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Fish biology and fisheries ecology of the Salton Sea, California

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Book cover The Salton Sea

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 161))

Abstract

Studies of the fisheries ecology and fish biology of the Salton Sea, California, were conducted in 1999 and 2000 using 50 m gill nets in river, nearshore, pelagic, and estuarine areas. Total lengths and weights were measured for all fish captured, and sub-samples were dissected for gonad weights and aging. Ten fish species were captured of which a hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus x O. urolepis hornorum) was dominant by number and weight. Nearshore and estuarine areas had highest catch rates (over 11 kg h−1 net−1 for tilapia). Rivers were richest in the number of species (6 of 10 species were exclusively riverine), but lowest in fish abundance. Orangemouth corvina (Cynoscion xanthulus), bairdiella (Bairdiella icistia), sargo (Anisotremus davidsoni), and tilapia grew faster, but had shorter life spans than conspecifics elsewhere and Salton Sea conspecifics of 50 years ago. Reproduction occurred mostly in the nearshore and estuarine areas. Onset of reproduction of bairdiella and sargo was in the spring and extended through the beginning of summer. Reproduction of orangemouth corvina started in the summer and of tilapia in the spring. Reproduction of orangemouth corvina and tilapia extended through the fall. Gender ratios of tilapia were skewed toward males in all areas, except the rivers, where females predominated. All four species aggregated along the nearshore and estuarine areas in the summer when dissolved oxygen in the pelagic area was limited. Any restoration alternative for the Salton Sea should consider areas close to shore as primary areas for fish reproduction and survival.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory; College of Marine Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564, USA

    Ralf Riedel

  2. U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Ave, West, Carlsbad, CA, 92008, USA

    Lucille Caskey

  3. Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program, Department of Fisheries, Animal & Veterinary Science, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay Campus, Narragansett, RI, 02882-1197, USA

    Barry A. Costa-Pierce

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  1. Ralf Riedel
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  2. Lucille Caskey
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  3. Barry A. Costa-Pierce
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Douglas A. Barnum

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI, USA

    John F. Elder  & Milton Friend  & 

  3. Formerly U.S. Geological Survey, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Doyle Stephens

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Riedel, R., Caskey, L., Costa-Pierce, B.A. (2002). Fish biology and fisheries ecology of the Salton Sea, California. In: Barnum, D.A., Elder, J.F., Stephens, D., Friend, M. (eds) The Salton Sea. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 161. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3459-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3459-2_17

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