The Hudson River is one of the most biologically productive rivers in the east, even though it has been polluted in the past. It supports many tidally dependent plant and animal communities. Its hundred and fifty miles of tidal river, or estuary, is really a food factory, particularly in the marshes. Marsh plants such as cattails create, in their leaves, roots and seeds, food and shelter for muskrats, snapping turtles, ospreys, migrating waterfowl, and other wildlife. In the fall, these plants decay slowly, returning nutrients to the river. These are mixed with the flow from tributary streams and from the sea. Plankton, microscopic algae and animals, which color the water green, utilize these nutrients and in turn make food for many fish species, as well as crabs and turtles. There are Hudson River scientific studies conducted that add to the value of the river as a field of biological research. The Hudson is not simply a static body of water in which organisms are either land dwellers or entirely aquatic. The tides divide the river's banks into several wetland communities, each with a unique mix of plants and wilflife.
There is a great abundance of fish in the Hudson, which use the river as a home or place to reproduce. Over 100 species of fish swim in its waters, from shad and striped bass to eels, anchovies, perch, blue crab, sturgeon, large and smallmouth bass, sunfish and trout. In 1995, about 206 species of fish were recorded. Some are permanent dwellers while others like the shad are ocean dwellers that return to the river to spawn.
Estuaries, such as Constitution Marsh, act as nurseries for many Hudson River fish. Fish common to the Hudson River, which are bottom dwellers (benthic), include Sturgeon, Catfish, Flounder, Hogchokers, and eels. Fish that inhabit the open water (nektonic) include river herring, basses, bluefish, sunfish, carp killfish, and minnows. However, in 1994 the New York State Department of Health advised that women and children should eat no fish from the Hudson River because of the high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in fish living in the Hudson.
There are also plans in the works for a Hudson River Aquarium. The Hudson River Aquarium is planned as an 80, 000 to 120, 000 square foot complex overlooking the Hudson River and showcasing regional aquatic life through exhibits, interactive educational displays, and related research and educational facilities. Dramatic exhibits will also display the creatures and habitats for other aquatic environments such as: Coral Reefs of Forida or Australia, the Red Sea area, and the Rain Forest of Brazil.
The purpose is to provide enhanced educational opportunities and stimulate regional economic growth. The facility will also provide opportunities for students to become closely involved with the aquatic life of the aquarium in order to expand their knowledge of the ecosystems of the Hudson River.
