Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Numerical simulation of rock ramp fishway for small-bodied Great Plains fishes(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2023) Ufelle, Cindy Chidumebi; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Kathryn PlymesserThe preservation and restoration of fish populations and their habitats have become significant aspects of environmental conservation efforts. Effectiveness of fish passage structures plays a crucial role in facilitating the successful migration of various fish species. This research focused on utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models to assess the hydraulic conditions within a rock ramp fishway with varying slopes and flow rates for small-bodied Great Plains fishes. This work built upon a previous study conducted by Swarr (2018) to investigate the passage success rates of three small-bodied fish of the Great Plains of North America: Flathead Chub (Platygobio gracilis), Arkansas Darter (Etheostoma cragini), and Stonecat (Noturus flavus) within a full-scale laboratory rock ramp fishway. Using commercial software, Flow-3D Hydro, CFD models were developed to simulate and predict hydraulic parameters such as flow depths, velocities, and turbulence kinetic energies (TKEs) within the fishway. To validate the accuracy of the CFD models, predicted flow depths and velocities were compared with observed data for two slopes: 2% and 10%. The CFD model results indicated that increasing slopes and flow rates led to corresponding increases in the mean values of the studied parameters. The mean depth varied from 0.051 m on the 2% slope to 0.068 m on the 10% slope. The mean velocity increased from 0.272 m/s on the mildest slope to 1.003 m/s on the steepest slope. Additionally, the average TKE ranged from 0.003 J/kg on the 2% slope to 0.014 J/kg on the 10% slope. The study highlighted that higher velocity and TKE values at steeper slopes may have contributed to the poor upstream passage rate, particularly for weaker swimmer species, like the Arkansas Darter, at slopes greater than 4%, as observed in the physical model study. Findings demonstrated that the presence of rocks in the fishway created diverse flow conditions. Low-velocity zones observed behind rocks within the fishway may provide favorable conditions for successful fish ascent. This research showcases the capabilities of CFD in providing quantitative data for optimizing fish passage structure design and contributing to conservation efforts.Item Distributions, abundances, and movements of small, nongame fishes in a large Great Plains river network(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Duncan, Michael Bennett; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Alexander V. ZaleThe Yellowstone River is the longest unimpounded river in the conterminous United States and was thought to support a diverse fish assemblage; however, comprehensive data on the small nongame fish assemblage was lacking. I evaluated the sampling methods often used to capture small-bodied fishes in the channel margins of large Great Plains rivers, determined the distributions and abundances of these fishes in the Yellowstone River, characterized the movements of selected native cyprinids between the Yellowstone River and its tributaries, and assessed assemblage differences between the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers. Catch-per-unit-effort, species richness, and ranges of total lengths were greater in fyke net catches than in seine catches. Forty-two species (24 native and 18 nonnative) were captured in fyke nets in the lower Yellowstone River. Emerald Shiners Notropis atherinoides, Western Silvery Minnows Hybognathus argyritis, Flathead Chubs Platygobio gracilis, Sand Shiners Notropis stramineus, and Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae composed nearly 94% of fyke net catch. Sturgeon Chubs Macrhybopsis gelida, Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus, Flathead Chubs, Stonecats Noturus flavus, and Sicklefin Chubs Macrhybopsis meeki composed 89% of the otter trawl catch. Sicklefin Chubs were captured as far as 18 river kilometers upstream of Glendive, Montana; Sturgeon Chubs were captured as far upstream as the Tongue River confluence. Otolith microchemistry analysis revealed that 69% of Western Silvery Minnows, 65% of Flathead Chubs, and 42% of Sand Shiners moved between main-stem and tributary habitats. The timing, frequencies, and patterns of movements varied among species. In my comparison of the Yellowstone and Missouri river fish assemblages, native and nonnative species richness were highest in Yellowstone River fyke net catches but proliferation of nonnative species was low. Total CPUE was highest in the Yellowstone River (median = 152 fish/net night), intermediate in the Missouri River below the Yellowstone River confluence (44 fish/net night), and lowest in the Missouri River above the confluence (21 fish/net night). Collectively, these studies provide a better understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors that help influence the distributions, abundances, and diversity of life-history strategies of small, nongame fish in Great Plains rivers.Item Responses of fish assemblages to bank stabilization in a large river(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2014) Reinhold, Ann Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Alexander V. Zale; Geoffrey C. Poole, Robert G. Bramblett, Alexander V. Zale and David W. Roberts were co-authors of the article, 'Cumulative effects of floodplain dikes and linear bank stabilization on Yellowstone River side channels' submitted to the journal 'Freshwater science' which is contained within this thesis.; Robert G. Bramblett, Alexander V. Zale, David W. Roberts and Geoffrey C. Poole were co-authors of the article, 'Use of side channels by a large-river fish assemblage' submitted to the journal 'Freshwater biology' which is contained within this thesis.; Robert G. Bramblett, Alexander V. Zale, Geoffrey C. Poole and David W. Roberts were co-authors of the article, 'Spatially-dependent responses of a large-river fish assemblage to bank stabilization and side channels' submitted to the journal 'Ecological applications' which is contained within this thesis.The Yellowstone River remains the longest unimpounded river in the conterminous United States. However, bank stabilization and floodplain dikes have altered its fish habitat. Therefore, I surveyed fish habitat and fish from Laurel to Sidney, Montana, to (1) quantify changes to side channels attributable to linear bank stabilization and floodplain dikes, (2) compare the habitat use of side channels to main channels by small fish during runoff and base flow, and (3) determine if bank stabilization and side channels influenced main-channel fish assemblages during base flow. Floodplain dike frequency, but not linear bank-stabilization extent, directly correlated to a net loss of side channels from the 1950s to 2001. However, side channels provided important fish habitat. Fish habitat use was similar between side and main channels during base flow, but not during runoff when catch rates in side channels were several times higher than in main channels and assemblage structure differed between side and main channels. Shallow, slow-current velocity (SSCV) habitats were slightly slower in side channels and SSCV patches were larger in side channels than in main channels during runoff, but not during base flow. These habitat differences partially explained the patterns in fish catch rates between channel types. During base flow, fish assemblages in main channels varied with bank-stabilization extent and side-channel availability in alluvial (unconfined) and bluff (confined) river bends. Bank stabilization and side channels had different and sometimes opposite influences on fish assemblage structure. Influences of bank stabilization and side channels on fish relative abundances varied depending on species and river bend geomorphology. Assemblage responses to side channels were more consistent and widespread than to bank stabilization, and more fish species associated with side channels than bank stabilization. Physical differences probably contributed to the assemblage differences between reference and stabilized river bends; stabilized alluvial pools were deeper than reference alluvial pools. The strengths of the relationships among fish assemblages, bank stabilization, and side channels were spatial scale-dependent; optimum scales ranged from less than 200 m to 3,200 m up- and down-stream, suggesting that bank stabilization and side channels influenced fish across multiple spatial scales.Item Observations on the life history, movement, and harvest of the paddlefish, Polyodon spathula in Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1966) Robinson, John WesleyItem The effect of oxygen supplementation on the toxicity of ammonia (NH₃) in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Richardson)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1992) Hanna, Todd DavidItem Some ecological relationships between the yellow perch, trout, and other fish in Thompson Lakes, Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1954) Echo, John B.Item Movements of the cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki Richardson) in Yellowstone Lake(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1966) Jahn, Lawrence AllanItem Observations on the life history and taxonomy of the sauger (Stizostedion canadense Smith) in Garrison reservoir, North Dakota(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1960) Carufel, Louis H.Item Life history and management of the American Grayling (Thymallus Signifer Tricolor) in Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1953) Nelson, Perry H.Item A serological study of cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) from tributaries and the outlet of Yellowstone Lake(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1968) Liebelt, James Edward