J. J. Ney

Diel occurrence and feeding of alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in shoreline areas of Claytor Lake, Virginia was investigated concurrent with food habits of resident juvenile bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) , pumpkinseed (L. gibbosus), and yeHow perch (Perca flavescens); and the composition and abundance of the littoral zooplankton community. Schools of alewives entered coves at sunset and fed intensively through the night, departing soon after sunrise. Alewives and juvenile fish consumed the same 16 items, but to different degrees. Alewives fed primarily on zooplankton in the water column,...

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) were evaluated as a pelagic forage fish for southeastern reservoirs based on results of trophic and population ecology studies conducted in Claytor Lake, Virginia. Positive attributes of the alewife forage based included: a) establishment of a prolific and self-sustaining population, b) high desirability and availability to pelagic predators, and c) a positive impact on growth of pelagic sportfish. Negative attributes included: a) predation on larval fish, b) low desirability and/or availability to littoral sportfishes, c) rapid growth beyond a size...