Abstract
In a laboratory experiment, we quantified microhabitat use of small yellow-phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata, n = 130, 224–338 mm TL) conditional on five benthic substrate types common to rivers within their geographic range. During nine, 4-day trials replicated with three aquaria, American eels were given a choice to burrow into five equally available benthic substrates: cobble (90–256 mm), gravel (4–16 mm), sand (0.125–1 mm), silt/clay (< 0.0625 mm), and leaf pack. Five American eels were used per aquarium for each trial, and individuals were used one time only. All eels were injected with PIT tags prior to the study, which allowed for determination of lengths and otolith-based ages of each individual following each trial. Leaf pack was selected with a significantly higher probability than other substrates (63 of 130 individuals). However, other substrates were also used (cobble, 21 of 130; silt/clay, 18 of 130; gravel, 16 of 130; and sand, 12 of 130). Length and age covariates were not associated with substrate selection. Selection of leaf pack habitat supports the importance of forested riparian zones and terrestrial organic material to yellow-phase American eels in riverine systems.
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Data are available from the West Virginia University data repository: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/datasets/
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Acknowledgements
Funding for this study was provided by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Allegheny Energy Supply. We thank Ryan Braham, Nicole Dawson, and Corbin Hilling for assistance with field collections and lab work. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. This study was performed under the auspices of West Virginia University protocol # 11–0501.
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Braham, M.A., Welsh, S.A. & Smith, D.M. An experimental study of benthic habitat selection in yellow-phase American eels (Anguilla rostrata). Environ Biol Fish 107, 513–522 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-024-01544-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-024-01544-z