Evaluation of the Larval Fish Community in the Missouri River Below Garrison Dam, North Dakota

<p>There is little information on the ichthyoplankton community in the Missouri River below Garrison Dam in North Dakota. In addition, little is known about the effects that the hydropeaking operations of Garrison Dam may have on that community. The objectives of this study were to determine the relative abundance and species composition of the ichthyoplankton community and to make an initial assessment of the effects of hydropeaking upon that community. Dissolved oxygen was never below 14 mg/L during the period of this study. Water temperature in 1993 increased from 7.2°C in mid-May to 17.2°C in mid-August, and in 1994 from 6.1°C in mid-May to 13.9°C by mid-August. Two hundred three larval fishes were collected in 1993; in 1994, 523 larval fishes were collected. Overall catch per unit of effort (CPUE) was 0.018 larvae/m3 in 1993 in a net with 0.360 mm mesh (bar measure). In 1994, I collected 0.028 larvae/m3 in the 0.360 mm mesh and 0.008 larvae/m3 in a net with 1.0 mm mesh. Six taxa were collected: Stizostedion spp., Catostomus spp. (most likely�. commersoni), Ictiobus spp., Osmerus mordax, Moxostoma macrolepidotum, and Perea flavescens. Most fishes collected occurred in the drift later in the season than expected both years, and densities were considerably lower than expected.</p>

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

1995

Author dc:creator

• Wolf, Alan E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• David W. Willis

• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 1995 Alan E. Wolf. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/607

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1607