Locomotor responses of the striped bass, Morone saxatilis, to environmental variables

The locomotor responses of the striped bass to dissolved oxygen, pH and total dissolved solids were evaluated using single and multifactor laboratory gradient tests. When dissolved oxygen, 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 two or all components were presented as gradients, simultaneously. Gradients of dissolved oxygen and p H can markedly influence habitat selection of the striped bass; gradients of total dissolved solids are apparently less important. Of the three parameters tested, pH is relatively more influential than dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids on the locomotor responses of the striped bass.