Date of Award
January 2014
Degree Type
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Sherry L. Harrel
Department Affiliation
Biological Sciences
Second Advisor
Charles L. Elliott
Department Affiliation
Biological Sciences
Third Advisor
Amy Braccia
Department Affiliation
Biological Sciences
Abstract
The spatial and temporal variation in fish distribution, assemblage structure, and habitat associations were investigated in relation to the available macrohabitats (riffle, run, or pool) in Gilbert's Big Creek and Elisha Creek, 2nd and 3rd order streams, respectively, located within the Red Bird River watershed in southeastern Kentucky. A total of 7,662 individuals were captured; 3,038 from Gilbert's Big Creek (21 species) and 4,624 from Elisha Creek (19 species). The most prevalent species overall in both streams was the creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus). Most fish species were distributed in the middle sampling sites in the spring, the lower sites in the summer, and the middle sites in the fall for both streams. Species richness increased from the upper to the lower sections of both streams during all seasons. Darter species (Etheostoma and Percina) selected riffles and runs while avoiding pools; whereas cyprinids selected pools while avoiding riffles and runs. Elisha Creek produced more total individuals; but overall the distributions, assemblage structures, and habitat associations exhibited by the fish communities in both Gilbert's Big Creek and Elisha Creek were very similar to what has been reported for the same species within their geographical range.
Copyright
Copyright 2014 Eric J. Smith
Recommended Citation
Smith, Eric J., "Distributions, Assemblage Structure, and Habitat Associations of Fishes in Two Streams of the Red Bird River Watershed, Kentucky" (2014). Online Theses and Dissertations. 318.
https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/318