Fish Eggs and Larvae of the Upper Chesapeake Bay 1971
- Published:
- October 1, 1971
- Originator:
- Natural Resources Institute/University of Maryland
An evaluation of the ecological significance of the patterns of Chesapeake ichthyoplankton can only be made by correlating biological data with the estuarine environment. Since an estuary is characterized by salt concentration gradient to which fish are known to respond, the salinity gradient appears tobe the logical link between the biological data and the environment. The variation in the salinity gradient from year to year, as a result of varying freshwater input, precludes the assignment of a fixed salinity value for a given geographical location. The validity of the major conclusions drawn in this report is subject to the acceptance of the salinity gradient as an adequate yardstick for the estuary.