Date of Award
Summer 7-18-2019
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB)
Department
Biology
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Herman Ray, Ph. D.
Major Professor
William Ensign, Ph. D.
Second Committee Member
Troy Mutchler, Ph. D.
Abstract
In this study I investigated the differences in the non-migratory movement patterns of six fish species in a 280m reach of stream bisected by a culvert (impeded), and a 300m reach of stream with no movement barriers (unimpeded). This study took place between July 1, 2018 and November 14, 2018 in Raccoon Creek, Paulding County, Georgia. I used 12mm passive integrated transponder tags and four instream stationary antennas to monitor the movements 429 fishes. The antennas redetected 262 of the 429 individuals (61.1%), and 48% of fishes were redetected more than 10 times. The proportion of tagged individuals detected by species ranged from 53.3% (Lepomis auritus) to 90% (Hypentelium etowanum). The proportion of detected fishes that moved at least 150m in the unimpeded reach ranged from 41% for L auritus to 100% for Moxostoma duquesni. A multi-state model was implemented to estimate the probability of weekly upstream and downstream movement in the unimpeded reach (upstream= 0.11, 95% CI = 0.08 - 0.16, downstream= 0.07, 95% CI = 0.04 - 0.10), and in the impeded reach (upstream= 0.01, 95% CI = 0.001 -0.04, downstream= 0.01, 95% CI = 0.004-0.02). The patterns of movement observed in this study suggest that conservation managers should consider movements of 150m as a potentially frequent weekly occurrence for the species monitored, and other closely related fishes. This study demonstrates the potential long-term impact a culvert can have on the natural movement patterns of stream fishes.