Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and Invertebrates (North Atlantic). Atlantic Tomcod.

• Main Authors: Stewart, Lance L, Auster, Peter J
• Other Authors: NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM GROTON CT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1987
• Subjects: Biological Oceanography; *FISHES; *MARINE BIOLOGY; ADULTS; COASTAL REGIONS; EGGS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; ENVIRONMENTS; ESTUARIES; FEEDING; FISHERIES; FRESH WATER; HABITATS; HABITS; HISTORY; INVERTEBRATES; LARVAE; LIFE CYCLES; LIFE(BIOLOGY); NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; PROFILES; RECREATION; REQUIREMENTS; RIVERS; SALINITY; SUMMER; TAXONOMY; UNITED STATES; WINTER; GROWTH(PHYSIOLOGY); REPRODUCTION(PHYSIOLOGY); SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE; *Atlantic tomcod; *Microgadus tomcod; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA189596; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA189596

Species profiles are literature summaries on taxonomy, morphology, range, life history, and environmental requirements of coastal finfishes and shellfishes. They are designed to assist in environmental impact assessment. The Atlantic tomcod (Microgadus tomcod) is of regional importance in a winter recreational sport fishery. Tomcod are widespread along coastal regions of the northeast coast of the United States. They are abundant in estuarine habitats such as river mouths and saltmarshes, and thus are subject to a wide variety of anthropogenic sources of disturbance. Tomcod spawn from November to March. Young-of-the-year remain in the estuary where they were spawned during succeeding summer months. Adults live in full-strength sea water to freshwater, but eggs and larvae have narrower salinity requirements. Keywords: Estuaries, Fishes, Fisheries, Feeding habits, Life cycles, Growth, Temperature, Reproduction(Physiology), Spawning, Aquatic biology.