Fish Diversity in a Thermally-Stressed Stream
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Authors
Smith, Timothy C.
Issue Date
1975
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The species diversity and composition of fish communities
in the ambient temperature tributaries and backwaters
of a thermally-stressed stream were examined in this study.
The results were compared with similar data obtained prior
to the onset of effluent release into the stream, in order
to determine the extent of change incurred in the c011mlUl1i ties
due to the direct and secondary effects of receiving thermal
effluent from nuclear production reactors for twenty-four
years. Comparisons are also made between the fish diversity
of the thermal stream and an adjacent post-thermal stream
with a recovered fish fauna.
Species typically found in first order tributaries were
reduced or extinct from the upper reaches of :the thermal
stream, notably within the cyprinid minnows of the genus
Notropis. There was an evident alteration in the distribution
of centrarchid species, especially within the genus Lepomis.
Previously absent fish species were found in refuge areas,
probably as a result of altered stream characteristics and
associated habitat changes. A reduction in total fish diversity
was noted, especially with respect to normal adjacent
stream systems.
Description
28 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.