Geology Reports⌕ Search

SEARCH · Geology Reports

Results for “Transactions of the American Fishery Society”

Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources
USGS1997

Hybridization between introduced spotted bass and smallmouth bass in reservoirs

Introductions of black basses Micropterus spp. beyond their native ranges have led to hybridization within the genus. In the southeastern USA, the potential for hybridization appears high because species introductions have been common in reservoirs. We determined the extent of hybridization between smallmouth bass M. dolomieu and spotted bass M. punctulatus in reservoirs in which introductions of either species into the native range of the other species had occurred. Three allozyme loci were used to distinguish the two species and their hybrids. Significant hybridization occurred in two of three reservoirs where introductions had been reported. In Lake Chatuge, Georgia–North Carolina, where the Alabama subspecies of spotted bass M. p. henshalli was introduced, 77 of 276 fish had hybrid genotypes, and only 2 fish had genotypes of the native smallmouth bass. In Thurlow Reservoir, Alabama, where smallmouth bass were introduced and Alabama spotted bass were native, 3 of 17 fish had hybrid genotypes. Only I fish with a possible hybrid genotype was identified in two reservoirs containing native smallmouth bass and northern spotted bass M. p. punctulatus .

Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina↗
USGS1997

Episodic acidification and changes in fish diversity in Pennsylvania headwater streams

Current water chemistry and fish communities in 70 Pennsylvania streams were compared with historical records to determine whether fish species richness had declined and, if so, the possible role of acidification. First‐, second‐, and third‐order streams were selected, and stream sites sampled during the 1961–1971 survey were resampled during May and June 1994 in the Appalachian Plateaus province and during June 1995 in the Valley and Ridge province. Streamflow was measured and a habitat assessment was completed at each site. Dominant bedrock types influencing the stream sampling site were determined for the Appalachian Plateaus streams. Episodic water chemistry was collected for 39 of the 50 Appalachian Plateaus streams and 14 of the 20 Valley and Ridge streams during the winter and spring of 1996. Thirty‐eight (76%) streams of the Appalachian Plateaus province and 13 (65%) streams in the Valley and Ridge province had a loss of fish species since the 1961–1971 sampling period. Habitat scores were not related to losses of fish species. Of the 53 streams sampled during runoff episodes 22 (42%) increased in total dissolved aluminum by more than 50 μg/L, and 31 (58%) streams decreased in pH by 0.5 units or more. Minnows (Cyprinidae) and darters (Percidae) are sensitive to acidity and were the species most often lost. Streams draining watersheds of the Appalachian Plateaus province dominated by Pottsville bedrock had more acidic water quality during base flow and storm flow sampling periods than streams dominated by Pocono bedrock. The results of this study indicate that many Pennsylvania streams have undergone an alarming reduction in fish diversity during the past 25–34 years. In many of these streams the loss in fish diversity may be attributed to episodic acidification.

Pennsylvania↗
USGS1997

Effect of temperature and zooplankton abundance on growth and survival of larval threadfin shad

As a test of the match–mismatch hypothesis, we examined the effects of prey availability and water temperature on growth and survival of weekly cohorts of larval threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense in J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir, Georgia–South Carolina. Hatching dates were estimated from otolith increments, and availability of prey was estimated from the abundance of zooplankton size‐classes commonly eaten by larval threadfin shad. Growth rates of 31 cohorts ranged from 0.39 to 0.78 mm/d, demonstrating the potential for stage‐duration effects on cohort survival. Daily growth rate was related to water temperature and prey availability for larvae up to 21 d old. Growth increased linearly with water temperature up to 28°C, but the relation between growth and prey availability was more complex. Growth rate increased with prey density up to 160–290 organisms/L; at higher densities, growth rate decreased or was unchanged. Cohort survival ranged from 0.65 to 0.96 (per millimeter increase in length) and was significantly correlated with water temperature and growth rate but not with prey availability.

Georgia, South Carolina↗
USGS1997

Slow growth did not decouple the otolith size-fish size relationship in striped bass

Eight‐day‐old striped bass Morone saxatilis (6.17–6.22 mm, total length) were fed twice daily at three feeding rates to produce three growth rates. Fish were sampled once per week for 4 weeks to determine total length and otolith radius. Feed ration treatments resulted in discrete size‐classes of striped bass after 4 weeks with a 27% difference in mean length between the low and high feed ration treatments. No significant differences in slope or intercept for the regression of fish length on otolith radius were observed among treatments, suggesting that slow growth alone may not be sufficient to result in decoupling of the otolith size–fish size relationship in striped bass.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Effect of water acceleration on downstream migratory behavior and passage of Atlantic salmon smolts and juvenile American shad at surface bypasses

Behavior and passage rate of smolts of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and juvenile American shad Alosa sapidissima were compared between a standard (sharp‐crested) and a modified surface bypass weir that employs uniform flow velocity increase (1 m·s −1 ·m −1 of linear distance). Within the first 30 min after release, significantly more smolts passed the modified weir than the standard weir, but no differences in passage rate between weir types were noted for juvenile American shad. More Atlantic salmon smolts and juvenile American shad were passed by the modified weir in groups of two or more than were passed by the standard weir. Mean lengths of passed and nonpassed smolts were not significantly different between weir types, but American shad passed by the sharp‐crested weir were significantly smaller than nonpassed fish. Most individuals of both species that passed the modified weir maintained positive rheotaxis and strong swimming throughout the length of the weir. In addition to acceleration, visual cues may be an important factor in avoidance behaviors near bypass entrances. The observed reduction of delay time before passage and maintenance of school integrity may facilitate appropriate timing of emigration and enhance passage survival.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Ontogenic and spatial patterns in diet and growth of lake trout in Lake Michigan

Lake trout Salvelinus namaycush in nearshore waters of Lake Michigan grow faster than lake trout residing offshore on Sheboygan Reef, which is in midlake. We examined the stomachs of lake trout, spanning ages 1 through 16, caught in both nearshore and offshore environments of Lake Michigan during 1994 and 1995 to determine whether diet differences may be responsible for the difference in growth rate. A comparison of the diets, coupled with bioenergetics modeling, indicated that juvenile lake trout on Sheboygan Reef experienced slow growth due to low food availability rather than to cold water temperatures. The availability of appropriate‐size prey appeared to regulate lake trout growth. Small prey fish were probably not readily available to small (200‐ to 399‐mm total length) lake trout on Sheboygan Reef, a substantial portion of whose diet consisted of invertebrates; in contrast, nearshore juveniles had a nearly 100% fish diet. Growth rate on the reef remained slow through intermediate lake trout sizes (400–599 mm total length), presumably due to low availability of rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax on the reef. Once lake trout achieved total lengths of approximately 600 mm, they grew slightly faster on Sheboygan Reef than near shore, indicating that large (>170‐mm total length) prey fish were readily available to lake trout in the reef area. On a wet‐weight basis, alewife Alosa pseudoharengus dominated the diet of large (≥600 mm total length) lake trout from both the nearshore and offshore regions of the lake, although bloater Coregonus hoyi composed over 30% of the diet on Sheboygan Reef and in southeastern nearshore Lake Michigan. Size of alewife prey increased with lake trout size. The bloater population currently represents the bulk of the biomass of the adult prey fish community, so our diet analysis suggests that large lake trout are continuing to select alewives.

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin↗
USGS1998

Spawning migration of telemetered striped bass in the Roanoke River, North Carolina

The spring spawning migration is a key period for effective management of anadromous populations of striped bass Morone saxatilis. Information on migratory behavior is needed in order to develop appropriate harvest regulations and to conduct effective surveys while fish are on the spawning grounds. We used ultrasonic telemetry to estimate the timing and duration of the upriver spawning migration for the Roanoke River, North Carolina, population and to evaluate whether a short‐term fluctuation in temperature or flow would alter the distribution of telemetered fish on the spawning grounds. Seventy‐eight fish implanted with transmitters were released during 1993 and 1994. Twenty‐nine telemetered fish migrated upriver in 1994, and 14 telemetered fish entered the river in 1995. Migration of telemetered fish began in mid‐ to late April when water temperatures in the lower river reached 17–18°C. Males began their spawning migration significantly earlier than females in 1994; the difference was not significant in 1995. The 165‐km upriver migration took about a week, as did the downriver migration after the spawning season. In 1994 and 1995 respectively, males remained on the spawning grounds for averages of 22 and 21 d, females for 8 and 11 d. Because of shorter residency times only about half the telemetered females were on the spawning grounds at any one time during the peak of the spawning season. Striped bass remained on the spawning grounds during a short‐term temperature decrease of about 4°C (over 5 d) and an increase in flow from about 190 to 390 m 3 /s (over 1 d).

North Carolina↗
USGS1998

Relative abundance and lengths of Kendall Warm Springs dace captured from different habitats in a specially designed trap

A trap was designed to capture endangered Kendall Warm Springs dace Rhinichthys osculus thermalis (a subspecies of speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ) without being destructive to the habitat of the fish in Kendall Warm Springs Creek, Wyoming. Four experiments were conducted to determine differences in catch per unit effort (CPUE) and length frequencies of fish among differing habitat types. The CPUE was highest in channel habitats with current, and one experiment indicated that it was particularly high at vertical interfaces with vegetation. Longer fish were captured in channel habitats away from vegetation than in vegetated areas. The CPUE was significantly greater during the day than at night during one experiment, but no significant differences were observed among the other three experiments. The traps were easy and inexpensive to construct, could be used in a variety of stream habitats, and may have applications in other small streams for sampling small, benthic fishes.

Wyoming↗
USGS2000

The effects of dissolved gas supersaturation on white sturgeon larvae

Spill at dams has caused supersaturation of atmospheric gas in waters of the Columbia and Snake rivers and raised concerns about the effects of dissolved gas supersaturation (DGS) on white sturgeons Acipenser transmontanus. The timing and location of white sturgeon spawning and the dispersal of white sturgeon larvae from incubation areas makes the larval stage potentially vulnerable to the effects of DGS. To assess the effects of DGS on white sturgeon larvae, we exposed larvae to mean total dissolved gas (TDG) levels of 118% and 131% saturation in laboratory bioassay tests. Gas bubble trauma (GBT) was manifested as a gas bubble in the buccal cavity, nares, or both and it first occurred at developmental stages characterized by the formation of the mouth and gills. Exposure times of 15 min were sufficient to elicit these signs in larvae in various stages of development. No mortality was observed in larvae exposed to 118% TDG for 10 d, but 50% mortality occurred after a 13-d exposure to 131% TDG. The signs of GBT we observed resulted in positive buoyancy and alterations in behavior that may affect the dispersal and predation vulnerability of white sturgeon larvae. The exact depth distribution of dispersing white sturgeon larvae in the Columbia River currently is unknown. Thus, our results may represent a worst-case scenario if white sturgeon larvae are dispersed at depths with insufficient hydrostatic pressure to compensate for high TDG levels.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Evaluation of generalized habitat criteria for assessing impacts of altered flow regimes on warmwater fishes

Assessing potential effects of flow regulation on southeastern warmwater fish assemblages is problematic because of high species richness and poor knowledge of habitat requirements for most species. Our study investigated relationships between availability and temporal persistence of key habitats and fish assemblage structure at regulated and unregulated sites in the Tallapoosa River system. Fish assemblage characteristics at seven sites were quantified based on 1,400 electrofishing samples collected during 1994 and 1995. Physical Habitat Simulation (PHABSIM) programs were used to model availability and persistence of key habitats at regulated and unregulated sites. Associations between fish assemblages and availability or persistence of key habitats were identified via regression and analysis of variance. We found that hydropeaking dam operation reduced the average length of time that shallow‐water habitats persisted and also reduced year‐to‐year variation in the persistence of shallow‐water habitats compared with unregulated sites. Across sites and years, proportional representation of catostomids was positively correlated with persistence of shallow and slow‐water habitats during spring. Proportion of individuals as cyprinids was positively correlated with median availability of deep–fast habitat whereas proportion of percids was inversely related to median availability of deep–fast habitat. Mean fish density was positively correlated with the persistence of shallow and slow‐water habitats. Comparisons of key‐habitat measures and fish abundances between 1994 and 1995 at each site indicated that higher abundances of percids, catostomids, and cyprinids were associated with increased availability and persistence of shallow and slow‐water habitats in 1995. These findings demonstrate that the temporal and spatial availability of key habitats could serve as useful measures of the potential effects of flow alteration on lotic fish assemblages and suggest that both short‐term persistence of key habitats as well as annual variation in key‐habitat availability are important for maintaining diverse fish assemblages.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Estimation of invertebrate production from patterns of fish predation in western Lake Superior

We used bioenergetic models for lake herring Coregonus artedi , bloater Coregonus hoyi , and rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax to estimate consumption of zooplankton, Mysis , and Diporeia in western Lake Superior for selected years between 1978 and 1995. Total invertebrate biomass consumed yearly ranged from 2.5 to 38 g/m 2 with nearly 40% consumed between August and October in all years. Copepod zooplankton represented the largest proportion of biomass collectively consumed by the three species (81%), although rainbow smelt consumed almost twice as much Mysis as zooplankton. Growth efficiency was highest for rainbow smelt (3.84–16.64%) and lower for the coregonids (1.91–12.26%). In the absence of quantitative secondary production values, we suggest our estimates of predatory demand provide a conservative range of the minimum invertebrate production in western Lake Superior during the past 20 years.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Effects of a delayed onset of piscivory on the size of age-0 bluefish

Variation in advection or other physical forces may accelerate or delay arrival of young marine fishes into productive nearshore habitats, thereby affecting the length of the available growing season. The bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix is an oceanic spawner whose juvenile stages, upon entry into estuarine waters, become piscivorous and thereby experience greatly increased growth. Size attained during the growing season may therefore be determined by time of arrival into estuarine habitats. We exposed bluefish recently recruited to an estuary to three diet shift treatments in which test fish were fed adult brine shrimp Artemia sp. for 0 , 10, or 20 d before they were switched to piscine prey. Bluefish that had a delayed onset of piscivory were smaller after 40 d of growth, indicating that they did not fully compensate for prior periods of slow growth. These bluefish did exhibit immediate moderate growth compensation (about 6% over 10 d) resulting from increased consumption rates, but relatively low growth efficiencies prevented full recovery of their growth losses. Low growth efficiencies may have resulted from an induced developmental handicap or an energetic penalty for prolonged feeding on an Artemia diet. The timing of age - 0 bluefish recruitment into estuarine environments can have a lasting influence on size attained during the first growing season.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Diel movement of brown trout in a southern Appalachian River

Radio telemetry was used to monitor the diel movement of 22 brown trout Salmo trutta (268–446 mm in total length, TL) in the Chattooga River watershed. Forty-seven diel tracks, locating individuals once per hour for 24 consecutive hours, were collected for four consecutive seasons. High variability in movement both within and among individual brown trout resulted in similar seasonal means in total distance moved , diel range, and displacement. The majority of fish moved a total distance of less than 80 m within a diel range of less than 80 m and had a displacement of less than 10 m. Brown trout were more likely to occur in pool habitat independent of season or period of the day. Hourly movement patterns differed among seasons. During the winter and fall, trout moved only around sunrise; during the spring, they moved around sunrise, sunset, and intermittently throughout the night. Large brown trout (>375 mm, TL) were found to move greater total distances and establish wider diel ranges than small brown trout . Overall, most brown trout exhibited restricted diel movement within a single riffle–pool or run–pool sequence.

Georgia, South Carolina↗
USGS1998

Tag retention, growth, and survival of red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii marked with coded wire tags

Juvenile red swamp crayfish (or crawfish), Procambarus clarkii (20–41 mm in total length) were collected from a crayfish culture pond by dipnetting and tagged with sequentially numbered, standard length, binary‐coded wire tags. Four replicates of 50 crayfish were impaled perpendicular to the long axis of the abdomen with a fixed needle. Tags were injected transversely into the ventral surface of the first or second abdominal segment and were imbedded in the musculature just beneath the abdominal sternum. Tags were visible upon inspection. Additionally, two replicates of 50 crayfish were not tagged and were used as controls. Growth, survival, and tag retention were evaluated after 7 d in individual containers, after 100 d in aquaria, and after 200 d in field cages. Tag retention during each sample period was 100%, and average mortality of tagged crayfish within 7 d of tagging was 1%. Mortality during the remainder of the study was high (75–91%) but was similar between treatment and control samples. Most of the deaths were probably due to cannibalism. Average total length increased threefold during the course of the study, and crayfish reached maturity. Because crayfish were mature by the end of the study, we concluded that the coded wire tag was retained through the life history of the crayfish.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Effect of dietary amprolium on tissue thiamand Cayuga syndrome Atlantic salmon

Broodfish of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were fed either thiamin-deficient diets fortified with 0.05% and 0.1% amprolium chloride (Amp, a thiamin antagonist) or thiamin-sufficient diets (0% Amp and ASD2-30, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service open-formula feed) for 6 months before spawning. We observed Cayuga syndrome (CS) only in the fry produced from broodfish fed the amprolium diets. The percent fry mortality due to CS was less than 1% in the 0.05% Amp group and was more than 3% in the 0.1% Amp group. Free thiamin was the predominant form of thiamin in the eggs of all broodfish; concentrations were two orders of magnitude greater than that of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) and thiamin monophosphate (TMP). Free thiamin was greatest in eggs of broodfish fed the thiamin-sufficient diets. Total thiamin and TMP in red blood cells (RBCs) of broodfish fed the thiamin-deficient diets were reduced to the initial levels by the end of the study. Levels of free thiamin in RBCs were similar in all treatment groups at spawning, as were levels of TPP. Amprolium feeding significantly reduced total thiamin levels in heart, liver, and muscle but not in kidney. Except for thiamin found in eggs, TPP was the predominant form of thiamin in all the other tissues, whereas free thiamin was the least predominant. The data support the hypothesis that thiamin deficiency may cause Cayuga syndrome in Atlantic salmon sac fry. The low incidence of the syndrome in this study may be due to the short duration of the feeding trial or to the low levels of amprolium added to the diets.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗
USGS1998

Early life history stages of Gulf sturgeon in the Suwannee River, Florida

Egg sampling confirmed that Suwannee River Gulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi , a subspecies of Atlantic sturgeon A. o. oxyrinchus use the same spawning site at river kilometer (rkm) 215 from the mouth of the river each year. Forty-nine eggs were recorded in 1995, and 368 were recorded in 1996. Spawning began 4–7 d after the March new moon in both years and lasted 10–11 d; in 1996, a second 10-d spawning round began on the April new moon. Developmental synchrony among eggs recovered suggested several discrete spawning events in both years. Total eggs deposited for three 1996 sampling days was estimated as 405,600–711,000/d, approximating the fecundity range of a large female Gulf sturgeon . Eggs were found only in the southern half of the river , an area with surface currents of 0.5–1.5 m/s and numerous eddies producing reverse bottom currents of 0.1–0.5 m/s. Egg substrate consisted of bedrock limestone thinly overlain by fine sand and densely distributed elliptical gravel 2–10 cm in diameter. Eggs were found predominantly in depths of 2–4 m at water temperatures of 17–21°C, conductivities of 50–100 μS, and dissolved oxygen levels exceeding 5.0 mg/L. The Cody Scarp, 15 rkm above the spawning ground, may mark the upstream limit of spawning areas in the river . Three 2–4-month-old riverine juveniles (82–115 mm total length, TL) collected are the smallest yet captured from any river . Data for 18 riverine age-0 juveniles (to 350 mm TL) suggest that this stage lasts 6–10 months, terminating with migration of fish to the river mouth in January–February. Less than 2% of 461 juveniles captured at the estuarine river mouth (1990–1993) were under 350 mm TL. Riverine age-0 fish were collected over long shallow stretches (typically <4 m deep) of relatively barren sand (rkm 12–238).

Florida↗
USGS1999

Stock origins of Dolly Varden collected from Beaufort Sea coastal sites of Arctic Alaska and Canada

Anadromous northern Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma support a summer subsistence fishery in Beaufort Sea coastal waters. These same waters coincide with areas of oil and gas exploration and development. The purpose of this study was to assess variation in stock origins of Dolly Varden collected from sites along 400 km of Beaufort Sea coast. Mixed‐stock analyses (MSA) of allozyme data were used to compare collections from four sites (Endicott near Prudhoe Bay, Mikkelsen Bay, and Kaktovik in Alaska and Phillips Bay in Canada) and to assess variation in stock contributions among summer months and between 1987 and 1988. The MSA estimates for individual stocks were summed into estimates for three stock groups: western stocks from the area near Sagavarnirktok River and Prudhoe Bay (SAG), Arctic National Wildlife Refuge stocks (Arctic Refuge), and Canadian stocks. The MSA of Endicott samples taken in 1987 and 1988 did not differ among months in terms of contributions from local SAG stocks (range, 71–95%). Contributions from nonlocal (>100 km distant) Canadian and Arctic Refuge stocks were not different from zero in 1987, but contributions from Canadian stocks were so in July (17%) and August (20%) but not in September of 1988. Thus, stock contributions to Endicott collections were different between 1987 and 1988. Samples from the Kaktovik area in 1988 were different between months in terms of contributions from nonlocal SAG stocks (July, 7%; August, 27%). Significant contributions to these samples were made both months by Canadian (25% and 17%) and local Arctic Refuge stocks (68% and 56%). Among the four coastal sites, local stocks typically contributed most to collections; however, every site had collections that contained significant contributions from nonlocal stocks. The MSA estimates clearly revealed the movement of Dolly Varden between U.S. and Canada coastal waters. If local stocks are affected by oil and gas development activities, distant subsistence fisheries along the coast could also be affected.

Kaktovik, Mikkelsen Bay, Phillips Bay, Prudhoe Bay↗
USGS1999

Movements of adult chinook salmon during spawning migration in a metals-contaminated system, Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho

Spawning migration of adult male chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha was monitored by radio telemetry to determine their response to the presence of metals contamination in the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho. The North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River is relatively free of metals contamination and was used as a control. In all, 45 chinook salmon were transported from their natal stream, Wolf Lodge Creek, tagged with radio transmitters, and released in the Coeur d'Alene River 2 km downstream of the confluence of the South Fork and the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. Fixed telemetry receivers were used to monitor the upstream movement of the tagged chinook salmon through the confluence area for 3 weeks after release. During this period, general water quality and metals concentrations were monitored in the study area. Of the 23 chinook salmon observed to move upstream from the release site and through the confluence area, the majority (16 fish, 70%) moved up the North Fork, and only 7 fish (30%) moved up the South Fork, where greater metals concentrations were observed. Our results agree with laboratory findings and suggest that natural fish populations will avoid tributaries with high metals contamination.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗