Upon finding out that I had to do a project about the Hudson River, the first thing that came to mind was what the environment and habitants of the Hudson are. My interest came to me several weeks ago when trying to create a suitable environment for my aquarium so that my fish wouldn't die. I discovered, to my surprise and several dozen fish later, what a difficult task it could be.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the many aquatic species that live in the Hudson. The many numbers of different species should be enough of a reason not to pollute this estuary, but unfortunately the river has been polluted anyway. This is not an issue of saving sveral hundred species, but rather eliminating their very important contribution to human well being as well as very crucial links to the ecosystem at large. That is, every link in the ecosystem has a purpose to serve species in a higher species in the hierarchy, as well as to provide a suitable environment for lower level species. So, when you eliminate a part of the chain, it causes a domino effect which slowly unravels the chain by harming the closest species and then affecting the higher level ones.
One of the most important contributions from aquatic life is oxygen. Oxygen from aquatic life is the major source of oxygen, far surpassing all land sources. Pollution is something everyone is aware of but that some choose to ignore for personal profit. Dumping is done without regard for the effects or for the regard of other human beings. I'm sure with the aid of research all of these hazardous wastes could be better managed, but this would be more expensive for companies who work on the river. Making an environment that is hazardous to us and future generations is, without a doubt, unethical, especially when one is aware that what he/she is doing could be harmful. This paper will discuss the aquatic richness of the Hudson show that the Hudson is a success story in that it was able to rejuvenate some of its past species. It will also explain how pollution affects the water.
The Hudson River constantly flows through varied terrain so it is not surprising that such a large assortment of minerals, such as aluminum, antimony, beryllium, boron, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, gallium, lead, magnesium, nickel, scandium, silicon, titanium, vanadium, yttrium, and zirconium are found there.
From past studies, all of the components of a varied estuarine system are present. Primary producers (phytoplankton), primary consumers (zooplankton), secondaryconsumers (zooplankton and large invertebrates), and tertiary consumers (fish) are all present.
Primary producers are micro and macroscopic plants that can carry on photosynthesis. This is the role of phytoplankton. Diatoms, such as Pinnularia and Navicula, are common, but Chlorophyta and some Cyanophyta are also present. These are eaten by the primary consumers. Protozoans, eggs, and larval forms of many invertebrates make up the zooplankton. In turn, these are consumed by larger zooplankton and fish.
Various invertebrates can be found in the Hudson. The protozoa are scarce, but a few scattered ciliates and flagellates can be found. However, water samples collected in the late fall do not represent an accurate amount of invertebrates when compared to an all year round average. Large numbers of ctenophone Mnemiosis sp. and the cnidarian Gionionemus sp. at both the Kennedy Marina and at New York engineering. The rotifer population is lacking.
The crustaceans are well represented, with the copeds dominating. Both calanoid and cyclpoid species are found. The decapods were represented by an ocassional blue crab, Callinectus oranatus, and the Harris crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii. Barnacles are found, but only attached to piers and floating debris. No benthic specimens were found, probably due to their requirement for a suitable substrate and depth restrictions.
Of the worms found were polycheate. Nematodes were observed in great abundance. Mollusks are not so abundant and shoreline benthis sampling failed to provide any living specimens of the mollusks, although numerous shells were found. The absence of insect larva was expected due to the salinity of the environment. In the benthic studies, only a few observable forms of life were found. The shoreline benthos appeared essentially devoid of life.
A fish census was taken along the Yonkers shoreline of the Hudson by members of the environmental action council. This was done in 1973 when the Hudson seemed to be reviving its rich aquatic life before industry practically abolished it. On six consecutive days, two hundred and three fish, along with two blue claw crabs, were caught. The percentages of the various species caught were as follows: white perch 42.44%, tomcod 29.27%, striped bass 9.27%, spot 7.8%, eels 7.32%, and miscellaneous 3.9%, which consisted of bluefish, blue claw crabs, sturgeon, and bullheads.
The eel (Anquilla rostrata) ranges along the Atlantic coast from Labrador to northeatern South America. They are catadromous fish, meaning they are hardy fish living in fresh and brackish water.
The spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) is a small fish which has been absent from the Hudson River since the late 1930s. Its reappearance was only noted as recently as 1973. Its common name is Lafayette.
The striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is an important commercial and sport fish. It ranges from the St. Lawrence River to the northern coastlines of Florida, with some distribution in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. However, its major distribution is from Cape Cod to North Carolina. The Hudson River is considered a major nursery for striped bass on the East Coast, producing some 50-60% of their population. Striped bass normally lives in salt water, but spawns in fresh water.
The tomcod (Michrogadus tomcod) is found from Nova Scotia to South Carolina in fresh and brackish waters. They enter the Hudson estuary to spawn from middle October until the end of December. This takes place in brackish waters and lasts until April.
The diadromous species (striped bass, tomcod, shad, sturgeons, river herring, and eels) made up 96% of the total commercial catch based on figures from 1968. Internet searches and library research concerning studies such as this showed a lack of investigation since that time. This underscores the need for further reseach studies that will discuss water monitoring for new species since 1968. This will reflect the current status of the river's non-human species and the effects of regulation of pollution by industry.
Furthermore, the number of species has increased, as evidenced by those caught by the Hudson River Fishing Association. Their numbers include catfish, weakfish, fluke, and bluefish, all species that were not represented in the 1968 study. It is wonderful to see the richness of so many different species so close to New York City.
Governor Pataki has a number of actions currently in progress to address the removal of PCBs and that will further regulate the amount of pollution that goes into the Hudson.
The Hudson is a real success story and demonstrates that its waters now provide a good environment for the many species that are reappearing. Today, in many places of the Hudson, it is once again safe to eat the river's fish and swim. However, in my view, the mixing of sewage water with the Hudson poses a threat to aqautic homeostasis. Future research should be conducted to explore ways to stabilize this precious water source while addressing the need for sewage treatment.
