Would dams inhibit mooneye populations?
I live near the French Broad River in NC and mooneye used to live far upstream to Brevard before polution and other problems reduce their numbers.
Now they only found in the area next to Tennessee.
There are three dams on the river right now and I was wondering how dams affect mooneye.
Can mooneye survive in rivers segmented by small dams?
Thanks
Mooneye and dams
Started by
Guest_Gambusia_*
, Jan 11 2010 12:45 PM
2 replies to this topic
#2 Guest_sschluet_*
Posted 03 February 2010 - 08:28 PM
G-
In NY, mooneyes have been documented moving into medium to large-sized rivers to spawn. So it very feasible that a dam could restrict access to spawning habitat and therefore limit populations. In northern NY, mooneye have been documented in a large tributary to the St. Lawrence River that is segmented by dams. So they are "surviving" in this river. Of course, there is a big difference in merely surviving (being present) and a robust population. My guess is that dams are limiting the population size but no focused research effort has been conducted.
-Scott
In NY, mooneyes have been documented moving into medium to large-sized rivers to spawn. So it very feasible that a dam could restrict access to spawning habitat and therefore limit populations. In northern NY, mooneye have been documented in a large tributary to the St. Lawrence River that is segmented by dams. So they are "surviving" in this river. Of course, there is a big difference in merely surviving (being present) and a robust population. My guess is that dams are limiting the population size but no focused research effort has been conducted.
-Scott
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