Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: SHAD, ALABAMA

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: CLUPEIFORMES

Family: CLUPEIDAE

Genus: ALOSA

Species: ALABAMAE

Taxonomic Authority: JORDAN and EVERMANN

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G3

Status References: 008 , 013 , 014

Habitat Summary

"Spawns in large permanent streams, but spends most of adult life in the sea."

Primary Habitat: "Aquatic - river/stream"

References: 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occur in the lower Mississippi, Missouri, Meramec, Gasconade, and Osage rivers *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BOONE CALLAWAY ADAIR
COLE CAPE GIRARDEAU ANDREW
FRANKLIN CLARK ATCHISON
GASCONADE CRAWFORD AUDRAIN
JEFFERSON DENT BARRY
MARIES IRON BARTON
NEW MADRID LACLEDE BATES
OSAGE MILLER BENTON
PERRY MISSISSIPPI BOLLINGER
PULASKI MONTGOMERY BUCHANAN
ST. LOUIS PEMISCOT BUTLER
WARREN PHELPS CALDWELL
SCOTT CAMDEN
ST. CHARLES CARROLL
STE. GENEVIEVE CARTER
TEXAS CASS
WASHINGTON CEDAR
WEBSTER CHARITON
WRIGHT CHRISTIAN
CLAY
CLINTON
COOPER
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
JACKSON
JASPER
JOHNSON
KNOX
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OZARK
PETTIS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
VERNON
WAYNE
WORTH

References for distribution: 001 , 003 , 007 , 009

Distribution by Watersheds

Miss. R. from St. Louis to River Aux Vases
Meramec R.
Bourbeuse R.
Miss. R. from River Aux Vases to Ohio R.
Miss R. from Ohio R. to Arkansas Border
Osage R. from Bagnell Dam to Mo. R.
Gasconade R. from Headwaters to Big Piney R.
Gasconade R. from Big Piney R. to Mo. R.
Mo. R. from Little Chariton R. to Gasconade R.
Mo. R. from Gasconade R. to Miss. R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Eastern
Glaciated Plains: Lincoln Hills
Big Rivers: Lower Missouri
Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Big Rivers: Lower Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: Upper Ozark

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Riverine"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001 , 006

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 005

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Coleoptera (beetles); Not Specified
Trichoptera (caddisflies); Not Specified
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Not Specified
Osteichthyes (bony fishes); Not Specified
Branchiopods (Daphnia, Cladocera); Not Specified
Copepods (Cyclops, Calanus); Not Specified

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits 006

Adult Food Habits

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

Inland wetlands: permanent stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for egg niches requirements: 001 , 006

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Current velocity: swift current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 006

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 006

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: gravel
Current velocity: moderate current
Water level: permanently flooded
Elevation 301-500'
Elevation 501-1000'
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 006 , 011

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Big river habitat: main channel
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 003 , 012

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Big river habitat: main channel
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 003

Niche Requirement Summary

Big river habitat: main channel
Bottom type: gravel
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: moderate current
Current velocity: swift current
Elevation 301-500'
Elevation 501-1000'
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Stream order specified in comments(00260)
Stream order: eighth order stream
Stream order: ninth order or greater stream
Stream order: seventh order stream
Stream order: sixth order stream
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Forage by active pursuit *007*
033 In MO young collected only in late summer and early fall which might suggest that they migrate elsewhere after 1st summer of life *001*
038 An Osage river, MO collection showed young had attained a length 3.1 - 4.6" by late August *001*
001 Species is anadromous *001*

Life History Information

Migration patterns specified in comments(033)
Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Origin in state: native
Origin in state specified in comments(001)
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy specified in comments(004)
Foraging sites: water
Spawning site: flowing water
Spawning site: sand
Spawning site: gravel

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Forage by active pursuit *007*
033 In MO young collected only in late summer and early fall which might suggest that they migrate elsewhere after 1st summer of life *001*
038 An Osage river, MO collection showed young had attained a length 3.1 - 4.6" by late August *001*
001 Species is anadromous *001*

References for life history: 001 , 006

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
004 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
005 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
006 Laurence, G.C. and R.W. Yerger. 1966. Life History Studies Of The Alabama Shad, Alosa Alabamae, In The Apalachicola River, Flordia. Proc. 20th. Ann. S.E. Assoc. Game And Fish Comm. :260-273.
007 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv. 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
008 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
009 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
010 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
011 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Collection Records. Mo Dept Of Conservation, 1110 College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. 573-882-9880.
012 Unpb Gelwicks, G.T. 1995. Fish Movement Between The Lower Missouri River And A Managed Floodplain Wetland In Missouri. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Of Missouri-Columbia. 190 Pp.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
014 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.