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Movement patterns and habitat use of three declining littoral fish species in a north-temperate mesotrophic lake

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Abstract

We explored patterns of habitat use and movement of three declining fish species intolerant to eutrophication in a north-temperate (Minnesota, USA) glacial lake: the blackchin shiner Notropis heterodon, blacknose shiner Notropis heterolepis, and banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus. We marked individuals with elastomer tags and estimated movement distances of recaptured individuals. Estimated home ranges for all species ranged from 3,264 to 19,525 m2, which covered 0.8 and 5.0% of our study lake’s total littoral area. Individuals of all species traveled to opposite ends of the lake over periods of time as short as 24 h. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) overlays and generalized additive models, we found fish species occurrences to be positively associated with macrophyte biovolume greater than 20% and with a high probability of occurrence of Chara. The magnitude of main and interaction effects varied among years and species. Overall, blackchin shiner occurrence was most strongly associated with biovolume. In other species by year combinations, biovolume and Chara explained varying degrees of variance in fish probability of occurrence. Our results suggest that controlling lake eutrophication and protecting of refuge areas of dense macrophytes and Chara may be needed to conserve these species.

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Acknowledgments

The following people assisted with data collection: J. Balk, E. Hanson, K. Hines, L. Kusilek, D. Logsdon, M. McInerny, and C. Tomcko. We thank the family of D. Tharp, who kindly allowed us to store a boat and equipment on their lakeshore property. D. Mulla and D. Staples provided guidance on statistical methodologies. C. Anderson, A. Carlson, J. Reed, S. Thomaz, and two anonymous reviewers provided useful comments on early drafts of this manuscript. This research was funded in part by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fish and Game Fund and Mississippi State University Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center.

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  1. Michael D. Habrat

    Present address: Division of Fish and Wildlife, Minnesota Department and Wildlife, 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul, MN, 55106, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Fish and Wildlife, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul, MN, 55106, USA

    Ray D. Valley & Melissa T. Drake

  2. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 9690, Mississippi State, Starkville, MS, 39762, USA

    Michael D. Habrat & Eric D. Dibble

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  1. Ray D. Valley
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Correspondence to Ray D. Valley.

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Handling editor: S. M. Thomaz

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Valley, R.D., Habrat, M.D., Dibble, E.D. et al. Movement patterns and habitat use of three declining littoral fish species in a north-temperate mesotrophic lake. Hydrobiologia 644, 385–399 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0207-x

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