Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Miranda, LE
Committee Member
Kröger, Robert
Committee Member
Zhao, Meng
Committee Member
Knight, Scott
Date of Degree
8-17-2013
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Forest Resources
Department
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Abstract
Floodplain lakes in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) provide valuable freshwater resources for states in which they occur. Thirty lakes in portions of Mississippi and Arkansas were surveyed for chlorophyll-a fluorescence and turbidity using handheld meters to determine relationships between chlorophyll-a concentrations and suspended solids. High applicability of handheld meters in the MAV presents economic benefits for monitoring the numerous lakes in the region. Additionally, twelve lakes within Bear Creek watershed, Mississippi were studied to determine how hydrologic connectivity shapes fish communities. Isolated and permanently connected floodplain lakes exhibited characteristically lacustrine and rheophilic fish communities, respectively, diversifying fishery management opportunities. Lastly, spring diel temperature and oxygen dynamics, as well as juvenile fish communities, were assessed within three habitats in a floodplain lake – pelagic environment, margin and contiguous wetlands. Variability in temperature and oxygen across the three habitats promotes spring habitat heterogeneity while supporting distinct but overlapping juvenile fish assemblages.
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11668/21123
Recommended Citation
Steiner Andrews, Caroline Noelle, "Floodplain Lake Assessment and Fish Assemblage Dynamics in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 2312.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/2312