Macroinvertebrate Composition and Patterns of Prey Use By Juvenile Pallid Sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Missouri River, South Dakota, and Nebraska

Macroinvertebrates were collected from the Missouri River downstream of Fort Randall and Gavins Point dams to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns in abundance and describe habitats important for macroinvertebrates. The most abundant families collected were Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, Isonychiidae, Baetidae, Caenidae, Heptageniidae, Hydropsychidae, and Polycentropodidae. Invertebrate abundance, richness, diversity, and evenness were generally higher in the Gavins Point reach than in the Fort Randall reach for most gear types (except Surber samples). In the Fort Randall reach, mean richness, diversity, and evenness were generally highest in the delta formed downstream of the Niobrara River. We collected 31 juvenile pallid sturgeon during summer 2006 for diet analysis, of which 21 had prey in their stomachs. Percent occurrence of predominant prey was Ceratopogonidae (81%), Isonychiidae (67%), Chironomidae (52%), and fish (24%). Diets as percent composition by wet weight were fish (68%), Ephemeroptera (23%), Decapoda (6%), and Diptera (3%). As juvenile pallid sturgeon length increased (356 - 720 mm fork length), the proportion of fish in the diets increased (43 to 88%). This study showed the importance of macroinvertebrates as a food source for juvenile pallid sturgeon (< 600 mm fork length).

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - University Access Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Grohs, Kristen Lee

Contributors dc:contributor

• Robert A. Klumb

• south dakota
• missouri
• nebraska
• missouri river
• pallid sturgeon
• juvenile
• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2008 Kristen Lee Grohs. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/444

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1444