Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) fish species and information / pictures of Alewife - Alosa pseudoharengus

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Alosa pseudoharengus

Common Name
Alewife

Biology
Movement of schooling adults apparently restricted to coastal areas proximal to natal estuaries (Ref. 4639). They migrate up rivers and even small streams to spawn in lakes and quiet stretches of rivers, then return to sea shortly after spawning (Ref. 4639); landlocked populations also ascend affluent rivers and streams. Larvae remain in vicinity of spawning grounds, forming schools at sizes less than 10 mm TL, within one to two weeks after hatching (Ref. 4639), then descend in summer and autumn or even as late as November or December. Feed on shrimps and small fishes; the young on diatoms, copepods and ostracods while in rivers. Utilized fresh, dried or salted, smoked and frozen; eaten fried (Ref. 9988). Also used for crab and lobster bait and sometimes for pet food (Ref. 9988). Parasites found are Acanthocephala, cestodes, trematodes and copepods. Overfi

Classification

Classified By
Wilson, 1811
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Herrings (Clupeiformes)
Family
Herrings, shads and sardines (Clupeidae)

Distribution

Region
North America
Distribution
North America: Atlantic coast from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Nova Scotia to North Carolina and in streams and rivers; also occurs in Lake Seneca and Cayuga; introduced into Lake Ontario, now landlocked there and in Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior.
Range
55°N - 34°N, 93°W - 53°W

Environment

Climate
Temperate
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
5 m
Depth To - meters
145 m
Zone
pelagic-neritic
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 5 - 145 m (Ref. 4639), usually 56 - 110 m (Ref. 5951)
Trophic Level
3.51 s.e. 0.48 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
40.0 cm
Common Length
30.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; bait: occasionally
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.2; tm=3.6; Fec=2,180)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated