Habitat selection by adult walleye during spawning season in irrigation reservoirs: a patch occupancy modeling approach

Recruitment of walleye ( Sander vitreus Mitchill) is limited in irrigation reservoirs of the Republican River basin in southwestern Nebraska. The causal mechanism for this limited recruitment is unknown, but may be related to a lack of suitable spawning habitat. Patch occupancy models were developed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental biology of fishes 2012-04, Vol.93 (4), p.589-598
Main Authors: Martin, Dustin R., Powell, Larkin A., Pope, Kevin L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Environment
Fish
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
Habitat improvement
Habitat selection
Habitats
Irrigation. Drainage
Life Sciences
Marine
Nature Conservation
Reservoirs
Riprap
River basins
Spawning
Vertebrata
Water temperature
Zoology
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Summary:Recruitment of walleye ( Sander vitreus Mitchill) is limited in irrigation reservoirs of the Republican River basin in southwestern Nebraska. The causal mechanism for this limited recruitment is unknown, but may be related to a lack of suitable spawning habitat. Patch occupancy models were developed to describe variation in detection probability and habitat selection during spawning season using shoreline electrofishing data. Detection of adult walleye was negatively affected by water temperature, silt substrate, and woody cover. Adult walleye selected sites with cooler water temperatures and greater fetch at Enders Reservoir, and large rock substrate and no cover at Hugh Butler Lake; these characteristics are limited to areas on or near the riprap dams in both reservoirs. Walleye eggs were also only found in these areas. We conclude that patch occupancy modeling provided valuable information when considering habitat improvement projects and propose a management approach for the addition of walleye spawning habitat in irrigation reservoirs.
ISSN:0378-1909
1573-5133
DOI:10.1007/s10641-011-9952-6