Thesis (M.S.)--Utah State University, 1961. / Title from title screen (viewed Aug. 14, 2009). Department: Wildlife Management. Includes bibliographical references. Archival copy available.

No description available.

Rivers are inherently dynamic environments with fluctuations in water quality, hydrology, connectivity and geomorphology. Though geomorphology has long been recognized as an important driver defining biological, ecological, and physical habitat characteristics of rivers, a readily applied classification tool that links such characteristics has been lacking. The Geomorphic Response Unit (GRU) method provides a novel approach to identifying large scale patterns in geomorphic character that provide a link between the hydrological regime and different habitat types to which species respond. Specifically, I investigated whether Geomorphic Types and GRUs are related to the distribution and abundance of different fish species, reflecting unique physical habitat characteristics of individual GRUs. The thesis chapters are manuscript based. The second chapter identifies relationships between specific Geomorphic Types, identified using the Geomorphic Response Unit (GRU) methodology, and Lake Sturgeon overwintering locations in the South Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Rivers. Habitat selection ratios suggest that Lake Sturgeon in the Upper South Saskatchewan River significantly selected for one of seven possible Types for overwintering. Logistic regression results found both Type 0 and Type 4 predicted significantly higher Sturgeon presence than all other Types (P = < 2e-16 for both). The third chapter examines relationships between GRUs and abundance of both mature and immature Carmine Shiner in the Birch River, Manitoba. Differences in the median mature Carmine Shiner CPUEs among the GRUs are not statistically different (Kruskal-Wallis test H =1.723; df = 3, p value = 0.632), though interesting qualitative relationships were identified which may inform further studies. The fourth chapter investigates whether GRUs derived using a large scale network approach are linked to the abundance of specific fish species in the Assiniboine River, Manitoba. A Kruskal-Wallis test identified significant differences in CPUE among GRUs for 10 of 14 tested species. Post-hoc pairwise multiple comparisons using Dunn’s Method with Bonferroni p-value correction for multiple paired tests isolated the GRUs that were different from one another. Overall, my findings suggest that Geomorphic Response Units (GRU) are an effective means of identifying patterns in geomorphic structure within Prairie Rivers at both reach and segment scales. Further, I identified links between both Geomorphic Types and GRUs and patterns in abundance of various fish species covering a wide range of life history traits. These findings suggest that GRUs have potential as a valuable fisheries habitat management tool, increasing efficiency of monitoring efforts through quantification of habitat availability, connectivity, and complexity in Prairie River systems.

Genetic variation and thermal tolerance were surveyed for variation attributed to nonuniform selection pressures for five populations of the red shiner, Notropis lutrensis, collected from regulated and unregulated portions of a Texas river. Populations within 30 km of a hypolimnion-release dam that experience large thermal perturbations were found to have higher levels of heterozygosity, higher levels of polymorphism, significantly depressed levels of upper thermal tolerance endpoints, and greater variances in tolerance endpoints. These populations have evolved enzyme systems differing from the unregulated populations in response to a variable and depressed thermal regime.

Previous studies at the Key Lake uranium mill (Saskatchewan, Canada) suggested the complex effluent discharged alters energetic stores of resident fish species. A second study at the same site demonstrated certain fish from lakes downstream of the mill produce larvae with elevated incidence of developmental deformities. The mechanisms by which energy homeostasis is affected in fish downstream of the Key Lake uranium mill are unknown, and the effects of deformities and altered metabolism on swimming ability have not been explored. Therefore, the overall objective of this thesis was to investigate whether effluent exposed fish exhibited differences in swimming performance and energy homeostasis. To achieve this objective two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment juvenile spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) were collected from a lake downstream of the Key Lake uranium mill, and compared to fish collected from a nearby reference lake. In the second experiment larvae were collected from laboratory raised fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) exposed to 5% diluted uranium mill effluent or control (dechlorinated municipal) water, and reared in the same treatments to 60 days post hatch (dph). No gross deformities were observed in any fish, and only shiner collected from the exposure lake in the field experiment had enlarged heart ventricles relative to body size compared to fish from the reference lake. Swimming performance was similar between shiner from the exposure and reference lakes in the field study, but effluent exposure impaired swimming ability in 60 dph fathead minnow in the laboratory experiment compared to fish from the control water treatment. After swimming performance tests fish were considered fatigued and metabolic endpoints were compared to non-fatigued fish. In both non-fatigued and fatigued shiner, liver glycogen was significantly greater in fish collected from the exposure lake compared to the reference lake. There was no difference in liver triglycerides in non-fatigued shiner between lakes, but liver triglycerides decreased after swimming in the field study reference fish. Muscle energy stores were unaffected by site or swimming in the field experiment. Conversely, whole body triglycerides and glycogen were similar between treatments in non-fatigued fathead minnow in the laboratory experiment. Swimming significantly decreased whole body triglycerides in fathead minnow from both treatments, but whole body glycogen was unaffected. In the field experiment blood endpoints (hematocrit, plasma glucose, lactate) in fatigued and non-fatigued shiner from both lakes further supported the possibility of altered intermediary metabolism or blunted stress response in fish downstream of the Key Lake uranium mill. In the field study, shiner muscle citrate synthase activity (an indicator of tissue aerobic capacity) was similar between lakes, but muscle âhydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity (an indicator of tissue lipolytic capacity) was elevated. In contrast, laboratory fathead minnow whole body âhydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity was similar between treatments, but citrate synthase activity was significantly lower in fathead minnow from the 5% effluent treatment. In summary, shiner from the exposure lake in the field experiment had similar swimming endurance and greater energy stores compared to fish from the reference lake, despite metabolic alterations. Fathead minnow from the 5% effluent treatment in the laboratory experiment had reduced swimming endurance that was matched by reduced whole body citrate synthase activity, but no other metabolic alterations were observed. Therefore, effluent exposure caused metabolic alterations in both fathead minnow and shiner, but specific effects between experiments were inconsistent. Overall, the physiological significance of the metabolic and swimming effects of effluent exposure is unclear, but suggests discharged effluent has the potential to negatively affect wild fish survivability.

Ball State University LibrariesLibrary services and resources for knowledge buildingMasters ThesesThere is no abstract available for this thesis.

Previous studies at the Key Lake uranium mill (Saskatchewan, Canada) suggested the complex effluent discharged alters energetic stores of resident fish species. A second study at the same site demonstrated certain fish from lakes downstream of the mill produce larvae with elevated incidence of developmental deformities. The mechanisms by which energy homeostasis is affected in fish downstream of the Key Lake uranium mill are unknown, and the effects of deformities and altered metabolism on swimming ability have not been explored. Therefore, the overall objective of this thesis was to investigate whether effluent exposed fish exhibited differences in swimming performance and energy homeostasis. To achieve this objective two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment juvenile spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) were collected from a lake downstream of the Key Lake uranium mill, and compared to fish collected from a nearby reference lake. In the second experiment larvae were collected from laboratory raised fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) exposed to 5% diluted uranium mill effluent or control (dechlorinated municipal) water, and reared in the same treatments to 60 days post hatch (dph). No gross deformities were observed in any fish, and only shiner collected from the exposure lake in the field experiment had enlarged heart ventricles relative to body size compared to fish from the reference lake. Swimming performance was similar between shiner from the exposure and reference lakes in the field study, but effluent exposure impaired swimming ability in 60 dph fathead minnow in the laboratory experiment compared to fish from the control water treatment. After swimming performance tests fish were considered fatigued and metabolic endpoints were compared to non-fatigued fish. In both non-fatigued and fatigued shiner, liver glycogen was significantly greater in fish collected from the exposure lake compared to the reference lake. There was no difference in liver triglycerides in non-fatigued shiner between lakes, but liver triglycerides decreased after swimming in the field study reference fish. Muscle energy stores were unaffected by site or swimming in the field experiment. Conversely, whole body triglycerides and glycogen were similar between treatments in non-fatigued fathead minnow in the laboratory experiment. Swimming significantly decreased whole body triglycerides in fathead minnow from both treatments, but whole body glycogen was unaffected. In the field experiment blood endpoints (hematocrit, plasma glucose, lactate) in fatigued and non-fatigued shiner from both lakes further supported the possibility of altered intermediary metabolism or blunted stress response in fish downstream of the Key Lake uranium mill. In the field study, shiner muscle citrate synthase activity (an indicator of tissue aerobic capacity) was similar between lakes, but muscle âhydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity (an indicator of tissue lipolytic capacity) was elevated. In contrast, laboratory fathead minnow whole body âhydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity was similar between treatments, but citrate synthase activity was significantly lower in fathead minnow from the 5% effluent treatment. In summary, shiner from the exposure lake in the field experiment had similar swimming endurance and greater energy stores compared to fish from the reference lake, despite metabolic alterations. Fathead minnow from the 5% effluent treatment in the laboratory experiment had reduced swimming endurance that was matched by reduced whole body citrate synthase activity, but no other metabolic alterations were observed. Therefore, effluent exposure caused metabolic alterations in both fathead minnow and shiner, but specific effects between experiments were inconsistent. Overall, the physiological significance of the metabolic and swimming effects of effluent exposure is unclear, but suggests discharged effluent has the potential to negatively affect wild fish survivability.

Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) and delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) were introduced into Willard Reservoir to improve the forage base for walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) and black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus). Spottail shiners were stocked in early spring in 1981, 1982, and 1983. Hauling mortality was generally great and an estimated 34,500 live fish were stocked in the 3-year period. Spottail shiner reproduction occurred each year of stocking. Delta smelt were introduced in 1982 with the stocking of 15,000 adult spawning fish. Stocking survival was estimated at 99%. Freshly spawned eggs were also obtained and placed in a tributary to Willard Reservoir. Shoreline seining produced 29 · young-of-the-year delta smelt during June 1982. Growth of the captured young-of-the-year spottail shiner and delta smelt in Willard Reservoir compared favorably with growth found in their respective native waters. Stomach analysis indicated food habits were similar to those in native waters. Food habit analysis of young-of-the-year walleye, black crappie, spottail shiner, and delta smelt indicated very little overlap of food organisms between the four fish species. Spottail shiners occurred in 3 of 56 walleye stomachs containing food items in 1982 and 3 of 41 stomachs containing food items in 1983. Delta smelt were not found in the 132 walleye stomachs examined. However, six adult delta smelt were angler-caught walleye in April 1983. No found in the stomachs of spottail shiners or delta smelt were found in 79 black crappie stomachs examined in 1982 or 62 stomachs examined in 1983. Low utilization of spottail shiner and delta smelt was attributed to the low relative abundance of the two species in Willard Reservoir.

I studied effects of UV-B radiation on egg and larval golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) in Castle Lake, California, USA. To compare egg hatching and survival of larval golden shiner, I exposed eggs and larval fish to three different UV-B treatments, low UV-B (4% UV-B), high UV-B (92% UV-B), and ambient (100% UV-B). The egg experiment was conducted in lake and pond water, whereas proto- and mesolarval stage experiments were conducted in lake water only. High and ambient UV-B radiation affected the hatching rate of golden shiner eggs. The mean hatching rate was 13% lower in high UV-B, and 9% lower in ambient UV-B compared to the low UV-B treatments. The hatching rate, however, was not significantly different between lake and pond treatments. The survival of egg to hatched larval stage was reduced under high and ambient UV- 8 radiation compared to low UV-8 treatment in the lake water experiment. In the pond water experiment, however, the survival of newly hatched larvae was not different among UV-8 treatments. During the experimental periods, no survival difference among treatments was observed for larval stages of golden shiners. Mean amount of UV-8 radiation penetrating an oligo-mesotrophic lake differed from that in an adjoining pond during the summer of 1997. UV-8 radiation in pond water was highly absorbed compared to absorbency in lake water. High concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in pond water were likely responsible for the difference in absorbency of UV-8 radiation.

No description available.