Movement and Distribution of Esocids and Forage Fishes In A Power Plant Cooling Reservoir

One Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) and 2 northern pike (E. Lucius) were surgically implanted with untrasonic transmitters and tracked in a South Dakota cooling reservoir from June 1979 to June 1980. The fishes inhabited the intake area of the reservoir during the summer (temperature range, 27.5 – 31.5˚ C) and the discharge area during the winter (temperature range, 4.5 – 31.5˚C). In the spring and fall, the fishes were located throughout the reservoir (temperature range, 12.0 – 28.5˚C). Highest rates of movement for the esocids were recorded during the spring (675 – 1,100 m/day). The lowest rates were recorded during late summer and fall (130-390 m/day). The muskellunge inhabited deeper water (4.5 m, average) than the northern pike (3.9 m, average) during the summer. Both esocid species inhabited the 0.5-3.0 m depth during the winter. Tracks made over a 24 hour period indicated greater distances moved by the muskellunge (2,063 m) than northern pike (487 m). Both the muskellunge and northern pike were most active during daylight periods, but they also moved at night. Echogram recordings indicated that forage fishes were distributed throughout the reservoir during the spring, summer, and fall, and were concentrated in the discharge area during winter.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Year

1981

Author dc:creator

• Henley, Douglas T.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Richard L. Applegate
• Charles G. Scalet

• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• <p>No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only<br /><a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/</a></p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/129

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1129