Migratory-fish spawning usage
Anadromous fish are completely absent in urbanized stream
(Data from Reference 3)
Anadromous fish live in the ocean, but must migrate to fresh water to spawn.
Mattawoman is by far the most productive tributary known for the Chesapeake Bay for anadromous fish, which include American Shad, Alewife & Blueback Herring (known collectively as River Herring), and White Perch.
Icthyoplankton (fish-egg) sampling detects presence of spawning River Herring through the eggs left behind.

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River Herring (~10” long) spawning in s. trib. | Plankton net intercepts River Herring eggs drifting in the water column. |
