Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Professional fisheries biologists Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project employed 4 MS students How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? yes - see above What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
All field work was completed and various publications were completed and submitted to journals.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Andrews, C.S., L.E. Miranda, D.B. Goetz, and R. Kroger. In review. Spatial patterns of lacustrine fish assemblages in a catchment of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Aquatic Conservation.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Goetz, D., Miranda, L.E., Kr�ger, R., Andrews, C. In review. The role of lake depth in regulating water quality and fish communities in oxbow lakes of the Yazoo River Basin. Environmental Biology of Fishes.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Miranda, L.E., J.D. Dagel, L.J. Kaczka, E.B. Mower, and S.L. Wigen. In review. Floodplains within reservoirs promote earlier spawning of white crappies Pomoxis annularis. Environmental Biology of Fishes.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Kaczka, L.J., and L.E. Miranda. In review. Size of age-0 crappies relative to reservoir habitats and water levels. Journal of Freshwater Ecology.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Mower, E., and L.E. Miranda. 2013. Frameworks for amending reservoir water management. Lake and Reservoir Management 29:194201.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Mower, E.B., and L.E. Miranda. 2013. Evaluating changes to reservoir rule curves using historical water level data. International Journal of River Basin Management 11:323-328.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Miranda, L.E., and K.O. Meals. 2013. Water levels shape fishing participation in flood-control reservoirs. Lake and Reservoir Management 29:82-86.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Kaczka L.J., and L.E. Miranda. 2013. Gradients of microhabitat and crappie distributions in reservoir coves. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 28:561-572.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Miranda, L.E., S.L. Wigen, and J.D. Dagel. 2013. Importance of floodplains to reservoir fish assemblages. River research and Applications. DOI: 10.1002/rra.2641
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Dagel, J.D., and L.E. Miranda. 2012. Backwaters in the upper reaches of reservoirs produce high densities of age-0 crappies. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 32:626-634.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Meals, K.O., A.W Dunn, and L.E. Miranda.2012. Trolling intensifies exploitation of crappies in Mississippi Reservoirs. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 32:325-332.
|
Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We completed several journal articles. Moreover, various presentations were made a professional meetings. PARTICIPANTS: Caroline Andrews, MS student Dan Goetz, MS student Ted Alfermann, MS student, R. Kroger, Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University TARGET AUDIENCES: State and Federal Government agencies involved in conservation of natural resources. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Through our research so far it has become obvious that there is a hierarchy of of effects that control fish assemblages in oxbow lakes. Watershed and riparian land use, and lake depth but not size, were associated with nutrient concentrations. In turn, nutrients were associated with primary production, and primary production was associated with sunfish assemblages and fish biodiversity. Multiple chemical and biological components of oxbow lake ecosystems are connected to landscape characteristics such as land use and lake depth. Therefore, a top-down hierarchical approach can be useful in developing management and conservation plans for oxbow lakes in a region impacted by widespread landscape changes due to agriculture.
Publications
- Alfermann, T.J., and L. E. Miranda. 2013. Centrarchid assemblages in floodplain lakes of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142:323-332.
- Dembkowski, D.J., and L.E. Miranda. 2012. Hierarchy in factors affecting fish biodiversity in floodplain lakes of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Environmental Biology of Fishes 93:357-368.
- Miranda, L.E., J. N. Aycock, and K. J. Killgore. 2012. A direct gradient multivariate index of biotic condition. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 141:1637-1648.
|
Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Outputs from this research include student theses, journal articles, presentations at scientific meetings, and presentations to state and federal agencies. PARTICIPANTS: Ted Alfermann, MS student. Dan Dembkowski, MS student. Caroline Andrews, MS student. Dan Goetz, MS student. Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality - partner. US Army Corps of Engineers - partner. US Geological Survey - partner. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for this research are regulatory agencies and scientific community. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None
Impacts
Results from this research has produced an increased understanding of the structure of fish communities relative to environmental perturbations in lakes of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Such understanding is being applied to develop indexes of biotic integrity usable by state and federal environmental protection and restoration agencies.
Publications
- Killgore, K.J., L.E. Miranda, C.E. Murphy, D.M. Wolff, J.J. Hoover, T.M. Keevin, S.T. Maynord, and M.A. Cornish. 2011. Fish entrainment rates through towboat propellers in the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140:570-581.
- Dembkowski, D.J., and L.E. Miranda. 2011. Comparison of fish assemblages in two disjoined segments of an oxbow lake in relation to connectivity. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140:1060-1069.
- Dembkowski, D.J., and L.E. Miranda. 2012. Hierarchy in factors affecting fish biodiversity in floodplain lakes of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Environmental Biology of Fishes 93:357-368.
- Dembkowski, D. 2011. Species richness in oxbow lakes of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. M.S. thesis, Mississippi State University.
- Alfermann, T. 2011. Centrarchid assemblages in oxbow lakes with perspectives for fisheries management. M.S. thesis, Mississippi State University.
|
Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Results from this research have been disseminated to the scientific community throgh multiple presentation through local, regional, and national venues. Moreover, multiple presentations were made to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and US Army Corps of Engineers. PARTICIPANTS: Two MS graduate students worked on this project. One has completed a thesis and is awaiting approval by his committee, and a second student is developing a thesis. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience for this research are managers charged with restoration of aquatic systems in the study region, including Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Between July 2006 and August 2010 we have sampled 54 floodplain lakes associated with tributaries to the Mississippi River in Mississippi and Arkansas. Data collected have included water quality, lake geomorphology, land use in concentric bands surrounding each lake, and fish community composition. These data have been used to develop a multimetric index of biotic integrity, and a multivariate index of biotic integrity. Several other publications have explored the importance of depth on water quality and fish communities, the effects of connectivity on fish communities, and the effect of environmental variables on gamefish production. This research has resulted in various findings that could serve an array of management objectives, although results have not yet been applied to lake management. A fish-based IBI for oxbow lakes was developed. Six fish metrics adequately indexed biotic integrity. Biotic integrity increased with depth, connectivity, and water clarity, but decreased with increased nutrient concentrations and agriculture development around the lake. The IBI integrates functional and structural aspects of fish assemblages in floodplain lakes and can be applied as (1) a rapid assessment tool to characterize the status of fish assemblages in the hundreds of lakes in the region, to identify any remaining high-quality lakes for protection and degraded lakes for rehabilitation; (2) a comparative tool to prioritize restoration activities; and (3) an evaluative tool to track the effectiveness of management activities. Deep lakes provided less variable environments, clearer water, and a wider range of microhabitats than shallow lakes. The greater environmental stability of deep lakes was reflected by the dominant species in the assemblages, which included a broader representation of large-body species, species less tolerant of extreme water quality, and more predators. Connectivity is also a major factor driving environmental characteristics and fish communities. Lakes with high connectivity potential tend to have higher fish species richness that includes a more riverine fauna. Fishes collected solely in connected lakes are typically riverine in nature, whereas those fishes collected only in disconnected lakes are typically more lacustrine-adapted. Species richness and assemblage structure of periodic strategists show strong and positive correlations with connectivity between oxbow lakes and adjacent rivers and other water bodies. However, densities of most equilibrium and opportunistic strategists decrease with habitat connectivity. As connectivity decreases, lakes become shallower, more turbid, have higher primary productivity, forested wetland covers, and fewer species composed mainly of lacustrine species. Discriminate maintenance or restoration of connection should be an integral part of fluvial ecosystem management plans. The percentage of agricultural land showed the strongest correlation with fish biodiversity, followed by lake surface area, and depth. Fish biodiversity was generally greater in large, deep lakes with lower proportions of watershed agricultural land.
Publications
- Miyazono, S., J.N. Aycock, L.E. Miranda, and T.E Tietjen. 2010. Assemblage patterns of fish functional groups relative to habitat connectivity and conditions in floodplain lakes. Ecology of Freshwater Fishes 19:578-585.
- Miranda, L.E. 2010. Depth as an organizer of fish assemblages in floodplain lakes. Aquatic Sciences (published online).
|
Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The fish communities and water quality conditions of eighteen lakes were evaluated. Data for the eighteen lakes were analyzed together with tat collected in 32 lakes in earlier years. PARTICIPANTS: L.E. Miranda (PI), D. Dembkowski (MS student), T. Alfermann (MS student) TARGET AUDIENCES: Environmental agencies; fisheries agencies PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Results from this study have identified fundamental factors that affect fish community structure and water quality in these shallow alluvial lakes. These results have not been implemented but implementation strategy is currently being developed.
Publications
- Miyazono, S. 2008. Fish assemblage and water quality indicators of river connectivity in oxbow lakes of the Yazoo River basin. M.S. thesis. Mississippi State University.
- Miranda, L.E., J.N. Aycock, S. Miyazono, and T.E. Tietjen. 2009. Biotic integrity of alluvial lakes in the Yazoo River Basin. Progress Report submitted to U.S. Army Corps of Engineer, Engineer Research and Development Center, Waterways Experiment Station. Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Mississippi State, Mississippi.
- Aycock, N. 2008. Development of a fish-based index of biotic integrity for oxbow lakes of the Yazoo River Basin, Mississippi. MS. thesis, Mississippi State University.
|
Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Fish collections in 30 lakes yielded 63,752 fish during 76 hours of electrofishing. In all, 55 species were collected representing 17 families we collected. The collections were used to develop an index of biotic integrity (IBI). PARTICIPANTS: Nathan Aycock, GRA, Seiji Miyazono, GRA Todd Tietjen, WF Assistant Professor Jack Killgore, USACOE TARGET AUDIENCES: Professional Fisheries Managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
This study succeeded in defining strong relationships between physical habitat quality and the fish assemblage variables for oxbow lakes in the Delta region. Furthermore, many of the metrics selected for inclusion in the IBI were able to reflect multiple aspects of habitat degradation. Overall IBI scores increased with increasing depth, connectivity, and water clarity. Scores also increased with decreasing nutrient concentrations, turbidity, and percentage agriculture around the lake. The IBI can be used to quickly assess the quality of the hundreds of other oxbow lakes scattered throughout the region. Many oxbow lakes, especially small lakes with poor access, receive no management and little or no monitoring. This IBI will allow biologists to identify the least disturbed lakes and work to protect them from further degradation. The IBI also can allow managers to identify lakes best suited to support recreational fisheries and concentrate management efforts on these lakes. Additionally, the IBI can be used to evaluate specific management activities undertaken to restore certain lakes or to measure the consequences of expanding human impacts on the watershed. Managers now have a concrete way to determine the effectiveness of restoration activities or detect further degradation of lakes caused by poor land use practices or other human impacts.
Publications
- Aycock, N. 2008. Development of a fish-based index of biotic integrityfor oxbow lakes of the Yazoo River Basin. M.S. thesis, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State. 94pp.
|
Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Seventeen oxbow lakes were sampled in the Yazoo River Basin in 2007 to collect data on morphometry, water quality, and fish community composition. Lake area ranged 7-550 ha, length 1.1-21.6 km, width 40-290 m, and maximum depth 0.5-8.6 m. Three of the lakes exhibited no or limited connection to the Yazoo River or its tributaries, five lakes were part of a major tributary or were next to a river or permanent stream, and the rest exhibited intermediate levels of connection to a river. Fish collections by electrofishing yielded 28,288 fish in summer and 17,947 fish in fall, representing 53 species, and ranging 18-31 species per lake. Multivariate ordination indicated high agreement between the summer and fall fish collections, suggesting that either summer or fall sampling is appropriate to describe community structure, and that summer and fall sampling could be combined to increase precision of estimates. The combined summer and fall collections indicated that the most distant fish communities in ordination space differed by about 50%. Lakes in one end of the ordination emphasized greater catch rates of riverine species and those on the opposite end greater concentrations of lacustrine, primarily centrarchid, species. Preliminary analyses indicated that some of the strongest relationships between fish assemblages and environmental variables occurred with connectivity, chlorophyll-a, maximum depth, turbidity range, lake length/width ratio, and various sediment nutrients variables. Many of the variables found to be related to fish community structure have restoration significance because they can be controlled through various management efforts. Selected IBI metrics were computed, but the majority of the variables to be used have yet to be identified and therefore not reported. Of the potential metrics considered so far, percentage as buffalo, as phytophils, speleophils, and as invertivore/herbivore had the greatest number of significant correlations with environmental variables. In general, variables descriptive of lake morphometry exhibited more significant correlations with the IBI metrics than variables descriptive of water quality or nutrients. PARTICIPANTS: No Participant information reported. TARGET AUDIENCES: U.S. Geological Survey; U.S. Army Corp of Engineers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No Project Modifications information reported.
Impacts
Research just initiated - no reportable impact.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|