Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Kröger, Robert
Committee Member
Miranda, Steve
Committee Member
Zhang, Haimeng
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
College
College of Forest Resources
Department
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Abstract
Thirteen oxbow lakes, 7 deep (>3.0 m) and 6 shallow (< 1.5m), were studied in the Yazoo River basin (YRB) to identify if divergent water quality characteristics and fish communities were common occurrences. Shallow lakes repeatedly experienced wide diel fluctuations in temperature and oxygen, reduced Secchi depth, and greater levels of suspended solids, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a. Fish communities were mostly comprised of orangespotted sunfish, juvenile crappies, gars, and various backwater fishes. Deep lakes exhibited improved conditions among all water quality variables and harbored fish communities comprised mostly of large-bodied and long-lived individuals, and piscivorous species. Furthermore, effects of smallmouth buffalo on water quality were examined at three different biomass levels in experimental ponds. Ponds with biomasses at 220 and 65 kg ha-1 responded with reduced visibility, elevated turbidity and suspended solids, and lower oxygen levels. These two studies combined provide valuable insight into shallow lake management in the YRB.
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11668/21149
Recommended Citation
Goetz, Daniel Blaine, "Relationships between Fish Assemblages and Water Quality in Oxbow Lakes of the Yazoo River Basin" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 3771.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/3771
Comments
oxbow||fish assemblages||water quality