Off-campus South Dakota State University users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your South Dakota State University ID and password.

Non-South Dakota State University users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2008

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

First Advisor

Robert A. Klumb

Keywords

south dakota, missouri, nebraska, missouri river, pallid sturgeon, juvenile

Abstract

Macroinvertebrates were collected from the Missouri River downstream of Fort Randall and Gavins Point dams to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns in abundance and describe habitats important for macroinvertebrates. The most abundant families collected were Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, Isonychiidae, Baetidae, Caenidae, Heptageniidae, Hydropsychidae, and Polycentropodidae. Invertebrate abundance, richness, diversity, and evenness were generally higher in the Gavins Point reach than in the Fort Randall reach for most gear types (except Surber samples). In the Fort Randall reach, mean richness, diversity, and evenness were generally highest in the delta formed downstream of the Niobrara River. We collected 31 juvenile pallid sturgeon during summer 2006 for diet analysis, of which 21 had prey in their stomachs. Percent occurrence of predominant prey was Ceratopogonidae (81%), Isonychiidae (67%), Chironomidae (52%), and fish (24%). Diets as percent composition by wet weight were fish (68%), Ephemeroptera (23%), Decapoda (6%), and Diptera (3%). As juvenile pallid sturgeon length increased (356 - 720 mm fork length), the proportion of fish in the diets increased (43 to 88%). This study showed the importance of macroinvertebrates as a food source for juvenile pallid sturgeon (< 600 mm fork length).

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Freshwater invertebrate populations -- Missouri River
Freshwater invertebrates -- Missouri River
Pallid sturgeon -- Food -- Missouri River

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

226

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 2008 Kristen Lee Grohs. All rights reserved.

Share

COinS