Date of Award:

5-1991

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Fisheries and Wildlife

Committee Chair(s)

Timothy Modde

Committee

Timothy Modde

Committee

Jim Dobrowolski

Committee

Bill Helm

Abstract

Microhabitat use by cutthroat trout and macrohabitat use by both cutthroat and rainbow trout were studied i n the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam during the winters of 1988 and 1989. Microhabitat parameters used by cutthroat trout, such as focal velocity, depth, and fish elevation, differed significantly in eddies, runs, and riffles. Mean focal velocities in runs were 0.79 body lengths/seconds (bl/s), in riffles 0.66 bl/s, and in eddies 0.24 bl/s. Cutthroat trout size also varied significantly with macrohabitat; larger fish were found in riffles.

Macrohabitat use by cutthroat trout and rainbow trout differed significantly among species, macrohabitat types, and months. Both rainbow trout and cutthroat trout macrohabitat use shifted from lower velocity habitats during winter to faster velocity habitats in summer. Cutthroat trout and rainbow trout used macrohabitats at seasonally differing rates. Riffles were never selected in proportion to their abundance, especially during high winter discharges. Cutthroat trout implanted with radiotransmitters exhibited little movement during diel monitoring and did not change their occupation of macrohabitats.

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861318808ee558047d4ad4acf1d8a843

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