SYNCHRONY IN RECRUITMENT OF FISHES IN OHIO RIVER TRIBUTARIES

TL;DRAbstract

Recruitment is the point in life when cohort strength in fishes is determined. Tributaries of large rivers contain a variety of fish species; yet not much is known about factors influencing variation in year-class strength. I hypothesized that abiotic conditions within main channels of large rivers would have a strong impact on growth and survival of tributary fish, and that this impact would be similar among species with similar life history characteristics. Tributary populations of bluegill, longear sunfish, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass were sampled to determine how discharge and temperature in tributaries and adjacent rivers affected their cohort strength in the lower Ohio River. Fishes were sampled using AC electrofishing during fall 2002 through spring 2003 and fall 2003 through spring 2004. Otoliths were used to determine fish age, while age frequencies were used to back-calculate length-at-age to analyze year class patterns. Using residual analysis of catch curves, I foun

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