Newport River Pages 205-225 in J.D. McCleave, G.P.

estuary, North Carolina. U.S. Natl. Arnold, J.J. Johnson, and W.H.

Mar. Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. Neill, eds. Mechanisms of migration 81:405-412. in fishes. Plenum Press, New York.

544 pp.

Livingston, R.J.. 1982. Trophic organization of fishes in a coastal Miller, J.M., L.B. Crowder, and M.L.

seagrass system. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Moser. 1985. Migration and Ser. 7:1-12. utilization of estuarine nurseries by juvenile fishes: an evolutionary Manooch, C.S. 1972. Food habits of perspective. Contrib. Mar. Sci.

adult and yearling striped bass, 27:338-342.

Morone saxatilis (Walbbaum) from Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. Moser, M.L. 1985. Effects of M.S. Thesis. North Carolina State salinity fluctuations on juvenile estuarine fish. Estuaries University, Raleigh. 94 pp.

8(2B) :9A.

Markle, D.F. 1976. The seasonality of availability and movements of Neumann, D.A., J.M. O'Connor, and J.A.

fishes in the channel of the York Jerk, Jr. 1981. Oxygen consumption River, Virginia. Chesapeake Sci. of white perch (Morone americanus),

17:50-55. striped bass (M. saxatilis and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus). Comp.

Massman, W.H. 1954. Marine fishes in Biochem. Physiol. 69A:467-478.

fresh and brackish waters of Virginia rivers. -Ecology 35:75-78.

Pacheco, A.L. 1962a. Age and growth of spot in lower Chesapeake Bay, McCambridge, J.T., Jr., and R.W. with notes on distribution and Walden, I1I[. 1984. Growth of abundance of juveniles in the York juvenile spot, Leiostomus xanthurus River System.. Chesapeake Sci.

Lacepede, in the nursery region of 3:18-28.

11

Pacheco, A.L. 1962b. Movements of Spitsbergen, D.L., and M. Wolff.

spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, in the 1976. Survey of nursery areas in lower Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake western Pamlico Sound, North Sci. 3:256-257. Carolina. Completion Rep. for Project No. 2-175-R. N.C.

Pearson, J.C. 1928. Natural history Department of Natural Resources, and conservation of the redfish and Division of Marine Fisheries, other commercial sciaenids of the Morehead City, N.C. 80 pp.

Texas Gulf. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish.

44:129-214. Stickney, R.R., and M.L. Cuenco.

1982. Habitat suitability index Powell, A.B., and A.J. Chester. 1985. models: juvenile spot. U.S. Fish Morphometric indices of nutritional Wildl. Serv. Biol. Serv. Program condition and sensitivity to FWS/OBS-82/10.20. 13 pp.

starvation of spot larvae. Trans.

Am. Fish. Soc. 114:338-347. Thayer, G.W., D.E. Hoss, M.A. Kjelson, W.F. Hettler, Jr., and M.W. La Powell, A.B., and H.R. Gordy. 1980. Croix. 1974. Biomass of Egg and larval development of the zooplankton in the Newport River spot Leiostomus xanthurus (Sciae- Estuary and the influence of nidae). U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv. postlarval fishes. Chesapeake Sci.

Fish. Bull. 78:701-714. 15:9-16.

Raney, E.C., and W.C. Massman. 1953. Thayer, G.W., M.A. Kjelson, and T.J.

The fishes of the tidewater section Price. 1976. Feeding habits of of the Pamunkey River, Virginia. avian populations utilizing the J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 43:424-432. estuarine area near Beaufort. Pages 356-363 in Atlantic Estuarine Fisheries Center annual report to Roelofs, E.W. 1954. Food studies of the Energy Research and Development young scianid fishes, Microeogan Agency, U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv.,

and Leiostomus from North Carolina. Beaufort, N.C.

Copeia 195:151-153.

Virnstein, R.W. 1977. The importance Ross, S.W. 1980. Leiostomus of predation by crabs and fishes on xanthurus Lacepede spot. Page 759 benthic infauna in Chesapeake Bay.

in Atlas of North American Ecology 58:1199-1217.

T-ieshwater fishes. N.C. State Mus. Nat. Hist., 854 pp.

Warlen, S.M., and C.W. Lewis. 1976.

A preliminary report on the effects Shenker, J.M., and J.M. Dean. 1979. of two chloro-organics on several The utilization of an intertidal estuarine organisms. Pages 405-411 salt marsh creek by larval and in Atlantic Estuarine Fisheries juvenile fishes: abundance, Center annual report to the Energy diversity and temporal variation. Research and Development Agency, Estuaries 2:154-163. U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv.,

Beaufort, N.C.

Smith, S.M., J.G. Hoff, S.P. O'Neil, and M.P. Weinstein. 1984. Com- Warlen, S.M., and C.W. Lewis. 1977.

munity and trophic organization of Toxic effects of chlorine produced nekton utilizing shallow marsh oxidants on grass shrimp and larval habitats, York River, Virginia USA. estuarine fishes. Pages 473-490 in U.S. Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv. Fish. Annual Report of Natl. Mar. Fish.

Bull. 82:455-468. Serv. Lab., Beaufort, N.C.

12

Warlen, S.M., A. Powell, M. Boyd, P. larval fishes in an intensively Howland, M. Look, and 0. Lewis. flushed tidal estuary, Cape Fear 1979. Age and growth of larval spot River, North Carolina. U.S. Natl.

(Leiostomus xanthurus) and Atlantic Mar. Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. 78:419-menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) with 436.

estimates of their spawning times.

Pages 465-482 in Annual report of Welsh, W.W., and C.M. Breder. 1923.

Natl . Mar. Fish. Serv. Lab., Contributions to life history of Beaufort, N.C., Sciaenidae of the eastern United States Coast. Bull. Bur. Fish.

Warlen, S.M., and A.J. Chester. 1985. 39:141-201.

Age, growth and distribution of larval spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, Wolff, M. 1972. A study of the North off North Carofi-na.U.S. Nati. Mar. Carolina scrap fishery. N.C. Dep.

Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. 83:587-599. Nat. Econ. Resour. Div. Comm.

Sports Fish. Spec. Sci. Rep. No.

Weinstein, M.P., and H.A. Brooks. 20. 29 pp.

1983. Comparative ecology of nekton residing in a tidal creek and Wolff, M. 1976. Nursery area survey adjacent seagrass meadow: community of the outer banks region.

composition and structure. Mar. Completion Rep. for Project No. 2-Ecol. Prog. Ser. 12:15-28.

222-R. N.C. Department of Natural Resources, Division of Marine Weinstein, M.P. 1979. Shallow marsh Fisheries. Morehead City, N.C. 47 habitats as primary nurseries for pp.

fishes and shellfish, Cape Fear River, North Carolina. U.S. Natl.

Mar. Fish. Serv. Fish. Bull. 77:339- Woodward, J.L. 1981. Enclosure 357. studies of food resource parti-tioning between juvenile spot and Weinstein, M.P., S.L. Weiss, R.J. croaker. M.S. Thesis. North Caro-Hodson, and L.R. Gerry. 1980. lina State University, Raleigh. 42 Retention of three taxa of post- pp.

13

16272"*lfll REPORT DOCUMENTATION I. REPORT NO 2. 3. Reec,o..'s Acc*,o. No.

PAGE Biological Report 82(11.98)*__"

4. Title and Subttl S.* Report Data Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements February 1989 of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (Mid-Atlantic): Spot 6-

7. Authlgos) a brformrng Organzation Root No.

J.H. Phillips, M.T. Huish, J.H. Kerby, and D.P. %branb

1. Porfo.*- O san.zato!'6 Nain and Addres s0. bt.0iect/Task/Wo.1 Unit No.

aN.C. Cooperative Fishery Research Unit bNational Wetlands Research Department of Zoology, Box 7617 Center Ii. CWtrc,(C) of Grnt(G) No.

North Carolina State University U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service c, Raleigh, NC 27695 Slidell, LA 70458 (G)

Nam. and Add,",(s

12. Soonsoi.ng Organization U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . TyPe ofRepor&APnoridCo,..d U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Waterways Experiment Station National Wetlands Research Center P.O. Box 631 Washington, D.C. 20240 Vicksburg, MS 39180 14.

15. Supplementary Notes

• U.S.Army Corps of Engineers Report No.TR EL-82-4

16. A*ta* (UWit: 200 words)

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) is an important species to recreational fishermen and to the commercial fishing industry. Landings in Virginia are reported to be nearly 2 million pounds annually and in North Carolina 3 to 7 million pounds.

Spot are distributed throughout the Mid-Atlantic area and their larvae are found up to 63 nautical miles from land. The larvae are reported to metamorphose to the juvenile phase near estuarine inlets and the juveniles appear in estuaries from about mid-December to mid-April where they remain until September or October. The juveniles may constitute 80%-90% of the total number of fish present in tidal creeks and seagrass meadows. Growth rates (weight) of juvenile spot vary but are reported as 3% per day. Lengths of young-of-year were reported by various authors to be about 80-181 mm; age-l, 122-230 mm; age-2,.215-290 mm; and age-3, 275 mm.

Relatively few spot are over 3 years old. Their diet includes benthic fauna which varies with location. Spot-may be eaten by a variety of predators, including striped bass.

Spot occur at temperatures ranging from 8-31 °C and at salinities of 0-66 ppt.

They were shown to increase their oxygen consumption with weight, swimming speed and activity. They appear to be more efficient consumers of oxygen than some major estuarine species, such as the striped bass and white perch.

17. Docurrafrt Analysis a. Descrptors Fish Fisheries Growth Feeding Habits Salinity Life Cycle Temperature Oxygen

b. Idantifier/Opon-Ended Toms Leiostomus xanthurus Spot Habitat requirements

c. COSATI Fold/Gmuo I& AaIllability ISttairrnt 19. Security Class (This R* M 21. No. o rd Unclassified 13 Unl imi ted Distribution *so: ecuit class rri.,ra) 2L-ric Unclassified (See ANSI-MI* 09-TIONAL FORM" 272 (4-7 tVsimety NTIS-3S)

Oalsormitef at Comelwnerc

. -t I . .

As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoy-ment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interests of all our people. The Depart-ment also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under U.S.

administration.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR N-,*. 1.:

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TAKE PRIDE in America UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PO9TAE AND FEES PAID FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE UA.EODEATMENT OF MhE INTERIOR National Wetlands Research Center INT4,1 NASA-Slidell Computer Complex 1010 Gause Boulevard Slidell, LA 70458 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300