Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
(Fertilized Egg)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
121 Maine Temperature Example - 313 109

Details
Incubation time ranges from 4896 hours at 22°C to 6 days at 15.5°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
125 Seneca Lake Temperature Example - 321 109

Details
Incubation time ranges from 81-132 hours at 13°23°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
132 Temperature Example 330 109

Details
Incubation time ranges from 23 days at 15.5°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
809 Water Motion Characteristic 551 542

Details
River herring eggs are initially demersal and adhesive in still water, or pelagic
in running water.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
818 Temperature Example 546 542
544
Details 547
Hatching times for fertilized alewife eggs vary with the following water 554
temperatures: 2.1 days at 28.9°C; 3.7 days at 21.1°C; 3.45.0 days at 10°C;
6 days at 15.6°C; and ~15 days at 7.2°C.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
819 Temperature Optimum 20.8°C 550 542
Temperature Limit 29.7°C

Details
Maximum hatching was successful at 20.8°C, fell significantly at 26.7°26.8°C,
and did not occur at 29.7°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
820 Temperature Example 550 542

Details
Average time to median (middle) hatch varied inversely with temperature. It
ranged from 7.4 days at 12.7°C to 3 days at 23.8°23.9°C and 26.7°26.8°C.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Lake Ontario (Juvenile)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
65 Eastern Basin Pred/Prey Characteristic 9 -
(Hatchery)

Details
- Spring yearling plantings in the eastern basin of Lake Ontario became
piscivorous almost immediately. Progressively larger fish were ingested
as plantings grew. Darters and smaller sculpins were ingested first,
juvenile smelt and alewife next, and finally adult smelt and alewife were
ingested.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Lake Erie (Juvenile)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
98 Temperature Limit 18.4°C 410 109

Details
Seasonal growth of young stops in the first half of October at water
temperatures of 18.4°C in Lake Erie.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
676 Pred/Prey Example 493 111

Details
YOY walleye at the extreme western end of Lake Erie displayed their size
preference by consuming alewives and gizzard shad during the summer. They
changed to rainbow smelt in the autumn when alewives and shad became too
large.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

(Juvenile)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
148 Pred/Prey Example 374 109
351
Details
During their spawning season, alewives may eat a number of their own eggs.
However, most alewife eggs were eaten by immature alewives.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
260 Maine Pred/Prey Characteristic 367 109

Details
Food of 25 young salmon in October was listed as aquatic insects and alewives.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
318 Pred/Prey Characteristic 109 -

Details
Larger lake trout feed primarily upon fish in most lakes (including Cottus,
alewives, smelt, and Atlantic salmon).

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

(Larva)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
134 Seneca Lake Light Characteristic 321 109
Area of Water Characteristic

Details
Fry are positively phototropic and pelagic.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
648 Michigan Competitors Example 489 111

Details
- Alewife have been implicated as serious competitors with walleye fry for
food items in Lake Michigan.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
821 Temperature Optimum 26.4 550 542
Temperature Prefer 26.3

Details
Daily weight gains in young alewives were greatest at 26.4°C. Temperature
preference was ~26.3°C in thermal gradient tests.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Lake Ontario (Non-spawning Adult)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
20 Pred/Prey Example 13 -

Details
Alewife was a primary food source for lake trout. Cottids were significant
prey in large lake trout.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
21 Pred/Prey Example 9 -

Details
Ciscoes predominated in trout stomachs after the inshore migration of
alewives.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
65 Eastern Basin Pred/Prey Characteristic 9 -
(Hatchery)

Details
Spring yearling plantings in the eastern basin of Lake Ontario became
piscivorous almost immediately. Progressively larger fish were ingested
as plantings grew. Darters and smaller sculpins were ingested first,
juvenile smelt and alewife next, and finally adult smelt and alewife were
ingested.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Lake Erie (Non-spawning Adult)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
789 Competitors Example 506 112
Depth Example Bottom

Details
The abundance of yellow perch in bottom trawls of Lake Erie showed a
significant decrease over the 196266 interval. The decrease coincided
with a dramatic increase in alewife catch.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Lake Michigan (Non-spawning Adult)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
143 Competitors Limit 76 42

Details
Smelt-catch decline from 1959-65 is thought to be related to alewife
presence. Alewives are believed to have less effect on smelt than on
certain other species. Other important factors may also have been
involved in smelt-catch decline.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
465 Pred/Prey Example 121 110

Details
Alewives were a major forage in Lake Michigan.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
675 Pred/Prey Example 121 111

Details
Lake Michigan walleye fed mainly on alewives and rainbow smelt even though
yellow perch were abundant and available.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
811 Movement Characteristic 548 542 Pred/Prey Example -

Details
Adult alewife apparently migrate vertically following diel movements of
zooplankton in the water column.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

(Non-spawning Adult)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
101 Cayuga Lake Pred/Prey Example 272 109
Depth Example

Details
A stunted alewife population, with few individuals reaching 127 mm TL, was
found in Cayuga Lake, New York. Usually in deep water, they were an
important food source for lake trout.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
137 Pred/Prey Characteristic 281 109
351
Details 314
Zooplankton constitutes most of the alewife food.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
138 Seneca Lake Pred/Prey Characteristic 321 109

Details
Adults in freshwater populations may eat insects, crustacea, and small fish.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
152 General 392 109

Details
- Alewives are the sole host of the glochidia of the Anodonta implicata, which
has disappeared with alewives.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
153 Cayuga Lake Depth Characteristic 208 109

Details
In Cayuga Lake, New York, alewives are generally distributed at various
depths, but tend toward deeper water in October/November.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
160 Temperature Limit 133 109

Details
Alewives in 27°28°C water died when scared to 33.3°C water. Some alewives
survived the temperature change.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
260 Maine Pred/Prey Characteristic 367 109

Details
Food of 25 young salmon in October was listed as aquatic insects and alewives.

(Non-spawning Adult cont...)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
261 Maine Pred/Prey Characteristic 367 109

Details
Food of eight adult salmon in July and August was mostly alewives.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
318 Pred/Prey Characteristic 109 -

Details
Larger lake trout feed primarily upon fish in most lakes (including
Cottus, alewives, smelt, and Atlantic salmon).

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
445 Cayuga Lake Pred/Prey Example 208 110
Movement Example
Depth Example

Details
Smallmouth bass at a depth of 1724 m in Cayuga Lake were thought to be
following alewives.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
464 Oneida Lake Pred/Prey Example 216 110

Details
Alewives were a major forage in Oneida Lake.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
648 Michigan Competitors Example 489 111

Details
Alewife have been implicated as serious competitors with walleye fry for
food items in Lake Michigan.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
674 Pred/Prey Example 111 -

Details
When yellow perch are not available or abundant, other species (emerald
shiners, troutperch, ninespine sticklebacks, suckers, cyprinids, white
perch, alewives, rainbow smelt, lake herring, and centrarchids) exist.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
810 Pred/Prey Characteristic 543 542

Details
Gizzard shad are primarily sizeselective zooplankton feeders. Fish eggs,
other eggs, insects, and small fishes may be important foods in some
areas or for larger individuals.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
817 Atlantic Coast Depth Limit 100 m 553 542
Temperature Characteristic 2°17°C

Details
Adult distributions of river herring are usually confined to depths <100 m
at water temperatures 2°-17°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
828 Great Lakes Pred/Prey Limit - 556 555

Details
- Members of the genus Alosa are a major brown trout forage fish in the
Great Lakes.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Lake Ontario (Spawning Adult)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
21 Pred/Prey Example 9 -

Details
Ciscoes predominated in trout stomachs after the inshore migration of
alewives.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Lake Erie (Spawning Adult)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
114 - Temperature Example 22°C 410 109

Details
- Alewife spawning occurs at water temperatures of 22°C.

Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

(Spawning Adult)

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
105 Area of Water Characteristic 281 109
Depth Characteristic 208
Phys. Assoc. Characteristic

Details
Freshwater populations of alewives spawn in streams or shallow-water areas
along shore on sand or gravel bottoms.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
108 New Jersey Phys. Assoc. Characteristic 351 109
Temperature Characteristic 17°19°C

Details
Alewives spawn in water temperatures of 17°19°C in shallow-water areas
along shore on sand or gravel bottoms (often in areas with some vegetation).

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
109 Light Characteristic Night 404 109
Depth Characteristic 150300 mm 351

Details
Alewives spawn at night in 150-300 mm of water.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
110 Maine Temperature Example 13°21°C 313 109

Details
Alewife spawning occurs at water temperatures of 13°-21°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
111 Temperature Example 13°16°C 281 109

Details
Alewife spawning occurs at water temperatures of 13°16°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
812 Area of Water Characteristic 542 -

Details
Alewives spawn in large rivers, small streams, and ponds (including barrier
beach ponds).

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
813 Phys. Assoc. Characteristic 374 542
Water Motion Characteristic 552
Depth Characteristic

Details
Spawning substrates include gravel, sand, detritus, and submerged
vegetation with sluggish water flows and water depths of 15 cm to 3 m.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
814 Area of Water Characteristic 544 542
Temperature Limit 10.5°C

Details
River herring spawning runs begin in spring. Minimum alewife spawning
temperatures are 10.5°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
815 Temperature Limit 27°C 546 542

Details
Alewife and river herring cease spawning when water temperatures >27°C.

Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
816 Temperature Characteristic 12°16°C 542 -

Details
Alewife spawning runs occur in a chronological southtonorth progression
at water temperatures 12°-16°C.