Habitat utilization and movement patterns of subadult largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in the Ohio River

Ohio River electrofishing surveys identified embayments as preferred macrohabitat of subadult largemouth bass. Catch rates within macrohabitats were low ranging from 0.00--2.73 subadult bass/hour. Embayment electrofishing CPUE was higher than tributary or main channel except in spring, when tributary CPUE was highest.;Core use areas were calculated from biotelemetry data and ranged from 88--59,400 m2, representing 0.02--89.00% of available study location macrohabitat. Subadult bass movement was limited to nursery embayments or tributaries with infrequent movement to nearby main channel areas. Bass preferred a mixed microhabitat consisting of a combination of vegetation and woody debris. This mixed microhabitat was less common in main channel habitat assessments compared to tributaries and embayments.;Core use areas of Ohio River subadult bass are larger than reported in impoundment studies (<11,684 m2), suggesting Ohio River habitat is poorer than other systems. Management should focus on habitat restoration rather than stocking to enhance Ohio River bass fisheries.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Resources

Year dc:date.available

2001

Author dc:creator

• Hoffman, Elizabeth Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kyle J. Hartman.

• Aquatic sciences

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1304

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-2307