1. Where in the Bay? By Pat Harcourt Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve & 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.

5. “ Salinity” is how salty the water is. It ranges from 0 ppt(fresh) in lakes and rivers to 32-37 ppt in the ocean.

6. Salinity varies seasonally. Where is the Chesapeake the freshest (lowest salinity)? Where is salinity highest? How does salt water get so far into the Chesapeake Bay? Why do you think salinity changes seasonally? What changes do you see? Salinity Changes in the Chesapeake Chesapeake Bay

7. This salinity scale matches the colors on the map. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Salinity in ppt In Massachusetts, Ocean Salinity is 32-35 ppt. Fresh = 0-.5 salinity (no salinity)

8. Salinity Changes in the Chesapeake Salinity affects fish and other living things. Many fish cannot live where it is too fresh or too salty. Some parts of the Chesapeake Bay are very salty (high salinity) others are nearly fresh (low salinity). Where do you think fresh water fish can range? 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Salinity in ppt In Massachusetts, Ocean Salinity is 32-35 ppt. Fresh = 0-.5 salinity (no salinity)

9. Many fish cannot live where it is too fresh or too salty. Some parts of the Chesapeake Bay are very salty (high salinity) others are nearly fresh (low salinity). In this activity you will be placing a fish in parts of the bay with the right salinity for their survival. 1.Look at the table showing different kinds of fish and the salinity of the water they can live in. 2.Divide the fish in the table into three groups: those that can live in High, Low, and Both High and Low. Write each fish’s group on the line. 3.Choose tokens, or create a symbol to represent different fish species. For example, paper clips might represent low salinity fish. Using the spring salinity map, decided where to place the fish on your map of the Bay. For fish that can live in both high and low salinity, use two tokens of the same color in 3 areas of the Bay. 4.Make a key showing what fish is represented by each token/symbol. 5.Look at the fall salinity maps and move the fish if necessary. What fish had to be moved? How far did they move? 6.If you were going fishing, how would the salinity of the water affect your plans? Instructions

10. FishSalinityhigh, low, or high and low? American Eel0-30 ppt Bluefish12-30 ppt Brown bullhead0-8 ppt Needlefish12-30 ppt Sea horse15-30 ppt Sheepshead minnow 0-30 ppt Striped bass0-30 ppt White catfish0-15 ppt Yellow perch0-12 ppt

11. Some Fish Of the Chesapeake Sea Horse American EelSheepshead Minnow Bluefish Striped Bass Brown Bullhead White Catfish Needlefish Yellow Perch

12. Chesapeake Bay Seasonal Salinity Map Where can the different species of fish live? Place them on the map.

13. Pause to do the activity

14. FishSalinityhigh, low, or high and low? American Eel0-30 pptHigh and low Bluefish12-30 pptHigh Brown bullhead0-8 pptLow Needlefish12-30 pptHigh Sea horse15-30 pptHigh Sheepshead minnow 0-30 pptHigh and low Striped bass0-30 pptHigh and low White catfish0-15 pptLow Yellow perch0-12 pptLow Answer Sheet

15. Seasonal Species distribution Answer Sheet Which fish species will probably never meet? Slide 10 Anywhere 0-30 low 0-8 0-15 0-12 high 15-30 12-30 Needlefish, bluefish, and sea horse probably never meet the brown bullhead 12-30

16. 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. Part 2

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

18. 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. As we learned, 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?

19. Ferry & Mather “Schoolie” striped bass in Massachusetts’ estuaries eat a variety of food. River herring Menhaden Silverside Shrimp Crabs Sand lance Mummichog 43214321 Lobster ???

20. Spring (April 15, 1987) Summer (June 17, 1987) Fall (September 17, 1987) Winter January 7, 1987 Plum Island Sound – Seasonal Salinity Map http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/pie/over.html Based on the ELMR data, Where do you think will schoolie prey be found? Design symbols to represent schoolie prey and put them on the maps.

21. Prey Species (Adult) Salinity Low, High or high and low Alewife0->25 American Sand Lance26-36 ppt American Lobster8-36 ppt 16-36 at 77 °F Water temp Blueback Herring0->25 Daggerblade Grass Shrimp Optimal 20 ppt.5->25 Green CrabOptimal 20-30.5->25 Menhaden10-35 Mummichog0->25 Sevenspine Bay Shrimp (Sand Shrimp) 0->25 Optimal 18-20 ppt Silversides.5->25

22. Prey Species (Adult)SalinityLow, High or high and low Alewife0->25Low and high American Sand Lance26-36 pptHigh American Lobster8-36 ppt 16-36 at 77 °F Water temp 8 and up. Low and high Blueback Herring0->25Low and high Daggerblade Grass ShrimpOptimal 20 ppt.5->25 Low and high, not fresh Green CrabOptimal 20-30.5->25 Low and high, not fresh. Menhaden10-35Medium and high Mummichog0->25Low and high Sevenspine Bay Shrimp (Sand Shrimp) 0->25 Optimal 18-20 ppt Low and high Silversides.5->25Not fresh, low and high Answers

23. Spring (April 15, 1987) Summer (June 17, 1987) Fall (September 17, 1987) Winter January 7, 1987 Lobster Sand Lance Menhaden Salinity Distributions – Plum Island Sound http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/pie/over.html 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.

24. Part 3: Compare Salinity Tolerance of Schoolie Prey Adults vs. Juveniles On-Line. Check ELMR Estuarine Living Marine Resources web-site http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/biogeo_public/elmr.aspx 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.

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

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

27. Names ____________________________ Prey SpeciesFresh.5-25>25 Alewife American Sand Lance American Lobster Blueback Herring (Daggerblade) Grass Shrimp Green Crab Menhaden Mummichog Sevenspine Bay Shrimp (Sand Shrimp) Silversides Adults

28. Prey SpeciesFresh.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. Juveniles Prey SpeciesFresh.5-25>25 Alewife American Sand Lance Blueback Herring Menhaden Mummichog Silversides Eggs