Alaska Cooperative Fishery Research Unit
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; Alaska Cooperative Fishery Research Unit HABITAT UTILIZATION BY FISHES IN THE TANANA RIVER NEAR . FAIRBANKS, ALASKA SH 11 . A7 C6 no . ll St+ I I -f-.7 /"" L ~-D f/CJ, ! i HABITAT UTILIZATION BY FISHES IN THE TANANA RIVER NEAR FAIRBANKS, ALASKA by Robert D. Mecum Alaska Cooperative Fishery Research Unit University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 Unit Contribution Number 11 Citation: Mecum, R.O. 1984. Habitat utilization by fishes in the Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska. Master•s thesis. University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska USA. A_Rl/JS Ala:-k:-_ k _-. ,,,-v,·~ Library(;,; 'u~;.,-,,, ;.,, .:.:vices AnL:t: :~ · ._ ,.,._a ABSTRACT This study evaluated summer habitat utilization of fishes and the effects of floodplain developments on fish and aquatic habitat in the glacially-fed Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska. Aquatic habitats were quantitatively described on the basis of water velocity, depth, and .. clarity, and substrate, cover and vegetation. Lake chub and longnose sucker were abundant in all habitats. Whitefishes, juvenile salmon, and northern pike were captured most frequently in areas with high water clarity. Burbot preferred deeper, turbid waters. Young-of-the-year of lake chub and longnose sucker preferred shallow, silty backwaters; juvenile lake chub demonstrated no habitat preferences; and adult lake chub, juvenile longnose sucker, and juvenile/adult slimy sculpin preferred gravel riffles. Bank stabilization activities have significantly modified aquatic habitat and fish communities of Tanana River backwaters. In general, free-flowing sidechannels have become blocked-off sloughs resulting in reduced turbidities and lower flows. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS \ Page ABSTRACT. • . 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................... 4 LIST OF FIGURES................................................. 5 LIST OF TABLES.................................................. 7 INTRODUCTION.................................................... 11 AREA DESCRIPTION................................................ 14 METHODS. • . • . • . 20 Seining Stations........................................... 20 Fish Sampling.............................................. 20 Physical and Chemical Measurements......................... 22 Habitat Mapping............................................ 25 Data Analysis.............................................. 26 AQUATIC HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS................................. 29 Results.............. 29 Discussion................................................. 40 FISH COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND HABITAT............................ 47 Res u1 ts . 4 7 Discussion. 86 EFFECTS OF BANK STABILIZATION ON FISHES AND THEIR HABITAT....... 97 Res u1 ts . 97 Discussion................................................. 106 SUMMARY. 116 REFERENCES...................................................... 119 4 LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. The Tanana River drainage........................ 15 Figure 2. Tanana River study area near Fairbanks, Alaska. Dashed lines indicate extent of sampling sites... 17 Figure 3. Relative frequency of point measurements in each velocity category at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981.............................. 32 Figure 4. Relative frequency of point measurements in each depth category at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981.................................... 34 Figure 5. Relative frequency of point measurements in each substrate category at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981.............................. 35 Figure 6. Relative frequency of point measurements in each velocity category at seining stations in 1982.... 38 Figure 7. Relative frequency of point measurements in each depth category at seining stations in 1982....... 39 Figure 8. Relative frequency of point measurements in each substrate category at seining stations in 1982... 41 Figure 9. Habitat-suitability indices and densities for YOY lake chub (N = 280, average TL = 39 mm) based on measurements of velocity, depth and substrate. Asterisks indicate categories not measured......................................... 69 Figure 10. Habitat suitability indices and densities for juvenile lake chub (N = 380, average TL = 60 mm) based on measurements of velocity, depth and substrate. Asterisks indicate categories not measured..................................... 71 Figure 11. Habitat suitability indices and densities for adult 1ake chub (N = 580, average TL = 95 mm) based on measurements of velocity, depth and substrate. Asterisks indicate categories not 1neasuret1......................................... 73 5 6 LIST OF FIGURES (Cont•d) Page Figure 12. Habitat suitability indices and densities for YOY longnose sucker (N = 337, average TL = 38 mrn) based on ~easurements of velocity, depth and substrate. Asterisks indicate categories not measured..................................... 81 Figure 13. Habitat suitability indices and densities for juvenile longnose sucker (N = 466, average TL = 94 mm) based on measurements of velocity, depth and substrate. Asterisks indicate categories not measured.......................... 82 Figure 14. Habitat suitability indices and densities for juvenile/adult slimy sculpin (N = 108, average TL = 44 mm) based on measurements of velocity, depth and substrate. Asterisks indicate categories not measured................. 87 LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1. Accuracy of equipment used for physico- chemical measurements •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 24 Table 2. Physico-chemical characteristics of primary an~ supplemental study sites in 1981 ••••••••••••••••• 30 Table 3. Averages of physical measurements at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981. Extremes observed are in parentheses •••••••••••••••••••••• 31 Table 4. Averages of physical measurements at seining stations in 1982. Extremes observed are in parentheses...................................... 37 Table 5. Classification of aquatic habitat in the Tanana River near Fairbanks, Alaska ••••••••••••••••••••• 42 Table 6. Number and percentage composition of fishes captured by all gear types combined at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981 and 1982 •••• 48 Table 7. Number and percentage composition of fishes captured by gill nets at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981.............................. 51 Table 8. Mean C/f for six most abundant species and all species combined captured in gill nets at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981 ••••• 52 Table 9. Number and percentage composition of fishes captured in mi nnov1 traps at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981 ••••••••••••••••• 54 Table 10. Mean C/f for three most abundant species and all species combined captured in minnow traps at primary and supplemental study sites in 1981 ••••• 55 Table 11. Number and percentage composition of fishes captured in frame nets at primary study sites in 1982 ..•....................................... 56 Tabel 12. Mean C/f for the five most abundant species and all species combined captured in frame nets at primary study sites in 1982 •••.••.•.••••.•••••.•• 58 7 8 LIST OF TABLES (Cont•d) Page Table 13. Number and percentage composition of fishes captured in minnow traps at primary study sites in 1982.......................................... 59 Table 14. Mean C/f for the three most abundant species and al 1 species combined captured in mi nnm·1 traps at primary study sites in 1982............. 60 Table 15. Number and percentage composition of fishes captured by boat electroshocker at primary study sites in 1982.............................. 61 Table 16. Mean C/f for the seven most abundant species and all species combined captured by boat el ectroshocker at primary study sites in 1982.... 62 Table 17. Number and percentage composition of fishes captured by seines at seining stations in 1981 and 1982......................................... 64 Table 18. Mean C/f for the six most abundant species and all species combined captured by seines at seining stations in 1981 and 1982................ 65 Table 19. Velocity interval (cm/s), area sampled (r~2), catch frequencies, and densities (numberjm2) for YOY, juvenile, and adult lake chub. All probabilities associated with T values (chi-square goodness-of-fit) are less than 0.001 with six degrees of freedom................ 66 Table 20. Depth interval (m), area sampled (m2), catch frequencies, and densities (number/m2) for YOY, juvenile, and adult lake chub. All probabilities associated with T values (chi square goodness-of-fit) are less than 0.001 with six degrees of freedom...................... 67 Table 21. Substrate interval, area sampled (m2), eaten frequencies, and densities (numberjm2) for YOY, juvenile, and adult lake chub. All probabilities associated with T values (chi-square goodness-of fit) are less than 0.001 with five degrees of freedofn.......................................... 68 9 LIST OF TABLES {Cont'd) Page Table 22. Observed frequencies of lake chub and expected frequencies {in parentheses), assuming independence of fish length and water velocity at capture locations............................. 74 Table 23. Observed frequencies of lake chub and expected frequencies {in parentheses), assuming independence of fish length and water depth at capture 1ocati ons............................. 75 Table 24. Observed frequencies of lake chub and expected frequencies (in parentheses), assuming independence of fish length and substrate at capture locations................................ 76 Table 25. Velocity interval (cm/s), ar:-ea sampled (m2),