Population Structure and Habitat Use of Benthic Fishes Along the Missouri River.211 1996 Annual Report of Missouri River Benthic Fish Study

摘要

The benthic (or bottom-dwelling) fish study is a multi-year, basin-wide research211u001eeffort to help resource managers evaluate how potential changes in system 211u001eoperating procedures may affect Missouri River fishes. Benthic fishes were 211u001etargeted because they include most species listed as at risk of extinction by 211u001eresource agencies (e.g., pallid sturgeon, blue sucker, sicklefin chub). Many 211u001eimportant recreational and commercial fishes are also bottom-dwelling species 211u001e(e.g., catfishes, sauger, buffaloes). Information on the status of benthic fish 211u001epopulations and their habitat along the entire Missouri River will be useful for 211u001eriver managers, because factors associated with healthy populations of fishes in 211u001eone area of the river may provide the best model for conservation in other areas. 211u001eResearch objectives are to: (1) describe and evaluate recruitment, growth, size 211u001estructure, body condition, and relative abundance of selected benthic fishes, (2) 211u001emeasure physicochemical features (e.g., velocity, turbidity) in dominant habitats 211u001ewhere fishes are collected, and (3) describe the use of dominant habitats by 211u001ebenthic fishes. Research is being conducted by six Cooperative Research Units 211u001e(Montana, Idaho, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri) in the Biological 211u001eResources Division (BRD) of the U. S. Geological Survey. Joining in the field 211u001ework is the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department (MTFWP) and in data 211u001emanagment, data analysis, and quality assurance/quality control is the BRD 211u001eMidwest Science Center (MSC), Columbia, MO. Funding through 1996 was received 211u001efrom the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation.