Principal Investigators: T.J. Miller and E.D. Houde

CHESFIMS 2004-02 Cruise Report

Cruise Dates: July 6 – July 13 2004

Research Vessel: R/V Aquarius

Principal Investigators: T.J. Miller and E.D. Houde

Chief Scientist: D. Loewensteiner

Participating Scientists:

Name / Affiliation / Joined Ship / Left Ship
Nikki Abel / Gannon University / 7/10/04 / 7/13/04
Curtis Anderson / Southampton University / 7/6/04 / 7/13/04
Cory Catts / University of Florida / 7/6/04 / 7/10/04
Jennifer Hurt / UW-Stevens Point / 7/6/04 / 7/13/04
David Loewensteiner / CBL / 7/6/04 / 7/13/04
April Mason / CBL / 7/6/04 / 7/10/04
Janet Nye / CBL / 7/6/04 / 7/13/04

Objectives: Measure the spatial distributions, abundances and biological interactions of juvenile/yearling fishes in the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to fish distribution and abundance measurements, fish samples were preserved and brought back to the laboratory for dietary analysis.

Stations Occupied: 31 fixed stations along 11 transects and 20 random stations were occupied. Completed stations are shown in Figure 1.

Data / Specimens Collected: Completed CTD casts and mid-water trawls at 51 stations. Collected 15,475 fish (> 102 kg) from 41 different taxonomic categories. (Table 2 provides a summary of fish caught). Preserved (frozen or EtOH) fish samples from each station.

Problems Encountered: Our primary midwater trawl was torn on the final night of the cruise at station 25. Damage to the net was extensive and will need a considerable amount of time to repair. The backup net was used for the remaining five stations of the cruise. A trawl for station 25 could not be repeated with the backup net because of impending thunderstorms. There were no delays encountered during the cruise.

Cruise Summary:

The cruise departed the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Maryland, at 18:30 on 6 July 2004. Slight modifications to the planned schedule were made underway resulting in several stations being occupied the night prior to when they were planned because the cruise was ahead of schedule on several occasions. The actual order and timing of stations visited is provided in Table 1.

Fish were collected at all of the stations occupied. In total, 15,475 fish were caught with a total weight of approximately 102 kg. The average catch per station was 309.5  352.3 fish (mean  SD, range 0 – 1340). This value is lower than all but one of the previous summer cruises, CF0302 being the exception (CF0102 average catch tow-1 was 1570 ± 1876.6 fish, mean ± SD, range 6-7451, CF0202 average = 639.9 ± 698.9 fish, range 3 – 2926, CF0302 average = 141.9 ± 207.5, range 0-1080). This trend is opposed to this spring cruise results (CF0401) when the largest catches were recorded for CHESFIMS spring sampling.

Bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) was the most abundant species encountered in all strata of the bay, but was not as abundant in the upper strata as the lower and middle strata. Also common in catches in the lower and middle strata were weakfish (Cynoscion nebulosus) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Alosids were the second most abundant fish found in the upper bay. Also common in the upper bay were white perch and young of the year striped bass.

The diversity of the catch was greater than in previous summer cruises (39 species, previous range from 30 to 34). A summary of the catch for each species in each stratum can be found in Table 2. Descriptive statistics of the catches for the ten most abundant species can be found in Table 3. The raw data will be made available on the project’s data warehouse at hjort.cbl.umces.edu/chesfims.html.

A CTD was deployed in “live” mode, where it was directly connected to a computer making it possible to view the data collected in real time. CTD data were collected at all of the stations at which we deployed the mid-water trawl. Physical oceanographic conditions varied over the sampling grid as expected. Temperature was normally stratified from surface to bottom (typically ranging from XX-XX oC at each station from bottom to surface) across the bay. Temperatures ranged from 8.7o C at station 1 to 17.3 o C at station 29. Stratification with respect to salinity was apparent at most of the stations visited. The most northerly station (Sta 29) was lowest and showed no salinity structure vertically; salinities were ~ 0.10. At the most southerly, and highest salinity station (Sta 1) vertical salinity structure was apparent with surface salinities of 21 and salinity 30 at the bottom. Dissolved oxygen levels were quite variable. Most lower bay stations were normoxic. A large area of hypoxic and anoxic water was found between the mouth of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The pycnocline was usually detected at depths of 7-9 meters. Above the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, waters were generally normoxic with occasional hypoxia.
Table 1. CHESFIMS 2004-01 Station Log: Time in Eastern Daylight Time, coordinates in degrees and minutes.

Date / Transect / Station / Time /

LAT/LONG

/ Activities
7/6/04 / 1400 / Load R/V Aquarius
1830 / Steam to Station 212
RN / 212 / 2015 / 37 52.642/76 06.802 / CTD, MWT
05 / 06 / 2247 / 37 20.058/76 05.911 / CTD, MWT
7/7/04 / 03 / 04 / 0021 / 37 10.148/76 05.056 / CTD, MWT
01 / 03 / 0141 / 37 02.979/76 02.151 / CTD, MWT
01 / 02 / 0229 / 37 02.046/76 02.692 / CTD, MWT
01 / 01 / 0346 / 36 58.354/76 04.954 / CTD, MWT
RN / 200 / 0437 / 37 00.760/76 08.686 / CTD, MWT
0600 / Arrive Little Creek
1830 / Steam to Station 199
RN / 199 / 2018 / 37 02.788/76 11.156 / CTD, MWT
RN / 202 / 2112 / 37 04.879/76 09.304 / CTD, MWT
03 / 05 / 2224 / 37 09.991/76 12.001 / CTD, MWT
RN / 205 / 2331 / 37 15.449/76 05.906 / CTD, MWT
7/8/04 / RN / 207 / 0038 / 37 19.110/76 09.582 / CTD, MWT
05 / 07 / 0141 / 37 20.099/76 12.003 / CTD, MWT
RN / 206 / 0254 / 37 25.009/76 05.025 / CTD, MWT
RN / 198 / 0402 / 37 25.017/76 08.691 / CTD, MWT
RN / 203 / 0457 / 37 27.816/76 12.816 / CTD, MWT
0630 / Arrive Deltaville
1900 / Steam to Station 10
07 / 10 / 2006 / 37 30.009/76 12.983 / CTD, MWT
07 / 09 / 2108 / 37 30.007/76 07.002 / CTD, MWT
07 / 08 / 2203 / 37 29.916/76 01.133 / CTD, MWT
RN / 204 / 2302 / 37 33.699/76 01.453 / CTD, MWT
7/9/04 / 09 / 11 / 0019 / 37 39.820/75 59.008 / CTD, MWT
09 / 12 / 0132 / 37 40.017/76 05.352 / CTD, MWT
09 / 13 / 0232 / 37 39.984/76 09.082 / CTD, MWT
09 / 14 / 0337 / 37 39.969/76 12.466 / CTD, MWT
RN / 201 / 0457 / 37 43.259/76 01.357 / CTD, MWT
0630 / Arrive Crisfield
1915 / Steam to Station 30
31 / 30 / 2005 / 37 50.050/75 55.481 / CTD, MWT
RN / 208 / 2059 / 37 54.929/75 57.166 / CTD, MWT
31 / 31 / 2156 / 37 59.597/ 75 55.208 / CTD, MWT
13 / 15 / 2324 / 38 00.060/76 06.977 / CTD, MWT
7/10/04 / 13 / 16 / 0017 / 37 59.994/76 10.848 / CTD, MWT
13 / 17 / 0112 / 38 00.048/76 14.864 / CTD, MWT
13 / 18 / 0206 / 38 00.044/76 18.846 / CTD, MWT
0400 / Arrive Solomons
1900 / Steam to Station 213
RN / 213 / 2016 / 38 07.931/76 10.428 / CTD, MWT
RN / 211 / 2102 / 38 08.996/76 12.916 / CTD, MWT
RN / 210 / 2152 / 38 10.971/76 15.073 / CTD, MWT
RN / 214 / 2246 / 38 15.131/76 17.314 / CTD, MWT
RN / 209 / 2330 / 38 16.086/76 15.098 / CTD, MWT
7/11/04 / 17 / 19 / 0024 / 38 19.957/76 18.505 / CTD, MWT
17 / 20 / 0110 / 38 20.035/76 19.926 / CTD, MWT
17 / 21 / 0151 / 38 19.985/76 21.868 / CTD, MWT
0245 / Arrive Solomons
1830 / Steam to Station 26
25 / 26 / 2115 / 39 06.983/76 18.981 / CTD, MWT
30 / 27 / 2226 / 39 13.044/76 15.428 / CTD, MWT
30 / 28 / 2332 / 39 18.959/76 13.033 / CTD, MWT
7/12/04 / 30 / 29 / 0059 / 39 24.905/76 01.858 / CTD, MWT
RN / 215 / 0246 / 39 13.924/76 19.464 / CTD, MWT
25 / 24 / 0438 / 39 01.485/76 22.430 / CTD, MWT
0630 / Arrive Sandy Point State Park
2000 / Steam to Station 25
25 / 25 / 2015 / 39 01.381/76 23.116 / CTD, MWT
RN / 216 / 2125 / 38 57.763/76 23.593 / CTD, MWT
RN / 217 / 2332 / 38 42.270/76 24.562 / CTD, MWT
7/13/04 / 21 / 22 / 0020 / 38 40.528/76 24.661 / CTD, MWT
21 / 23 / 0113 / 38 40.049/76 27.914 / CTD, MWT
0241 / Steam to Solomons
0400 / Arrive Solomons – End of Cruise

Table 2. Station mean abundance and weight for each species in each strata and overall for CHESFIMS 2004-02.

Strata
Scientific Name / Common Name / Data / Lower / Mid / Upper / Grand Total
Anchoa mitchilli / bay anchovy / Sta Ave N / 340.67 / 202.19 / 173.50 / 265.07
Sta Ave Wt / 498.09 / 291.45 / 224.33 / 381.14
Alosa sp. / alosid / Sta Ave N / 172.13 / 172.13
Sta Ave Wt / 224.10 / 224.10
Morone saxatilis / striped bass / Sta Ave N / 86.18 / 86.18
Sta Ave Wt / 1380.00 / 1380.00
Morone americana / white perch / Sta Ave N / 51.22 / 51.22
Sta Ave Wt / 2955.11 / 2955.11
Genus Anchoa / larval anchovy / Sta Ave N / 27.63 / 27.63
Sta Ave Wt / 11.64 / 11.64
Menidia menidia / atlantic silverside / Sta Ave N / 10.00 / 10.00
Sta Ave Wt / 13.00 / 13.00
Cynoscion regalis / weakfish / Sta Ave N / 9.48 / 2.50 / 8.36
Sta Ave Wt / 653.78 / 294.75 / 596.33
Anchoa hepsetus / striped anchovy / Sta Ave N / 8.25 / 8.25
Sta Ave Wt / 38.88 / 38.88
Brevoortia tyrannus / atlantic menhaden / Sta Ave N / 1.33 / 1.00 / 14.13 / 8.13
Sta Ave Wt / 204.17 / 180.00 / 393.00 / 303.27
Micropogonias undulatus / croaker / Sta Ave N / 7.44 / 7.44
Sta Ave Wt / 1701.11 / 1701.11
Opisthonema oglinum / atlantic threadfin herring / Sta Ave N / 6.63 / 1.50 / 5.60
Sta Ave Wt / 314.50 / 102.50 / 272.10
Ictalurus nebulosus / brown bullhead / Sta Ave N / 5.50 / 5.50
Sta Ave Wt / 479.00 / 479.00
Leiostomus xanthurus / spot / Sta Ave N / 5.31 / 2.00 / 1.00 / 4.60
Sta Ave Wt / 235.00 / 98.00 / 213.37
Peprilus triacanthus / butterfish / Sta Ave N / 3.63 / 2.50 / 3.50
Sta Ave Wt / 37.91 / 135.00 / 48.69
Loligo sp. / squid / Sta Ave N / 3.00 / 3.00
Sta Ave Wt
Trinectes maculatus / hogchoker / Sta Ave N / 2.50 / 2.50 / 2.00 / 2.40
Sta Ave Wt / 77.50 / 73.00 / 11.00 / 62.40
Callinectes sapidus / blue crab / Sta Ave N / 2.83 / 1.80 / 2.00 / 2.31
Sta Ave Wt
Prionotus sp. / searobin / Sta Ave N / 2.50 / 1.00 / 2.20
Sta Ave Wt / 23.63 / 19.50 / 22.80
Gobiosoma bosc / naked goby / Sta Ave N / 2.00 / 2.00
Sta Ave Wt / 9.00 / 9.00
Ovalipes ocellatus / lady crab / Sta Ave N / 2.00 / 2.00
Sta Ave Wt
Paralichthys dentatus / summer flounder / Sta Ave N / 2.00 / 1.00 / 1.80
Sta Ave Wt / 260.00 / 21.00 / 212.20
Stenotomus chrysops / scup / Sta Ave N / 1.50 / 1.50
Sta Ave Wt / 18.58 / 18.58
Anguilla rostrata / American Eel / Sta Ave N / 1.33 / 1.33
Sta Ave Wt / 90.00 / 90.00
Pomatomus saltatrix / bluefish / Sta Ave N / 1.20 / 1.00 / 1.33 / 1.22
Sta Ave Wt / 51.80 / 1.20 / 30.67 / 39.13
Menticirrhus saxatilis / Northern kingfish / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 271.00 / 271.00
Raja eglanteria / clearnose skate / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 900.00 / 900.00
Bothidae / lefteye flounder / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 1.00 / 1.00
Citharichthys spilopterus / bay wiff / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 185.00 / 185.00
Bairdiella chrysoura / silver perch / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 82.00 / 82.00
Rhinoptera bonasus / cownose ray / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt
Notemigonus crysoleucas / golden shiner / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 1.00 / 1.00
Centropristis striata / black seabass / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 39.50 / 39.50
Urophycis regia / spotted hake / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 77.00 / 77.00
Scophthalmus aquosus / windowpane / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 8.50 / 8.50
Peprilus alepidotus / harvestfish / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 141.50 / 141.50
Ophidion marginatum / cuskeel / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 4.00 / 4.00
Rithropanopeus harrisii / white fingered mud crab / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt
Sphroeides spp. / pufferfish / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 1.00 / 1.00
Dorosoma cepedianum / gizzard shad / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 9.20 / 9.20
Syngnathus fuscus / northern pipefish / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 1.50 / 1.50
Ameiurus catus / white catfish / Sta Ave N / 1.00 / 1.00
Sta Ave Wt / 330.00 / 330.00
Total Sta Ave N / 53.35 / 86.24 / 64.63 / 60.69
Total Sta Ave Wt / 354.07 / 211.48 / 824.26 / 438.44
/ Strata

Table 3. Biological characteristics of the ten most abundant species for CHESFIMS 2004-02.

Species Index / Scientific Name / Common Name / Data / Total
161700 / Alosa sp. / alosid / Total Count / 1032.7
Total Weight / 1344.6
Min Length (mm) / 27
Max Length (mm) / 98
Ave Length (mm) / 56.10
SD Length (mm) / 10.6
161732 / Brevoortia tyrannus / atlantic menhaden / Total Count / 122
Total Weight / 4549
Min Length (mm) / 57
Max Length (mm) / 378
Ave Length (mm) / 119.7
SD Length (mm) / 59.4
161839 / Anchoa mitchilli / bay anchovy / Total Count / 12458.4
Total Weight / 17913.8
Min Length (mm) / 20
Max Length (mm) / 98
Ave Length (mm) / 61.2
SD Length (mm) / 10.5
167678 / Morone americana / white perch / Total Count / 461
Total Weight / 26596
Min Length (mm) / 40
Max Length (mm) / 278
Ave Length (mm) / 143.2
SD Length (mm) / 49.3
167680 / Morone saxatilis / striped bass / Total Count / 517
Total Weight / 8280
Min Length (mm) / 30
Max Length (mm) / 844
Ave Length (mm) / 79.3
SD Length (mm) / 75.3
169241 / Cynoscion regalis / weakfish / Total Count / 209
Total Weight / 14908.3
Min Length (mm) / 11
Max Length (mm) / 298
Ave Length (mm) / 169.1
SD Length (mm) / 87.1
169267 / Leiostomus xanthurus / spot / Total Count / 92
Total Weight / 4054
Min Length (mm) / 38
Max Length (mm) / 228
Ave Length (mm) / 139
SD Length (mm) / 25.3
169283 / Micropogonias undulatus / croaker / Total Count / 67
Total Weight / 15310
Min Length (mm) / 64
Max Length (mm) / 356
Ave Length (mm) / 258.4
SD Length (mm) / 45.3
172567 / Peprilus triacanthus / butterfish / Total Count / 63
Total Weight / 876.5
Min Length (mm) / 17
Max Length (mm) / 213
Ave Length (mm) / 55.2
SD Length (mm) / 48.4
161837 / Genus Anchoa / larval anchovy / Total Count / 221
Total Weight / 81.5
Min Length (mm) / 17
Max Length (mm) / 49
Ave Length (mm) / 31.8
SD Length (mm) / 5.2

Figure 1. Map of fixed (orange circles) and random (triangles) stations occupied for CF0402.