Bythotrephes longimanus is an invasive, macroinvertebrate from Eurasia that was introduced into the Great Lakes region in the mid 1980s. Bythotrephes introductions into lake ecosystems have resulted in substantial changes in zooplankton communities, including declines in species richness, abundance, biomass and production. Changes in zooplankton communities may alter the quantity and quality of prey to other predators such as cisco (Coregonus artedii), a pelagic forage fish. Here, I conduct a current day comparison of cisco populations to determine if prey consumption by cisco differs in the presence of Bythotrephes, and whether changes in diet result in energetic consequences (changes in growth and condition) for cisco. Effects of Bythotrephes on native zooplankton communities have resulted in substantial changes in the variety and proportion biomass of zooplankton and macroinvertebrate prey types in cisco stomachs, which have in turn modified growth of cisco. Cisco taken from invaded lakes achieve greater total lengths but changes in condition were not detected. This effect may be driven by improved growth in the second and subsequent growing seasons, suggesting that growth consequences for young fish (that do not feed on Bythotrephes) are different than for older individuals. Length-at-structure age data indicate that by the end of the first growing season (age 1) cisco achieve comparable total body lengths in invaded and reference lakes, suggesting that food consumption by young cisco remains unchanged by Bythotrephes. Alternatively, young cisco forage may be reduced in the presence of Bythotrephes, resulting in decreased survival and similar growth among individuals that survive to age 1. In contrast, despite changes in the zooplankton community; growth of older fish (≥ age 2) was enhanced in lakes that have Bythotrephes. Improved growth among older cisco (≥ age 2) in invaded lakes may be related to the presence of a newly attainable, high energy prey source (Bythotrephes). Alternatively, enhanced growth may be explained by lower competition due to reduced recruitment of young cisco (≤ age 1) in invaded lakes. Increased knowledge regarding the effects of Bythotrephes on growth of cisco is important in furthering our understanding of its impact on lake ecosystems. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 22:46:07.756

No description available.

This study is another phase of the overall research program designed to furnish basic information for the management of East Texas lakes and has as its specific purpose the determination of the age and growth characteristics of two valuable species on these waters. The species to be considered are the black crappie, Pomoxis nigro-maculatus (Le Sueur) and the white crappie, Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque. Both species are highly regarded as food fish and have for many years offered recreational outlets for Texas fishermen.

The knowledge of population dynamics is basic for establishing management plans. This study is especially important for species of mullets that form are important part of fisheries in several countries, including Brazil. Added to these factors the dearth of studies on co-occurrence of congeneric species, makes resource management based on technical and scientific bases unsounded. The main objectives of this thesis are: a) to identify patterns that resulted from spatial and temporal occurrences during the life cycle of M. curema and M. curvidens, b) to estimate the parameters of von Bertalanffy growth and understand the dynamics of the life cycle of M. curema in the estuary of San Antonio - Alagoas, Brazil. For this purpose, monthly samples were taken (between September/09 agosto/10) in the estuary of San Antonio, north coast of Alagoas, Brazil. The results indicate that there is a spatial segregation of species. M. curema was more abundant in marine than estuarine environments, unlike M. curvidens, more abundant in estuarine environments. During the low rainfall period the abundance of both species is higher. Thus, there was segregation in the spatial and temporal use of marine and estuarine environments by the two species, which may indicate different strategies of M. curema and M. curvidens to optimize use of available resources. The result of this optimization would be to maximize growth. The growth parameters estimated for M. curema are: L∞ = 40,85 cm; k = 0,21, t0 = -1,93, (A0,95) = 12,33 anos. Natural mortality was estimated at 0.25. The relative marginal increment analysis indicated that in February there was a significant decrease in growth rate, as a consequence the formation of an opaque ring. This period was characterized by reduced food availability in the environment and the physiological preparation for breeding. In this context, this study may serve as a basis for management plans in the study area. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / O conhecimento de dinâmica populacional é importante para estabelecimento de qualquer plano de manejo, especialmente para espécies de mugilídeos, que representam uma parcela importante da pesca em vários países do mundo, inclusive no Brasil. Soma-se a estes fatores a escassez de estudos sobre co-ocorrências de espécies congenéricas, que inviabiliza a gestão do recurso com bases técnico-científicas. Dessa forma os principais objetivos da presente dissertação são: a) identificar padrões relacionados ao ciclo de vida de M. curema e M. curvidens resultantes da co-ocorrência espacial e temporal destas espécies em ambientes de um estuário tropical b) estimar os parâmetros de crescimento de von Bertalanffy e compreender a dinâmica do ciclo de vida de M. curema no estuário do rio Santo Antônio. Para tanto, coletas mensais foram realizadas (setembro/09 a agosto/10) no estuário do rio Santo Antônio, litoral norte de Alagoas, Brasil. Os resultados indicam que existe uma segregação espacial das espécies: M. curema foi mais abundante em ambientes marinhos do que estuarinos, diferente de M. curvidens que foi mais abundante em ambientes estuarinos. Variações sazonais definidas pela pluviosidade resultaram importantes para explicar a abundância das espécies ao longo do ano. Baixa pluviosidade se relaciona com as maiores abundâncias de ambas as espécies. Dessa forma, observou-se segregação espacial e temporal das espécies em relação ao uso de ambientes estuarinos e marinhos, fato que pode indicar estratégias diferenciadas de M. curema e M. curvidens para otimizar o uso dos recursos disponíveis. O resultado desta otimização seria maximizar o crescimento. Os parâmetros de crescimento estimados para M. curema foram: L∞ = 40,85 cm; k = 0,21, t0 = -1,93, (A0,95) = 12,33 anos. A análise do incremento marginal relativo indica que em fevereiro houve uma diminuição significativa no ritmo de crescimento, como conseqüência a formação de um anel opaco. Este período foi caracterizado pela redução do ritmo alimentar, assim como a preparação fisiológica para a reprodução. Neste contexto, o presente estudo pode servir como base para planos de manejo na área de estudo.

Les estuaires et les zones côtières constituent des territoires à fort enjeux stratégiques économiquement et pour l'environnement. Ils assurent de nombreuses fonctions biologiques et écologiques dont celle de nourricerie et de frayère pour les poissons. Ces écosystèmes sont pourtant soumis à de multiples facteurs de stress, à la fois naturels et anthropogéniques, qui peuvent représenter une menace potentielle envers les organismes aquatiques, en particulier pour les espèces commerciales de poissons. Dans ce contexte, les effets de facteurs de stress environnementaux tels que la contamination chimique et les efflorescences algales nuisibles (HABs) ont été étudiés par des approches in situ et expérimentale (microcosme et mésocosme) sur deux espèces de poissons : le flet (Platichthys flesus) et le bar (Dicentrarchus labrax). Durant cette thèse, nous avons utilisé différents indicateurs pour déterminer les réponses des poissons aux stress environnementaux. Parmi ces outils, nous avons utilisés des indices de croissance et condition, des biomarqueurs moléculaires et des paramètres immunologiques. / Estuaries and coastal areas are essential fish habitat as nursery and spawning but characterized by the presence of multiple interacting stressors, both natural and anthropogenic, which can represent potential threat toward aquatic organisms, especially for commercial fish species. In this context, the impacts of environmental stressors such as chemical contamination and Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been studied by in situ and experimentally (microcosm and mesocosm) approaches on two fish species : European flounder (Platichthys flesus) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). During this thesis, we used various indicators to determine fish responses to environmental stressors. Among these tools, we used the growth and conditions indices, molecular biomarkers and immunological parameters. In situ approach has been realized in two different systems anthropogenically influenced : one is heavily impacted system (Seine estuary) and the others are less impacted and/or considered as "clean" systems (Canche, Authie and Somme estuaries). As juvenile flounders concentrate in estuaries, we have chosen this species as a biological indicator to evaluate the quality of these estuarine habitats. This in situ study emphasized the negative impact of contaminants on the nursery function of estuaries. The Seine estuary exhibited the highest metals and PAHs contents in sediment compared to other estuaries and metal concentration in juvenile flounder of this estuary were also significantly higher than ones collected in the less polluted estuaries. In the same way, fish growth and condition indices were significantly lower in individuals from this estuary in spite of the sufficient food availability. To control environmental parameters such as hydrological parameters and food availability, a microcosm experiment was carried out on sea bass juveniles exposed to fresh sediment from five sites with different chemical concentrations using multi-biomarker approaches. After 21 days exposure, no metal accumulation in fish gills and any significant differences on the physiological performances and immune system responses of fish juveniles could be observed. On the other hand, responses of molecular biomarkers, particularly, EROD, GST and CAT activities increase with the chemical contamination gradient after 7days of exposure in sediment. This microcosm study confirmed the sensibility and relativity of short term molecular biomarkers responses to the chemical contamination. These two studies highlighted the complexity of the fish responses to environmental stressor due to the many variable environmental factors in situ and due to the selection of fish species (pelagic or benthic) and the exposure duration in controlled laboratory assays. Beside the impact of pollution on fish, Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are widespread along the eastern English Channel and may alter ecological functions of coastal zones and thus affecting nursery ground and fish populations. Nevertheless, the effects of two recurrent harmful algal blooms : a) Phaegocystis globosa and its degraded form transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) with foam accumulation and b) Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima (exponential versus senescent phase) was investigated on the growth and condition of sea bass juveniles. Both mesocosm experiments exhibited any negative impact on juvenile sea bass physiological performance, hence, survival and recruitment success. In conclusion, the results of this thesis contributed to improve the fish responses with multi-biomarker approaches to monitor and assess the health of fish communities and fish habitat quality, as well as the general ecological status of coastal zones and estuaries against the various environmental stressors.

The biological characteristics of fisheries stocks that are assessed for management considerations are rarely homogeneous over time or space. However, stock assessment scientists largely ignore this heterogeneity in their models. This thesis addresses the effects of spatial and temporal heterogeneity on stock assessment models using Atlantic Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) as a case study. First, spatial and temporal variation was incorporated into length-, weight-, and maturity-at-age estimates using mixed-effects models (Chapter Two). The resulting heterogeneous weight and maturity parameters then were applied to per-recruit analyses to examine the sensitivity of biological reference points to spatial and temporal variation in life history attributes (Chapter Three). Mixed-effects life history models incorporating spatial and temporal variation revealed distinct regional and annual trends that were not visible from standard homogeneous models. In several instances, the homogeneous modelling approach produced life history estimates that varied significantly from the spatial and temporal means produced by the heterogeneous models. In some cases, this difference was so great that the homogeneous means were much higher or lower than the heterogeneous means for all regions or years. Minimized AIC statistics revealed that spatially and temporally integrated mixed-effects models were more robust and descriptive of Atlantic Weakfish life history than the standard homogeneous models. Per-recruit and biological reference points derived from these life history estimates in Chapter Three were found to be highly sensitive to spatial and temporal variations in weight parameters. In several cases, reference points used as management targets were so significantly different that ignoring spatial and temporal heterogeneity in Atlantic Weakfish life history would likely cause overfishing and decline of Weakfish in certain regions and years. / Master of Science / Many stocks of commercially and recreationally harvested marine fish have displayed a declining trend in recent years. Marine fisheries are a vital component of the global economy, and, as such, sophisticated management measures have been developed to reduce and reverse this trend. These management strategies are based on regular reports from fisheries stock assessment scientists, who evaluate the status of fish stocks by modelling life history and productivity trends. One of the greatest challenges to stock assessments is the identification and incorporation of variability in fish populations. There is an inherent variation in fish growth, maturity, and productivity among geographical locations and over time. To produce the most effective management strategies, stock assessments must incorporate this spatial (regional) and temporal (annual) variation. In this thesis, I used mixed effects models to integrate spatial and temporal variation in life history and productivity using Atlantic Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) as a case study. Distinct trends were observed in fishery-independent data for this species that were reflected in spatially and temporally incorporated models. However, these trends were masked in the standard models which incorporated neither spatial nor temporal variation. This oversight could cause weakfish to be overfished in certain regions and years and underfished in others. To maximize the effectiveness of management and the sustainable fisheries yield in all regions and years for Atlantic Weakfish and other harvested species, I highly recommend using spatially and temporally incorporated life history and productivity models such as the ones developed in this thesis.

The Staunton River is a high gradient, second order stream approximately 6 km in length located on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park, VA. In June 1995, a catastrophic flood and debris flow altered the instream habitat and <i>Salvelinus fontinalis</i> population of the Staunton River. The debris flow scoured the streambed, deposited new substrate materials, removed trees from the riparian zone, and eliminated fish from a 1.9km section of the stream. By June 1998, both young-of-year (YOY) and age 1+ <i>S. fontinalis</i> had recolonized the debris flow affected area. The event provided a rare opportunity to examine recovery of the <i>S. fontinalis</i> population and instream habitat in addition to addressing potential effects of the debris flow on movement, activity, and growth of fish in the debris flow affected and unaffected areas of the stream. Post-recolonization movement and activity were monitored using two-way fish traps (weirs), mark-recapture techniques, and radio telemetry. The weirs failed to produce any movement data. Most fish (91%) in the mark-recapture study had range sizes less than 100m, however biases common to mark-recapture study designs (low recapture rate, flawed logic, etc.) hampered interpretation of results. For example, subsequent recapture of individually marked fish indicated that as many as 54% of marked fish confirmed to have been alive at the time of a recapture session were not recaptured. Radio telemetry provided information on <i>S. fontinalis</i> movement and activity at seasonal and diel scales during summer and fall. Differences in movement and activity between the debris flow affected and unaffected areas were minimal when compared to seasonal variations. During summer, range sizes were near 0m and crepuscular activity patterns were observed. During the fall range size increased and diel activity was concentrated in the mid-afternoon with a much higher peak than during summer. Basin-wide visual estimation technique (BVET) fish population surveys performed each spring and fall from 1993 = 1999 provided pre- and post-event fish population abundance and density estimates. Post-event fish growth in the debris flow affected and unaffected areas was monitored using mark-recapture techniques. Abundance and density of both YOY and age 1+ <i>S. fontinalis</i> exceeded pre-event levels within 2-3 years. Growth of YOY and age 1+ fish was significantly greater in the debris flow affected area until spring 1999. Population density appeared to have a strong negative influence on growth. The observed changes in fish growth and differences in fish size associated with population density would be of minimal importance to the typical angler but may suggest a mechanism by which <i>S. fontinalis</i> populations can quickly recover from catastrophic events. BVET habitat surveys provided information on total stream area, number of pools and riffles, pool and riffle surface area and depth, substrate composition, and large woody debris (LWD) before (1993), immediately following (1995), and four years post-event (1999). Immediately following the debris flow, the stream channel was highly disordered which resulted in an increase in the total number of habitat units and a decrease in average habitat unit surface area, total stream area, and average depth when compared with pre-event conditions. In addition, substrate composition had shifted from small to large diameter particles and LWD loading had increased in both debris flow affected and unaffected areas. Four years after the event, the total number of habitat units, average habitat unit surface area, total stream area, and average depth had all returned to near pre-debris flow levels and substrate composition had begun to shift towards smaller particle sizes. Changes in LWD loading from 1995-1999 reflected changes in the riparian zone following the debris flow. In the unaffected area, where riparian trees remained intact, LWD loading increased, whereas in the debris flow affected area, where riparian trees were eliminated, LWD loading decreased. For the most part the effects of the debris flow, although immediately dramatic, were in the long term minimal. The debris flow affected area was recolonized rapidly and abundance and density quickly rebounded past pre-event levels. Differences in fish growth between the affected and unaffected area were short lived. Any effect the debris flow affected area may have had on movement or activity was minimal when compared with seasonal variations. Most habitat characteristics reverted to near pre-event levels just four years after the flood and debris flow. Although a number of factors will influence recovery time from such events, these results indicate that immediate management action, such as stocking or habitat modifications, are not necessary in all cases. / Master of Science

This Master thesis compares growth of Percidae and Cyprinidae in flooded mining pit Most with water reservoir Vír, which is stable, fifty years old. Fish were cought using toils by workers from Hydrobiology institute, Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, which are exploring fish stock. Otoliths, scales, and operculas from both families, Cyrinidae and Percidae, were removed from fish for age determination and growth back-calculation in individual years. Due to surplus of nutrients and food in flooding mining pit is assumed a huge growth difference in the first two years of life. The aim of this thesis is not only to describe the difference in the expected growth of individual species, but also to estimate its causes. At the same time will be in a very contrasting conditions compared different methods of age determination. Key words: otolith, fish age, fish population, fish growth, water reservoir, flooded mining pit, growth back-calculations