Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Life History, Diet And Habitat Of The Federally Endangered Laurel Dace (Chrosomus Saylori), Shawna M. Fix

Masters Theses

Laurel Dace (Chrosomus saylori) is a small, freshwater minnow that is endemic to headwater streams on Walden Ridge, Tennessee. The species was listed as federally endangered in 2011 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Plan indicates a need for life history, diet and habitat studies. A literature review, samples of archived specimens, and a surrogate species, the Tennessee Dace (Chrosomus tennesseensis), were used to describe the life history and diet of the Laurel Dace. A total of 370 Tennessee Dace were collected from Laurel Ford Branch, a stream 8.6 km from the Laurel Dace …

Assessment Of Smallmouth Bass Micropterus Dolomieu And Rock Bass Ambloplites Rupestris Growth And Condition In The Little River, Tennessee, Justin Robert Wolbert

Masters Theses

The Little River in Blount County, Tennessee, is a popular tourist location and fishery. It originates inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and has sustained few impacts due to the protection of the Park. Growth and condition of smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu and rock bass Ambloplites rupestris were evaluated in Little River, Tennessee, from April to August 2013 and related to populations from other rivers in East Tennessee. Samples were collected via boat and backpack electrofishing. Selective sampling techniques targeting five or more fish in each 25.4- mm class produced 97 smallmouth bass and 48 rock bass. Otoliths …

Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Margaritiferidae And Unionidae) Of The Buffalo River Drainage, Tennessee, Matthew Philip Reed

Masters Theses

The Buffalo River in Tennessee once hosted a rich population of freshwater mussels. During the 1980s, monitoring efforts demonstrated evidence of drastic declines and extirpation of entire assemblages. Increases in municipal development in the headwater tributaries and agriculture in the main stem of the Buffalo River are suspected causes for mussel community declines throughout the river. In 2011, collection data documented evidence of recovery in the lower Buffalo River. The aims of this project were: 1) to update the status, distribution, and species composition of mussels in the Buffalo River and its major tributaries through qualitative sampling, and 2) to …

Habitat Selection And Partitioning Among Darters In Two Tributaries Of The Clinch River, And Stream Restoration Effects On Substrate Profile, Daniel James Walker

Masters Theses

The group of fish referred to as darters is extremely biodiverse. Often, several closely related species will inhabit the same areas of streams, and prior research has investigated how these species may be partitioning the resources in low-order streams in which they are sympatric. The habitat partitioning of darters in two streams in the Clinch River system, Coal and Cove Creeks, was investigated. The study sites were picked due to their involvement in both physical and biological stream restoration efforts within the last several years, including the collection, translocation, and reintroduction of rainbow darters (Etheostoma caeruleum) from reference sites in …

An Evaluation Of Quality Deer Management Programs In Tennessee, Christopher E. Shaw

Masters Theses

Several properties within Tennessee were managed under a quality deer management (QDM) philosophy from 1998 to 2006. Harvest characteristics of three private properties and three Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) were compared to determine effects on buck harvest rates and the age structure and sex ratio of the harvest. Average annual buck harvest decreased at most areas following antler restrictions and ranged from 55 to 68% of pre-QDM levels because younger bucks were protected. Although the raw numbers showed an increase in older-aged bucks harvested following antler restrictions, when calculated on a per hunter or per permit issued basis, statistical increases …

Captive Propagation Of Tangerine Darters For Re-Introduction In The Pigeon River, Tennessee, Craig Lee Phillips

Masters Theses

The Pigeon River suffered major water quality degradation from 1908 through the 1980’s from paper mill effluent which resulted in the extirpation of many native fish species. Mill modifications have cleaned the effluent to the degree where some native species are recolonizing many areas of the river. In 2001, the Pigeon River Restoration Project was initiated to re-introduce native non-game species which have been unable to return of their own accord. In addition to relocation of selected suitable species, captive production of the tangerine darter (Percina aurantiaca) has been attempted since current translocation methods have proven impractical due …

Relationships Between Muskrats And Freshwater Mussels Prior To River Otter Restoration At Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, Kimberly Ann Asmus

Masters Theses

The southeastern United States has a great diversity of freshwater mussel species, many of which are threatened with extinction. The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is one of the few animals to extensively prey on freshwater mussels, and it has been implicated in retarding the recovery of, or further threatening, some endangered mussel populations. Muskrat predation on mussels may be significant at Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP) where a river otter (Lontra canadensis) restoration has been proposed. Anecdotal observations suggest that the reintroduction of river otters dramatically reduces muskrat populations, which, in tum, may reduce the number of …

The Movements And Reproductive Success Of Re-Introduced Darters In The Pigeon River, Tn, Virginia Anne Harrison

Masters Theses

The Pigeon River has a history of degraded water quality that lasted nearly seven decades, from 1908 until the 1970s, thereby resulting in the loss of many native species. In recent years, recovery efforts have been initiated by numerous agencies to re-introduce selected fish and other aquatic species. Three species of darters (gilt darter Percina evides, bluebreast darter Etheostoma camurum, and blueside darter E. jessiae) were re-introduced into the river in 2001-03; re-introduction of a fourth species, the stripetail darter (E. kennicotti) began in 2003. Since 2002, these species have been monitored by snorkel surveys …

Aquiculture, Hugh T. Ramsey

Masters Theses

There is every evidence that the productivity of our ponds, lakes, and streams can be materially increased by the intelligent application of present scientific knowledge to this problem.

For many years it has been recognized that our streams and lakes are becoming more and more barren of fish, and other aquatic life, but remedial measures, until recently, have been applied to only one-half of the problem. Efficient fish hatchery systems are maintained, both state and federal, and millions of fingerlings and legal-size fish are planted each year in an effort to increase the fish population of our waters, and to …