Spawning Migration of Telemetered Striped Bass in the Roanoke River, North Carolina

Abstract

The spring spawning migration is a key period for effective management of anadromous populations of striped bass Morone saxatilis. Information on migratory behavior is needed in order to develop appropriate harvest regulations and to conduct effective surveys while fish are on the spawning grounds. We used ultrasonic telemetry to estimate the timing and duration of the upriver spawning migration for the Roanoke River, North Carolina, population and to evaluate whether a short-term fluctuation in temperature or flow would alter the distribution of telemetered fish on the spawning grounds. Seventy-eight fish implanted with transmitters were released during 1993 and 1994. Twenty-nine telemetered fish migrated upriver in 1994, and 14 telemetered fish entered the river in 1995. Migration of telemetered fish began in mid-to late April when water temperatures in the lower river reached 17-18ЊC. Males began their spawning migration significantly earlier than females in 1994; the difference was not significant in 1995. The 165-km upriver migration took about a week, as did the downriver migration after the spawning season. In 1994 and 1995 respectively, males remained on the spawning grounds for averages of 22 and 21 d, females for 8 and 11 d. Because of shorter residency times only about half the telemetered females were on the spawning grounds at any one time during the peak of the spawning season. Striped bass remained on the spawning grounds during a short-term temperature decrease of about 4ЊC (over 5 d) and an increase in flow from about 190 to 390 m 3 /s (over 1 d).

Reproductive variability of the common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, in environments of contrasting salinities interconnected by the Grijalva–Usumacinta fluvial system

“…In this regard, reproductive migrations are valuable when seeking a habitat that favors the success of the progeny (Milton 2009). In the case of Morone saxatilis, a one-week reproductive migration has been observed between rivers and estuaries, covering a distance of up to 165 km (Carmichael et al 1998). The migrations of Gadus morhua cover several hundred kilometers (Jørgensen et al 2008), while Polyprion americanus can travel 1000 to 1500 km (Peres and Klippel 2003) in the same reproductive season.…”

“…Al respecto, las migraciones reproductivas son valiosas en la búsqueda de hábitats que favorecen el éxito de la progenie (Milton 2009). En el caso de Morone saxatilis, se ha observado que la migración reproductiva entre ríos y estuarios se realiza en una semana, cubriendo una distancia de hasta 165 km (Carmichael et al 1998). Las migraciones de Gadus morhua cubren varios cientos de kilómetros (Jørgensen et al 2008), mientras que Polyprion americanus puede viajar entre 1000 y 1500 km (Peres y Klippel 2003) durante la misma estación reproductora.…”

Individual Variation in Migration Speed of Upriver‐Migrating Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River in Relation to Their Physiological and Energetic Status at Marine Approach

“…Migration, defined as long-distance, directional movements made at the same time by numerous individuals of the same species (Endler 1977), occurs in many species across various taxa (Schneider and Frost 1986;Sorenson and Bianchini 1986;Carmichael et al 1998;Perryman et al 1999;Pütz et al 2002). Undertaking a costly migration generally confers individual benefits, such as locating a favorable habitat that enables more rapid growth or higher survivorship, congregating in breeding areas as a mechanism to bring together disparate individuals for mating, or moving to areas that allow for the birth of young in favorable habitats (Dingle 1980(Dingle , 1996Northcote and Burwash 1991).…”

Seasonal Use of a New England Estuary by Foraging Contingents of Migratory Striped Bass

“…These studies show that after the spawning season, Atlantic striped bass migrate north along the coast before returning south in the fall to the area where they overwinter (Boreman and Lewis 1987;Waldman et al 1990). Recent acoustic telemetry studies of other coastal populations (Haeseker et al 1996;Carmichael et al 1998;Bjorgo et al 2000) provide multiple detection data on individual striped bass that inhabit coastal systems. These fish, however, do not typically move long distances north-south along the coast.…”