Early-Life History of the White Sucker (Catostomus Commersoni) in Lake Taneycomo, Missouri
Date of Graduation
Fall 1995
Degree
Master of Science in Biology
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Daniel Beckman
Abstract
White suckers (Catostomus commersoni) were monitored during the 1994 and 1995 spawning periods to determine location and timing of reproduction, dispersal of larvae, and growth of sub-adult fish. Daily aging by the use of otoliths from lab reared white sucker larvae was validated to 28 days. Precise timing of spawn and hatch dates was back-calculated in larval white suckers. Hatching was found to occur over 43 day period in 1994, and 25 days in 1995. Timing of initial otolith annulus formation was determined in the young-of-the-year fish, with 100% of the juveniles sampled forming an annulus their first summer. An age-length regression was fitted to sub-adult fish ranging from 0 to 5 years of age, growth was found to be linear (r2=.80). Finally, larval drift was monitored during the 1995 spawning period in Bull Creek. Peak drift was found to have occurred following a flood.
Subject Categories
Biology
Copyright
© John W Calfee
Recommended Citation
Calfee, John W., "Early-Life History of the White Sucker (Catostomus Commersoni) in Lake Taneycomo, Missouri" (1995). MSU Graduate Theses. 59.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/59
Dissertation/Thesis
