Browsing by Author "Myrick, Christopher A., advisor"
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Item Open Access Assessing the swimming and jumping performance of Wyoming fishes with implications for fishway design(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Garvey, Chase, author; Myrick, Christopher A., advisor; Kanno, Yoichiro, committee member; Wohl, Ellen, committee memberTo successfully begin to solve the complex problems facing native fish conservation efforts, we need to seek a deeper understanding of the fish that inhabit the communities that we hope to conserve. With regards to the issue facing the fragmentation of our lotic ecosystems, and the effects that dams and similar structures can have on fish communities, fishways are a common tool used to restore the connectivity of streams by allowing the uninhibited passage of fish. In these experiments we studied the swimming and jumping abilities of Hornyhead Chub (Nocomis biguttatus), Bigmouth Shiner (Notropis dorsalis), Iowa Darter (Etheostoma exile), and Brook Stickleback (Culaea inconstans) in order to provide fisheries managers with criteria for fishway design that will allow the passage of desirable target species, and potentially block the spread of invasive Brook Stickleback. We did this by testing the jumping abilities of each species at various temperatures using artificial waterfalls. After testing groups of fish at various waterfall heights, we used logistic regression to predict the probability of individual fish passage under various conditions. To test the swimming ability of each species, we used swim tunnels to determine the maximum swimming velocity of each species, and estimate their endurance at various swimming velocities. Our results show that a vertical barrier greater than 15 cm will block the upstream movement of nearly all individual Hornyhead Chub. Heights greater than 8.4 cm will block the upstream passage of Bigmouth Shiner, and barriers taller than 6.0 cm will block the upstream passage of Iowa Darter and Brook Stickleback. Given this information, if vertical drops and pool designs were to be incorporated into fishways designed for these species, drops between fishway pools should remain within these thresholds if successful passage is to be achieved. The results of the swimming performance experiments show that each species' swimming abilities are unique relative to their raw maximum swimming abilities and overall endurance. The problem facing engineers and biologists is that many different species that make up these communities are unique, and have characteristics that pose specific challenges or advantages to assisting their movements. Additionally, fisheries scientists must remain cognizant that fishways that allow native fish movement will likely allow the movement of non-target species (including potential invasives) present in the same systems. Managers must balance the trade-offs between restoring native ecosystems and protecting areas that have not been invaded.Item Open Access Can copper-based substrates be used to protect hatcheries from invasion by the New Zealand mudsnail?(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Hoyer, Scott, author; Myrick, Christopher A., advisor; Clements, William H. (William Henry), 1954-, committee member; Kondratieff, B. C. (Boris C.), committee memberAquaculture facilities throughout North America are at risk of invasion by the New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). Mudsnails can enter facilities in several ways including by crawling through effluent pipes. There is evidence to suggest that lining the insides of these pipes with copper-based substrates to create a contact deterrent could reduce the risk of mudsnail invasion. However, before copper-based deterrents can be recommended for wide-scale use, it is important that we understand how these materials perform across the range of physicochemical conditions common to hatcheries. The goal of this project was to evaluate the relative ability of four types of copper-based materials (copper sheet; SC (0.323 mm, 99.9% pure), copper mesh; MC (6.3 opening/cm, 99% pure), copper-based ablative anti-fouling paint; AP (Vivid Anti-fouling Paint, 25% cuprous thiocyanate as the active ingredient), and copper-based non-ablative anti-fouling paint; NP (Sealife 1000, 39% cuprous oxide as the active ingredient)) to serve as effective mudsnail contact deterrents across a range of water temperatures (8, 12, 18, and 24° C), hardness (75, 125, 175, and 300 mg/L as CaCO3), pH (6, 7, and 8.5), fouling (0, 6, and 10 weeks of exposure), and water velocities (0, 9, and 33 cm/s). Each of these factors was evaluated in a sequential set of separate experiments conducted at the Colorado State University Foothills Fisheries Laboratory during 2009-10. Mean crawling distance (MCD) of the mudsnails in the temperature, hardness, and pH experiments was significantly lower on the SC and MC surface treatment compared to the NP treatment (p < 0.05). Additionally, maximum observed crawling distance (CDmax) was also consistently lower on the SC (1139 mm), MC (672 mm), and AP (1509 mm) treatments versus the NP (1969 mm) treatment. The NP treatment was the only surface where MCD was significantly affected by all three physicochemical parameters (p > 0.05). In the fouling experiment, MCD increased significantly on the AP surface treatment after exposure to fouling from 353 ± 83 mm (mean ± SE) at week 0 to 1207 ± 196 at week 6; no significant increase in this parameter was found on either solid copper surface. Finally, in the water velocity experiment, overall MCD on the copper surfaces was significantly lower in the 0 cm/s velocity treatment (30 ± 6.3 mm) compared to either 9 cm/s (302 ± 47.4 mm) or 33 cm/s (278 ± 50.2 mm). Under flowing water conditions, MC was the most effective treatment for limiting the MCD and CDmax of the mudsnails. Finally, there was no evidence to suggest that at the levels tested, velocity alone could serve as a deterrent to mudsnails. Overall, MC and SC were the most effective surfaces in terms of limiting the locomotor activity of the mudsnail. We recommend that barriers constructed of either of these materials be a minimum of 250 cm to provide a satisfactory level of protection against mudsnail invasion. Additional considerations including design and integration with other types of barriers are discussed.Item Open Access Developing rock ramp fishway criteria for fishes of regional conservation concern(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Paik, Kira, author; Myrick, Christopher A., advisor; Kanno, Yoichiro, committee member; Wohl, Ellen, committee memberRivers and streams in the United States have been greatly fragmented by the construction of instream structures such as dams, diversions, and culverts to meet the growing needs of human populations. Many of these structures inhibit upstream movement by fish species, negatively affecting abundance as well as overall survival. Conservation efforts are looking at restoring connectivity through the installation of fish passage structures or fishways. To improve effectiveness and functionality of these fish passage structures, the swimming abilities of the target species should be considered when creating the design. Rock ramp fishways are becoming increasingly utilized because they can allow passage of a large assortment of species with variable swimming abilities and are highly customizable. Creating cast concrete fishways in this style can also help to reduce the cost of construction of passage structures. We evaluated the passage success of five fish species of conservation concern using an experimental rock ramp fishway at slopes of 2-10%, in 2% increments. This study focused on species of national or regional conservation concern including Topeka Shiner Notropis topeka, Suckermouth Minnow Phenacobius mirabilis, Rio Grande Chub Gila pandora, Rio Grande Sucker Catostomus plebeius, and Mottled Sculpin Cottus bairdii. Our results showed that decreased slope and distances would lead to higher passage success for the five species. For the entire length of the fishway (6.1 m), all species had very high passage probabilities (> 0.9) at the lowest slopes 2 and 4%, and for all species except the Topeka Shiner, the 6% slope also had high passage probabilities (> 0.8). At 8% and 10% slopes, passage success for these species decreased drastically (< 0.31) and would not be recommended for longer fishways (> 2.03 m between resting areas). Based on these results, managers designing fishways for these species should be able to pick ideal combinations of slope and length to successfully allow passage of an acceptable proportion of the fish to attain management goals.Item Open Access Evaluating dietary and behavioral impacts of commercial-type diets on the growth and anti-predator responses of Snake River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii behnkei)(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Owens, Cheyenne Elizabeth, author; Myrick, Christopher A., advisor; Vieira, Nicole K. M., committee member; Angeloni, Lisa M., committee memberCutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) are raised for restoration stocking and to provide boutique sport fishing opportunities. Because of limited cutthroat-specific culture information, cutthroat trout have been raised using diets and techniques developed for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), resulting in inconsistent growth performance. There is also evidence that intensive culturing may diminish anti-predator behavior in salmonids, which has not been tested in cutthroat trout. A brief overview of the state of cutthroat trout is described in chapter one of this thesis. The second chapter of this thesis describes a 6-month feeding trial conducted on juvenile Snake River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii behnkei) fed six different feed formulations. Two floating control diets were chosen for this study (Skretting Classic Trout and Skretting Steelhead), along with three floating commercial-type formulations with varying crude protein (CP) and crude lipid (CL) levels (40 CP:12CL, 45CP:16CL, and 45CP:24CL) and one floating experimental formulation (40CP:16CL diet with lysine, methionine and threonine balanced to match the 45CP:16CL diet – BFTC Experimental). Diet significantly (P<0.05) affected final average fish weight, with fish fed Skretting Steelhead, BFTC Experimental, and 45CP:24CL weighing significantly more than fish fed 40CP:12CL. Proximate composition was also altered by diet, with fish fed 45CP:24CL having significantly higher crude energy levels than fish fed 40CP:12CL and Skretting Classic Trout. In a simple cost analysis, it was found that the BFTC Experimental diet provided the lowest cost per pound of fish out of all diets. The results indicate that diets with greater than 40% protein and 12% lipid provide the greatest growth in juvenile Snake River cutthroat trout, and that amino acid balanced diets provide a cost efficient option for cutthroat trout growers. The third chapter of this thesis describes a study wherein fish from the diet study were divided into one of two different size classes (small [12 ± 2.5 cm TL], and large [20 ± 2.5 cm TL]) and observed during open field testing and during exposure to a novel avian predator model (great blue heron, Ardea herodias). Additional testing was run separately on a medium size class [16 ± 2.5 cm TL]. Small fish were significantly (P<0.05) less likely to freeze during open field tests than large fish and potentially more likely to dart (P=0.0652) than medium fish during simulated predator attacks. Significant differences in freezing response between small and large fish fed different diets were observed (P<0.05), with fish fed 45CP:16CL and BFTC Experimental showing a higher probability of freezing than fish fed Skretting Steelhead. Potential differences in darting response between medium fish fed different diets were also observed (P=0.0825), suggesting that differences in ingredients or ingredient inclusion levels between experimental and control diets had subtle effects on behavior. The results indicate that hatchery-reared cutthroat trout do exhibit anti-predator behaviors in response to a novel predator, however further research is necessary to determine if these behaviors differ from those exhibited by wild cutthroat trout.Item Open Access How does rock-ramp fishway surface texture affect the passage success of small-bodied Great Plains fishes?(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Brittain, Cole, author; Myrick, Christopher A., advisor; Kanno, Yoichiro, committee member; Angeloni, Lisa, committee memberThe waterways of the North American Great Plains have experienced extensive fragmentation from instream structures and intermittency caused by excessive dewatering. The modifications to these waterways include numerous barriers that prevent the upstream movement of fish. State and federal resource management agencies have turned to fish passage structures to restore connectivity. However, the passage efficiency of current structures may be limited for native small-bodied fish species by a lack of information on how fish swimming behavior and performance are affected by the key fishway design parameters of slope, length, and texture. Recent research has provided more information on fishway slope and length, and identified texture of the surface between the larger roughness elements as an area needing more investigation. We evaluated the effects of four surface textures (smooth; 1 – 2 mm diameter coarse sand; 6 – 10 mm diameter pea gravel, and; 19 – 31 mm diameter small cobble) on the passage success of three native small-bodied fish species, Arkansas Darter (Etheostoma cragini), Flathead Chub (Platygobio gracilis), and Stonecat (Noturus flavus) using a 6.1-m long experimental rock ramp fishway set at a 6% slope. Our results demonstrated that passage success for the Arkansas Darter increased from 0% on the smooth substrate to 32.2% for the small cobble substrate. A similar pattern was observed for the Stonecats, with an increase in passage success from 31.1% on the smooth substrate to 86.7% on the small cobble substrate. Flathead Chub passage success was independent of substrate treatment and exceeded 90% in all cases. Our study suggests that the use of more highly textured substrates is a viable option for increasing the passage success of small-bodied fishes that otherwise do not perform well on rock ramp fishways.Item Open Access Improving rock ramp fishways for small-bodied Great Plains fishes(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Swarr, Tyler R., author; Myrick, Christopher A., advisor; Bestgen, Kevin R., committee member; Bledsoe, Brian P., committee memberThe growing global need to improve the longitudinal connectivity of lotic systems is often met by using fish passage structures (fishways). When designing fishways in the past, biologists and engineers focused primarily on strong swimming species such as salmonids. However, the majority of riverine species in the interior United States are not salmonids and may be excluded by fishways built using salmonid criteria due to lower swimming abilities and/or behavioral differences. I designed and built a 9.1-m long adjustable hydraulic research flume at the Colorado State University Foothills Fisheries Laboratory (FFL) to test fish passage and evaluate the effects of grade (slopes of 2 – 10%, in 2% increments) on the passage success of three Great Plains fish species: Flathead Chub Platygobio gracilis, Stonecat Noturus flavus, and Arkansas Darter Etheostoma cragini. A 6.1-m long rock ramp fishway was installed in the flume and four PIT tag antennas were used to detect full or partial passage success. In order to test the key assumption that tagging does not affect fish performance, I evaluated the impacts of 8-mm PIT tags on Arkansas Darter and found no significant difference in the survival and swimming abilities of PIT tagged fish versus non-tagged fish. A review of the literature on small-bodied fish PIT tagging suggests that suturing incisions of surgically implanted PIT tags of small-bodied fishes should be avoided to reduce mortality. Prior studies had already demonstrated that Stonecats and Flathead Chub could be tagged without incurring performance losses. I used the Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) model in Program MARK to determine the probability of full and partial passage success over the fishway based on the PIT tag detection history of each fish at each antenna. Passage success to upstream antennas was highest at shorter distances and at lower slopes for all species. Probability of passage success was highest for Flathead Chub, followed by Stonecat, and then Arkansas Darter. The probabilities of Flathead Chub successfully ascending a 6.1-m rock ramp fishway at slopes of 2, 4, and 6% were 1.0. Probability of Flathead Chub passage success was very high (0.96) for a 4.06-m, 8% slope fishway. Flathead Chub were unable to ascend 4.06-m of a 10% slope fishway. Stonecats had a passage probability of 1.0 for a 6.1-m fishway at 2 and 4% slope, and a passage probability of 0.83 for a 4.06-m, 6% slope fishway. No passage was predicted for 10% slope fishways greater than 4.06-m and 8% fishways greater than 6.1-m. Arkansas Darters never achieved a probability of 1.0 for ascending a 6.1-m fishway. However, their probability of partial passage success was moderate for a 2.03-m, 4% slope fishway with a probability of 0.43, and for a 4.06-m, 2% slope fishway with a probability of 0.54. Passage probabilities for Arkansas Darters were 0.00 for 10% slope 4.06-m, 8% slope 4.06-m, and 6% slope 6.10-m fishways. Based on the results of this study, it is clear that fishway designs should consider the passage requirements of the species with the lowest performance both in terms of fishway slope and fishway length. For example, a rock ramp fishway with a slope of 4% and a length of 2.03 m would be passable by some Arkansas Darters and all of the Stonecats and Flathead Chub in the size ranges tested. The results of this study provide valuable design criteria by identifying fishway slope and length combinations that allow passage of this representative suite of small-bodied Great Plains fishes.Item Open Access Thermal impacts on the early life history of Sauger (Sander canadensis)(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Cammack, Daniel L., author; Myrick, Christopher A., advisor; Johnson, Brett M., committee member; Ghalambor, Cameron K., committee memberSauger (Sander canadensis), a large North American member of the family Percidae, often exhibit sporadic recruitment governed by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors. This episodic reproductive success is emblematic in Percids, as it has been documented across a wide geographic area for multiple Percid species. Temperature, the most influential abiotic variable, directly affects Percid recruitment, physiology, and distribution, while simultaneously modifying many other factors that govern population dynamics such as food abundance. The Wind and Bighorn River drainages of Wyoming, among the highest elevation tributaries of the Missouri River basin, remain a stronghold for two native Sauger populations. These populations are among the slowest growing and longest lived in the entire native range and provide an important recreational angling resource. While recent population trends have been positive (2011-2016), conditions in the past decade have resulted in poor recruitment, with only older age classes present in the annual Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) surveys of the Wind River population (2002-2011). Agency concern over poor recruitment resulted in the initiation of artificial spawning operations in both drainages, with the aim of bolstering these populations. Sauger hatch percentages from these spawning efforts were highly variable, and generally low across all years (0-75%). One hypothesis advanced to explain the observed variable egg survival was that river temperatures leading up to and during the spawn were outside of optimal ranges. Our research explored how temperature affects multiple stages in reproduction including adults, embryos, and prolarvae. Specifically, we tested the effect of temperatures in the range of 10-24°C on the survival and rates of development of Sauger embryos and prolarvae (phase I and II). In the incubation experiment, hatch rates were low for all treatments (<22%). Sauger embryos displayed appreciable thermal plasticity and no differences in hatch percentage were detected in the range of 12.2-18.9°C. Statistically lower hatch rates were detected for our 10°C and diel fluctuating (17-22°C) treatments compared to all others. Hatch timing and duration was inversely related with temperature. We developed a regression model to estimate temperature units (TU's) necessary to reach hatching and duration of hatch (days) based on average temperature. Our results indicate that optimal incubation temperature for Sauger is near 14.5°C. Sauger prolarvae survived at high rates (>90%) to the onset of exogenous feeding in all treatments ≥ 18°C, although pronounced mortality associated with the time that yolk was completely absorbed, suggested that starvation occurred, despite offering brine shrimp (Artemia nauplii) daily. Prolarvae in the 12 and 15°C treatments survived at a statistically lower rate to the onset of exogenous feeding and fed poorly after. We suggest that optimal temperature for prolarvae survival is in the range of 18-24°C with the caveat that rapid mortality can result around the time of yolk absorption if larvae do not successfully feed exogenously. Growth rate (SL) was positively associated with temperature. Time to reach exogenous feeding was negatively associated with average temperature. We developed a regression model predicting TU's necessary for larvae to reach exogenous feeding based on average temperature conditions. We also exposed wild adult Sauger to two pre-spawning temperature treatments, approximately six weeks before the expected spawn date. One treatment was an above average, stochastic thermal scenario (fluctuating), while the other was a gradually warming treatment expected to be near optimal for spawning (control). We evaluated impacts on egg viability, as determined by fertilization and hatch percentages. We also determined egg energy density as a measure of egg quality. We found no differences in fertilization and hatch percentages between treatments, perhaps due to a small sample size (n = 7 spawns). Similarly, there was no difference in mean egg energy density between treatments. Adult mortality was greater in the fluctuating treatment compared to the control (44.4% vs. 26.3%) and females were disproportionately affected. Our research explicitly defines thermal criteria, that will provide managers with guidelines to understand how temperature may influence recruitment in the wild, in addition to providing thermal recommendations for artificial spawning and/or hatchery operations in the future.