Movement Patterns and Biology of White Sucker in a Riverine
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The design of a non-lethal fish monitoring program for rivers in Bhutan by Karma Tenzin B.Sc. University of Delhi, Sherubtse College (Tashigang, Bhutan), 2000 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF Master of Science In the Graduate Academic Unit of Biology Supervisor: Kelly Munkittrick, PhD, Canadian Rivers Institute, UNB Saint John Examining Board: John Johnson, PhD, Biology, UNB Saint John - Chair Keith Dewar, PhD, Business, UNB Saint John This thesis is accepted by the Dean of Graduate Studies THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK March, 2006 © Karma Tenzin, 2006 ABSTRACT Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayas that started modernization in the 1960s with a series of five-year plans focused on the sustainable use of renewable natural resources. The development of large-scale hydroelectric facilities and the lack of any existing data on fisheries resources have increased concerns about the river ecosystems. Any monitoring program needs to focus on non-lethal sampling protocols in keeping with Bhutanese cultural philosophy. To test the hypothesis that growth in fish can be assessed using non-lethal sampling, 350 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were collected from 10 sites on the Saint John River, NB, Canada. Growth rates were compared within and among sites using size at age, linear growth profile obtained through back- calculation, increments of growth at age, and size at a standard back-calculated age. The smallest size, lowest condition, oldest fish and slowest growth were observed at two reservoir sites (Tobique and Nackawic), and faster growth was observed at sites with nutrient inputs (Edmundston and Fredericton). The Nackawic site has previously been identified as a site of concern, but this is the first study suggesting that the Tobique reservoir is impacted by stress. The techniques and experiences gained in the Saint John River Study permitted the designing of a relevant fish monitoring program suited for Bhutan. Data from Bhutan were reviewed and factors affecting study design were taken into account with respect to selection of sentinel species, sampling sites, sampling ii time and identification and selection of endpoints for assessment of river health and fish performance in Bhutan. The suggested program will monitor relative species abundances, growth rates, age distributions, and condition of fish. The designed framework will strengthen Bhutan’s capability to monitor and manage their fisheries resources during the next phase of development. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am very much indebted to great many people who helped me both professionally and personally in various ways and taught me a lot during the course of pursuing this degree. I owe much of what I achieved to all these people who took me through the right direction and helped me when I did not have the means to get there. I owe special thanks especially to my father Jochu Dorji and mother Sherub Zangmo for always believing in me. First and foremost I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Kelly Munkittrick for everything he has done for me; I could never thank him enough. Every meeting with him has been greatly enriching and his support and advice invaluable. I have in many ways learnt a great deal about life from Kelly and you are truly my mentor. I am what I am, only due to your untiring push and pull throughout my uphill struggle. I could always recount on you and your family as my guardians during my stay in Canada. I found a home away from home in you and your family and I am very thankful to you and your family for taking care of me throughout my stay. I would also like to thank Dr. Allen Curry and Dr. Deborah MacLatchy for agreeing to be my co-supervisors. I learned a lot as your student and I am always grateful for everything that was taught to me. I would like to thank Dr. Deb MacLatchy for helping me with my admission to UNB, finding me a place to stay and picking me up at the airport when I first came to Canada and especially iv for asking Kelly to be my supervisor. I would like to thank Dr. Allen Curry for all your kind assistance. Much thanks goes to Dr. Brendan Galloway for taking me to the numerous field trips, I learned a lot about field research from you. The field trips were great learning experiences and through these trips I was able to see much of New Brunswick. I am also grateful to Chad Doherty and Sandra Brasfield for taking me to field trips and teaching me about sampling on a lot of occasions. I would like to thank Mark Gautreau for going with me to sample. I gathered much of my field research experiences through Kelly Munkittrick, Lisa Peters, Brendan Galloway, Chad Doherty, Sandra Brasfield, Mark Gautreau and Kirk Roach. In no certain order I would like to thank: Kelly Munkittrick, Deb MacLatchy, Allen Curry, Lisa Peters, Sandra Brasfield, Brendan Galloway, Steve Currie, Michelle Gray, Jonathan Freedman, Genevieve Vallieres, Frank, Lottie Vallis, Jennifer Peddle, Mark Gautreau, Karen Gormley, Eric Chernoff ,Jennifer Shaw, Kirk Roach, Megan, my family, and many others for being kind and supportive towards me. If it would not have been you all, I would not have been here today. Thank you all. Last but not the least I would like to thank the Royal Government of Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture, Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation, and Royal Civil Service Commission for enabling me to pursue my degree. I am also very indebted to National Environment Commission and Hydromet Services Division for giving me permission to use their data in this thesis. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................ viii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. x CHAPTER 1 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION.............................................................................. 1 1 Overview ................................................................................. 1 1.1 Bhutan: Background Information ......................................... 2 1.2 Need for an Aquatic Effects Framework for Bhutan ........... 4 1.3 Hydropower in Bhutan........................................................... 5 1.3.1 Impacts of Hydroelectric Dams .............................................. 8 1.3.2 Other Potential Impacts on Rivers of Bhutan...................... 10 1.4 Design of Monitoring Studies ............................................. 12 1.4.1 Focus of Monitoring Studies................................................. 15 1.4.2 Non-lethal Sampling Methodology ....................................... 16 1.4.3 Back-calculating growth ....................................................... 19 1.5 Statement of Problem .......................................................... 20 1.6 Objectives and Outline of Thesis........................................ 21 CHAPTER 2 23 BACK-CALCULATIONS OF GROWTH OF YELLOW PERCH ALONG THE SAINT JOHN RIVER ........................................................................................ 23 2 Introduction .......................................................................... 23 2.1 The Saint John River, New Brunswick ............................... 24 2.1.1 Recent Studies - Saint John River........................................ 26 2.1.2 Hydroelectric dams on the Saint John River (history and location) ................................................................................ 30 2.1.3 Objective of this Chapter ...................................................... 32 2.2 Materials and Methods ........................................................ 33 2.2.1 Study Area – the upper Saint John River ............................ 33 2.2.2 Sample Collection.................................................................. 36 2.2.3 Age Reading........................................................................... 38 2.3 Results .................................................................................. 41 2.3.1 Raw Fish Data ........................................................................ 42 2.3.2 Effects of Sex on Size of Perch ............................................ 46 2.3.3 Size-at-age comparisons....................................................... 46 2.3.4 Length Frequency Data and Ford-Walford Plots................. 50 2.3.5 Back-Calculating Growth ...................................................... 55 2.3.6 Weight Back-Calculation....................................................... 63 2.4 Discussion............................................................................ 69 2.4.1 Relevance of the findings to Bhutan.................................... 74 CHAPTER 3 76 A FRAMEWORK FOR MONITORING FISH IN BHUTAN’S RIVERS .............. 76 3 Ecology of Bhutan’s Rivers Systems................................. 76 vi 3.1 Designing the Framework: Ecosystem Definition............. 80 3.1.1 Physiographic Zones of Bhutan ........................................... 82 3.1.2 Climate.................................................................................... 87 3.1.3 Hydrogeology......................................................................... 91 3.1.4 Physical