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Habitat-use and emigration patterns of two top predators stocked in a large flood-control impoundment

Shane, Keith Dennis
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1542722595138777

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
Fish can display a variety of movement and habitat-use patterns across different ecosystems. Because these movements and habitat-use patterns are fundamental components of fish life history, knowing where, when and why fish are found in certain habitats as well as understanding the factors driving movement patterns can provide a biological framework for developing fish conservation plans. Identifying seasonal habitat-use can help inform fish-stocking programs, can help managers determine the best locations for fish sampling, can enhance angler catch rates, and can elucidate interactions among species. Knowledge of movement patterns, specifically when these movements are directed out of a stocked system, can allow managers to recognize systems where emigration may be a potential source of fish loss, and to reduce fish loss via emigration in these systems. To benefit the management of two popular sportfish in the Midwest, muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) and saugeye (walleye [Sander vitreus] × sauger [Sander canadense]), this study sought to evaluate the abiotic and biotic factors influencing saugeye and muskellunge habitat-use patterns in large flood-control reservoirs; to estimate the contribution of emigration, natural mortality, and angler harvest to loss of fish from the reservoir fishery; and to assess the factors influencing emigration probability. To understand emigration patterns in conjunction with other sources of fish loss from the reservoir (angler harvest, natural mortality) (Chapter 1), we implanted passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in saugeye and adult muskellunge and monitored emigration events through the Alum Creek Lake (Delaware County, OH) dam complex via a PIT-tag antenna array. We incorporated emigration data, live-recapture data, and angler harvest data into a multi-state mark-recapture model to estimate survival, emigration and harvest rates as functions of age and time. We used logistic regression analysis to model daily emigration probability as a function of season and dam discharge. To understand habitat-use in large flood-control reservoirs (Chapter 2), we acoustically tagged and tracked adult saugeye and muskellunge in Alum Creek Lake. We assessed the influence of various environmental variables on habitat-use using a maximum entropy species distribution model. Our emigration results suggested that emigration could potentially be a significant contributor to fish loss in Alum Creek Lake, especially for saugeye, when compared to natural mortality and harvest rates. Emigration occurred primarily during the spawning season and increased with dam discharge, and adult fish were more likely to emigrate than juvenile fish. We determined that attempts to reduce emigration would be beneficial in maintaining the saugeye and muskellunge fisheries in Alum Creek Lake and in similar systems. Our habitat-use findings suggested that water transparency was the most important variable influencing saugeye and muskellunge habitat-use. There was overlap in muskellunge and saugeye detection locations, but there was no evidence that saugeye and muskellunge were influencing each other’s habitat choices. The lack of importance of other variables we considered was surprising, based on previous studies of these species. These differences were likely attributable to age-based differences in habitat-use, interspecific competition with other predators not considered in the study, or limited availability of preferred habitat in the current study.
Elizabeth Marschall, Dr. (Advisor)
Mazeika Sullivan, Dr. (Committee Member)
Christopher Tonra, Dr. (Committee Member)
99 p.
Aquatic Sciences; Ecology; Environmental Science; Freshwater Ecology; Natural Resource Management; Organismal Biology; Wildlife Conservation; Wildlife Management
saugeye; muskellunge; emigration; natural mortality; harvest; habitat-use; mark-recapture; Maxent; telemetry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shane, K. D. (2018). Habitat-use and emigration patterns of two top predators stocked in a large flood-control impoundment [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1542722595138777

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shane, Keith. Habitat-use and emigration patterns of two top predators stocked in a large flood-control impoundment. 2018. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1542722595138777.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shane, Keith. "Habitat-use and emigration patterns of two top predators stocked in a large flood-control impoundment." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1542722595138777

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1542722595138777
453
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.