Zooplankton Availability and Use by Big-River Larval and Age-0 Fishes in Constructed Shallow-Water Habitats of the Lower Missouri River

Duration

August 2012 - December 2014

Narrative

This project will investigate how created shallow water habitat is providing beneficial habitat for native larval fish. Two of the habitat types that have been created with the purpose of restoring ecological function are backwaters (a floodplain feature that is connected to the river on the downstream end but typically disconnected at the upstream end under normal flow conditions) and chutes (a side-channel of the river which diverts flow from the main channel through the chute, and back into the main channel, thus creating an island). The purpose of this study is to assess and compare resource use of fishes that have been collected from main stem, chute, and backwaters to see if prey availability and selectivity varies by habitat type. In addition, we will assess prey use in fish that were collected from floodplain habitats.

Research Products and Activities

Peer Reviewed Publications

• Starks, T.A., J.M. Long, and A.R. Dzialowski. 2016. Community structure of age-0 fishes in paired mainstem and created shallow-water habitats in the lower Missouri River. River Research and Applications 32:753-762. doi:10.1002/rra.2891
• Starks, T.A., M.L. Miller, and J.M. Long. 2016. Early Life History of Three Pelagic-Spawning Minnows (Macrhybopsis Spp.) in
  the Lower Missouri River. Journal of Fish Biology 88:1335-1349. doi:10.1111/jfb.12892
  

Thesis

• Starks, T.A. 2015. Larval fish ecology in restored habitats in the lower Missouri River. Master's Thesis, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. | Download  |