An Analysis Of Fish Associations In Tennessee And Cumberland Drainage Impoundments

Distribution of fish in the heavily impounded Tennessee and Cumberland River systems shows definite longitudinal zonation similar to that in nonimpounded river systems. Ten of 11 physical variables examined were highly correlated with one another, reflecting the complex of conditions accompanying changes from storage reservoirs in upper elevations to mainstream reservoirs in the lowlands. Elevation was the variable most highly correlated with the number of species. Cluster analysis indicated 4 associations of reservoirs: lower mainstream, upper mainstream and large storage, upper Holston, and Blue Ridge.