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Effects of flow regime on growth rate in freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens

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Abstract

Understanding the influence of flow regime hydrology on fish life history is essential for conservation and management of lotic ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to investigate growth patterns of Wabash River freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens relative to age, sex, and long term flow regime variation. Growth was estimated using back-calculated lengths from otolith measurements. Flow regime was described using Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration flow metrics calculated from long-term stream flow data at USGS stations. A generalized linear mixed model was used to model growth as a function of age, sex, and flow regime. Freshwater drum growth was explained by variation in age, sex, and flow magnitude. Freshwater drum exhibited indeterminate growth relative to age. Mean growth rates and mean length at age were lower in males than females. High magnitude flow events were positively correlated with increased growth rates in both males and females. However, the effect of flow magnitude variation on growth was stronger in males. The primary flow regime metrics related to growth were magnitude-based and were not related to timing of flow events. The study provides evidence that long term variation in flow regime is a catalyst for alterations in freshwater drum growth rates.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Brittany Ross, Matthew Pyron, Elizabeth Maxwell, Lucas Etchison, Jayson Beugly, Reuben Goforth, and Tom Lauer for field and laboratory assistance. Fishes were collected under Indiana scientific permit IN 10–0160.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University – Lake Campus, Celina, OH, 45822, USA

    Stephen J. Jacquemin

  2. Aquatic Biology and Fisheries Center, Department of Biology, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA

    Jason C. Doll, Mark Pyron & Michael Allen

  3. Center of Excellence for Field Biology, Department of Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, 37044, USA

    Dustin A. S. Owen

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  1. Stephen J. Jacquemin
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  2. Jason C. Doll
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Correspondence to Stephen J. Jacquemin.

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Jacquemin, S.J., Doll, J.C., Pyron, M. et al. Effects of flow regime on growth rate in freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens . Environ Biol Fish 98, 993–1003 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0332-x

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