Publication Date

5-1979

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Robert Hoyt, Larry Gleason, Gary Dillard

Degree Program

Department of Biology

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

In Rough River Lake, Kentucky, some aspects of the ecology of larval and juvenile fishes were investigated from April – August, 1978. Larval fishes were collected weekly from the upper reaches of the lake from the surface and bottom, during daylight and dark periods.

Twenty-three species and three categories of unknown larval and juvenile fishes, represented by 177,119 individuals, were collected. White bass and logperch larvae were the first to appear on April 15 with surface water temperatures of 18.5 C. Gizzard shad larvae dominated net collection while Lepomis spp. were the second most abundant. Larvae were primarily concentrated near the surface and taken mostly at night. Larval concentrations were greatest on May 30. Throughout the study, most specimens were collected along the shorelines. Growth rates of most taxa generally lagged early in life but increased greatly after the first 6-8 weeks. Light traps proved to be an effective method of capture for certain species. Piscivory was observed in white bass 10.5 – 25 mm total length on gizzard shad, and logperch 16.5 – 17 mm total length on unknown larvae and suckers.

Disciplines

Biology | Marine Biology

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