Establishing and Evaluating Agricultural Plantings and Supplemental Cover on Reservoir Mudflats as a Means to Increase Juvenile Game Fish Abundance and Growth

Author

Hunter R. Hatcher

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Miranda, Leandro E.

Committee Member

Colvin, Michael E.

Committee Member

Lashley, Marcus A.

Date of Degree

12-14-2018

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Reservoirs throughout the country exhibit degraded shorelines and simplified littoral habitats because of aging. This study evaluated the establishment of agricultural plantings on reservoir mudflats and the effectiveness of supplemental brush pile structures in providing recruitment habitat for juvenile fish. The mudflats of Enid Reservoir, Mississippi were seeded during the winter drawdown in October of 2016 and 2017 with agricultural plantings. Monitoring of plantings found grasses performed best in terms of establishment and providing potential fish habitat. During Summer 2017 brush piles and control sites, without brush, were sampled in Enid Reservoir using rotenone to evaluate juvenile fish use. Juvenile fish exhibited greater abundances and larger sizes, on average, in brush pile sites. Larger brush piles placed in shallower water provided the greatest benefit to juvenile fish.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19705

Recommended Citation

Hatcher, Hunter R., "Establishing and Evaluating Agricultural Plantings and Supplemental Cover on Reservoir Mudflats as a Means to Increase Juvenile Game Fish Abundance and Growth" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 1919.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/1919