ERSS - Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis)

Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis)

Ecological Risk Screening Summary

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, web version – 03/30/2018

Photo: Ellen Edmonson and Hugh Crisp. Public Domain. Available:

http://www.eol.org/data_objects/26919566.

1 Native Range and Status in the United States

Native Range

From NatureServe (2013):

“Range encompasses the North American Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to the St. Johns River,

Florida.”

Status in the United States

From NatureServe (2013):

“Range encompasses the North American Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to the St. Johns River,

Florida. The species has been introduced in reservoirs in several states, and in the Tennessee

River system in Tennessee (Bozeman and Van Den Avyle 1989, Page and Burr 2011).”

From Fuller et al. (2016):

“Blueback Herring was first collected in Lake Ontario in 1995. It has been collected from the

Tennessee River in Georgia and Tennessee (Rassmussen 1998). Currently established in Tellico

and Norris Reservoirs in Tennessee (J. Negus, personal communication). Established in Oneida

Lake, the Oswego River in Minetto, Lake Champlain, and the upper Mohawk River upstream of

Cohoes Falls, New York (Greeley 1935; Limburg et al. 2001; D. MacNeill and R. Owens,

personal communication). In North Carolina, Blueback Herring were introduced into the

Savannah, Broad, and Yadkin drainages, and into nonnative areas of the Cape Fear and Roanoke

drainages (Menhinick 1991; Jenkins and Burkhead 1994). It has been introduced to an

unspecified location in the Chesapeake Bay basin in Pennsylvania (Christmas et al. 2000).

Blueback Herring were accidently introduced into Lakes Jocassee and Keowee, South Carolina,

between 1972-1974 (Prince and Barwick 1981); they have now been collected from most

reservoirs in the Savannah River system and in Lake Murray (Rohde et al. 2009). Stock obtained

from the Cooper River, South Carolina was released in Texas by the Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department in Lake Theo, Briscoe County, in 1982 (Guest 1983; Howells 1992). This population

persisted until August 1988 (Schramm et al. 1991). Blueback Herring have been collected from

Lake Champlain, Vermont (S. Good, personal communication). Blueback Herring have been

stocked in several inland reservoirs in Virginia, including Smith Mountain Lake, Occoquan

Reservoir, Kerr Reservoir, and lakes Anna, Brittle, and Chesdin (Jenkins and Burkhead 1994).”

“Established in New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia.

Extirpated in Texas.”

“One of the most common fish species in the Hudson River estuary (Hurst et al. 2004). Detection

of a small population of Blueback Herring in Lake Ontario would be difficult because of the size

of the Lake relative to the area routinely sampled and the herring's superficial similarity with

Alewife, a fish sampled in large enough numbers that only a fraction of the adults are examined

closely enough to distinguish between the two species (Owens et al. 1998). Owens et al. (1998)

also asserted that colonizing a lake with resident population of Alewife, a fish that would be in

direct competition with Blueback Herring for space and resources, and a surfeit of piscivores,

both stocked and unstocked, may prove too difficult for A. aestivalis.”

From CABI (2016):

“In 1962, a specimen of A. aestivalis was collected in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, off the

Florida coast. USGS NAS (2015) suggests this to be part of the species’ invaded range.”

Means of Introductions in the United States

From Fuller et al. (2016):

“In most areas other than New York, these fish were intentionally stocked for forage. In New

York these fish are expanding their range using ship locks and canals. Blueback Herring was first

recorded in the Mohawk River upstream of Cohoes Falls in 1934 (Greeley 1935). They were

reported from Lake Champlain on the New York side in the late 1970s, and from the Vermont

side in 1997. Juveniles were apparently present in Oneida Lake by 1981 or 1982. Adults were

first documented in 1994 by Cornell researchers based at Shackleton Point. Several thousand

immature fish were also documented in 1994 at a power plant in Minetto on the Oswego River.

Two immature fish were caught in Lake Ontario near Oswego in October 1995 by U.S.

Geological Survey personnel conducting fish surveys (R. Owens, personal communication).

Blueback Herring in Jocassee and Keowee Reservoirs, South Carolina, were accidentally

included in Threadfin Shad (Dorosoma petenense) stockings in 1972 and 1974 (Prince and

Barwick 1981); the population in Lake Murray, SC, is likely the result of a bait bucket

introduction.”

From CABI (2016):

“The spread of A. aestivalis outside of its native range does not comprise a large geographical

area. Due to the fact that its introduction into new areas has mostly been a result of intentional

stocking, the risk factor for further introduction is human-induced spread, via bait bucket

contamination and stocking. Further spread from a point of introduction could then occur via the

species’ migration.”

Remarks

From NatureServe (2013):

“Listed as Vulnerable in view of drastic declines in abundance that have occurred in many areas

in recent decades. The degree of decline over the entire range over the past three generations

(about 15 years) is uncertain but probably exceeds 30 percent. Range extent and area of

occupancy have not declined very much if at all.”

2 Biology and Ecology

Taxonomic Hierarchy and Taxonomic Standing

From Eschmeyer et al. (2017):

“aestivalis, Clupea Mitchill [S. L.] 1814:21 […] [Report, in part, of Samuel L. Mitchill] New

York, U.S.A. No types known. Also in Mitchill 1815:456 […], Pl. 5 (fig. 6). •Valid as Alosa

aestivalis (Mitchill 1814) -- (Lee et al. 1980:61 […], Smith 1986:65 […], Whitehead 1985:192

[…], Robins & Ray 1986:67 […], Scott & Scott 1988:102 […], McAllister 1990:51 […], Page &

Burr 1991:33 […], Desfosse et al. in Jenkins & Burkhead 1994:217 […], Murdy et al. 1997:78

[…], Scott & Crossman 1998:119 […], Fuller et al. 1999:42 […], Munroe in Collette & Klein-

MacPhee 2002:112 […], Scharpf 2003:13 […], Munroe & Nizinski 2003:810 […], Nelson et al.

2004:66 […], Scharpf 2005:9 […], Page & Burr 2011:147 […], Schmidt & Morse 2011:229

[…], Page et al. 2013:67 […]). Current status: Valid as Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill 1814).

Clupeidae.”

From ITIS (2016):

“Kingdom Animalia

Subkingdom Bilateria

Infrakingdom Deuterostomia

Phylum Chordata

Subphylum Vertebrata

Infraphylum Gnathostomata

Superclass Osteichthyes

Class Actinopterygii

Subclass Neopterygii

Infraclass Teleostei

Superorder Clupeomorpha

Order Clupeiformes

Suborder Clupeidae

Family Clupeidae

Subfamily Alosinae

Genus Alosa

Species Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill, 1814)”

Size, Weight, and Age Range

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Max length: 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; [Robins and Ray 1986]; common length: 27.5 cm SL

male/unsexed; [Whitehead 1985]; max. published weight: 200.00 g [Robins and Ray 1986]; max.

reported age: 8 years [Hugg 1996]”

Environment

From NatureServe (2013):

“Adults occur in saltwater except during the breeding season; they occur up to at least 200 km

offshore. Juveniles move to sea when about 1 month old.”

From Fuller et al. (2016):

“Anadromous; living in marine systems and spawning in deep, swift freshwater with a hard

substrate.”

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Marine; freshwater; brackish; pelagic-neritic; anadromous [Riede 2004]; depth range 5 - 55 m

[Scott and Scott 1988].”

Climate/Range

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Subtropical; 41°N - 25°N, 84°W - 60°W [Whitehead 1985]”

Distribution Outside the United States

Native

From NatureServe (2013):

“Range encompasses the North American Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to the St. Johns River,

Florida.”

Introduced

No records of introductions of Alosa aestivalis outside the United States were found.

Means of Introduction Outside the United States

No records of introductions of Alosa aestivalis outside the United States were found.

Short Description

From Fuller et al. (2016):

“This fish is silvery in color, has a series of scutes (modified scales that are spiny and keeled)

along its belly, and is characterized by deep bluish green backs. The most distinguishing

characteristic of this species is the black to dusky in color of its peritoneum (the lining of the

abdominal cavity). Blueback Herring and Alewife are difficult to distinguish from one another

and are often regarded collectively as river herring. Alewife has larger eyes, greater body depth,

and pearly to white peritoneal linings. Jenkins and Burkhead (1994); Owens et al. (1998); Page

and Burr (1991); Smith (1985); Whitehead (1985).”

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-20; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 21;

Vertebrae: 47 - 53. Moderately compressed, belly with distinct keel of scutes. Upper jaw with a

distinct notch; lower jaw rising steeply within mouth; minute teeth present at front of jaws

(disappearing with age). Lower gill rakers 41 to 52 (fewer in fishes under 10 cm standard

length), slender. Back dark blue, sometimes bluish-grey; a dark spot on shoulder [Whitehead

1985]. Peritoneum black [Robins and Ray 1986]. Branchiostegal rays 7 [Jones et al. 1978].”

Biology

From NatureServe (2013):

“Spawning occurs in fresh or brackish water, in tidally influenced portions of coastal rivers

(Bozeman and Van Den Avyle 1989). According to Lee et al. 1980, spawning occurs in deep

swift water over hard substrates. According to Bozeman and Van Den Avyle 1989, spawning

occurs in shallow areas covered with vegetation, old rice fields, and river swamps and small

tributaries above tidal influence. Eggs sink and adhere to objects on the bottom (Scott and

Crossman 1973); after a few hours the eggs unstick and drift downstream (Dadswell 1980).

Larvae occur in or slightly downstream from spawning areas; juveniles may exhibit net upstream

movement until emigration from freshwater in summer or fall (or, in some areas, the next spring)

(Fay et al. 1983). Nursery areas in the Neuse River, North Carolina, were characterized by deep,

black water draining hardwood swamps, with little salinity or current and with a mud or detritus

bottom (Bozeman and Van Den Avyle 1989).”

“Habitat includes riverine, estuarine, and Atlantic coastal waters; also in certain lakes and

reservoirs in the southeastern United States.”

From Fuller et al. (2016):

“Migrate to spawning grounds in the spring. In Connecticut, Blueback Herring spawn in 14–

27°C temperatures. Usually spawns later in the spring than Alewife, when water temperatures

are slightly warmer. During spawning, many eggs are deposited over the stream bottom where

they stick to gravel, stones, logs, or other objects. Juveniles spend 3–7 months in freshwater, then

migrate to the ocean (Yako et al. 2002). Blueback Herring are a planktivorous forage species

(Winkelman and Van Der Avyle 2002).”

“The landlocked Lake Theo, Texas population attained a smaller maximum size and had a

shorter life span than anadromous native populations (Schramm et al. 1991).”

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Form schools and possibly wintering near the bottom and out from the coast, approaching the

shore in the late spring. Feed on small fishes, copepods and small shrimps. Spawn in brackish- or

freshwaters of rivers, arriving in coastal waters a month or so later than A. pseudoharengus (in

April at Chesapeake Bay, apparently when the water is above 70° C and later further north).

Eggs are essentially pelagic, demersal in still water [Jones et al. 1978]. Larvae are found in fresh

and brackish rivers [Jones et al. 1978]. Juveniles leave fresh and brackish nursery grounds at

about 5 cm, migrating downstream [Jones et al. 1978].”

From CABI (2016):

“A. aestivalis can filter feed and also feed on particulate matter. Its gill rakers are very close

together, making it a more effective filter feeder than A. pseudoharengus, thereby giving a

competitive advantage in areas of overlapping range (Owens et al., 1998). A. aestivalis is

primarily a planktivorous fish, but fish, crustacean and insect eggs, insects and young fish also

comprise an important part of its diet (Fay et al., 1983; Bozeman Jr and Van Den Avyle, 1989;

Davis and Foltz, 1991; Simonin et al. 2007).”

“A. aestivalis larvae feed on zooplankton when they develop a large enough mouth, and eating

larger prey as their mouth continues to grow (Bozeman Jr and Van Den Avyle, 1989; Fay et al.,

1983). Crecco and Blake (1983) reported that A. aestivalis larvae feed mostly on rotifers of the

genus Keratella. The stomach contents of young contained mostly remains of water fleas

Bosmina sp. (Fay et al., 1983).”

“The diet of adults in the Lake Theo reservoir in Texas was composed primarily (89.4%) of

cladocerans (Guest and Drenner, 1991). Domermuth and Reed (1980) reported that A. aestivalis

feeds mostly on cladocerans, particularly the Daphnidae and Bosminidae families. Stomach

contents indicated that they primarily consume planktonic and drift organisms and do not feed on

benthic invertebrates or terrestrial insects. Juvenile fish sampled in the Hudson River estuary fed

primarily on chironomid larvae, copepods and the gastropod Amnicola sp. (Grabe, 1996).”

Human Uses

From NatureServe (2013):

“Historically valuable in commercial fisheries.”

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Marketed mostly fresh and salted [Whitehead 1985].”

From CABI (2016):

“A. aestivalis’ spawning run supports recreational and commercial fisheries across the eastern

coast of North America (Crecco and Blake, 1983). River herring (A. aestivalis and A.

pseudoharengus) is used for fish meal and fish oil to be added to fertilizer, pet food and domestic

animal feed, with a smaller portion used for fishing bait and the remainder for human

consumption (Fay et al., 1983).”

Diseases

No records of OIE reportable diseases were found.

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Parasites found are acanthocephalan and nematodes [Bigelow et al. 1963].”

From Bailly (2008):

“Host of Clavellisa cordata Wilson C.B., 1915 (parasitic: ectoparastitic)

Ergasilus clupeidarum Johnson S.K. & Rogers, 1972 (parasitic: ectoparastitic)

Lernaeenicus radiatus Le Sueur, 1824 (parasitic: ectoparastitic)”

Threat to Humans

From Froese and Pauly (2016):

“Harmless”

3 Impacts of Introductions

The following information details actual impacts of introductions of Alosa aestivalis.

From Fuller et al. (2016):

“The introduction of Blueback Herring into Theo Reservoir in Briscoe County, Texas resulted in

the elimination of large-bodied zooplankton such as Leptora, Epischura, Mesocyclops, and

Daphnia, while small-bodied zooplankton such as Cerio-daphnia, Tropocyclops and Bosmina

increased. There appeared to be little change in lengths of the zooplankton in the reservoir after

herring introduction, but the community shifted from cladoceran to copepod dominance (Guest

and Dremmer 1991)”

The following information details potential impacts of introductions of Alosa aestivalis.

From Fuller et al. (2016):

“Unknown, very likely to find suitable habitat throughout the Great Lakes system. GARP models

predict it could find the entire region as suitable habitat, except possibly the deeper waters of

Lake Superior (USEPA 2008). If Blueback Herring became established in Lake Ontario, they

could spread to other Great Lakes and impede recovery of depressed populations of indigenous

fishes such as Cisco and Lake Trout (Owens et al. 1998). Cold water may prevent its

establishment.”

From CABI (2016):

“Davis and Foltz (1991) assessed the possibility of competitive effects between threadfin shad,

Dorosoma petenense, and A. aestivalis in the Jocassee Reservoir in South Carolina, USA. Both

fish were stocked as prey for piscivorous fish. Davis and Foltz (1991) observed low dietary

overlap between the species even though they are on the same trophic level. Despite their low

competitive interactions, the study concluded that A. aestivalis are ‘voracious planktivores’ as

well as piscivores, increasing the likelihood that it may affect zooplankton as well as small fish

populations of any system where they may be introduced. It has also been suggested that

invasive A. aestivalis can potentially affect native populations of smelt and forage fish (Marsden

and Hauser, 2009).”

From Marsden and Hauser (2009):

“Other species, such as blueback herring, have invaded too recently for effects to be seen.”

Many of the above impacts are only theoretical but in Theo Reservoir, Texas, Alosa aestivalis

was directly responsible for extirpations of groups of zooplankton.

4 Global Distribution

Figure 1. Known global distribution of Alosa aestivalis. Map from GBIF Secretariat (2016).

The locations in Texas are from an extirpated population (Fuller et al. 2016) and were not used

as source locations for the climate match.

5 Distribution Within the United States

Figure 2. Known distribution of Alosa aestivalis in the United States. Brown shading indicated

the native range of A. aestivalis. Map from Fuller et al. (2016).

6 Climate Matching

Summary of Climate Matching Analysis

The climate match for Alosa aestivalis was high for much of the eastern half of the United States.

It was medium to low west of the Mississippi. The Climate 6 score (Sanders et al. 2014; 16

climate variables; Euclidean distance) for the contiguous U.S. was 0.389, high, and Alabama,

Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New

Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South

Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Figure 3. RAMP (Sanders et al. 2014) source map showing weather stations selected as source

locations (red) and non-source locations (gray) for Alosa aestivalis climate matching. Source

locations from Fuller et al. (2016), and GBIF Secretariat (2016).

Figure 4. Map of RAMP (Sanders et al. 2014) climate matches for Alosa aestivalis in the

contiguous United States based on source locations reported by Fuller et al. (2016), and GBIF

Secretariat (2016). 0= Lowest match, 10=Highest match.

The High, Medium, and Low Climate match Categories are based on the following table:

Climate 6: Proportion of

(Sum of Climate Scores 6-10) / (Sum of total

Climate Scores)

Climate

Match

Category

0.000<X<0.005

Low

0.005<X<0.103

Medium

>0.103

High

7 Certainty of Assessment

The certainty of assessment for Alosa aestivalis is medium. There was adequate biological and

ecological information available. There were records of introduction found. There were few

records of any impacts from introduction and most of the records found indicated potential and

not demonstrated impacts.

8 Risk Assessment

Summary of Risk to the Contiguous United States

The history of invasiveness of Alosa aestivalis is high. There were records of introduction,

mostly the result of deliberate stocking but some using other methods such as canals. A study on

a now extirpated population in Texas indicated that the presence of this species resulted in entire

groups of plankton disappearing from the community. The climate match was high. The areas of

high match are centered on the species’ native and already invaded range. However, there are

areas of high match further inland than the already invaded areas, including most of the Great

Lakes Basin, indicating there is the potential for this species to establish populations in favorable

climates if it spreads. The certainty of assessment is medium. The overall risk assessment

category is high.

Assessment Elements

 History of Invasiveness (Sec. 3): High

 Climate Match (Sec. 6): High

 Certainty of Assessment (Sec. 7): Medium

 Remarks/Important additional information No additional remarks.

 Overall Risk Assessment Category: High

9 References

Note: The following references were accessed for this ERSS. References cited within

quoted text but not accessed are included below in Section 10.

Bailly, N. 2008. Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill, 1814). In World Register of Marine Species.

Available: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=158667. (April

2016).

CABI. 2016. Alosa aestivalis (Blueback Herring) [original text by A. Mellage]. In Invasive

Species Compendium. CAB International, Wallingford, UK. Available:

http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/94209. (April 2016).

Eschmeyer, W. N., R. Fricke, and R. van der Laan, editors. 2017. Catalogue of fishes: genera,

species, references. Available: http://www.calacademy.org/scientists/projects/catalog-of-

fishes. (April 2016).

Froese, R., and D. Pauly, editors. 2016. Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill, 1814) Blueback shad.

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Fuller, P., G. Jacobs, J. Larson, A. Fusaro, and M. Neilson. 2016. Alosa aestivalis. U.S.

Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, Florida.

Available: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=488. (April 2016).

GBIF Secretariat. 2016. GBIF backbone taxonomy: Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill, 1814). Global

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ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). 2016. Alosa aestivalis (Mitchill, 1814).

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Marsden, J. E., and M. Hauser. 2009. Exotic species in Lake Champlain. Journal of Great Lakes

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Sanders, S., C. Castiglione, and M. Hoff. 2014. Risk assessment mapping program: RAMP. U.S.

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