Fine sediment effects on brook trout egg and alevin survival in Virginia

Detailed information about negative effects of fine sediments on early life stages of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in southern Appalachian streams is lacking. Information on survival to different stages of egg and alevin development could indicate critical timing of sediment impacts. This study was designed to determine the effects of fine sediments (0.43-0.85 rom in diameter) on survival of brook trout eggs through early development stages under controlled laboratory and field conditions. Recently fertilized eggs were loaded into Whitlock-Vibert (W-V) boxes lined with 0.4 rom Nitex netting that contained mixtures of gravel and fine sediments. Survival to eyed, hatched, and emerged stages of development was determined for six amounts of fine sediment (0-25% by weight) in the laboratory study and for three amounts of fine sediment (0-20% by weight) in the field study. Survival in laboratory systems to each stage of development was inversely related to the percentage of fine sediment; even at low levels of fine sediment survival was reduced. In the field study, fine sediment may have played a role in the survival success of developing embryos, but determining a definitive relationship was confounded by effects of scouring flows and fungal infestations. The fungus Saprolegnia spp., may have increased the mortality rate of viable eggs and facilitated the disintegration of nonviable embryos, especially in the field study. Brook trout are sensitive to increasing levels of fine sediment through early development. However under field conditions such an effect may be difficult detect.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1995

Author dc:creator

• Argent, David G.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Flebbe, Patricia A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Ney, John J.
• McMullin, Steve L.

• fine sediment impact

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-07292009-090625

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44016