
Robert E SchmidtBard College at Simon's Rock · Science
Robert E Schmidt
Ph.D.
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91
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September 1984 - July 2014
Publications
Publications (91)
We report the capture of 10 Blackcheek Tonguefish (Symphurus plagiusa) in 2022 and 2023 at the northern end of their range. These specimens are the first records from the tidal Hudson River, and we document other tonguefish specimens from New York waters from previous records. We establish the identification of juveniles based on caudal fin ray cou...
Collections of vertebrates and macroinvertebrates over two years from 26 lentic temporary water bodies each surveyed 1-4 times, in Ulster and Dutchess counties in the Hudson Valley of New York, USA, resulted in identifications of 166 species. These included species resident in temporary waters that have life stages resistant to drying and freezing,...
We verified pre-settlement Sphoeroides spengleri (Bandtail Puffer) larvae by genetic sequencing and herein describe their morphology and pigmentation. The lead author collected the specimens on a North Carolina beach among stranded Sargassum, which may represent the first record of this species in the Sargassum community along the Mid-Atlantic Bigh...
Fishes documented from the Hackensack River are listed. This fauna is placed in the context of species in upstream habitats and species known from Newark Bay, Raritan Bay, and the mouth of the Hudson River.
We report the presence of Evorthodus lyricus (Lyre Goby) in a Hudson River tidal wetland in Yonkers, Westchester County, NY. This is the first record for this species in the Hudson River and the first published record north of the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. We also provide an identification key to the Oxudercidae and Gobiidae of the Hudson River.
This study resolves a significant impediment to the taxonomy of the Neotropical endemic hematophagous candirus by providing the first high‐resolution, CT‐based osteological descriptions of type and nontype specimens of Paracanthopoma parva, type species of the genus. We also describe the distinctive new species Paravandellia alleynei based on speci...
Open access issue of Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science.
Volume 62, Issue 1. 5 papers.
Larvae of the Smallscaled Spinycheek Sleeper (Eleotris perniger) in transition from saltwater to freshwater were identified using COI and 16S gene sequences and the morphology and color pattern were then described. Available freshwater habitat for this species on Montserrat is minimal and continued existence is threatened by potential water withdra...
We document the occurrence of the American freshwater goby
(Ctenogobius shufeldti) for the first time in northern New Jersey coastal
waters and summarize other observations from the state. Identification
was confirmed with field guides and keys. Presence of this species north of North Carolina is unusual.
Larvae and small juveniles of Caribbean Polydactylus species (Teleostei: Polynemidae) are rarely seen. Here we describe a juvenile individual of Polydactylus oligodon, the Littlescale threadfin, collected on Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, West Indies.
The cryptic invader, Ferrissia californica (Rowell, 1863) (Gastropoda: Planorbidae), was identified using specimens collected in freshwater streams on Montserrat, West Indies using mtDNA sequences. This is the first record of a freshwater limpet from Montserrat and the third ancyline reported from the Caribbean. Freshwater limpets are small and
diffi...
We present records of 3 clam shrimp species from New York: 2 spinicaudatan species - Eulimnadia agassizii (Agassiz Clam Shrimp; the first record for the state) and Cyzicus sp. (the second record of the genus from the state) - and Lynceus brachyurus (Laevicaudata; Holarctic Clam Shrimp; first reported from New York in 1883, is herein documented from...
Four populations of the large freshwater ostracod, Chlamydotheca unispinosa (Baird, 1862), were discovered on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. These are the first records of the species on Montserrat and extend its known distribution approximately 113 km northwest and 63 km southeast of the closest known populations on Îles des Saintes (Guadelou...
Recent accessions to the fish collection of the New York State Museum contained specimens of Myrophis punctatus (Speckled Worm Eel) from New York waters. This is the first published documentation of the species in New York based on specimens of the leptocephalus stage and juveniles. Its small size and behavior make the Speckled Worm Eel particularl...
Two species of gymnophthalmids are known to inhabit islands in the West Indies, the unisexual Gymnophthalmus underwoodi Grant, 1958 and the bisexual G. pleii Bocourt, 1881, but neither has been previously recorded on Montserrat. Small microteiid lizards were observed between 2008 and 2016 at 5 locations on Montserrat. Scale counts and mitochondrial...
The marine fish fauna of New York represents a highly diverse species assemblage, composed of both migratory and resident taxa that utilize a wide variety of habitats. Recently, the New York State Museum took possession of Dr. Howard Reisman's personal ichthyology collection, which included many specimens from Shinnecock Bay, Long Island. Examinati...
The presence of the freshwater polychaete, Namanereis hummelincki (Augener), on Montserrat is documented for the first time. Although collected in the sediment of a freshwater stream, this subterranean species most likely lives in groundwater aquifers. A mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence obtained from this material support...
This document summarizes field work done in 2015 the status of American eel (Anguilla rostrata) populations in the vicinity of perched culverts in the Hudson Valley. Streams were sampled both downstream and upstream of the culverts to determine the presence and abundance of American eel.
The invasive Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra Mussel) has greatly altered the zoo-plankton community of the Hudson River by reducing the abundance of native zooplankton and inundating the system with its free-swimming veliger larvae. Since the invasion, there has been a reduction in pelagic fishes, including Alosa sapidissima (American Shad), which is t...
In recent decades eel populations have declined across the globe, making them of increased research and conservation interest. The catadromous, semelparous and panmictic nature of eels make them difficult to study and manage. The sexually mature life stage (silver eel) is relatively understudied, yet the transition to a silver eel is critical for s...
We collected data on the distribution, sex, size, fecundity, and food habits of a newly discovered population of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Oriental Weatherfish) in the Hudson Valley, NY, Oriental Weatherfish were distributed throughout the Dwaar Kill in Orange and Ulster counties and at least 7 kin of the Wallkill River, principally in the soft s...
Hypsoblennius hentz (Lesueur) larvae are described from specimens recently collected in the vicinity of New York Harbor and Raritan Bay. Previous descriptions (Hildebrand and Cable 1938) were erroneous and additionally we provide the first yolk-sac larval descriptions for Western Atlantic Hypsoblennius. H. hentz larvae are distinguished from the ot...
Description of the Larvae of Feather Blenny
(Hypsoblennius hentz) from New York Waters
Paul A. Moccio, Robert E. Schmidt and Kathy Schmidt
Hildebrand and Cable (1938) originally described feather blenny (Hypsoblennius hentz) larvae, but their descriptions were confounded with other genera of blennies from North Carolina waters. The feather bl...
The Oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) is a popular aquarium pet and lesser known as a food source or baitfish. Commonly referred to as the Dojo, Asian pond, weather, or Japanese/Chinese ‘loach’, etc.; it is a subtropical and temperate species native to Asia that has successfully invaded various waters in Europe, Australia, and the U...
Recent establishment of invasive Alosa pseudoharengus (Alewife) in Lake Champlain and in the lake's watershed has been cause for concern. Based on three larval specimens newly discovered in the New York State Museum collections, we document Alewife in Lake Champlain in 1929. Therefore, there has been at least one early unsuccessful introduction of...
The Europeans that entered the Hudson River in 1609 and the years immediately following entered a system with a fish assemblage that included almost a dozen diadromous species, several estuarine species, and many freshwater species. Actual numbers for population size of any given species are not available, but every early account noted the abundanc...
Exuviae of Chinese mitten crab were collected in the Saw Kill, a small tributary to the fresh-tidal Hudson River, in summer and early fall 2008. Most exuviae were found in July when water temperatures exceeded 21ºC and numbers declined with subsequent decreasing water temperatures. Sizes ranged from 12 to 45 mm CW and all were considered to be in t...
Over two seasons, we observed passage of American eels Anaguilla rostrata at an eel passage facility (eel ladder) placed adjacent to in upland mill dam on it small tributary to the Hudson River. New York. American eel use of the ladder wits significantly correlated with freshets and moon phase, similar to other studies of eel migration. Most of the...
We document the discovery of the mimic shiner, Notropis volucellus (Cope), in the Connecticut portion of the Connecticut River drainage. Mimic shiner can be distinguished from similar northeastern minnows in the field by the combination of a uniform silvery color, large eye, nearly terminal mouth, and a distinctive line of black pigment beginning a...
We analyzed 73 eels, collected in 2004 and 2005 above the head of tide in six Hudson River tributaries, for total PCBs, length, weight, age, and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ15N). Mean total PCB concentration (wet weight basis) was 0.23 ppm ± 0.08 (standard error), with a range of 0.008 to 5.4 ppm. A majority of eels (84%) had concentrations be...
The spatial and temporal distribution of young of year searobin (Prionotus) was delineated in the Hudson River from museum specimens. All young searobins in the Hudson River were Prionotus evolans (L.). The smallest young striped searobin are found in the southern estuary in July and they move farther upriver as they grow. Most individuals leave th...
Populations of American eel Anguilla rostrata along the eastern coast of North America have declined drastically for largely unknown reasons. We examined the population dynamics of American eels in six tributaries of the Hudson River, New York, to quantify their distribution and the impacts of anthropogenic stressors. With up to 155 American eels p...
We document the discovery of Campostoma anomalum (Central Stoneroller) in the tidal mouth of the Poestenkill, a Hudson River tributary in Troy, NY. This is the first record of the species from a tidal habitat and is a range extension of approximately 68 km downstream from the Mohawk River.
We report new records of the Clam Shrimp, Caenestheriella gynecia Mattox 1950, from three localities in the Hudson Valley of New York and one locality in northeastern New Jersey. All of our specimens were collected in puddles on dirt roads. The New Jersey specimens have meristics that are well within the range of Caenestheriella Daday 1915; however...
We document the occurrence of a natural hybrid between the Eastern Mudminnow, Umbra pygmaea (DeKay 1842) and the Central Mudminnow, U. limi (Kirtland 1840). Hybrid individuals were collected in a supratidal pool in a fresh-tidal marsh in the Hudson River, New York. ANOVA, ANCOVA, principal components analysis, and discriminant function analysis of...
We examined long-term ecological change in two Hudson River tributaries, the Wappinger and Fishkill Creek watersheds in Dutchess
County, New York State. Fish data spanning 65years (1936, 1988, 1992, and 2001) and shorter term macroinvertebrate data (1988,
2001) were used to assess the influence of land use practices. Between 1988 and 2001, macroinv...
The Hudson River Estuary is a comprehensive look at the physical, chemical, biological and environmental management issues that are important to our understanding of the Hudson River. Chapters cover the entire range of fields necessary to understanding the workings of the Hudson River estuary; the physics, bedrock geological setting and sedimentolo...
The main channel of the Hudson River is a tidal estuary from its mouth in New York Harbor to Troy, New York, 247 km upstream. It drains about 35,000 km2 and is an important navigational, commercial, and recreational system. Since the arrival of European settlers over 400 years ago, it has undergone numerous environmental changes. These changes have...
A series of larvae of Percina peltata (Pisces: Percidae) was collected from the Neversink River, a Delaware River tributary, in spring of 2001 and 2002. We provide descriptions and illustrations of yolk sac larvae and post yolk sac larvae through the end of larval development. The larval morphol- ogy of P. peltata is plesiomorphic for the clade of...
Recently collected specimens document the presence of the Mudpuppy at the mouths of tributaries draining into the tidal Hudson River in Columbia and Greene Counties, NY. In this study, we summarize historic records of Mudpuppy from the Hudson River. Examination of these records, Mudpuppy distribution elsewhere, and the distribution of riverine New...
We examined long-term data sets from large rivers in the northern, central, and southern parts of the ranges of anadromous river herring (alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and blueback herring A. aestivalis) to assess the current status of these species and for evidence of fishery-induced effects on their demographic characteristics. Both species show s...
A small benthic juvenile scrawled cowfish, Acanthostracion quadricornis (Linnaeus 1758), is reported from the Hudson River. A description of this life stage is provided and the specimen is identified as a scrawled cowfish based on several morphological characters.
Blueback herring is an anadromous fish endemic in the tidal Hudson River Estuary, USA. Twentieth-century improvements to a lock and canal system permitted the species to invade the Hudson’s main tributary, the Mohawk River, where it has been recorded since the 1930s. Moving westward over time, individuals were collected in Lake Ontario, approx. 275...
Sorubim elongatus, new species, is described from the Amazon, Essequibo, and Orinoco basins in northern South America where it is sympatric and syntopic with the more familiar S. lima. This medium-sized (to 300 mm SL) pimelodid shares several morphological similarities with congeners that have helped to obscure its formal taxonomic recognition and...
Five species of fishes collected in 1998 from two tributaries of the Housatonic River, Berkshire County, Massachusetts were analyzed for total PCB content. The PCB content was significantly higher in fish in the stations closest to the tributary confluence, although there were no differences between the tributaries. Migration of fish between the ma...
Striped bass Morone saxatilis and white perch M. americana are sympatric in rivers and estuaries across a broad region of eastern North America. Discrimination of their larvae is often an important but problematic component of large ichthyoplankton monitoring programs: their larvae are morphologically similar (particularly at the post-yolk-sac stag...
Drift of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) fry was documented from Stockport Creek, a tributary to the Hudson River estuary, New York. This drift was not correlated with high flow events, very low light levels, high turbidity, or rapid temperature changes normally associated with catastrophic drift. We interpret the smallmouth bass drift in th...
The bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) may well be the most abundant estuarine fish on the Atlantic coast. Bay anchovies serve as an important forage fish for valuable commercial species. They are pel-agic macrozooplankton feeders and may compete for those resources with Alosa spp. and larval and juvenile Moronidae. The data presented in this paper are...
Freshwater tidal marshes are suspected to be important nursery areas for Hudson River fishes. Several recent studies on Tivoli South Bay, a tidal marsh dominated by water-chestnut (Trapa natans), provided an initial estimate of the role of this marsh as habitat for fish larvae. Drift net samples of the inlet stream (Saw Kill) indicated that larvae...
Two key features of river watersheds are the geographical extent and their occupation by humans. The authors describe the Hudson river basin and its urban-rural gradient, in particular changes in the ecosystem structure along the gradient and in fish production. -S.J.Yates
A map illustrates the distribution of leopard frogs (R. pipiens and R. utricularia) in the region. Rana pipiens is uncommon at the southern edge of its range and may be vulnerable to extirpation by development. -from Authors
New locations of the rare Haemomaster venezuelae (Pisces: Trichomycteridae) are described. One new record is from the Rio Orinoco, Venezuela, four are from the Essequibo drainage, Guyana.
Two eastern Pennsylvania populations of the cutlips minnow, Exoglossum maxillingua, were studied; one from the Delaware River drainage and the other from the Susquehanna. Specimens were collected by electroshocker during July 1979. Gut content analysis revealed that the cutlips minnow diet varied with age. Major food items included larval trichopte...
Large variation in presence and size of barbels and development of barbel papillae in longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae) is described. Larger dace seemed to have larger barbels and more papillae but the correlation coefficients for these relationships are low.Barbels are not recommended as a character for defining North American minnow genera a...
The Black-hooded Parakeet or Nanday Conure (Nanday us nenday) is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay (Forshaw, 1978, p. 407) but it-has escaped into the wild in the New York metropolitan area over the last 20 years (Bull, 1973 and Roscoe, et al., 1976). Bull (1973) reported nesting attempts in New Jersey and a fledgling was seen in W...
Surface discharges from 134 Hudson River principal Industrial and Municipal facilities over a two-year period indicate that compliance with the State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) effluent limits is low. The frequency and magnitude of excursions (violations of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's limits) tend t...
Selected aspects of the biology of the European bitterling Rhodeus sericeus in southern New York were investigated as a preliminary determination of the impact of this species on the native ecosystem. There are about 900 bitterlings in the only extant North American population. The oldest specimen was in its fourth summer (III +) and all were matur...
A freshwater population of the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, was sampled during summer and autumn 1979, from the Bronx River, New York. Other occurrences in freshwater of this common
estuarine cyprinodontid fish have been noted in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Canada. In the Bronx River, this species is
a significant part of the fauna and is...
Selected aspects of the ecology of the swamp darter (Etheostorna fusiforme) were investigated to verify its distribution, to collect life history data and to reconstruct its geographic history in southern New England. The unusual distribution pattern in Connecticut (Whitworth et al., 1968) was confirmed. Ponds with vegetation and detrital sediments...
The purpose of this study was to make a general fisheries survey of the Thames River Watershed as part of an overall project of the Department of Environmental Protection to introduce or reintroduce anadromous fishes into that watershed. The