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The Hudson RiverThe Hudson River
An Ecosystem of Aquatic LifeBy: William Larkin
An Ecosystem of Aquatic LifeBy: William Larkin
The Hudson RiverThe Hudson River
Hudson Facts Hudson Ecosystem Threats to the Hudson Ecosystem Cleaning up the Hudson Preserving the Hudson
Hudson Facts Hudson Ecosystem Threats to the Hudson Ecosystem Cleaning up the Hudson Preserving the Hudson
Table of Contents
Hudson FactsHudson Facts
Flows North to South through the State of New York
Begins at Lake Tear of the Clouds on Mount Marcy, New York State’s highest point and ends at the New York Harbor
Flows 315 miles long
Flows North to South through the State of New York
Begins at Lake Tear of the Clouds on Mount Marcy, New York State’s highest point and ends at the New York Harbor
Flows 315 miles long
Hudson FactsHudson Facts
While the upper half of the Hudson river, from Adirondack mountains down to Troy, is technically considered a river, the lower half of the river, from Troy to the New York Harbor, is an estuary, which is where a river connects to an ocean
While the upper half of the Hudson river, from Adirondack mountains down to Troy, is technically considered a river, the lower half of the river, from Troy to the New York Harbor, is an estuary, which is where a river connects to an ocean
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The Hudson EcosystemThe Hudson Ecosystem
The Hudson river has a complex ecosystem of plants and animals.
This ecosystem faces threats of human interaction, including pollution, human-made constructions, and the introduction of foreign species.
The Hudson river has a complex ecosystem of plants and animals.
This ecosystem faces threats of human interaction, including pollution, human-made constructions, and the introduction of foreign species.
PlantsPlants The Hudson river has an
extensive population of flora.
The most populous of the flora is phytoplankton, which is the microscopic staple of most aquatic animals’ diets.
The Hudson has both submerged plant species, which provide food for fish and waterfowl, and emergent (above water) plants that provide shelter and food for birds, fish, and invertebrates.
The Hudson river has an extensive population of flora.
The most populous of the flora is phytoplankton, which is the microscopic staple of most aquatic animals’ diets.
The Hudson has both submerged plant species, which provide food for fish and waterfowl, and emergent (above water) plants that provide shelter and food for birds, fish, and invertebrates.
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Patamogeton crispus, or curly pondweed, pictured above, is a common invasive plant in the Hudson river
Invasive Plant SpeciesInvasive Plant Species
Invasive species, such as the Trapa natans pictured above, rapidly take over ecosystems and are often harmful to the native plant and animal species
In the specific case of the Trapa natans, this foreign invader significantly lowers the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels in the water, which can be harmful to fish and any other aquatic animals that get their oxygen from the water
Invasive species, such as the Trapa natans pictured above, rapidly take over ecosystems and are often harmful to the native plant and animal species
In the specific case of the Trapa natans, this foreign invader significantly lowers the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels in the water, which can be harmful to fish and any other aquatic animals that get their oxygen from the water
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Invasive InvertebratesInvasive Invertebrates
Foreign invertebrates can also be harmful to native ecosystems in the Hudson River
The Dreissena polymorpha, or Zebra Mussels (pictured on the left), invaded the Hudson river and dramatically decreased the population of phytoplankton, an important part of the Hudson ecosystem
Foreign invertebrates can also be harmful to native ecosystems in the Hudson River
The Dreissena polymorpha, or Zebra Mussels (pictured on the left), invaded the Hudson river and dramatically decreased the population of phytoplankton, an important part of the Hudson ecosystem
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Fish of the HudsonFish of the Hudson
The Hudson river has benthic fish species, or bottom-dwellars, such as the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus oxyrhynchus) pictured top left
There are also nektonic fish species, or active swimmers, such as the Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) pictured bottom left
The Hudson river has benthic fish species, or bottom-dwellars, such as the Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus oxyrhynchus) pictured top left
There are also nektonic fish species, or active swimmers, such as the Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) pictured bottom left
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Invasive FishInvasive Fish
Many of the fish, plants, and invertebrates previously mentioned have been affected by introduced foreign species of fish
The European carp, or Cyprinus carpio, pictured to the right, has had detrimental effects to the native ecosystems of the Hudson river ever since its introduction
Many of the fish, plants, and invertebrates previously mentioned have been affected by introduced foreign species of fish
The European carp, or Cyprinus carpio, pictured to the right, has had detrimental effects to the native ecosystems of the Hudson river ever since its introduction
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Unnatural Ecosystem Destruction
Unnatural Ecosystem Destruction
The Hudson river has also been affected by man-made constructions and pollution that have contributed to species loss, habitat loss, and food loss for many Hudson plants and animals.
Piers, like the one located top left, have contributed to significant habitat destruction for many species of fish, including the Microgadus tomcod, or Tommy cod, pictured on the right
The Hudson river has also been affected by man-made constructions and pollution that have contributed to species loss, habitat loss, and food loss for many Hudson plants and animals.
Piers, like the one located top left, have contributed to significant habitat destruction for many species of fish, including the Microgadus tomcod, or Tommy cod, pictured on the right
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Unnatural Habitat Destruction: Pollution
Unnatural Habitat Destruction: Pollution
The Hudson river has been polluted over the years by large corporations dumping wastes as well as seepages and spillovers from roadways and constructions along the river
One of the most infamous incidents of pollution occurred when General Electric spilled 1.3 million pounds of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the Hudson between 1947 and 1977
The Hudson river has been polluted over the years by large corporations dumping wastes as well as seepages and spillovers from roadways and constructions along the river
One of the most infamous incidents of pollution occurred when General Electric spilled 1.3 million pounds of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the Hudson between 1947 and 1977
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Manufacturing plant on Upper Hudson River
Unnatural Habitat Destruction: Pollution
Unnatural Habitat Destruction: Pollution
General Electric ended the dumpings of PCBs, mentioned previously, in 1977 but sediments can still be found in the waters
PCB buildup can have high concentrations in some fish and other animals that humans consume
Consumption of PCBs can be very dangerous to human health, and parts of the Hudson are still not suitable for fishing
General Electric ended the dumpings of PCBs, mentioned previously, in 1977 but sediments can still be found in the waters
PCB buildup can have high concentrations in some fish and other animals that humans consume
Consumption of PCBs can be very dangerous to human health, and parts of the Hudson are still not suitable for fishing
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Signs from the Upper Hudson river indicate catch and release fishing only
Cleaning up the HudsonCleaning up the Hudson
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is overlooking a clean up of the PCBs in the Hudson river that is scheduled to begin in 2009
The Federal Clean Water Act helped clean the Hudson water dramatically by building and upgrading sewage plants
The United States Environmental Protection Agency is overlooking a clean up of the PCBs in the Hudson river that is scheduled to begin in 2009
The Federal Clean Water Act helped clean the Hudson water dramatically by building and upgrading sewage plants
Cleaning up the HudsonCleaning up the Hudson
The North River Sewage Treatment Plant, pictured above, is located on the West Side of Manhattan
Facilities like this remove large amounts of organic matter from entering the Hudson river
The North River Sewage Treatment Plant, pictured above, is located on the West Side of Manhattan
Facilities like this remove large amounts of organic matter from entering the Hudson river
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Preserving the HudsonPreserving the Hudson
There is still much to be done to preserve the Hudson river and its immense ecosystem
After the successes in environmental clean-up of the Hudson, Bald Eagles, which have been absent from the estuary for quite some time, have reappeared
After the appearance of 1 Bald Eagle nest in 1997, there are currently 18
There is still much to be done to preserve the Hudson river and its immense ecosystem
After the successes in environmental clean-up of the Hudson, Bald Eagles, which have been absent from the estuary for quite some time, have reappeared
After the appearance of 1 Bald Eagle nest in 1997, there are currently 18
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Bald Eagle located along Hudson river
Hudson river sunset
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SourcesSources Able, Kenneth W., John Manderson, Anne Studholme. “The Distribution of Shallow Water Juvenile Fishes in an Urban
Estuary: The Effects of Manmade Structures in the Lower Hudson River”, Estuaries Vol. 21, No.4, Part B (1998), http://www.jstor.org/stable/1353277 (Accessed March 7, 2009)
Belcher, Edith, Taylor Belcher, William Bryant II. “Natural History of the Hudson River”, Historic Hudson River Foundation (Dec., 14, 2004), http://www.hhr.highlands.com/nathist.htm (accessed March 7, 2009)
Caraco, Nina F., Johnathan Cole, Peter Raymond, David Strayer, Michael Pace. “Zebra Mussel Invasion in a Large, Turbid River: Phytoplankton Response to Increased Grazing”, Ecology Vol. 78, No. 2 (1997), http://www.jstor.org.avoserv.library.fordham.edu/stable/2266032?seq=1 (Accessed March 7, 2009)
Caraco, Nina F., Johnathan Cole. “Contrasting Impacts of a Native and Alien Macrophyte on Dissolved Oxygen in a Large River”, Ecological Applications Vol. 12, No. 5 (2002), http://www.jstor.org/stable/3099987 (Accessed March 5, 2009)
Department of Environmental Conservation, “Hudson River Virtual Tour”, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (2009), http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/25606.html (Accessed March 7, 2009)
Mills, Edward L., David Strayer, Mark Scheuerell, James Carlton. “Exotic Species in the Hudson River Basin: A History of Invasions and Introductions”, Estuaries Vol. 19, No. 4 (Dec., 1996), http://www.jstor.org/stable/1352299 (Accessed March 7, 2009)
U.S. Environment Protection Agency, “Hudson River PCBs”, EPA (2009), http://www.epa.gov/hudson/ (Accessed March 5, 2009)
Yuan, Zhanpeng, Simon Courtenay, R. Christopher Chambers, Isaac Wirgin. “Evidence of Spatially Extensive Resistance to PCBs in an Anadromous Fish of the Hudson River”, Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 114, No. 1 (2006), http://www.jstor.org/stable/3436631 (Accessed March 5, 2009)
Able, Kenneth W., John Manderson, Anne Studholme. “The Distribution of Shallow Water Juvenile Fishes in an Urban Estuary: The Effects of Manmade Structures in the Lower Hudson River”, Estuaries Vol. 21, No.4, Part
B (1998), http://www.jstor.org/stable/1353277 (Accessed March 7, 2009)
Belcher, Edith, Taylor Belcher, William Bryant II. “Natural History of the Hudson River”, Historic Hudson River Foundation (Dec., 14, 2004), http://www.hhr.highlands.com/nathist.htm (accessed March 7, 2009)
Caraco, Nina F., Johnathan Cole, Peter Raymond, David Strayer, Michael Pace. “Zebra Mussel Invasion in a Large, Turbid River: Phytoplankton Response to Increased Grazing”, Ecology Vol. 78, No. 2 (1997), http://www.jstor.org.avoserv.library.fordham.edu/stable/2266032?seq=1 (Accessed March 7, 2009)
Caraco, Nina F., Johnathan Cole. “Contrasting Impacts of a Native and Alien Macrophyte on Dissolved Oxygen in a Large River”, Ecological Applications Vol. 12, No. 5 (2002), http://www.jstor.org/stable/3099987 (Accessed March 5, 2009)
Department of Environmental Conservation, “Hudson River Virtual Tour”, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (2009), http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/25606.html (Accessed March 7, 2009)
Mills, Edward L., David Strayer, Mark Scheuerell, James Carlton. “Exotic Species in the Hudson River Basin: A History of Invasions and Introductions”, Estuaries Vol. 19, No. 4 (Dec., 1996), http://www.jstor.org/stable/1352299 (Accessed March 7, 2009)
U.S. Environment Protection Agency, “Hudson River PCBs”, EPA (2009), http://www.epa.gov/hudson/ (Accessed March 5, 2009)
Yuan, Zhanpeng, Simon Courtenay, R. Christopher Chambers, Isaac Wirgin. “Evidence of Spatially Extensive Resistance to PCBs in an Anadromous Fish of the Hudson River”, Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 114, No. 1 (2006), http://www.jstor.org/stable/3436631 (Accessed March 5, 2009)
