Diet of Juvenile Alabama Shad (Alosa alabamae) in Two Northern Gulf of Mexico Drainages

Understanding food-web ecology is valuable to conservation by linking interactions of multiple species together and illustrating the functionality of trophic exchange. Alosa alabamae (Alabama Shad), an anadromous species, reproduces in northern Gulf of Mexico drainages from February through May, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSoutheastern naturalist (Steuben, Me.) Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 233 - 237
Main Authors Mickle, Paul F., Schaefer, Jacob F., Yee, Donald A., Adams, Susan B.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Humboldt Field Research Institute 01.03.2013
Eagle Hill Institute
Subjects
Alosa alabamae
anadromous fish
Aquatic insects
Diet
food webs
Freshwater fishes
Habitat conservation
juveniles
managers
Organic foods
Riverine habitats
rivers
Shad
Stomach
Wildlife conservation
Young animals
Gulf of Mexico
USA, Mississippi, Pascagoula R
ASW, USA, Alabama
ASW, Mexico Gulf
USA, Florida, Apalachicola R
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Summary:Understanding food-web ecology is valuable to conservation by linking interactions of multiple species together and illustrating the functionality of trophic exchange. Alosa alabamae (Alabama Shad), an anadromous species, reproduces in northern Gulf of Mexico drainages from February through May, and for this study, the Pascagoula and Apalachicola rivers were chosen to sample juvenile Alabama Shad. The age-0 fish mature within these rivers and have the potential to impact the food web of the systems in which maturation occurs. The focus was to determine if diet changes as Alabama Shad mature, and to identify diet differences between drainages. Diets of Alabama Shad <50 mm standard length (SL) consisted primarily of a dark, almost black material labeled as unidentifiable organics, while larger Alabama Shad, >50 mm SL, fed almost exclusively on insects. Many groups of aquatic and terrestrial insects were found in the stomachs of this species. Alabama Shad diets also differed among drainages, with the Apalachicola River being dominated by terrestrial insects, and the Pascagoula River having both terrestrial and aquatic insects. Diet and trophic placement of Alabama Shad may allow managers to understand the importance of this fish within its natal rivers.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1656%2F058.012.0118
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1528-7092
1938-5412
DOI:10.1656/058.012.0118