Two species of black bass, smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu and spotted bass Micropterus punctulatus, are sympatric in both riverine and impounded sections of the New River, Virginia. Resource use (habitat and diet) by the two species was investigated to determine patterns and extent of resource partitioning between them and how those patterns might differ between lotic and lentic environments. Individual fitness indicators (i.e., growth and body condition factor) were also measured to assess performance of populations of the two species in the study areas. Fitness indicators suggested relatively good performance of both species in both river and impoundment, which implied that competitive pressures were not intense. Diet analyses indicated fairly high overlap in prey types consumed. High fitness combined with considerable diet overlap suggested that food availability was adequate, and that segregation in this impounded river system was not on a trophic basis. The two species were found to segregate spatially, with spotted bass predominant in the impoundment and smallmouth more abundant in the river. Spatial segregation was also apparent within both river and impoundment habitat types. / Master of Science

M. S.

The regional landscape of Appalachian was a testing ground for a method to define cultural landscape. Landscape Architects and land planners can learn from the existing landscape about the aesthetics and environmental constraints of an area to design and plan in such a way as to complement and strengthen regional character. This document describes in seven chapters the study undertaken to identify patterns in the cultural landscape along the New River. Chapter one introduces the study. Chapter Two explains the physical setting of the four physiographic provinces through which the New River flows. Chapter Three briefly gives an overview of the historical social context of the New River Corridor. Chapter Four describes the eleven sites surveyed as part of this research. The methods of the study are described in Chapter Five. The results of the research survey and statistical analysis are reported in Chapter Six. Lastly, Chapter Seven describes the current land uses within the four provinces, identifies the similarities between the landscape of the Blue Ridge and Great Valley Provinces and the dissimilarity of the Ridge and Valley and Allegheny Plateau Provinces. This chapter discusses how land planning profession could work to strengthen the Appalachian region along the New River and other regions with a unique cultural landscape. / Master of Landscape Architecture

The influence of physical parameters on spawning times of smallmouth bass and subsequent growth of young-of-the year was studied via the otolith aqeinq technique. Daily rings on the saqittae of young-of-the-year smallmouth bass were first formed the day of swim-up, and continued to be formed until growth was significantly reduced in the fall. Daily age estimates of young-of-the-year smallmouth bass collected from one unregulated section of the New River, two regulated sections of the New River, and two tributary streams of the New River were used to back-calculate spawning dates. Growth rates of young-of-the-year declined as fish got older. Smallmouth bass spawned early in the spawning season did not initially grow as rapidly as those spawned later. Spawning occurred from late-April through mid-July, 1982, at mean daily water temperatures ranging from 12.5 to 23.5 C. Frequency distributions of spawning dates were nearly identical among study sites, as were hydrological events. A major flood in June separated the spawning season at all study sites into t)lo distinct periods. Discriminant functions were developed from four water temperature variables that differentiated between daily stream conditions prior to the spawning season and daily stream conditions during the spawning season. Mean daily water temperature was the most important of the four variables in differentiating between groups of conditions. / Master of Science

Density estimates of the species and life stages in different habitat types were made from electrofishing collections and underwater fish counts. During midday, fish densities in edge pool and riffle habitats were comparable, but densities in edge pool habitat were significantly higher than densities in middle pool and run habitats. Snag and edge riffie habitats supported the highest densities of fish. Habitat use and activity shifts between daytime and nighttime were found for many species. Fish species and lifestage composition and densities differed among the habitat types, and five habitat-use guilds (edge-pool, middle-pool, edge-channel, riffie, and generalists) were described. Larger centrarchids preferred deep habitats with slow velocities (deep edge and middle pool, and snags), while young centrarchids preferred shallower habitat. However, all sizes of smallmouth bass were nearly ubiquitous in the habitats of the study area. The cyprinids and percis preferred shallow areas, but preferences for velocity differed among the species and lifestages. Spawning and habitat preferences of the endemic bigmouth chub, Nocomis platyrhynchus, were described. Bigmouth chubs used areas with plenty of small to large gravel (3-64 mm diameter), shallow depths, and moderate velocities for constructing spawning mounds. Bigmouth chubs were seen only using riffie and adjacent run habitat during late summer. Within these areas, depth, velocity, substrate, and cover were used in accordance with their availability, except for an avoidance of the shallowest available depths. Bigmouth chubs occupied positions near the substrate, where velocities were slower than the mean water column velocity. / M.S.

I studied the nest-site selection of the Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) in the George Washington National Forest of southwestern Virginia from early May through July 1996 and 1997. Data were collected from nine 30 ha study plots. I measured habitat features at 37 Acadian Flycatcher nests and compared them to 30 nonuse sites randomly selected within the vegetation types associated with nests. Because Acadian Flycatchers have a strong riparian habitat association for nest-site selection, nonuse sites were established along riparian corridors not occupied by nesting flycatchers. Data also were collected to determine relationships between microhabitat characteristics and nesting success of the Acadian Flycatcher. Nest-sites were associated with a more mature or climax community, as evident from the high percentage (75%) of nests in eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), a climax community tree species and the greater basal area found at nest-sites over nonuse sites. Nest-sites also had lower small stem density and ground cover than nonuse sites. Nest-sites were always found near streams, although I found no conclusive evidence that any stream characteristic influenced nest-site selection. Habitat features did not differ between successful and depredated nests. Brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) was not a major factor in the reproductive success of Acadian Flycatchers (only a 2% parasitism rate); depredation accounted for the majority of nest failures. These results suggest that silviculture activities near riparian corridors could drastically reduce habitat availability and subsequently contribute to population declines of the Acadian Flycatcher. Future research should focus on determining the size of riparian buffer strips needed to retain this species along riparian corridors in the Appalachian Mountains. This strategy can be applied to the current downtown revitalization efforts by the City of Muncie. The ideas and general theories can also be applied by small Indiana towns which suffer from economic problems. A comprehensive plan that is tailored specifically for a downtown which account for the organization, design, economic, and promotion needs of downtown will set the course for successful commercial revitalization. / Department of Biology

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 55 p. : ill., maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-50).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 36 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-36).

Thesis (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Includes abstract. Document formatted into pages: contains [83] p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-80).

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 95 p. : ill., maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-95).