Habitat Analysis of the Ozark Hellbender, Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Bishopi, in Missouri
Date of Graduation
Summer 1995
Degree
Master of Science in Biology
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Robert Wilkinson
Abstract
The habitat of the Ozark hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi, was investigated in the Northfork of the White River, Ozark County, Missouri. Microhabitat variables of water depth, current velocity, substrate, and embeddedness were measured for 259 hellbenders. A principal component analysis demonstrated all microhabitat variables were important to hellbenders. Sites with hellbender populations had available cover rocks at significantly greater depths, larger substrates and less embeddedness. Sites with hellbender populations also had significantly more cover rocks and available microhabitat. There was a high correlation between hellbender abundance and available microhabitat, suggesting habitat limits population size. Hellbenders selected cover rocks within sites at significantly greater water depths, faster current velocity, and lower embeddedness.
Subject Categories
Biology
Copyright
© Timothy Matthew Fobes
Recommended Citation
Fobes, Timothy Matthew, "Habitat Analysis of the Ozark Hellbender, Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Bishopi, in Missouri" (1995). MSU Graduate Theses. 214.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/214
Dissertation/Thesis
