Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1979

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Major Professor

David A. Etnier

Committee Members

J. Larry Wilson, Dewey L. Bunting

Abstract

The population dynamics of the stoneroller minnow, Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque), was examined in a five-county area in upper East Tennessee. The study was part of a two report project initiated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to assess the impact of commercial bait fishing on the sport fishery for this cyprinid fish. Two similar streams within the study area were intensively studied for Campostoma population information. A creel survey, conducted during the study, demonstrated that one stream incurred a high fishing pressure for Campostoma while the other stream incurred a low fishing pressure. Density and biomass were determined by direct enumeration. Campostoma was the dominant species in density and biomass in both streams. The population characteristics of Campostoma were similar in both streams. Large Campostoma adults, which are the preferred.sport fish, were less abundant in the stream of high fishing pressure. An investigation of the macroinvertebrate fauna in selected areas was accomplished to demonstrate the effect that habitat alteration and pollution had on the aquatic populations of the study area streams. Many streams have been adversely affected by perturbations which has resulted in depauperate aquatic communities. Intense commercial fishing will affect Campostoma populations locally, however, a controlled commercial harvest can possibly exist with the sport fishery if regulations are enforced. Enforcement of stream alteration and pollution regulations would be extremely beneficial to the fishery.

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