Clean Ocean Advocate, December 2009
October's creature, the largest bivalve of the Atlantic, was the surf clam, Spisula solidissima. A decline in surf clams has occurred in state waters and throughout the New York Bight over the last 30 years and may be a result of multiple factors. A Rutgers professor has suggested that the decrease in population is due to warmer water temperatures caused by global warming. Surf clams may live up to 25 years. Judge Herb C. Scallop thanks all who submitted guesses and congratulates the contest winner Mike Horan of Woodbine, NJ!
December's creature feature is a narrow fish that is typically 4 to 6 inches in length. The fish is found in shallow waters with sandy or light gravel seafloor. The fish congregates into dense schools and many can disappear quickly. To escape predators, the fish burrows into the sand. The fish is an important prey species for many fisheries and marine mammals here off the Jersey shore. For a chance to win a COA T-shirt, submit your guess to Judge Bay Striper by mail, fax, email (18 Hartshorne Dr., Suite 2, Highlands, NJ 07732; 732-872-8041; science@CleanOceanAction.org) or by visiting CleanOceanAction.org. Only one entry per person please.
(Coastal Creature Feature appears every other month in the Clean Ocean Advocate.)
PLEASE NOTE: Please only complete and send the following online form ONCE. After clicking "Here's my guess," a new window will appear saying "Thank you for your input!" Your form has been submitted and received; please do not click "Here's my guess" or fill out the form again. The page will reload/refresh.
