Distribution and movement of a stocked freshwater fish: implications of a variable habitat volume for stocking programs

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Smith ◽  
Lee J. Baumgartner ◽  
Iain M. Suthers ◽  
Matthew D. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Adaptive Behaviour ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Variable Environment ◽  
Stochastic Events ◽  
Thermal Preferences ◽  
Gill Netting

Fish are commonly stocked into impoundments globally, yet their patterns of habitat use in this variable environment are rarely incorporated into the management of stocking density. The movement and distribution of Australian bass Macquaria novemaculata (Perchichthyidae) were monitored in two impoundments to assess whether: (1) impoundment populations exhibit behaviour typical of wild or riverine percichthyids; (2) changing gradients of temperature and dissolved oxygen influenced distribution; and (3) the volume of available habitat should be incorporated into the management of these fisheries. Habitat use was determined with a combination of gill netting and ultrasonic telemetry using depth-coded tags. Tagged fish displayed both crepuscular and migratory behaviour typical of the Percichthyidae, but also showed a previously unobserved division between littoral and pelagic foraging strategies. Australian bass showed no obvious thermal preferences, but avoided areas with dissolved oxygen <4 mg L–1. In one impoundment, a combination of hypoxia and water extraction reduced the volume of available habitat to 15% of maximum in March 2009, which coincided with increased catch per unit effort (CPUE) and decreased fish condition. The adaptive behaviour of Australian bass makes them well suited to the variability of impoundments, but annual and stochastic events of habitat reduction should be considered when planning stocking regimes for these fisheries.

Long-term monitoring provides insight into estuarine top predator (Carcharhinus leucas) resilience following an extreme weather event

2020 ◽  
Vol 639 ◽  
pp. 169-183
Author(s):  
P Matich ◽  
BA Strickland ◽  
MR Heithaus
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Acoustic Telemetry ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Behavioral Variability ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Ontogenetic Shifts ◽  
Carcharhinus Leucas ◽  
Acute Disturbance ◽  
Cold Snap

Chronic environmental change threatens biodiversity, but acute disturbance events present more rapid and immediate threats. In 2010, a cold snap across south Florida had wide-ranging impacts, including negative effects on recreational fisheries, agriculture, and ecological communities. Here, we use acoustic telemetry and historical longline monitoring to assess the long-term implications of this event on juvenile bull sharks Carcharhinus leucas in the Florida Everglades. Despite the loss of virtually all individuals (ca. 90%) within the Shark River Estuary during the cold snap, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of age 0 sharks on longlines recovered through recruitment within 6-8 mo of the event. Acoustic telemetry revealed that habitat use patterns of age 0-2 sharks reached an equilibrium in 4-6 yr. In contrast, the CPUE and habitat use of age 3 sharks required 5-7 yr to resemble pre-cold snap patterns. Environmental conditions and predation risk returned to previous levels within 1 yr of the cold snap, but abundances of some prey species remained depressed for several years. Reduced prey availability may have altered the profitability of some microhabitats after the cold snap, leading to more rapid ontogenetic shifts to marine waters among sharks for several years. Accelerated ontogenetic shifts coupled with inter-individual behavioral variability of bull sharks likely led to a slower recovery rate than predicted based on overall shark CPUE. While intrinsic variation driven by stochasticity in dynamic ecosystems may increase the resistance of species to chronic and acute disturbance, it may also increase recovery time in filling the diversity of niches occupied prior to disturbance if resistive capacity is exceeded.

scholarly journals Effect of density of fingerling and juvenile pirarucu during transportation on water quality and physiological parameters

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-231
Author(s):  
Adriana Ferreira LIMA ◽  
Hyago Jovane Borges de OLIVEIRA ◽  
André Silvério PEREIRA ◽  
Silmara Sanae SAKAMOTO
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Physiological Parameters ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Arapaima Gigas ◽  
Unionized Ammonia

ABSTRACT We assessed the effect of stocking density on physiological parameters (blood lactate, glucose, cortisol, hematocrit), water quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, unionized ammonia, carbon dioxide), and survival during the transportation of fingerling (24.5 ± 4.7 g) and juvenile (615.8 ± 122.2 g) pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) for six hours in plastic bags. The tested densities were 65, 80, 95, 110 and 125 g L-1 for fingerlings, and 50, 80, 110, 140 and 170 g L-1 for juveniles (three replicates each). Parameters were measured prior to and immediately after transportation, and at 24 and 96 hours recovery after transportation. No mortality was observed, except for fingerlings (< 3%) at densities of 110 and 125 g L-1 during recovery. All the water quality parameters were significantly altered after the transportation of fingerlings and juveniles. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide and unionized ammonia increased, but pH decreased. Only carbon dioxide and unionized ammonia differed among densities. Cortisol levels did not increase over time, except for the juveniles at 170 g L-1, which still had high cortisol after 96 hours. Glucose significantly increased after transportation for all the treatments and returned to the initial values during the recovery period. Conversely, the lactate values were still high after 96 hours. Hematocrit was assessed only for juveniles and was significantly lower after transportation. We conclude that fingerling and juvenile pirarucu can be safely transported at densities up to 95 g L-1 and 140 g L-1, respectively.

scholarly journals Mixing it up in Alaska: Habitat use of adult female Steller sea lions reveals a variety of foraging strategies

Ecosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle E. Lander ◽  
Brian S. Fadely ◽  
Thomas S. Gelatt ◽  
Jeremy T. Sterling ◽  
Devin S. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Steller Sea Lions ◽  
Sea Lions

Foraging strategies involved in habitat use of shorebirds at the intertidal area of Chongming Dongtan, China

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Jing ◽  
Zhijun Ma ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Jinhua Li ◽  
Jiakuan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Intertidal Area

Dissolved Oxygen Level and Stocking Density Effects on Growth, Feed Utilization, Physiology, and Innate Immunity of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Abdel-Tawwab ◽  
Ahmed E. Hagras ◽  
Heba Allah M. Elbaghdady ◽  
Mohamed N. Monier
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Oreochromis Niloticus ◽  
Nile Tilapia ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Feed Utilization ◽  
Oxygen Level ◽  
Density Effects ◽  
Nile Tilapia Oreochromis Niloticus

scholarly journals Winter habitat use of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) fitted with Fastloc™GPS/GSM tags in two tidal bays in France

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Vincent ◽  
Bernie J McConnell ◽  
Stéphanie Delayat ◽  
Jean-François Elder ◽  
Gérard Gautier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Phoca Vitulina ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Behavioural Plasticity ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Southern Limit ◽  
Harbour Seals ◽  
Mussel Farms

Winter movements and habitat use of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) were investigated in two tidal bays in France, at the southern limit of their species range in the Northeast Atlantic. We fitted 15 seals with Fastloc™GPS/GSMtags in the Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel (BMSM) and the Baie des Veys (BDV). Tags relayed 20.6±7.1 GPS locations per seal-day, 81% of all dives performed by the seals and 87% of haulouts, during an average tracking duration of 108±56 days. One seal travelled 380 km away from the BMSM but the other seals remained stationary, with 95% and 55% of at-sea locations ≤ 5 km from the haulout sites in BMSM and BDV respectively. Home range sizes were 137 and 161 km² in BMSM and BDV, and core areas’ sizes, 35 and 22 km² respectively. The seals remained very coastally in both sites with 93% and 71% of at-sea locations located in the intertidal zone of BMSM and BDV respectively. Accordingly, dives were shallow with 63% and 61% of dive maximum depths <4 m and 94% and 88% <10 m (in BMSM and BDV respectively). Preferred foraging areas were located in tidal channels in BMSM, sometimes in the vicinity of rocks or mussel farms. In BDV one seal made foraging trips 10-15 km offshore but all other seals repeatedly used coastal areas, often foraging around mussel farms, shipwrecks or intertidal rocks in tidal currents. We suggest that the importance of the tides combined with local features of the topography allow seals to predict prey availability, driving their foraging strategies towards a number of specific coastal areas. These results further illustrate the behavioural plasticity of the species according to habitat and environmental conditions. Fastloc™ GPS/GSM telemetry is particularly well adapted for the study of seals’ habitat use at a fine geographical and temporal scale, as long as they occasionally come close to shore within GSM coverage.

scholarly journals Spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use by three estuarine species of mysid shrimp

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Habitat Partitioning ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Benthic Habitats ◽  
Trophic Resources ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Adaptive Foraging ◽  
Mysid Shrimp

The mysids Rhopalopthalmus egregius, Haplostylus dakini and Doxomysis australiensis are abundant yet unstudied omnivorous crustaceans in Australian estuaries. Habitat use and population dynamics were investigated for these species over spring and summer in the Tweed River, Australia, to explore their ecological role in estuarine ecosystems. Overall, mysids were concentrated in shallow unvegetated and deep unvegetated estuarine habitats. H. dakini were most abundant in shallow and deep bare habitats at night, whereas R. egregius were most abundant in deep bare habitats during the night. D. australiensis were present across all habitats in the night, but negligible numbers were present during the day. Significantly greater numbers of R. egregius and D. australiensis were sampled during the new moon, compared with the full moon. Significantly larger R. egregius and D. australiensis individuals were present in benthic habitats at night, indicating possible partitioning of habitat for juvenile and adult subpopulations. Adaptive foraging strategies and habitat use facilitates the coexistence of sympatric mysid species, H. dakini and R. egregius, and within-species habitat partitioning allowed juvenile R. egregius to avoid interaction with adult R. egregius. The observed dynamics minimize inter- and intra-specific predation between mysids, and by other predators, while optimizing access to key trophic resources.

scholarly journals Movement Patterns and Habitat use for Sympatric Species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth McAlpine-Bellis ◽  
Kaera L Utsumi ◽  
Kelly M Diamond ◽  
Janine Klein ◽  
Sophia Gilbert-Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Great Basin ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Turn Angle ◽  
Visual Predator ◽  
Food Movement

Abstract Background: Movement is an important characteristic of an animal’s ecology, reflecting perception of and response to environmental conditions. To effectively search for food, movement patterns likely depend on habitat characteristics and the sensory systems used to find prey. We examined movements associated with foraging for two sympatric species of lizards inhabiting the Alvord Basin in the Great Basin Desert of southeastern Oregon. The two species have largely overlapping diets but find prey via different sensory cues, which link to their differing foraging strategies — the long-nosed leopard lizard, Gambelia wislizenii, is a visually-oriented predator, while the western whiptail, Aspidoscelis tigris, relies heavily on chemosensory cues to find prey.Methods: Using detailed focal observations, we characterized the habitat use and movement paths of each species. We placed markers at the location of focal animals every minute for the duration of each 30-min observation. Afterwards, we recorded whether each location was in the open or in vegetation, as well as the movement metrics of step length, path length, net displacement, straightness index, and turn angle, and then made statistical comparisons between the two species.Results: The visual forager spent more time in open areas, moved less frequently over shorter distances, and differed in patterns of plant use compared to the chemosensory forager. Path characteristics of step length and turn angle differed between species.Conclusions: The visual predator moved in a way that was consistent with the notion that they require a clear visual path to stalk prey whereas the movement of the chemosensory predator increased their chances of detecting prey by venturing further into vegetation. Sympatric species can partition limited resources through differences in search behavior and habitat use.

Seasonal and sexual differences in the thermal preferences and movements of American lobsters

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 1650-1657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven H. Jury ◽  
Winsor H. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Homarus Americanus ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Preferred Temperature ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitats ◽  
Great Bay Estuary ◽  
Preferred Temperatures ◽  
Final Preferred Temperature ◽  
Thermal Preferences

Thermal preferences of lobsters (Homarus americanus) were determined in the laboratory and compared with seasonal movements and distribution of lobsters in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. Lobsters preferred 11.0 ± 0.6 °C, or 2.8 ± 0.7 °C warmer than ambient temperature, during the colder months of the year. However, during the warmer months they selected 15.7 ± 0.4 °C, which was 0.2 ± 0.4 °C warmer than the ambient temperature. Overall, the lobsters tested had a final preferred temperature of 15.9 °C, and males selected warmer temperatures than females. Catch per unit effort was highest at sites where temperatures were similar to the temperatures lobsters preferred in the laboratory studies and lowest at sites ≥18 °C or <12 °C. Significantly more males than females were captured in areas with temperatures >16 °C. Lobsters tagged, and subsequently recaptured within 7–35 days, moved relatively little when released into areas where temperatures were similar to their preferred temperatures. Thermal preferences may influence the movement of lobsters in thermally heterogeneous habitats, and climate change is expected to have a major impact on lobster distribution, especially in estuarine and coastal habitats.

Contrasted thermal preferences translate into divergences in habitat use and realized performance in two sympatric snakes

2011 ◽  
Vol 284 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lelièvre ◽  
G. Blouin-Demers ◽  
D. Pinaud ◽  
H. Lisse ◽  
X. Bonnet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Thermal Preferences
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