Movements by two small fishes in a large stream
Movements by adult Percina nigrojasciata and juvenile Lepomis auritus were examined in a large Coastal Plain stream in the southeastern United States. I marked fishes with subcutaneous injections of acrylic paints to indicate capture location within a 550-m long study site. Recaptures over an 18-month period primarily occurred within 33m of the original capture location, suggesting long-term residence in relatively small areas. However, 11 Percina and three Lepomis moved at least 100 m (maximum distance moved = 200 m for Lepomis, 420 m for Percina), and individuals of both species shifted between distinctly different mesohabitats (boulder riffle, sand pool, and gravel riffle). Distance moved did not strongly relate to time between captures. Long-distance movements (> 33 m) by Percina mostly occurred from Nov. through June. The winter and springtime movements by darters occurred in upstream and downstream directions and into all three mesohabitats, and at least 40% of these movements were unassociated with periods of extreme high flow. Periodic long-range movements may allow small fishes to respond to variation in resources over a large area and across a variety of stream habitats.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1995 |
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Title | Movements by two small fishes in a large stream |
DOI | 10.2307/1446899 |
Authors | Mary C. Freeman |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Copeia |
Index ID | 5223350 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |