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At least 1,315 records · Page 73Linked to original sources
USGS2025

Application of fin tissue for nonlethal stable isotope analysis of small-bodied fishes

Stable isotopes are commonly used to characterize food web structure and resource use by aquatic organisms. White muscle is generally preferred for stable isotope analysis of fishes. However, obtaining white muscle tissue typically requires lethal take or invasive sampling techniques, which are undesirable for small-bodied species or those of conservation concern. We assessed the use of fish fin as a nonlethal alternative to muscle tissue for stable isotope analysis of four small-bodied fishes native to the upper Red River drainage of Texas and Oklahoma, USA: plains minnow Hybognathus placitus , prairie chub Macrhybopsis australis , Red River shiner Alburnops bairdi , and Red River pupfish Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis . Fin isotope values were strong predictors of both δ 15 N and δ 13 C muscle isotope values (ANCOVA: δ 15 N: F 1,451 = 5312.09, P < 0.001; δ 13 C: F 1,451 = 7864.39, P < 0.001), although isotopic composition varied among species for δ 13 C ( F 3,451 = 4.29, P < 0.01). Species-specific regression models indicated positive linear relationships between fin and muscle isotope values (δ 15 N: P < 0.001, R 2 ≥ 0.80; δ 13 C: P < 0.001, R 2 ≥ 0.83) that did not vary significantly with body size or age of individuals. We suggest minimum total length thresholds for least destructive fin clipping at 70 mm, 62 mm, and 48 mm for plains minnow, prairie chub, and Red River pupfish, respectively. Nonlethal fin clipping may not be viable for Red River shiner within the size range reported here as multiple fins were required for routine analysis. Overall, we conclude that fin tissue may be used for δ 15 N and δ 13 C assessments to mitigate lethal take of imperiled, small-bodied fishes.

Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS2015

A review of the global relationship among freshwater fish, autotrophic activity, and regional climate

The relationship between autotrophic activity and freshwater fish populations is an important consideration for ecologists describing trophic structure in aquatic communities, fisheries managers tasked with increasing sustainable fisheries development, and fish farmers seeking to maximize production. Previous studies of the empirical relationships of autotrophic activity and freshwater fish yield have found positive relationships but were limited by small sample sizes, small geographic scopes, and the inability to compare patterns among many types of measurement techniques. Individual studies and reviews have also lacked consistent consideration of regional climate factors which may inform relationships between fisheries and autotrophic activity. We compiled data from over 700 freshwater systems worldwide and used meta-analysis and linear models to develop a comprehensive global synthesis between multiple metrics of autotrophic activity, fisheries, and climate indicators. Our results demonstrate that multiple metrics of fish (i.e., catch per unit effort, yield, and production) increase with autotrophic activity across a variety of fisheries. At the global scale additional variation in this positive relationship can be ascribed to regional climate differences (i.e., temperature and precipitation) across systems. Our results provide a method and proof-of-concept for assessing inland fisheries production at the global scale, where current estimates are highly uncertain, and may therefore inform the continued sustainable use of global inland fishery resources.

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries↗
USGS2001

Biochemical and molecular typing of Streptococcus iniae isolated from fish and human cases

Streptococcus iniae is an important bacterial pathogen of fish, causing up to 50% mortality in stocks, which has recently been associated with human infections. To determine whether S. iniae isolates from humans and fish are similar, the present authors examined the biochemical profiles and genetic relatedness of these isolates by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and repetitive primer polymerase chain reaction(REP PCR). The biochemical profiles differentiated between the human and fish isolates of S. iniae using pyrrolidonyl arylamidase, arginine dehydrogenase, ribose, β-glucoronidase and glycogen as markers. These biochemical results suggest that the fish and human S. iniae isolates are genetically different. However, RAPD and REP PCR do not have the discriminatory power to differentiate between these streptococcus isolates using five different RAPD primers and BoxA primer.

Journal of Fish Diseases↗
USGS2020

Coal-mining intensity influences species and trait distributions of stream fishes in two Central Appalachian watersheds

Documenting responses of biotic assemblages to coal-mining impacts is crucial to informing regulatory and reclamation actions. However, attributing biotic patterns to specific stressors is difficult given the dearth of preimpact studies and prevalence of confounding factors. Analysing species distributions and abundances, especially stratified by species traits, provides insights into how assemblage composition shifts occur. We evaluated stream habitats and fish assemblages along a mining intensity gradient in 83 headwater (2nd- and 3rd-order) streams of the upper Clinch and Powell river basins in Virginia. Our multivariate gradient (MINE.PC1) was based on percentages of watershed area covered by surface mine, underground mine and valley fill to represent spatial variance in mining intensity. MINE.PC1 was positively correlated with conductivity and percentage of substrate as cobble. Forty fish-assemblage metrics were analysed via boosted regression trees to assess assemblage responses to mining intensity, while accounting for environmental variation and spatial structure among sites. Conductivity and MINE.PC1 were strongly negatively related to occurrences of Fantail Darter ( Etheostoma flabellare ) and sculpin ( Cottus ) spp. Several taxonomic, trophic and reproductive metrics of assemblage composition responded strongly to mining intensity or its instream correlates. For example, coal mining favoured omnivore-herbivores, but inhibited invertivores, simple lithophils and nonsimple nonlithophils. We revealed distinct negative and positive responses to mining-related stressors, which suggest changes to macroinvertebrate prey availability and/or contaminant loads contribute to fish extirpations in coalfield streams. Future assessments of mining impacts on fish assemblages could be more instructive by including characterisations of physicochemical stressors and regionally calibrated biotic metrics with demonstrated sensitivity to mining.

Virginia↗
USGS2006

Habitat use by a Midwestern U.S.A. riverine fish assemblage: effects of season, water temperature and river discharge

The hypothesis that temperate stream fishes alter habitat use in response to changing water temperature and stream discharge was evaluated over a 1 year period in the Neosho River, Kansas, U.S.A. at two spatial scales. Winter patterns differed from those of all other seasons, with shallower water used less frequently, and low-flow habitat more frequently, than at other times. Non-random habitat use was more frequent at the point scale (4.5 m2) than at the larger reach scale (20-40 m), although patterns at both scales were similar. Relative to available habitats, assemblages used shallower, swifter-flowing water as temperature increased, and shallower, slower-flowing water as river discharge increased. River discharge had a stronger effect on assemblage habitat use than water temperature. Proportion of juveniles in the assemblage did not have a significant effect. This study suggests that many riverine fishes shift habitats in response to changing environmental conditions, and supports, at the assemblage level, the paradigm of lotic fishes switching from shallower, high-velocity habitats in summer to deeper, low-velocity habitats in winter, and of using shallower, low-velocity habitats during periods of high discharge. Results also indicate that different species within temperate river fish assemblages show similar habitat use patterns at multiple scales in response to environmental gradients, but that non-random use of available habitats is more frequent at small scales. ?? 2006 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Kansas↗
USGS2008

Common relationships among proximate composition components in fishes

Relationships between the various body proximate components and dry matter content were examined for five species of fishes, representing anadromous, marine and freshwater species: chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta, Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix and striped bass Morone saxatilis. The dry matter content or per cent dry mass of these fishes can be used to reliably predict the per cent composition of the other components. Therefore, with validation it is possible to estimate fat, protein and ash content of fishes from per cent dry mass information, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming laboratory proximate analysis. This approach coupled with new methods of non-lethal estimation of per cent dry mass, such as from bioelectrical impedance analysis, can provide non-destructive measurements of proximate composition of fishes. ?? 2008 The Authors.

Journal of Fish Biology↗
USGS2005

Hierarchical faunal filters: An approach to assessing effects of habitat and nonnative species on native fishes

Understanding factors related to the occurrence of species across multiple spatial and temporal scales is critical to the conservation and management of native fishes, especially for those species at the edge of their natural distribution. We used the concept of hierarchical faunal filters to provide a framework for investigating the influence of habitat characteristics and normative piscivores on the occurrence of 10 native fishes in streams of the North Platte River watershed in Wyoming. Three faunal filters were developed for each species: (i) large-scale biogeographic, (ii) local abiotic, and (iii) biotic. The large-scale biogeographic filter, composed of elevation and stream-size thresholds, was used to determine the boundaries within which each species might be expected to occur. Then, a local abiotic filter (i.e., habitat associations), developed using binary logistic-regression analysis, estimated the probability of occurrence of each species from features such as maximum depth, substrate composition, submergent aquatic vegetation, woody debris, and channel morphology (e.g., amount of pool habitat). Lastly, a biotic faunal filter was developed using binary logistic regression to estimate the probability of occurrence of each species relative to the abundance of nonnative piscivores in a reach. Conceptualising fish assemblages within a framework of hierarchical faunal filters is simple and logical, helps direct conservation and management activities, and provides important information on the ecology of fishes in the western Great Plains of North America. ?? Blackwell Munksgaard, 2004.

Ecology of Freshwater Fish↗
USGS2008

Habitat relationships with fish assemblages in minimally disturbed Great Plains regions

Effects of local environmental influences on the structure of fish assemblages were evaluated from 159 sites in two regions of the Great Plains with limited anthropogenic disturbance. These regions offered an opportunity to evaluate the structure and variation of streams and fish assemblages within the Great Plains. We used canonical correspondence analyses to determine the influence of environmental conditions on species abundances, species occurrences and assemblage characteristics. Analysis of regions separately indicated that similar environmental factors structured streams and fish assemblages, despite differences in environmental conditions and species composition between regions. Variance in fish abundance and assemblage characteristics from both regions was best explained by metrics of stream size and associated metrics (width, depth, conductivity and instream cover). Our results provide a framework and reference for conditions and assemblage structure in North American prairie streams.

Ecology of Freshwater Fish↗
USGS2014

A capture-recapture model of amphidromous fish dispersal

Adult movement scale was quantified for two tropical Caribbean diadromous fishes, bigmouth sleeper Gobiomorus dormitor and mountain mullet Agonostomus monticola, using passive integrated transponders (PITs) and radio-telemetry. Large numbers of fishes were tagged in Rio Mameyes, Puerto Rico, U.S.A., with PITs and monitored at three fixed locations over a 2-5 year period to estimate transition probabilities between upper and lower elevations and survival probabilities with a multistate Cormack-Jolly-Seber model. A sub-set of fishes were tagged with radio-transmitters and tracked at weekly intervals to estimate fine-scale dispersal. Changes in spatial and temporal distributions of tagged fishes indicated that neither G. dormitor nor A. monticola moved into the lowest, estuarine reaches of Rio Mameyes during two consecutive reproductive periods, thus demonstrating that both species follow an amphidromous, rather than catadromous, migratory strategy. Further, both species were relatively sedentary, with restricted linear ranges. While substantial dispersal of these species occurs at the larval stage during recruitment to fresh water, the results indicate minimal dispersal in spawning adults. Successful conservation of diadromous fauna on tropical islands requires management at both broad basin and localized spatial scales.

Journal of Fish Biology↗
USGS2014

Otolith microchemistry of tropical diadromous fishes: spatial and migratory dynamics

Otolith microchemistry was applied to quantify migratory variation and the proportion of native Caribbean stream fishes that undergo full or partial marine migration. Strontium and barium water chemistry in four Puerto Rico, U.S.A., rivers was clearly related to a salinity gradient; however, variation in water barium, and thus fish otoliths, was also dependent on river basin. Strontium was the most accurate index of longitudinal migration in tropical diadromous fish otoliths. Among the four species examined, bigmouth sleeper Gobiomorus dormitor , mountain mullet Agonostomus monticola , sirajo goby Sicydium spp. and river goby Awaous banana , most individuals were fully amphidromous, but 9-12% were semi-amphidromous as recruits, having never experienced marine or estuarine conditions in early life stages and showing no evidence of marine elemental signatures in their otolith core. Populations of one species, G. dormitor , may have contained a small contingent of semi-amphidromous adults, migratory individuals that periodically occupied marine or estuarine habitats (4%); however, adult migratory elemental signatures may have been confounded with those related to diet and physiology. These findings indicate the plasticity of migratory strategies of tropical diadromous fishes, which may be more variable than simple categorization might suggest.

Journal of Fish Biology↗
USGS1953

A modification in the technique of computing average lengths from the scales of fishes

In virtually all the studies that employ scales, otollths, or bony structures to obtain the growth history of fishes, it has been the custom to compute lengths for each individual fish and from these data obtain the average growth rates for any particular group. This method involves a considerable amount of mathematical manipulation, time, and effort. Theoretically it should be possible to obtain the same information simply by averaging the scale measurements for each year of life and the length of the fish employed and computing the average lengths from these data. This method would eliminate all calculations for individual fish. Although Van Oosten (1929: 338) pointed out many years ago the validity of this method of computation, his statements apparently have been overlooked by subsequent investigators.

Progressive Fish-Culturist↗
USGS1965

Lake trout fin-clipping rates at two national fish hatcheries

The successful stocking of the hatchery-reared lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Superior has imporved the outlook for rehabilitating stocks reduced to an extremely low level by predation from the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Marking the fish by fin-clipping to determine growth and survival benefits from holding young-of-the-year lake trout in the hatchery overwinter was begun in 1952-53 and continued through 1954-55. Boat and shore--and spring and fall--plants of yearlings were compared in subsequent experiments to reduce costs of planting and improve survival. Hatchery lake trout now are marked primarily to distinguish them from wild fish in assessment of natural reproduction. Year-to-year and local variations of the mark also supply information on individual plants. Recent large increases in numbers of lake trout stocked required development of an efficient, economical system of clipping fins on a mass-production basis. Data on marking rates were collected in 1958-63 at the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlifes's Pendills Creek and Charlevois National Fish Hatcheries (both in Michigan), where more than 3.5 million fish were fin-clipped.

Progressive Fish-Culturist↗
USGS1965

A review of advances in the study of diseases of fish: 1954-1964

STUDY OF DISEASE IN ANIMALS, INCLUDING MAN, has progressed rapidly in the past decade. Looking back, we find amazing success in the study of man's diseases and possibly only a little less success in studies of diseases of domesticated homeothermic animals. We who are interested in the poikilothermic animals may feel at times that we have not advanced so rapidly in our field. The reason for this may be closely associated with economics. The market for drugs and therapeutic agents is greater for domestic livestock than for cultured fishes. A larger income is derived from rearing domestic livestock. Therefore, more public funds are available for study of diseases of man and domestic livestock, while such funds are limited for the study of diseases of fish. The Federal and State fish-cultural systems, as well as colleges and universities, have been most active in research on fish disease and probably will continue to be so.

Progressive Fish-Culturist↗
USGS1988

Interrelations of oxygen concentrations, fish density, and performance of Atlantic salmon in an ozonated water reuse system

In a 16‐week study, we stocked duplicate groups of 3.3‐g Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) in 25‐fish increments (25 to 100 fish/6.5‐L jar) and in 250‐fish increments (250 to 1,000 fish/144‐L trough), in an ozonated, 100% closed water reuse system, to examine changes in fish performance in response to rearing at different densities and loadings within the system. Maximum rearing density (kg!m 3 ) reached 219 in jars and 125 in troughs. Maximum loading (ratio of fish weight to water flow) reached 0.45 kg/(L/min) in jars, and 0.79 kg/(L/min) in troughs. A rise in water temperature from 18.9 to 21°C during weeks 11 and 12 was accompanied by a drop in effluent dissolved oxygen (DO), followed by an increase in mortality and a decline in biweekly weight gain. Later declines in water temperature to 18.4°C, and reductions in biomass, were followed by reduced mortality and increased weight gain. In both jars and troughs, mortality increased when dissolved oxygen dropped to 6.5 mg/L or lower, water temperature reached 19.6°C, and biomass reached 50–75 kg/m 3 , or 0.1–0.2 kg/(L/min) flow. Changes in DO, weight gain, and mortality per unit change in density (kg biomass/m 3 ), were lower in jars than in troughs, but changes in these responses in terms of flow (kg/[L/min]) were lower in troughs. Results of this study suggest that, for optimum growth, survival, and feed conversion of Atlantic salmon in an ozonated water reuse system, dissolved oxygen should be at least 6.5 mg/L. Maintenance of an acceptable level of oxygen should minimize detrimental effects offish density or elevated water temperature.

Progressive Fish-Culturist↗
USGS1958

A possible cause of sunburn in fish

A LESION DESCRIBED AS A GRAY ΡATCH GENERALLY LOCATED ΑΝΤΕRIOR TO THE DORSAL FIN has been associated with high mortality of fish on numerous occasions in production hatcheries throughout the United States. This lesion has been called "sunburn" or "backpeel." No bacteria or other pathogens have been found in fish with these symptoms. For example, at a Montana hatchery in April 1956, mortality of 10 to 15 percent occurred daily and this lesion was the only syndrome found. On occasion, shade has prevented this condition and even restored affected fish to an apparent normal condition; thus there has seemed to be a correlation between sunshine and the condition in fish. To our knowledge, this has been the only therapy attempted.

Progressive Fish-Culturist↗
USGS2018

What environmental conditions reduce predation vulnerability for juvenile Colorado River native fishes?

The incompatibility of native Colorado River fishes and nonnative warm-water sport fishes is well documented with predation by nonnative species causing rapid declines and even extirpation of native species in most locations. In a few rare instances native fishes are able to survive and recruit despite the presence of nonnative warm water predators, indicating that specific environmental conditions may help reduce predation vulnerability. We experimented with turbidity, artificial blue water colorant, woody debris, rocks, and aquatic vegetation in a laboratory setting to determine if any of these types of cover could reduce predation vulnerability and confer survival advantages for juvenile bonytail Gila elegans, (mean = 70 mm TL), roundtail chub Gila robusta, (mean = 35 mm TL), humpback chub Gila cypha, (mean = 67 mm TL), and razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus (mean = 74 mm TL). Juvenile native fishes were exposed to predation by adult largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu, green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris, and black bullhead catfish Ameiurus melas, in overnight trials. Turbidity above 500 NTU reduced predation vulnerability by up to 50%, for the sight-feeding predators, but increased predation vulnerability to non-sight feeding predators such as flathead catfish and bullhead catfish. Turbidity was the only treatment which appeared to significantly alter predation mortality of native prey. These results may help to explain recent patterns of wild juvenile razorback sucker recruitment at the inflow of the San Juan River into Lake Powell and the inflow of the Colorado River into Lake Mead. These are both areas of high turbidity where flathead catfish are not currently present but other nonnative sportfish are relatively abundant.

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management↗
USGS2014

Gear and seasonal bias associated with abundance and size structure estimates for lentic freshwater fishes

All freshwater fish sampling methods are biased toward particular species, sizes, and sexes and are further influenced by season, habitat, and fish behavior changes over time. However, little is known about gear-specific biases for many common fish species because few multiple-gear comparison studies exist that have incorporated seasonal dynamics. We sampled six lakes and impoundments representing a diversity of trophic and physical conditions in Iowa, USA, using multiple gear types (i.e., standard modified fyke net, mini-modified fyke net, sinking experimental gill net, bag seine, benthic trawl, boat-mounted electrofisher used diurnally and nocturnally) to determine the influence of sampling methodology and season on fisheries assessments. Specifically, we describe the influence of season on catch per unit effort, proportional size distribution, and the number of samples required to obtain 125 stock-length individuals for 12 species of recreational and ecological importance. Mean catch per unit effort generally peaked in the spring and fall as a result of increased sampling effectiveness in shallow areas and seasonal changes in habitat use (e.g., movement offshore during summer). Mean proportional size distribution decreased from spring to fall for white bass Morone chrysops , largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides , bluegill Lepomis macrochirus , and black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus , suggesting selectivity for large and presumably sexually mature individuals in the spring and summer. Overall, the mean number of samples required to sample 125 stock-length individuals was minimized in the fall with sinking experimental gill nets, a boat-mounted electrofisher used at night, and standard modified nets for 11 of the 12 species evaluated. Our results provide fisheries scientists with relative comparisons between several recommended standard sampling methods and illustrate the effects of seasonal variation on estimates of population indices that will be critical to the future development of standardized sampling methods for freshwater fish in lentic ecosystems.

Iowa↗
USGS2020

Carbon dioxide-induced mortality of four species of North American fishes

Fisheries managers have a growing interest in the use of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) as a tool for controlling invasive fishes. However, limited published data exist on susceptibility of many commonly encountered species to elevated CO 2 concentrations. Our objective was to estimate the 24-h 50% lethal concentration (LC 50 ) and 95% lethal concentration (LC 95 ) of CO 2 for four fishes (Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss , Common Carp Cyprinus carpio , Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus , and Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi ). In the laboratory, we exposed juvenile fish to a range of CO 2 concentrations for 24 h in unpressurized, flow-through tanks. We developed a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the dose-response relationship for each fish species with associated uncertainty, and estimated 24-h LC 50 and LC 95 values based on laboratory trials for each species. The minimum concentration inducing mortality differed among cold water–adapted species and warm water–adapted species groups: 150 mg CO 2 /L for Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout and 225 mg CO 2 /L for Common Carp and Channel Catfish. We observed complete mortality at 275 mg CO 2 /L (38,672 microatmospheres [μatm]), 225 mg CO 2 /L (30,711 μatm), and 495 mg CO 2 /L (65,708 μatm [Common Carp]; 77,213 μatm [Channel Catfish]) for Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, and both Common Carp and Channel Catfish, respectively. There was evidence of a statistical difference between the 24-h LC 95 values of Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout (245.0 [222.2–272.2] and 190.6 [177.2–207.8] mg CO 2 /L, respectively). Additionally, these values were almost half the estimated 24-h LC 95 values for Common Carp and Channel Catfish (422.5 [374.7–474.5] and 434.2 [377.2–492.2] mg CO 2 /L, respectively). Although the experimental findings show strong relationships between increased CO 2 concentration and higher mortality, additional work is required to assess the efficacy and feasibility of a CO 2 application in a field setting.

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management↗