1. Striper Prey and Salinity
By Liz Duff
Mass Audubon
Special thanks to Kristen Ferry and Martha Mather for their Striped Bass Research in Plum Island Sound.
Kristen Ferry
Martha Mather

2. Many people are interested in striped bass, and have worked to support their species survival.
Many fish populations are in decline due to overfishing.

3. Chesapeake Bay is one of the few places in the east where striped bass spawn.

4. They also spawn in Delaware bay, and in the Hudson River.
Point out where your classroom is located.

5. “Salinity” is how salty the water is
“Salinity” is how salty the water is. It ranges from 0 ppt(fresh) in lakes and rivers to ppt in the ocean.

6. Part 2
Although striped bass can survive in all salinity levels, many striped bass migrate north in the spring to feed. Many of the young bass, called “schoolies” travel to the estuary in Plum Island Sound, on the north coast of Massachusetts to feed.

7. (Specific return route is unknown)
Striped Bass
Migration Routes
= Spring
= Summer
= Fall
= Winter
Boston
(Specific return route is unknown)
Hudson *
Delaware *
Chesapeake *
MDMF 1998
People think that coastal bass migrate north to feed. Not every bass makes this journey.

8. Striped bass can survive in a wide range of salinities
Striped bass can survive in a wide range of salinities. (0-30) They can live throughout Plum Island Sound. Question: Will salinity affect the location of their prey species?
Hypothesis: The distribution of striped bass will be impacted by the distribution of their prey. If salinity impacts the distribution of the striped bass prey, it will impact the distribution of the striped bass.

9. “Schoolie” striped bass in Massachusetts’ estuaries eat a variety of food.
River
herring
Menhaden
Silverside
Shrimp
Crabs
Sand
lance
Mummichog 4 3 2 1
Lobster ???
Schoolie” is a term used for smaller striped bass, not large enough to keep legally.
They are often seen in schools years old.
Mummichog and silverside images are from
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine
By Henry B. Bigelow and William C. Schroeder
Ferry & Mather

10. Design symbols to represent schoolie prey and put them on the maps.
Plum Island Sound –
Seasonal Salinity Map
Spring
(April 15, 1987)
Summer
(June 17, 1987)
Fall
(September 17, 1987)
Winter
January 7, 1987
Based on the ELMR data, Where do you think will schoolie prey be found?
Is this an average salinity for the day, or an instantaneous measurement?
Or what tide stage was this made?
Design symbols to represent schoolie prey and put them on the maps.

11. Salinity Prey Species (Adult) Alewife 0->25 American Sand Lance
Low, High or high and low
Alewife
0->25
American Sand Lance
26-36 ppt
American Lobster
8-36 ppt
at 77 °F Water temp
Blueback Herring
Daggerblade Grass Shrimp
Optimal 20 ppt
.5->25
Green Crab
Optimal 20-30
Menhaden
10-35
Mummichog
Sevenspine Bay Shrimp
(Sand Shrimp)
Optimal ppt
Silversides
Fwie.fw.vt.edu
This is from Virginia Tech information exchange.
The warmer the temperature the less tolerant things are of wide ranges of salinity.
Do we have temperature profiles of Plum Island Sound?
When seining, what did they find, where, when?

12. Pause for the Activity

13. Answers Prey Species (Adult) Salinity Low, High or high and low
Alewife
0->25
Low and high
American Sand Lance
26-36 ppt
High
American Lobster
8-36 ppt
at 77 °F Water temp
8 and up. Low and high
Blueback Herring
Daggerblade Grass Shrimp
Optimal 20 ppt
.5->25
Low and high, not fresh
Green Crab
Optimal 20-30
Low and high, not fresh.
Menhaden
10-35
Medium and high
Mummichog
Sevenspine Bay Shrimp
(Sand Shrimp)
Optimal ppt
Silversides
Not fresh, low and high
Fwie.fw.vt.edu
This is from Virginia Tech information exchange.
The warmer the temperature the less tolerant things are of wide ranges of salinity.
Do we have temperature profiles of Plum Island Sound?
When seining, what did they find, where, when?

14. Salinity Distributions – Plum Island Sound
Spring
(April 15, 1987)
Summer
(June 17, 1987)
Fall
(September 17, 1987)
Winter
January 7, 1987
Lobster
Sand Lance
Menhaden
Lobster (8-36), menhaden (10-36) and sand lance (26-36) cannot go everywhere in PIS.
Their ranges in PIS increases in the summer and fall. Do you think this helps the striped bass? Show the summer and fall range for the sand lance.
Is this an average salinity for the day, or an instantaneous measurement?
Or what tide stage was this made?

15. Part 3: Compare Salinity Tolerance of Schoolie Prey Adults vs
Part 3: Compare Salinity Tolerance of Schoolie Prey Adults vs. Juveniles On-Line.
Check ELMR Estuarine Living Marine Resources web-site
Click on “North Atlantic” and choose the estuary and species you want. Click on the different salinity zones for each species. For fish, check adult and juvenile. For other species, such as crabs, just check adult. If it shows numbers other than zeros, it is present. If all zeros, it is not.

16. Example: There are zero adult lobsters at 0-0.5 ppt salinity.

17. Adult lobsters can be found at .5-25 ppt in the months
of April through December.

18. Names ____________________________
Adults
Names ____________________________
Prey Species
Fresh
.5-25
>25
Alewife
American Sand Lance
American Lobster
Blueback Herring
(Daggerblade)
Grass Shrimp
Green Crab
Menhaden
Mummichog
Sevenspine Bay Shrimp
(Sand Shrimp)
Silversides
Check ELMR Estuarine Living Marine Resources web-site

19. Juveniles
Prey Species
Fresh
.5-25
>25
Alewife
American Sand Lance
Blueback Herring
Menhaden
Mummichog
Silversides
Eggs
Prey Species
Fresh
.5-25
>25
Alewife
American Sand Lance
Blueback Herring
Menhaden
Mummichog
Silversides
What other questions can this data base help you answer? In your science journal, or on the back of this paper, list your questions. Choose one and investigate. Write down your question and its answer.