Locomotor Responses of the Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis, to Environmental Variables

Abstract

The lomomotor responses of the striped bass to dissolved O2 pH and total dissolved solids were evaluated using single and multifactor laboratory gradient tests. When dissolved O2, pH and total dissolved solids were presented as single gradients, the fish selected a preferred zone for each parameter. The preferred zone of each parameter observed during single gradient tests was often altered appreciably when 2 or all components were presented as gradients, simultaneously. Gradients of dissolved O2 and pH can markedly influence habitat selection of the striped bass; gradients of total dissolved solids are apparently less important. Of the 3 parameters tested, pH is relatively more influential than dissolved O2 and total dissolved solids on the locomotor responses of the striped bass.