Fisheries Research - Habitat

Habitat for fish consists of the areas that provide food, cover, shelter, and space. In general, fish habitat is often an area that has natural plants, clean water, structure for shelter (i.e., rocks, logs, brush, or overhanging branches) and a good spawning substrate (or bottom).

The vegetation on and around the bank of a water body is called the riparian zone and may extend back far beyond the water. This zone is an important element of the habitat. Bugs and leafs that fall out of trees into the water are an important part of the aquatic food web. The shade helps to cool the water and the roots hold the banks in place reducing sediment entering the waterbody. Excess nutrients are taken up before they can enter the stream and pollute it.

When the riparian buffer has been destroyed by poor land use decisions the stream or lake will be affected. What happens on land far from the waters will eventually effect the quality of aquatic habitat.

Population growth leads to increase in both residential and industrial development and, as a result, a decrease in habitat for fish and wildlife. Adequate habitat and good water quality are essential to maintaining sport fisheries and other aquatic life. Nutrients contained in runoff from residential developments, golf course, agricultural operations, industry, and municipal waste treatment plants have caused problems in aquatic systems.

Science Services is currently engaged in the following projects relating to habitat studies:

• Coarse Woody Debris Research [PDF 117KB]
• Ecological effects of riparian development along Wisconsin Lakes
• Effects of Exploitation on Northern Walleye Populations
• Fishery and Aquatic Community Responses to Mechanical Harvesting of Aquatic Macrophytes
• Macroinvertebrate Data Interpretation Guidance Manual [PDF 1.4MB]
• Natural Muskellunge in Wisconsin: Factors Affecting Self-sustaining Populations
• Sustainability for Northern inland lakes: Wildlife habitat and human-use values