Distribution, movements and habitat use of channel catfish in a river with multiple low‐head dams

Abstract

Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus is a highly mobile species and is known to make extensive seasonal movements in lotic systems. Dams have been suggested to detrimentally affect this species, although abundant channel catfish populations are known to occur in many fragmented rivers. To examine factors that allow channel catfish to persist in impounded rivers, we assessed relative abundance of channel catfish in three impounded and three flowing sites of the Fox River, Illinois, USA. Radiotelemetry was used to determine movement and habitat use patterns of channel catfish among flowing and impounded areas. Relative abundance of channel catfish was consistently higher at flowing sites than at impounded sites during summer. Several radio-tagged channel catfish moved downstream into impounded areas in fall, and all tagged individuals were found in impounded areas during winter. The majority of tagged channel catfish moved upstream into flowing areas during spring. Channel catfish used a wide range of depths (0.28-2.60 m), and were always found in current velocities less than 0.50 m s À1 . They selected most strongly for coarse substrates, but were infrequently found near cover. Although low-head dams restrict the movements of channel catfish, impounded areas appear to provide overwintering habitats that may eliminate the need for seasonal long-distance movements. Small run-of-river impoundments, however, may contain unsuitable conditions for channel catfish during other seasons.

Effects of crayfish density, body size and substrate on consumption of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens Rafinesque, 1817) eggs by invasive rusty crayfish [(Orconectes rusticus (Girard, 1852)]

“…Higher densities of crayfish (greater than 200 individuals/m²) have been reported for many other Great Lakes tributaries where lake sturgeon spawn (Kuhlmann & Hazelton, ), especially at the base of dams where the abundance of native and introduced crayfish predators is often high (Bobeldyk & Lamberti, ; Butler & Wahl, ). High and localized crayfish densities would be detrimental to egg survival based on our data, and should be a serious concern for managers seeking to rehabilitate populations, particularly where abundance of spawning adult lake sturgeon has been severely depressed (e.g.…”

Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

“…The creation of headponds inundates riparian areas and fundamentally interrupts the NFR in reaches immediately upstream of low-head dams by reducing flow variability, velocity, and turbulence and increasing the deposition of fine sediment (Csiki and Rhoads 2010;Butler and Wahl 2011). Such changes in physical habitats can lead to impacts on riverine ecosystems by reducing water quality and altering the abundance, richness, and composition of periphyton, invertebrate, and fish assemblages (Santucci et al 2005;Mueller et al 2011;Anderson et al 2014).…”

Genetic Evidence of Isolation by Distance and Impact of Impoundments on Genetic Diversity of Riverine Channel Catfish

“…Past studies on Channel Catfish movement in systems with artificial impoundments have generated mixed results; some found Channel Catfish are able to pass over low-head dams and through locks and dams (Muncy 1958;Wendel and Kelsch 1999;Wilcox et al 2004), yet others found lowhead dams were strong barriers to movement (Welker 1967;Gerhardt and Hubert 1990;Butler and Wahl 2011). Therefore, the effect of impoundments on Channel Catfish genetic structure and diversity likely depends on the system and the types of impoundments (e.g., low-head, lock and dam) in that particular system.…”