Influences of water quality on distribution of striped bass in a Tennessee River impoundment

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1985)114<67:IOWQOD>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:5003339

Cheek, T E; van den Avyle, M J; Coutant, C C

Telemetry techniques were used to evaluate relationships between water quality and distribution of adult striped bass Morone saxatilis during an 18-month period in Watts Bar Reservoir, Tennessee. Distribution and movements of fish were influenced by water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration. During winter and early spring, temperature was vertically and horizontally uniform, and striped bass were relatively mobile and occurred in both tributary arms as well as in the main body of the reservoir. As the reservoir warmed in summer, fish were less mobile and progressively limited to areas in the tributary arms where temperature was less than 24 C and dissolved oxygen exceeded 4 mg/liter. Parts of the tributary arms of Watts Bar Reservoir provided such areas due to hypolimnetic discharges from upstream impoundments and groundwater inflows. Striped bass were restricted to these areas until late fall, when the entire reservoir cooled and again was nearly isothermal. Knowledge of relationships between striped bass habitat use and water quality is useful for fishery management and resource protection for reservoirs; an example is provided for Watts Bar Reservoir. 35 references, 3 figures.

• Research Organization: Tennessee Technological Univ., Cookeville
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5003339
• Journal Information: Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 114:1; ISSN TAFSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560205* -- Thermal Effects-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DISSOLVED GASES
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FISHES
FLUIDS
GASES
LAKES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
RIVERS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOLUTES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STREAMS
STRIPED BASS
SURFACE WATERS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TENNESSEE RIVER
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WATER QUALITY