Early-Life History of the White Sucker (Catostomus Commersoni) in Lake Taneycomo, Missouri

White suckers (Catostomus commersoni) were monitored during the 1994 and 1995 spawning periods to determine location and timing of reproduction, dispersal of larvae, and growth of sub-adult fish. Daily aging by the use of otoliths from lab reared white sucker larvae was validated to 28 days. Precise timing of spawn and hatch dates was back-calculated in larval white suckers. Hatching was found to occur over 43 day period in 1994, and 25 days in 1995. Timing of initial otolith annulus formation was determined in the young-of-the-year fish, with 100% of the juveniles sampled forming an annulus their first summer. An age-length regression was fitted to sub-adult fish ranging from 0 to 5 years of age, growth was found to be linear (r2=.80). Finally, larval drift was monitored during the 1995 spawning period in Bull Creek. Peak drift was found to have occurred following a flood.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year

1995

Author dc:creator

• Calfee, John W.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Daniel Beckman

• Biology

Statement dc:rights

• © John W Calfee

Repository record dc:identifier

https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/59

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1060