The culture, zooplankton dynamics and predator‐prey interactions of Chesapeake Bay striped bass,Morone saxatilis(Walbaum), in estuarine ponds

摘要

Abstract.Four 0.05‐ha research ponds were filled with brackish water (12 ppt) for the purpose of evaluating zooplankion dynamics and predator‐prey interactions. Three of the ponds were stocked with Chesapeake striped bass,Morone saxatilis(Walbaum). All ponds were fertilized to stimulate zooplankton blooms using a protocol that has been successful in freshwater systems. Zooplankton was dominated by four major groups: rotifers, copepod nauplii,Eurytemoraadults andEurytemoracopepedites with rotifers and the nauplii being the most abundant organisms found. Rotifer populations peaked 15‐20 days after filling while the copepods peaked 17‐22 days after filling. Fish production was very similar to that found in freshwater ponds with an average yield of 84.4 kg/ha (2.0 kg/ha/day) for phase 1 fish (=45mm). Food selectivity indices indicated striped bass avoided both rotifers and copepod nauplii and preferred adult and copepediteEurytemoraas a food item. However, due to various problems associated with sampling, these selectivity results should be considered with caution. The findings of this study reveal fertilization regimes used successfully in freshwater production systems can be applied in an estuarine envi