Fish species of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve FAMILY and SPECIES FAMILY and SPECIES Larvae Channel Channel Vegetated marsh Vegetated Marsh panne Abundance Vegetated marsh Vegetated Marsh panne Abundance Fresh water Larvae Fresh water Petromyzontidae — Lampreys Chaetodontidae — Butterflyfishes Background Sea Lamprey – Petromyzon marinus – nn––R Spotfin Butterflyfish – Chaetodon ocellatus ––n ––R This brochure lists the 55 fish species found Anguillidae — Freshwater Eels Labridae — Wrasses during surveys done between 1989 and 2001 in the American Eel – Anguilla rostrata – nnnn A Cunner – Tautogolabrus adspersus Y–n ––R Merriland River, Branch Brook, the Little River, the Clupeidae — Herrings Mugilidae — Mullets Webhannet River, and Wells Bay. Biologists used fish Blueback Herring – Alosa aestivalis ––n ––C Striped Mullet – Mugil cephalus ––n ––R weirs, fyke nets, seine nets, minnow traps, and Alewife – Alosa pseudoharengus ––n ––A Sphyraenidae — Barracudas electrofishing to sample adults and juveniles, and American Shad – Alosa sapidissima ––nn–R Northern Sennet – Sphyraena borealis ––n ––R ichthyoplankton nets to sample larvae. Atlantic Menhaden (Pogy) – Brevoortia tyrannus ––n ––R Stichaeidae — Pricklebacks Atlantic Herring – Clupea harengus Y–n ––C Snake Blenny – Lumpenus lumpretaeformis O–n ––C Checklist Explanation Salmonidae — Trouts Radiated Shanny – Ulvaria subbifurcata O–n ––C Family and species names follow those given Atlantic Salmon – Salmo salar ––n ––R Pholidae — Gunnels in Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by H.B. Bigelow and Brown Trout – Salmo trutta – nn––C Rock Gunnel – Pholis gunnellus Y–n ––C W.C. Schroeder (1953), Atlantic Fishes of Canada by Brook Trout – Salvelinus fontinalis – nn––C Ammodytidae — Sand Lances W.B. Scott and M.G. Scott (1988), and The Inland Osmeridae — Smelts Sand Lance – Ammodytes americanus Y–n ––C Fishes of New York State by C.L. Smith (1985). Rainbow Smelt – Osmerus mordax Y nn––C Scombridae — Mackerels Larvae — Y = Larvae found in addition to adults Gadidae — Codfishes Atlantic Mackerel – Scomber scombrus Y–n ––R and/or juveniles. O = Only larvae found. Note: No Atlantic Cod – Gadus morhua ––n ––R Stromateidae — Butterfishes larvae surveys were done in fresh water. Fourbeard Rockling – Enchelyopus cimbrius O–n ––R Butterfish – Peprilus tricanthus ––n ––R Fresh water — Species found in a fresh water Atlantic Tomcod – Microgadus tomcod ––n ––C Cottidae — Sculpins environment (Merriland River, Branch Brook). White Hake – Urophycis tenuis – nn––R Grubby Sculpin – Myoxocephalus aeneus Y–n ––C Channel — Species found in an estuarine Red Hake – Urophycis chuss ––n ––R Longhorn Sculpin – Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus Y–n ––R channel of the Little River, or larvae found in an Pollock – Pollachius virens – nn––C Slimy Sculpin – Cottus cognatus ––n ––R estuarine channel of the Webhannet River. Cyprinodontidae — Killifishes Cyclopteridae — Snailfishes Vegetated marsh — Species found along Common Mummichog – Fundulus heteroclitus ––nnn A Lumpfish – Cyclopterus lumpus Y–n ––R vegetated creek banks or on the flooded marsh Banded Killifish – Fundulus diaphanus ––nn–C Seasnail – Liparis atlanticus Y–n ––R surface of the Webhannet estuary. Striped Killifish – Fundulus majalis ––n ––R Bothidae — Lefteye Flounders Marsh panne — Species found in isolated pools Atherinidae — Silversides Windowpane – Scopthalmus aquosus Y–n ––R of water on the marsh surface, known as pannes. Atlantic Silverside – Menidia menidia ––nnn A Pleuronectidae — Righteye Flounders Abundance — A general indication of relative Inland Silverside – Menidia beryllina ––n ––R Winter Flounder – Pseudopleuronectes americanus Y nn––C population size: Rare, Common, or Abundant. Gasterosteidae — Sticklebacks Esocidae — Pikes n Fourspine Stickleback – Apeltes quadracus ––nnn A Chain Pickerel – Esox niger – –––C Acknowledgments Threespine Stickleback – Gasterosteus aculeatus ––nnn A Cyprinidae — Minnows This checklist was compiled from unpublished nn Blackspotted Stickleback – Gasterosteus wheatlandi – – nn–C Golden Shiner – Notemigonus crysoleucas – ––C reports available for review at the Wells Reserve. n Ninespine Stickleback – Pungitius pungitius – nn– n A Creek Chub – Semotilus atromaculatus – –––C Research staff, interns, visiting scientists, and Syngnathidae — Pipefishes Catostomidae — Suckers volunteers participated in surveys. Key contributors nn Northern Pipefish – Syngnathus fuscus Y–n ––C White Sucker – Catostomus commersoni – ––C included M. Cartwright, M. Dionne, Ph.D., Percichthyidae — Perches Centrarchidae — Sunfishes R. MacKenzie, Ph.D., R.J. Mere, S.C. Murphy, S. Orringer, nn Striped Bass – Morone saxatilis ––n ––C Pumpkinseed – Lepomis gibbosus – ––C J. Peterson, S. Reed, T. Smith, and N. Sullivan. nn White Perch – Morone americana ––n ––R Bluegill – Lepomis macrochirus – ––C n Pomatomidae — Bluefishes Largemouth Bass – Micropterus salmoides – –––C Checklist authorship may be attributed to the Bluefish – Pomatomus saltatrix ––n ––R Ictaluridae — Bullhead Catfishes Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, 2002 Brown Bullhead – Ictalurus nebulosus – n –––C The WELLS NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE is Common mummichogs live their whole lives in part of a network of protected areas estab- estuaries. They are hardy fish, able to tolerate low FISH SPECIES of the lished to improve the health of the nation’s dissolved oxygen levels, high temperatures, and estuaries and coastal habitats by developing high salinity. Mummichogs spawn from April to Wells Reserve and providing information that promotes August and overwinter in mud. They grow to a maximum length of about 7.5 cm. Their diet informed resource management. at Laudholm Farm includes insect larvae, small crustaceans, fish, fish The Wells Reserve produces science- eggs, and vegetation. They are eaten based information needed to sustain or by larger fish, birds, and mammals restore Gulf of Maine coastal habitats and that frequent the water’s edge. resources, especially those found in salt marsh estuaries and watersheds. The Wells Reserve assists communities in southern Maine by surveying watershed resources and developing strategies to protect and manage them. To learn about watershed planning in your area, contact your local conservation commission or land trust, or call the Wells Reserve at 207 646-1555.

Common Mummichog drawn by Robert Shetterly for the Wells Reserve

For more information, call 207 646-1555. To learn about fish research, dial ext 136. A checklist of finfish To become involved with surveys, dial ext 118. For general information, visit wellsreserve.org. found in the Little To support the Wells Reserve, join River, Webhannet

WATERS OF THE WELLS RESERVE Membership benefits include: River, Branch Brook, …include portions of two watersheds. The Watermark, a quarterly newsletter Webhannet River watershed (dark shading) is entirely Program and gift shop discounts Merriland River, and within the Town of Wells. The Little River-Branch Brook- Free admission to the Wells Reserve Merriland River watershed (light shading), extends to the For information Town of Sanford and straddles the border between Wells Wells Bay, Maine P.O. Box 1007, Wells ME 04090 and Kennebunk. Both watersheds drain to the Gulf of 207 646-4521 laudholm.org Maine via Wells Bay (black). Watersheds are ideal realms for fish conservation, because fish habitat management Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve requires cooperation across municipal boundaries. 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells ME 04090 207 646-1555 • http://www.wellsreserve.org