Premium
Effects of regulated discharge on burbot migration
Author(s) -
Paragamian V. L.,
Hardy R.,
Gunderman B.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00670.x
Subject(s) - fishery , water discharge , biology , discharge , environmental science , zoology , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , geology , drainage basin , geotechnical engineering , cartography
Burbot Lota lota movement and river discharge were studied in the Kootenai River, Idaho, U.S.A. and British Columbia, Canada, downstream of Libby Dam, Montana, U.S.A. A total of 24 adult burbot with transmitters were tracked from 1994 to 2000, for analysis of a travel distance of ≥5 km in ≤10 days termed ‘stepwise movement’. Of 44 ‘stepwise movements’, significantly greater movements during pre‐spawning and spawning were observed when average daily discharges from Libby Dam were <300 m 3 s −1 , with a mean of 176 m 3 s −1 , similar to pre‐dam conditions. Burbot travelled at a greater rate during all seasons (3·36 km day −1 ) at discharges >300 m 3 s −1 (mean = 1·84 km day −1 ) than at discharges >300 m 3 s −1 but no difference was found for the pre‐spawning and spawning period. Burbot that started ‘stepwise movements’ in low discharge conditions frequently stopped during low discharges.