Prey | Incredible Aquatic Species

Alewife

The alewife is a 3-10 inch, silvery colored marine fish that is found along the east coast of North America. Normally found in coastal waters, the alewife has found its way through unknown sources, to landlocked lakes such as Lake St. Catherine in Vermont. Although the alewife eats plankton, there are numerous ways it impacts the environment negatively and while they are prey to most larger fish, this has not diminished the negative impacts they have on the lakes and rivers they have been found in.

Some of the ways that alewife fish have a damaging effect on lakes and rivers are:

Alewife fish alter the zooplankton in the water they inhabit. This causes negative effects to the clarity of the water and makes the chances for algae blooms much higher.

Alewife beat out other fish, such as trout, bass, yellow perch, salmon and walleye, for food sources. Also competing with juvenile fish such as rainbow smelt, this has been believed to be the source of a declining fish population in the areas they have invaded.

Along with zooplankton, the alewife fish also likes to feed on the larvae and eggs of other fish species such as lake trout and yellow perch. This increases the mortality rate in those fish, adding to their declining numbers.

A maternally transmitted disease that the alewife fish carries has also contributed to the reproductive failure of landlocked lake trout and Atlantic salmon. This has also been studied to be the cause of an increasing mortality rate in larvae since the trout and salmon feed on alewife. This effects their on reproduction as well as it being carried to their larvae.

Since the alewife undergo periods of mass mortality for unknown reasons, this too affects the fish population of other species by eliminating their food source.

The Predators of Jellyfish

Jellyfish are lucky because they are covered in stinging cells. If these stinging cells did not exist they would be very vulnerable to other aquatic species. This is because they are creatures that have soft tissue. The fact that they move very slowly does not help the situation. There are a few animals that feed on jellyfish. These animals have an immunity to the jellyfish venom.

Surprising enough one aquatic species that loves to feast on the body of the jellyfish is the sea turtle. The sea turtle is not the only animal that is able to eat jellyfish. In fact an aquatic species called the ocean sunfish also eat jellyfish.

Birds eat jellyfish in a unique way. They peck at the jellyfish in order to avoid the outer tentacles. The outer tentacles is the part of the jellyfish that stings. By doing this they attack the inner tissue of the jellyfish.

Another odd predator of jellyfish is other jellyfish. A jellyfish will not eat another jellyfish if it is from the same species that it is from. Other species of jellyfish are fair game.

Like many other creatures of the sea the jellyfish is often caught by humans for food purposes. This type of fish is considered a delicacy in some parts of Asia. There are fishing boats that go out and catch jellyfish so that they can be sold and eaten in Asia. Often the jellyfish is dried and preserved. Some restaurants serve the jellyfish as a meal.

If you have never seen this type of fish the best way to do so is to go to an aquarium. While this aquatic species is fascinating it is also it is also very dangerous. Contact with a jellyfish can cause immense pain and in some cases a jellyfish sting can be fatal.

The Beautiful and Fascinating Aquatic Species the Seahorse

: Image via Wikipedia

Seahorses can be found all over the world. There are forty species of seahorses found in shallow tropical waters. Sea horses prefer to live in areas that give them some shelter. This is why many of them are found in areas such as coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves.

Many people are fascinated with this aquatic species. This is because the seahorse is attractive and has many unique characteristics.

In terms of appearance this aquatic species is known for the fact that it has the profile of an equine. They do not have a fin or scales as they are poor swimmers.

The seahorse swims upright. This means that they find difficulty swimming. Due to this they do not spend a lot of time looking for food. Seahorses eat shrimp, plankton and tiny fish. The seahorse does not chew. Instead it swallows it’s food whole.

At present researchers are unsure of the exact lifespan of a seahorse. The lifespan of many aquatic species and marine life depends on a number of environmental factors that affect the sea. However scientists have estimated that the seahorse has an average lifespan of three to fourteen years.

Like every creature of the ocean the seahorse plays its part in maintaining a balanced ecosystem in the sea. Without the seahorse the ocean would have too many small fish, plankton and shrimp.

At present there is a great interest in protecting the seahorse. Currently many cultures capture this creature in order to sell them as food. The seahorse is considered an aphrodisiac in some cultures. Because of the demand for this creature as a food item there are many projects in place dedicated to saving the seahorse from extinction.

If you would like to see a seahorse in person the best place to find one would be at an aquarium.

The Freshwater Stingray’s Stinger

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Most aquatic species of the freshwater stingray are found in the Amazon. There are also stingrays found in other tropical rivers. The stingray is an ancient aquatic species. Historians have traced back the evolutionary history of the stingray all the back to three hundred million years ago.

Stingrays are named after their stinger. A stingray’s stinger lies flat on the top of the ray. It is located towards the tail of the stingray. The stinger is sometimes difficult to see.

Rays have a powerful venom that will cause much discomfort if you are stung by a stingray. The venom of the ray can cause you to get large blisters, a burning throbbing pain. In some cases the sting of a ray can end in a fatality.

In most cases you will not die if you are stung. The stings that cause fatalities are the ones that accompany a unusual accident. The stinger of the ray will have to hit an area in the chest that is close to the heart in order for the attack to be fatal.

In the Amazon the most stingray casualties occur when somebody steps on a ray. During the day the stingray enjoys basking in the sun. They do this by coming up to shore and hiding beneath the sand.

Stingrays do not use their stinger if they do not have to. They prefer to move out of the way. This is why many people shuffle their feet loudly or poke at the ground in front of them. The ray will sense the movement and move before it gets stepped on.

Stingray fans can observe rays and many other types of marine life at places like aquariums and zoos. Some aquatic shows also feature the sting ray. The best thing about visiting places like these is that you will not have to worry about being stung.

Fun Facts About the Aquatic Species the Dolphin

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Dolphins are a fascinating aquatic species that is admired by both children and adults. If you wish to see a dolphin in person you can do so at parks such as Sea World. The dolphin has captured the interest of many because it is a beautiful and intelligent creature.

One of the reasons that people find dolphins so interesting is because they are considered to be very smart. A dolphin is a fast learner that can differentiate between many objects. Some scientists have compared the intelligence of a dolphin to that of a two year old child. Like a toddler a dolphin can understand some complicated commands and also some of the human language. Because a dolphin can understand this much information they are able to communicate with their trainers.

A dolphin has a very healthy appetite. This creature can eat between ten to twenty kilograms of food per day. Dolphins feel on a number of different fish and squid. The amount of fish that a dolphin eats per day will depend on the fat content of the fish. An example of this is that a herring is a very fatty fish. A dolphin will acquire a lot of energy from eating this fish. This means it will not need to eat as much of it. In comparison a squid has a much lower fat content. Dolphins will need to eat more squid in order to get the energy that they need from it.

These creatures have a long life expectancy. A dolphin will usually live for ten to fourteen years. However it is not unheard of for a dolphin to live up to fifty years.

The dolphin will always be a part of marine life that fascinates the mind of many. It is an attractive creature with many endearing characteristics.

A Guide to the Aquatic Species of Killer Whales

: Image by Franco Folini via Flickr

The orca is also known as a killer whale. As killer whales are so large in size the only threat to their future comes in the form of human beings. The killer whale is a predator that attacks many aquatic species. These creatures are dangerous and predatory. They are also considered to be majestic and beautiful by most people that view them.

Although many people call this aquatic species a whale it is actually a part of the dolphin family. Orcas are considered to be the biggest dolphins in existence. They have black skin that is broken up by white patches. Like dolphins the orca has a dorsal fin and big flippers.

One of the most interesting facts about this aquatic species is that they live in pods. These pods are small and generally contain six to forty killer whales. The whales in each pod stay with each other throughout their whole lives. They work together to perform tasks such as protecting the young, sick and injured members of their pod.

The members of the pod work alongside each other in order to hunt and catch their food.
The killer whale generally eats different types of fish, squid, whales, sharks, seals, turtles, sea gulls, octopus, and penguin. The average killer whale eats over five hundred pounds of food every day. Orcas will not migrate but they do travel a long way if they want to catch prey.

The killer whale can be found in both tropical and artic waters. Many people travel a long way to see this type of marine life up close and personal. Others can visit orcas in captivity at places like Sea World. Captive orcas put on a great show as they are intelligent and easy to train. They are a very popular attraction for tourists.

The Aquatic Species – the Blue Whale

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The blue whale is a fascinating animal. This particular aquatic species is the biggest living animal on the planet. Due to it’s size the blue whale can make sounds that can travel over hundreds of miles. The have a long life span and eat thousands of pounds worth of food every day.

Humpback whales do not eat in winter. The aquatic species of the Blue Whale needs to eat all year round. This is simply because this particular type of marine life is so big.

In the past it has been difficult to study this creature. However this is no longer the case. Today scientists are able to decode the sounds that whales make. They do this by comparing the sound they make to their behavior.

The sounds that scientists are interested in is the sound of boats that are in shipping lanes. What they want to know is if the sounds made by ships are louder than the sounds made by whales. Researchers are hoping to discover if these sounds have any sort of affect on the Blue Whale. Once they have this data they will be able to tell if the appetite of this aquatic species put them in danger from shipping lanes.

Unfortunately due to the size of the Blue Whale it is a creature that is unlikely to be at places like Sea World. Most people will not be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this creature in their lifetime.

At present the biggest possible danger that the whales face is the existence of shipping lanes. More and more ships are taking to the ocean as the demand for certain goods increases. These ships may be putting the lives of whales in danger. However we cannot draw any conclusions until more research is conducted by scientists.

A Sought After Aquatic Species – The White and Black Crappie

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The crappie is a fish that people enjoy catching in both the United States and Canada. This aquatic species includes two types of crappie. The two species of fish are the white crappie and the black crappie. These two aquatic species often swim together.

This particular type of fish is most active in warm water. The crappie tends to live in areas that are close to boat piers and creeks. This is due to the fact that they find most of their food in these areas. The crappie feeds on small insects that are attached to structures such as piers.

The white crappie is considered to be a nest builder. This means that they often nest in very large beds. They do this in the warmer months of March and April. The crappie can lay an astounding twenty thousand eggs. These eggs only take three to seven days to hatch. However most of these hatchlings will never grow to become an adult sized crappie. This is because their small size makes them vulnerable to other fish. Bluegill, bass, brim and the young crappie are often food for the other aquatic species that live in the ocean.

The crappie is a popular fish amongst fishing enthusiasts. In certain areas fishing for crappie can help protect the eco-system of the location that the crappie resides in. The crappie can damage the eco-system of a lake by over populating it. Fishing in these areas helps the keep the crappie population in control. When a crappie nests the thousands of eggs that hatch can crowd out other aquatic species.

The crappie is sought after for two reasons. Many fishermen find great joy in catching this fish. The second reason is that the unique flaky taste of crappie is enjoyed by many people all over the United States.

The Characteristics of the Aquatic Species Rainbow Trout

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The rainbow trout is a popular aquatic species amongst fishing enthusiasts. Many people enjoy fishing for rainbow trout. However this is not the only way that people can enjoy the rainbow trout. In fact some wildlife centers have schools of rainbow trout on display for the viewing public.

Some aquatic species are only found in specific locations. This is not the case in terms of the rainbow trout. This fish is found all over the world. A rainbow trout is a freshwater fish however some rainbow trout will find themselves swimming in saltwater.

Rainbow trout is a reasonably sized fish. They can vary in length from about twelve to forty inches.

If you are wondering where the rainbow trout gets its name from the reasoning behind their naming is fairly obvious. This aquatic species was named the rainbow trout due to the distinctive stripe that runs down the side of the fish. The color of this stripe is pink. The rest of the fish is dark green and silver. They also have black spots on their bodies.

The reason that fishing enthusiasts are so successful at catching rainbow trout is the fact that this type of fish is not a picky eater. This means that there are many types of bait that you can use when fishing for rainbow trout. Types of bait that are suited for rainbows are insects, minnows and crayfish.

Another reason that fishing for rainbows is so popular is because trout are an aggressive fish. Regardless of what type of bait you use fishing for rainbows will likely result in the trout pulling at the fishing line. Fishermen enjoy this aspect of fishing as it adds excitement to the sport. The rainbow trout is a tasty fish. This fish can be baked in the oven or even fried.

A Guide to the Different Aquatic Species of Catfish

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) may be f...

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Fishing for the aquatic species of catfish is a popular activity in the United States. There are many types of catfish that you can fish for. Those that do not fish can still enjoy catfish. In fact a few people around the world have been known to keep catfish as pets.

The Black Spotted Corydoras have a silver body that is dotted with black spots. This aquatic species does not swim in saltwater.

Another catfish that is similar to the Black Spotted Corydoras is the peppered catfish. This type of catfish has a brown body and black spots. The peppered catfish and the Black Spotted Corydoras have a number of things in common. They eat the same types of food and both fish swim in freshwater.

A very interesting species of catfish is the leopard catfish. This species of fish originates from the Amazon. In terms of its appearance the leopard catfish has dark spots on their silver bodies. One of the key characteristics of this catfish is that this species is very calm. The leopard catfish also prefers to swim in freshwater but due to its peaceable nature this species is able to live in communal waters.

There are many lakes in the United States that allow fishing for catfish. These lakes are eco-friendly as the catfish population is topped up every six months or so. Adults may have to apply for a fishing license but this requirement varies state to state. If you are interested in fishing for this aquatic species at your local lake it is advisable to confirm what the guidelines are for catfish fishing in your area. Many of the lakes that house catfish have picnic areas. This means that you can take your family out for a day of fishing fun at the lake.