Assessment of the reproductive status of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, in the Savannah River Estuary

 

Principal Investigator: Cecil A. Jennings

Funding: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Savannah District (1999) & Georgia Ports Authority (2000)

Research Coordinator: Ted Will


Objectives: To establish a maturity schedule and fecundity estimate for adult striped bass in the Savannah River Estuary (SRE); develop a method for non-lethal maturational and fecundity estimation.

The striped bass population in the SRE crashed in the 1980's (see Abundance and distribution of striped bass eggs and larvae in the Savannah River Estuary--Implications for channel dredging window).  Striped bass egg abundances in the SRE are still low despite increasing numbers of striped bass in the system.  Questions regarding the maturational status and fecundity of adult striped bass have arisen given the increase in fish numbers and the continued low egg numbers.  This project is developing a non-lethal method for evaluating these parameters.  Ultrasonic imaging will be used to measure ovary size metrics and samples of ovarian tissue will be taken by catheter.  A statistical model will be developed to relate ultrasonic images and sub-samples of ovarian tissue to true maturational status and fecundity.  Some fish will be sacrificed to validate the model. 

Project Status:  Project completed 2000