Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2002
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
Department
Wildlife and Fisheries Resources
Committee Chair
Patricia M. Mazik
Committee Co-Chair
J. Todd Petty.
Abstract
I examined the spatial population dynamics of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in a central Appalachian watershed. The objectives of my research were: (1) identify factors that influence reproduction; (2) determine if factors that influence reproduction influence the distribution and abundance of juvenile and adults; and (3) to determine if the spatial arrangement of stream habitat influence growth, residency, and population fluctuation rates. I used visual surveys and redd counts to quantify spatial variation in habitat quality and brook trout spawning activity. I conducted a mark-recapture study over four seasons to quantify population parameters. The results of my research show that: (1) spawning occurred most often in the headwaters of Second Fork; (2) spawning intensity is a strong predictor of juvenile and small adult densities; and (3) growth and residency rates of juvenile and large adults was greatest in areas where the availability of spawning, feeding, and refuge habitats was greatest.
Recommended Citation
Lamothe, Peter John, "Spatial population dynamics of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in a central Appalachian watershed" (2002). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 1538.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/1538