Habitat Use and Movement of Young Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)

Abstract

ABSTRACT We used radio telemetry to determine movement and habitat use of 19 paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) stocked into the Neches River system, Texas. Thirteen fish weighing 0.5–0.8 kg were released in April 1990 in the upper reaches of B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir and six fish weighing 2.4–3.7 kg were released in October 1990 in the lower reaches of B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir. Fish were tracked from April 1990 to September 1991. Five fish died within four months of release. There was a significant relation between: 1) habitat type and both water depth in which fish were found and their distance to shore and 2) season of year and both water depth in which fish were found and their distance to shore. These relations suggest seasonal patterns of habitat use. Farthest upstream movement was 270.4 km and farthest downstream movement was 161.3 km. Eleven fish remained upstream of the dam and six fish moved through reservoir floodgates or over the spillway into the lower Neches River. Our findings indicated: 1) paddlefish size relative to size of implanted radio transmitter may have a bearing on survival. 2) young paddlefish may migrate great distances shortly after stocking and 3) location of release site may influence direction of paddlefish dispersement.