Date of Graduation
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
Committee Chair
Stuart A. Welsh
Abstract
This thesis includes two chapters. The first (Chapter 1) is a literature review focusing on the ecological consequences of introduced fishes on host communities, and specifically on native fishes of similar morphology and phylogenetic origins. The second (Chapter 2) is a manuscript synthesizing the aquaria based study of the interspecific relationships, with respect to habitat utilization, between two syntopically occurring congeneric species pairs in the Greenbrier River. Each pair consists of an introduced and a native cyprinid species. Several species native (often endemic) to the New River watershed are experiencing reductions in abundance and distribution. Meanwhile, a concurrent increase has occurred in the abundance and distribution of similar nonnative species. Chapter 2 focuses on the interspecific interactions that occur with respect to vertical water column position between a pair of native species, Notropis scabriceps (New River shiner) and Cyprinella spiloptera (spotfin shiner), and a pair of nonnative species, Notropis telescopus (telescope shiner) and Cyprinella galactura (whitetail shiner). These four species occur in the Greenbrier River (a tributary to the New). Observations were made using aquaria and vertical position categories. All four species were observed under allotopic and syntopic trials. Allotopic trials provided evidence for segregation in vertical water column preferences but syntopic trials revealed integration and mixed-species shoals. Laboratory-observed patterns of native/nonnative species integration likely occur in wild populations (in the New River drainage). If laboratory observed patterns of species integration also occur in wild populations, then competitive interactions will likely occur owing to the close association between native and nonnative species in the use of vertical habitat space. Additional studies, however, are needed to verify experimental findings in the natural environment of the Greenbrier River system.
Recommended Citation
Keplinger, Brandon J., "An experimental study of vertical habitat use and habitat shifts in single-species and mixed-species shoals of native and nonnative congeneric cyprinids." (2007). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 10981.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10981