Life Sciences Commons^™

Oyster Spatfall In Virginia Rivers: 1989 Annual Summary, Bruce J. Barber

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) conducts surveys of oyster spatfall (or "setting") in Virginia waters throughout the summer reproductive period. This survey provides an estimate of the potential of a particular area for receiving a "strike 11 or set of oysters on the bottom and helps define the timing of setting events. Information obtained by this effort is valuable to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) for its shell repletion program, and to private oyster growers, both of whom are interested in maximizing the timing of shell planting. To assist in that area, a biweekly report of spatfall …

A Summary Of Continuing Research With Non Native Oysters At The Virginia Institute Of Marine Science, Roger L. Mann

Reports

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Hypoxia And Anoxia On Survival, Energy Metabolism, And Feeding Of Oyster Larvae (Crassostrea Virginica, Gmelin), J Widdows, Rie Newell, Roger L. Mann

VIMS Articles

The tolerance of Crassostrea virginica larvae to anoxia increases with developmental stage and body size. Median mortality times range from 11 h for prodissoconch larvae of 82 micro m (shell length) to 51 h for pediveliger larvae of 3 12 micro m, and 150 h for juvenile oysters. Simultaneous calorimetry and respirometry showed that in response to declining oxygen tension (P02), the rates of heat dissipation and oxygen uptake by oyster larvae are maintained independent of PO2 down to low Pc values (2 kPa for prodissoconch larvae and 8 kPa for pediveliger and juveniles). Therefore, total energy metabolism is sustained …

Catch Trends And Fish Utilization In Virginia's Offshore Recreational Pelagic Fishery, 1987-1988, Jon A. Lucy, Nancy J. Chartier, William D. Dupaul

Reports

No abstract provided.

A Mark-Recapture Study Of Striped Bass In The James River, Virginia : Annual Report 1988, Joseph G. Loesch, Bruce W. Hill

Reports

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. In the Spring 1988, 2,145 striped bass were tagged in the James River.

2. The mean size of striped bass tagged in 1988 (351.6 mm) was 117.9 mm smaller than mean size in 1987. The difference may be due to different locations and times of tagging.

3. The dominant age group in 1987 was the 1982 year class but in 1988 the dominant age group was the 1984 year class. This difference may also be accounted for by different locations and times of tagging.

4. The exodus of the mature fish out of the river after spawning …

Marine Fishery Population Trends Current And Emerging Natural Resource Issues, Herbert Austin

Reports

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Marina Buffer Zones Using Simple Mixing And Transport Models : A Report To The Virginia State Dept. Of Health, Bureau Of Shellfish Sanitation As Part Of The Chesapeake Bay Initiatives Marine Pollution Abatement Initiative, John M. Hamrick, Bruce J. Neilson

Reports

This report describes the rationale, development and application of simple mixing and transport models for the determination of marina buffer zones and buffer zones for other point source discharges. Included in the report are two computer programs for implementation of the most general two dimensional transport model.

Zinc Distributions In Sediments, The Common Mussel, Mytilus Edulis (L.), The American Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin), And The Commensal Pea Crab, Pinnotheres Ostreum (Say), Cheol Mo, Bruce Neilson

Reports

Oysters and mussels of varying sizes and sediment samples were collected from oyster beds with different salinity regimes of three Virginian coastal plain rivers: Rappahannock River. James River. and Piankatank River. Zinc concentrations of 1) soft tissues. gut contents. and shells of the oysters. 2) soft tissues of the mussels. 3) pea crabs. and 4) sediment samples were measured with a flame atomic absorption (Flame AA) spectrophotometer. Particulate organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations ·of the sediments were measured with a carbon-nitrogen analyzer. The contribution of extraneous materials. such as gut contents. faeces. and pea crabs. to the variability in oyster …

Laboratory And Field Studies Of Oyster Larvae Settlement On Three Substrates, Oyster Shell, Tire Chips, And Expanded Shale, And The Relative Mobility Of The Three Substrates, Mary C. Gibbons, Roger L. Mann, L. D. Wright

Reports

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of The Major Oyster Diseases In Virginia Waters 1988 A Summary Of The Annual Monitoring Program., Eugene M. Burreson

Reports

No abstract provided.

Field Studies Of Comparative Settlement Of Oyster Larvae On Oyster Shell, Expanded Shale And Tire Chips, Roger L. Mann

Reports

No abstract provided.

Catch Projection For The 1988-89 Blue Crab Dredge Fishery, Rom Lipcius, Willard A. Van Engel

Reports

No abstract provided.

Commercial Practices And Fishery Regulations. The United States Northwest Atlantic Sea Scallop, Placopecten Magellanicus (Gmelin, 1791), Fishery, James E. Kirkley, William D. Dupaul

VIMS Articles

Fishery regulations are based on discipline specific concepts, empirical analyses, and public comment. Supporting empirical analyses, however, often neglect commercial fishing practices. If supporting analyses do not adequately consider commercial practices, resultant regulations may fail to achieve stated objectives and impose unnecessary costs on industry. This may have been the case for the United States Atlantic sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, fishery in which empirical analyses determined a target specification of 30 meats per pound, as a maximum average value, would provide significant long-term benefits in terms of yield per recruit and the overall productivity of the resource. Targeted meat count …

Anatomical Features In Histological Sections Of Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin, 1791) As An Aid In Management Of Gonad Area For Reproductive Assessment, Reinaldo Morales-Alamo, Roger L. Mann

VIMS Articles

The relationship between gonad area in transverse histological sections of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin 1790) and body location from which the section was cut was studied in specimens collected from four stations in the James River, Virginia in 1984 and 1986. Gonad area, expressed as percentage of total body area, increases in an antero-posterior direction; this requires use of sections from the same body location in comparisons between oysters. Approximate body locations, identified according to the anatomy and arrangement of the internal organs in the sections, were grouped into five types with similar gonad area percentages. One of …

The Location And Topography Of Oyster Reefs In The Rappahannock River Estuary, Virginia., James P. Whitcomb, Dexter S. Haven

VIMS Articles

Public oyster grounds in the Rappahannock River, Virginia were charted in 1976 and 1977 using an electronic positioning system to locate oysters, shell, sand, or mud. Hydraulically operated patent tongs were used to sample the bottoms to validate the charts. During this study 17277.6 ha of public bottoms were surveyed; of this total, 3845.3 ha was oyster reef, sand-shell or mud-shell bottoms; the remainder, 13432.3 ha (78%) was sand, mud or buried shell. The location, extent, topography and environment of the oyster producing areas are discussed. Setting of oysters, physiography and productivity were analyzed.

Biological Control Of Crab Predation On Hard Clams Mercenaria Mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758) By The Toadfish Opsanus Tau (Linnaeus) In Tray Cultures, Robert Bisker, Michael Castagna

VIMS Articles

Oyster toadfish Opsanus tau (Linne) were tested as biological controls of crab predation on juvenile hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria (Linne) in trays with crushed stone aggregate. Clam survival after 34 weeks was 69.5% in the presence of toadfish and 2.3% in trays without toadfish. Toadfish reduced the total number of crabs (mud crabs and blue crabs). Crabs in trays with toadfish present had smaller carapace widths.

Predation By The Oyster Toadfish Opsanus Tau (Linnaeus) On Blue Crabs And Mud Crabs, Predators Of The Hard Clam Mercenaria Mercenaria (Linnaeus, 1758), Robert Bisker, Mary Gibbons, Michael Castagna

VIMS Articles

The oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau (Linne), reduces predation by xanthid and portunid crabs on juvenile hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria (Linne), in field cultures. This study examined the influence of size and species on the predator-prey relationship between toadfish and crabs. The mud crabs Eurypanopeus depressus (Smith), Neopanope sayi (Smith), and Panopeus herbstii Milne Edwards of 5-40 mm carapace width and blue crabs Callinectes sapidus Rathbun of 77-105 mm carapace width were offered to toadfish of 70-322 mm total length. Toadfish predation rates on mud crabs were higher with increasing toadfish size and lower with increasing crab size. Toadfish injured or …

A Mark-Recapture Study Of Striped Bass In The Rappahannock River, Virginia Annual Report 1988-1989, Joseph G. Loesch, Bruce W. Hill

Reports

A total of 3,892 striped bass were tagged and released in the Fall 1988 and 1,316 fish in the Spring 1989 on the Rappahannock River.

In the Fall, 77.6% of the tagged striped bass were less than 400 mm FL. In contrast, 81.5% of the fish were 400 mm FL or greater in the Spring.

The available striped bass stock in the Fall is more vulnerable to fishing than is the available stock in the Spring. Recaptures per net day of tagged striped bass in pound nets in the Fall 1987 were seven times greater than in the Spring 1988, …

Status Of The Public Oyster Fishery Of Virginia - Fall 1989, Bruce Barber

Reports

This report summarizes data collected during 1989 in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The report focuses on the fall oyster survey in Virginia.

Striped Bass Research, Virginia - Annual Report 1987-88, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

The research reported herein is directly in response to priorities established in the "Action Plan" of the Emergency Striped Bass Study (the Chafee Amendment (PL 96-118) of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (PL 89 -304 )) . The Amendment was the result of a decline in striped bass landings along the Atlantic Coast that began in the mid-1970's. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) had previously conducted a juvenile striped bass seining program from 1967 through 1973 which was discontinued at that point due to a loss of funding. The program was reinstated in 1980 with funding from the …

Shell And Pallet Morphology In Early Developmental Stages Of Teredo Navalis Linne (Bivalvia : Teredinidae), S. Cynthia Fuller, Ya-Ping Hu, Richard Lutz, Michael Castagna

VIMS Articles

Dimensions of the shell and provinculum distinguish Teredo novalis larvae from the larvae o[ other bivalve mollusks. In the present scanning electron microscopic stud) of shell and pallet morphology during early ontogenetic stages of this species, the characteristic teredinid provinculum, with two interlocking pairs of small teeth and a wide central loath and socket was well-developed in shells 90 μm long. Provinculurn length ranged from 44 to 51 μm during the larval period. Average lengths of provincular teeth of the left valve were 9.6 μm for the anterior tooth and 8.2 μm for the posterior tooth; in the right valve, …

The Assessment Of Commercial Fishing Effort In Virginia Annual Report 1989, Joice S. Davis, James C. Owens, Joseph G. Loesch

Reports

This report summarizes an assessment of commercial fishing effort in the Chesapeake Bay and its Virginia tributaries during the period 1 October 1988 through 30 June 1989. Objectives of the study were: 1) to assess pound net fishing effort in Chesapeake Bay, in the James, York, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers, and the Virginia tributaries to the Potomac River; and 2) to assess stake, anchor and drift gill net fishing effort in the James, York and Rappahannock rivers.

The study period began on 1 October 1988 and ended on 30 June 1989. Data for fyke net, haul seine and mullet net …

Development And Implementation Of A Catch And Effort Data Collection System For Monitoring Trends In Fishing Success On Virginia's Artificial Fishing Reefs, 1987-1988 : For The Period January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1988, Jon A. Lucy, Charles G. Barr

Reports

The basic objective of the study was to identify a core population of recreational fishermen owning private boats and fishing one or more Virginia artificial reefs or other popular wreck fishing sites (Figure land Table l) with some degree of regularity (making a minimum of two or three reef trips per season). This population of fishing boat owners would be sampled randomly, by either telephone or fishing log books, to determine fishing effort and catch rates characterizing trips made to specific reef and other popular wreck fishing sites during the 1987 fishing season. Examination of the resulting data would determine …

Public Oyster Shoal Survey - Spring 1989, Bruce Barber

Reports

This report summarizes data collected during 1989 in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. The report focuses on the spring oyster survey in Virginia.

Study Of Alosa Stock Composition And Year-Class Strength In Virginia - Annual Report 1988, Loisirene Blumberg, Joseph G. Loesch

Reports

Objectives

1. Estimate fishing effort, landings, and catch-per-unit-of-effort of aduit river herring (alewife and blueback herring) and American shad in Virginia during the 1988 fisheries.

2. Determine the present status of the stocks relative to former yean; by comparison of landings and CPUE.

3. Estimate current biological statistics (age and size frequencies, species composition, etc.) of river herring and American shad.

Striped Bass Research, Virginia: Characterization Of Virginia's Striped Bass Commercial Fisheries Annual Report 1988-89, Bruce W. Hill, Joseph G. Loesch

Reports

The research reported herein (and in the 1982 through 1987 annual reports) is directly related to Priority III stated in the "Action Plan" (p. 15) of the Emergency Striped Bass Study (Anadromous Fish Conservation Act Amendment, Public Law 96-118). The amendment was the result of a decline in striped bass (Marone saxatilis) landings from Maine to North Carolina since the mid-1970's. This report summarizes the results of the fall 1988 and spring 1989 sampling period and compares these results with the previous work.

Striped Bass Research, Virginia - Annual Report 1988-89, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

The research reported herein (and in the 1982 through 1987 annual reports) is directly related to Priority III stated in the "Action Plan" (p. 15) of the Emergency Striped Bass Study (Anadromous Fish Conservation Act Amendment, Public Law 96-118). The amendment was the result of a decline in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) landings from Maine to North Carolina since the mid-1970's. This report summarizes the results of the Fall 1988 and Spring 1989 sampling periods and compares these results with the previous work.

Striped Bass Research, Virginia : Estimation Of Juvenile Striped Bass Relative Abundance, Annual Report 1988, James A. Colvocoresses

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has conducted a juvenile striped bass seine survey during the years from 1967 through 1973 and from 1980 through the present, with the primary objective of monitoring the relative annual recruitment success of juvenile striped bass in the spawning and nursery areas of Lower Chesapeake Bay. The survey was funded during it's initial period by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then reinstated in 1980 with funding from the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Emergency Striped Bass Study program. Commencing with the 1988 annual survey reported herein, support of the program …

Develop A Fishery Stock Identification Laboratory And Identify Coastal And Estuarine Stocks That Are Dependent On The Chesapeake Bay And Its Tributaries, Brian W. Meehan

Reports

Final report for a cooperative agreement between the Northeast Fisheries Center and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to determine short- and long-term factors affecting mortality and recruitment of key commercial and recreational species, including fishing mortality and both natural and man-induced environmental impacts on mortality and recruitment, project 3.0."

Includes M.S. thesis by Carol Furman- Mitochondrial DNA variation in striped bass, Morone saxatilis, from the Rappahannock River, Virginia.