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- Title
Age-0 blue catfish habitat use and population demographics in the middle Mississippi River.
- Authors
Seibert, K. L.; Seibert, J. R.; Phelps, Q. E.
- Abstract
The demographics (e.g. hatch time, growth and mortality) and habitat (macrohabitat and mesohabitat) use of age-0 blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus (Lesueur) were evaluated in the un-impounded reach of the middle Mississippi River during 2003-2010. Each year, island complexes and adjacent main river habitats were trawled, and 7,373 age-0 blue catfish (10-144 mm total length) were collected. Blue catfish hatch timing varied slightly across years and generally began in June and ended in August. Age-0 blue catfish growth rates and instantaneous mortality rates differed among years. Catch rates of age-0 blue catfish were highest in side channels and around islands, whereas main channel habitats were infrequently occupied. Regarding mesohabitat use, age-0 blue catfish frequently occupied low velocity areas (i.e. 0.3-0.4 m/s) of shallow depth (i.e. 1-4 m) and sand substratum. This study has provided insight into age-0 blue catfish population dynamics and has highlighted the importance of specific habitat characteristics in large rivers that may aid in recruitment of this species.
- Subjects
FISH habitats; CATFISHES; FISHERY management; FISH conservation; FISHERIES
- Publication
Fisheries Management & Ecology, 2017, Vol 24, Issue 6, p427
- ISSN
0969-997X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/fme.12243