Niche segregation among 4 species of sculpins (Myoxocephalus quadricornis, M. scorpius, M. scorpioides and Gymnocanthus tricuspis) inhabiting the east coast of James bay was studied along estuarine and depth gradients at different times of year between 1987 and 1990. A high degree of habitat overlap and absence of feeding segregation among sculpins was observed. M. quadricornis and M. scorpius dominated catch in the estuary and in the coastal zone, respectively. M. scorpioides and G. tricuspis were less abundant and generally avoided the estuary. G. tricuspis was the only cottid which seemed to migrate. Significant differences in the diets were observed at different sites, seasons and years, but not along depth gradients (2 a 20 m). The distribution and abundance of sculpins appeared to be regulated by physical (salinity and temperature) and biological (competition) factors.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.22822 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Vanier, Benoît |
| Contributors | Whoriskey, Frederick (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | French |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Department of Natural Resource Sciences.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001464766, proquestno: MM05646, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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