Ecology of Larval Fishes in Lake Oahe, South Dakota

Download or read book Ecology of Larval Fishes in Lake Oahe, South Dakota written by William Roland Nelson and published by . This book was released on 1980 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The time and location of spawning, food and larvae, and habitats used as nursery areas by young-of-the-year fishes were studied from 1972 to 1975 in South Dakota waters of Lake Oahe, a main stem Missouri River reservoir. Sampling locations were in the tributary rivres -- the Grand Moreau, and Cheyenne -- and their embayments. Year-class strength of river-spawning species was strongly correlated with river flow rates during the spawning season. Success of reservoir-spawning species was primarily dependent on above-average water levels, which inundated terrestrial vegetation to provide a substrate for egg deposition and cover for larvae. Preserving adequate streamflow and enhancing reservoir shoreline areas by managing water levels, seeding vegetation, and eliminating grazing alongshore would probably ensure adequate reproduction of most areas.