You are here:
FISH UTILIZATION OF AN INUNDATED SWAMP-STREAM FLOODPLAIN
Citation:
Walker, M. FISH UTILIZATION OF AN INUNDATED SWAMP-STREAM FLOODPLAIN. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-85/046.
Description:
The inundated floodplain of Creeping Swamp (Pitt County, North Carolina) was sampled weekly for fish from November 1979 through May 1980. The fish community was dominated by pirate perch and redfin pickerel. Other frequently occurring species included flier, mud sunfish, eastern mudminnow, American eel, banded sunfish, creek chubsucker, bowfin and swampfish. Two-way fixed weir traps were the most effective fish collection devices for both the inundated floodplain and the stream. Three environmental factors affected fish occurrence and movement water level, water temperature and dissolved oxygen. Small water level fluctuations caused large changes in the amount of aquatic habitat. Fish movements were minimal when water temperature was below 6C. Dissolved oxygen was not a limiting factor on fish occurrence during the wet season (typically December through April) except in shallow areas of the floodplain.