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Trophic coupling and habitat connectivity among coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass fishes and benthic invertebrate communities of the Virgin Islands National Park (VIIS) and Coral Reef National Monument (VICR)

The connection between fish habitat utilization, prey use, and fish movement patterns is not known in relation to available invertebrate prey resources in off-reef sites. Developing a better understanding of the habitat use, diet, and resource needs of benthic communities and their interactions with mobile fish and invertebrates is an important More...

  • Cushion Star (Oreaster reticulatus)

Effects of salinity on survival, growth and reproduction of non-native Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from southern Mississippi

The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is commonly used in aquaculture worldwide. Feral populations exist in many regions where individuals escape culture and establish in natural habitats. In Mississippi, Nile tilapia are established in at least three distinct localities (fig. 1): the lower Pascagoula and Escatawpa river drainages, and a More...

  • Image of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Low-temperature tolerance of African jewelfish, (Hemichromis letourneuxi)

Because the African jewelfish has a broad salinity tolerance, scientists tested how the species low-temperature tolerance varied at three salinities: freshwater (0 ppt), brackish (10 ppt) and marine (35 ppt) in the laboratory. A field experiment was then conducted to examine the survivorship of individuals when caged in several common aquatic More...

  • Image of an African jewelfish, (Hemichromis letourneuxi)

Headwater Stream Barriers in Western Oregon

This dataset is an ArcInfo point coverage depicting obstacles to anadromous fish migration in western Oregon. Data were compiled by fourth-field hydrologic unit code (HUC) from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife StreamNet Database and from reports by fisheries biologists in various management agencies. Both natural and constructed (e.g., More...

  • map of barriers showing the current extent of anadromy

Role of Demographic, Genetic, and Environmental Factors Influencing the Spread of Hybridization Between Native Westslope Cutthroat and Non-Native Rainbow Trout

This research project examines dispersal and several components of fitness between hybrids and non-hybridized fish. Further, scientists will examine the relationship between environmental factors and genetic and demographic characteristics of hybrid populations. The specific objectives are: (1) to compare the spawning dynamics and dispersal More...

  • Radiotagged hybrid trout

Relevance of cryptic fishes in biodiversity assessments: A case study at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix

Visual surveys of underwater reef fish overlook the hidden, cryptic fish that comprise most of the diversity and numerical abundance of coral reef habitats. Research by Smith-Vaniz, Jelks, and Rocha shows how rotenone revealed cryptic fish in a survey of fish August-September 2001 at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin More...

  • A reef scene with a sergeant major fish and an angelfish. Photo credit: NOAA Florida Keys National M

Conservation Genetics: Fish

This page presents samples of genetics and genomics research from the USGS Biological Resources Discipline about the conservation genetics of fish.

  • Image of a Pallid sturgeon

Transmission of Renibacterium Salmoninarum in Pacific Salmonids

Bacterial kidney disease (BKD) is caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum and is considered to be the most difficult salmonid bacterial disease to control, in part because of its dual modes of transmission. This bacterium, unlike most other fish pathogens, is transmitted vertically from parent fish to progeny in association with the eggs, as well as More...

  • Juvenile chinook salmon with bacterial kidney disease (BKD)

Genetics of Alaskan Fishes

Genetics of Alaska Fishes Projects studies include comparing molecular genetics for rainbow trout throughout their range in Alaska and use microsatellite analyses to look at hatchery and wild populations of steelhead in the Snake River (Phylogeographic analysis of rainbow trout in Alaska). Research also looks at genetic population structure of More...

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Field Study of Environmental Variables Influencing Abundance and Distribution of Desert Pupfish in the Salton Sea Basin

This study will compare relative abundance, population structure, and spawning success of desert pupfish from natural (reference) and manmade or disturbed habitats in the Salton Sea basin. In addition, this study will determine the importance of fish predation as a source of mortality in desert pupfish populations. Finally, this study will attempt More...

  • Image of desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius)

Estimating Survival Estimates for Migrant Juvenile Salmonids Passing Through the Dalles Dam Using Radio-telemetry

As anadromous juvenile salmonids migrate from freshwater rearing habitats to the ocean, they are vulnerable to a host of factors that affect their survival. Direct effects associated with dam passage (e.g., instantaneous mortality, injury, loss of equilibrium, etc.) and indirect effects (e.g., predation, disease, and physiological stress) More...

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Evaluating Survival Estimates for Migrant Juvenile Salmonids Passing Through the John Day Dam Using Radio-telemetry

As anadromous juvenile salmonids migrate from freshwater rearing habitats to the ocean, they are vulnerable to a host of factors that affect their survival. Direct effects associated with dam passage (e.g., instantaneous mortality, injury, loss of equilibrium, etc.) and indirect effects (e.g., predation, disease, and physiological stress) More...

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