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DISSOLVED OXYGEN, TEMPERATURE, SURVIVAL OF YOUNG AT FISH SPAWNING SITES
Citation:
Peterka, J. AND J. Kent. DISSOLVED OXYGEN, TEMPERATURE, SURVIVAL OF YOUNG AT FISH SPAWNING SITES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-76/113.
Description:
Fluctuations of dissolved oxygen concentrations and water temperatures in their natural spawning sites were measured during embryo through larva stages of northern pike (Esox lucius), and during embryo and sac larva stages of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and pumpkinseeds (Lepomis gibbosus). At northern pike sites, dissolved oxygen concentrations from combined measurements 1 and 10 cm from the bottom ranged from 0.0-16.6 mg/liter, and water temperatures from 2.5-23.0C; average daily fluctuations were 3.0 mg/liter and 1.6C. For bluegill and pumpkinseed nests, dissolved oxygen concentrations 1 cm from the bottom ranged from 2.4-18.2 mg/liter and water temperatures from 15.0-27.5C, with average daily fluctuations of 4.4 mg/liter and 3.3C. In field experiments to determine acute effects of a single exposure to low dissolved oxygen concentrations, tolerance decreased from embryo to larva stages for northern pike and from embryo to sac larva stages from bluegills and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieui).