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Distribution and Movement Behavior of Radio‐Tagged Grass Carp in Two Texas Reservoirs
Author(s) -
Chilton Earl W.,
Poarch Steven M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1997)126<0467:dambor>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - stocking , acclimatization , biology , diel vertical migration , grass carp , movement (music) , seasonality , zoology , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , environmental science , fishery , philosophy , aesthetics
Triploid grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella with surgically implanted radio tags were stocked in two Texas reservoirs, Lake Texana (4.453 ha) and Lake Weatherford (445 ha), then tracked to determine magnitude and seasonality of movement patterns, diurnal changes in movement, and distribution relative to aquatic vegetation. After release, fish quickly became associated with macrophytes. More than 50% of observed movement during the first 3 months occurred within 1 week. Mean home range area was 3,234 ha (SE = 1,190), and mean core use area was 515 ha (SE = 193). Extensive movement was observed during 24‐h tracking conducted immediately after release. However, five 24‐h tracking surveys that were conducted at least 3 months after release showed little movement after acclimation. Somewhat elevated movement was evident from 0400 to 1200 hours. We conclude that immediately after stocking, an acclimation period with relatively intense movement occurs followed by an extended period of quiescence. Mean duration of the acclimation period was approximately 7 weeks for lake Texana and 8 weeks for Lake Weatherford. Although both lakes in this study contained habitat considerably more heterogeneous than other sites where 24‐h radio‐tracking of grass carp had been done, individual fish did not appear to take advantage of the opportunity (via diel movement) to forage in different areas. Hence, daylight tracking alone should be sufficient to determine grass carp movement trends.