LE3 .A278 2019

2019

Avery, Trevor
Mockford, Steve
Milton, Randy

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

The construction of highways near or through fish habitat can potentially have an impact on local fish populations by obstructing movement. Culverts are regularly used around the world to facilitate fish movement. The main objective of this study (2013–2016) was to determine if small-bodied fishes moved through a culvert that was installed to provide passage following highway construction over a stream. Visual Implant Alpha (VI-Alpha) and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags were used to tag Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, Blacknose Dace, Rhinichthys atratulus, and White Sucker, Catostomus commersonii. Traditional trapping methods (eel and minnow traps) and antennas (antenna arrays and backpack reader) were used to analyze fish recaptures and movement. PIT tags were effective; a 69.8% recapture rate. Fishes were most often recaptured once using eel and minnow traps, but some individuals were detected more often using antennas. Antenna arrays had a total of 27,560 hits but only detected Blacknose Dace and White Sucker. The backpack reader had a total of 53 detections and was successful in detecting Blacknose Dace, Creek Chub, and White Sucker. Fishes caught in eel or minnow traps crossed through the culvert a maximum of 7 times; however, antenna arrays detected up to 71 crossings by Blacknose Dace. The findings of this study have the potential to improve transportation planning by providing necessary information on small-bodied fishes movement and use of monitoring methods.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3220