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The purpose of this study was to determine if habitat suitability criteria developed in the summer months for sma11mouth bass were transferable among streams representing different eco regions. Habitat suitability criteria were developed for depth, mean column velocity, cover and substrate for two size classes of sma1lmouth bass, 100-199mm and >200mm, in the North Anna River and Craig Creek, Virginia. Criteria that accurately describe habitat selection by a species or guild in a system different from where the criteria were developed are said to be transferable to that system. The transferability of suitability criteria between the North Anna River and Craig Creek, as well as depth and velocity criteria from Minnesota, the Huron River, Michigan and the Upper James River, Virginia, to the North Anna River and Craig Creek were tested using a 2x2 contingency table analysis. Depth criteria for the smaller sizes of sma1lmouth bass did not transfer well between regions; 4 of the 8 transferability tests (50%) failed. Depth criteria for larger sma1lmouth bass transferred to the North Anna River and Craig Creek in all cases. Velocity criteria developed for the smaller size classes did not transfer well among regions; only 3 of the 8 transferability tests were positive. Likewise, velocity criteria for larger sizes of smallmouth bass did not transfer well; only 1 of 8 tests were positive. General criteria were developed for depth and mean column velocity by averaging the suitability values reported from this and 3 other studies. General depth and velocity criteria transferred well to the North Anna River and Craig Creek for both the larger and smaller size classes of smallmouth bass; all depth tests were positive and 3 of 4 velocity tests were positive. The improved success of transferability warrants investigation of developing general criteria for smallmouth bass. Cover criteria for both size classes of smallmouth bass were transferable from the North Anna River to Craig Creek but not vice versa. Substrate heterogeneity criteria were not transferable between the North Anna River and Craig Creek for either size class of smallmouth bass. Criteria developed for the percentage of substrate particles >15cm (smallmouth bass >200mm only) were transferable from Craig Creek to the North Anna River but not vice versa. The transferability of habitat suitability criteria among regions was inconsistent and it is recommended that site-specific criteria be developed for each stream to which habitat assessments are applied. Additionally, nose velocities used were more consistent between the North Anna River and Craig Creek than were mean column velocities used. Hence, it is recommended that information on nose (focal point) velocities be incorporated into habitat studies to more accurately describe smallmouth bass velocity requirements. / Master of Science

Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) and Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP), require the use of habitat preference curves to model the habitat requirements of fish. The accuracy of these curves has been questioned, particularly when they are applied outside the geographic area for which they were developed. Depth, velocity, substrate, and cover preference curves were developed for adult and juvenile smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) in Wet Beaver Creek, Arizona, and were compared to those from previous habitat preference studies in Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona. Curves for fishes in Wet Beaver Creek also were compared to curves developed using information from the scientific literature. Additionally, curves were developed for adult and subadult roundtail chub (Gila robusta) in Wet Beaver Creek, and adult roundtail chub and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) in Fossil Creek. The curves for adult roundtail chub were compared between these two locations. Velocity and depth preference curves, for both adult and juvenile smallmouth bass, appeared transferrable among locations. Minor differences between the depth curves were attributable to sampling techniques. Substrate preference curves were not transferrable; smallmouth bass seemed to use whatever substrates were locally available. No conclusion concerning the transferability of cover curves could be made because the definitions used for cover varied widely among investigators. Depth, velocity and substrate preferences of roundtail chub differed between the two streams studied, even though these streams were in the same drainage. The differences may have been related to the presence of smallmouth bass in Wet Beaver Creek; smallmouth bass were not present in Fossil Creek. Habitat preference curves based on depth, velocity, substrate, and cover parameters were developed for razorback suckers in Fossil Creek. No curves have been developed previously for razorback suckers in the lower Colorado River Basin; therefore, no comparisons were possible. This species was probably introduced into Fossil Creek and the habitat preference defined in this study may not represent razorback suckers throughout their range. Razorback suckers do not appear to have successfully spawned in Fossil Creek. This lack of success may reflect the absence of suitable habitat or simply indicate the fish have not reached sexual maturity.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-137). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-137). Also available on the Internet.

Characterization of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) interaction with native species assemblages, especially salmonids, in lakes throughout BC is prerequisite to identification of high-risk systems warranting on-going monitoring. Therefore this project addresses the following issues: How does smallmouth bass (SMB) trophic profile overlap with native species and does it vary across time and space? Schoener’s index of dietary overlap was not significant between SMB and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; α=0.406, 0.257), or cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkia; α=0.145, 0.29). Prey fish levels (Ei =35.4%) and the total energetic density (14.91±4.74J/g) of the cutthroat trout diet from Weston Lake (SMB free) were significantly higher compared to the diet of cutthroat trout from Cusheon Lake (Ei =3.3% and 7.69±1.93J/g) where non-native SMB have been introduced. Within the Vancouver Island study lakes, gut-content analysis revealed available signal crayfish serve as an important prey resource in the SMB diet (Ei =34%). What capacity do SMB have to take advantage of seasonal pulses of forage? SMB displayed the ability to rapidly (within 24hrs.) alter their diet and consumption levels (4.7 times higher) to maximize on pulses of rainbow trout fry following a stocking event. SMB did not spatially overlap with spring peaks in salmonid fry runs in the Okanagan lakes, as water temperature remained around the 10°C threshold when SMB are not yet active. Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) fry did however make up Ei =83% of the yellow perch (Perca flavescens) diet. SMB are thriving in locations suspected to be on the limit for their environmental suitability through increased size at age for SMB in the Cariboo region in order to adapt to a longer (by 62 days) winter starvation period. SMB are a generalist predator able to adapt and thrive in very different systems; high vs. low productivity, few or many fish species, crayfish or no crayfish. The likely impacts of this in BC could include shifts in the diet of other fish species and increased costs associated with only stocking larger catchable sized trout in lakes containing non-native SMB. Policy recommendations based on our findings are that SMB introductions into systems that have rainbow/cutthroat trout are likely to cause the highest impacts on our native fisheries in BC if the systems are; highly productive, contain a high diversity of small bodied fish and invertebrate species, lack signal crayfish and large lakes with predominant littoral zones and complex shorelines. / Graduate / 0793 / 0329 / 0792 / mbeck@uvic.ca

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 87 p. : ill., maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-49).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2005. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 70 p. : ill., maps. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 44 p. : ill. (some col.), map. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-35).

This study consisted of several experiments designed to compare the ability of two species of fungi, Saprolegnia ferax and S. parasitica to grow on two species of fish, smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui) and goldfish (Carassius auratus), and to determine the criteria necessary for the development of these infections. The results indicate that water in the fish tanks must be slightly acid (pH 6), warm (22°C), nonmoving, and that the fish must be wounded in order for fungal infection to occur. Cool water (18°C) and moving water, caused by aeration and filtration, are detrimental to fungal colony formation so that no infection occurs. Both S. ferax and S. parasitica infected both species of fish, on an average of three days after innoculation. The S. ferax infected a higher percentage of both fishes than did the S. parasitica. The difference in susceptibility of the two fish species to the fungi was negligible.