scholarly journals Walleye recruitment success is less resilient to warming water temperatures in lakes with abundant largemouth bass populations

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen J.A. Hansen ◽  
Stephen R. Midway ◽  
Tyler Wagner

Lakes respond heterogeneously to climate, with implications for fisheries management. We analyzed walleye (Sander vitreus) recruitment to age-0 in 359 lakes in Wisconsin, USA, to (i) quantify the relationship between annual water temperature degree days (DD) and walleye recruitment success and (ii) identify the influence of lake characteristics — area, conductivity, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) catch rates, and mean DD — on this relationship. The relationship between walleye recruitment and annual DD varied among lakes and was not distinguishable from zero overall (posterior mean = −0.11, 90% CI = −0.34, 0.15). DD effects on recruitment were negative in 198 lakes (55%) and positive in 161 (45%). The effect of annual DD was most negative in lakes with high largemouth bass densities, and, on average, the probability of recruitment was highest in large lakes with low largemouth bass densities. Conductivity and mean DD influenced neither recruitment nor the effect of annual DD. Walleye recruitment was most resilient to warming in lakes with few largemouth bass, suggesting that the effects of climate change depend on lake-specific food-web and habitat contexts.

<em>Abstract</em>.—Largemouth Bass (LMB) <em>Micropterus salmoides</em> is one of the most popular sport fish in the United States and is intensively managed across much of its range. Beginning in 1989, Wisconsin implemented more restrictive harvest regulations for LMB, including greater minimum length limits, reduced bag limits, and a catch-and-release-only season during the spawning period across much of northern Wisconsin. We tested for trends in LMB relative abundance, growth, and angler catch and harvest in relation to LMB management policies from 1990 to 2011. We also tested for potential sport fish community responses to changes in LMB abundances using Walleye (WAE) <em>Sander vitreus</em> as an example. Angler catch rates and electrofishing catch per unit effort of LMB greater than 8 and 14 in increased significantly statewide. Mean length of age-6 LMB decreased significantly statewide. Release rates of LMB increased from about 80% in 1991 and then plateaued at more than 96% from 2005 to 2011. Concurrent with increases in LMB, adult WAE densities declined in lakes containing LMB. Ongoing research is being conducted to test for interactions between LMB and WAE and to test for additional environmental drivers, such as climate warming, that may be associated with increased LMB abundances. Largemouth Bass abundances have increased in Wisconsin, possibly in response to changes in harvest regulations, angler behavior, and potentially other environmental drivers. These increases in LMB abundances have had negative intraspecific effects on growth and may be negatively affecting WAE stocks. We recommend that management goals for LMB consider intra- and interspecific consequences, particularly in water bodies where multispecies fisheries are desired.


1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (4) ◽  
pp. R479-R486 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. I. Crawshaw

The importance of low ambient temperature in the physiology of winter dormancy was studied in the brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) and the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The bullheads frequently entered a sleep-like state at low temperatures; the likelihood of being aroused from this state was inversely proportional to the ambient temperature. Spontaneous activity for both species was relatively constant from 17 to 7 degrees C; at lower temperatures activity decreased. The selected temperature was lowered in both species as a consequence of acclimation to 3 degrees C; if given the opportunity, fish of both species moved to temperatures above 25 degrees C within 1 day in spite of the consequent acid-base and metabolic imbalances. In bass, food intake was very low for acclimation temperatures of 8 degrees C and below; at higher temperatures the relationship between food intake and acclimation temperature required 4 wk to stabilize. Quiescent brown bullheads exhibited discontinuous breathing. Alteration of brain temperature with implanted thermodes indicated that the main locus of control of this breathing pattern is in the medulla; lesser influences emanate from the anterior hypothalamus and the midbrain. Metabolism was measured at a series of acclimation temperatures between 3 and 17 degrees C for both species. No evidence of a discontinuous function (metabolic shutdown) was seen for either species.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68
Author(s):  
Scott M. Bisping ◽  
Brandon C. Thompson

Abstract Canal systems are commonly found across the country and are rarely constructed to increase fish habitat or angling opportunities. From 2009 to 2011, we assessed the benefits of canals to the fishery at Lake Griffin, Florida, by measuring and comparing the Florida Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides floridanus population and angler use to the main lake. We used electrofishing, angler creel surveys, and a high-reward tagging study. Results from electrofishing surveys revealed a high relative abundance of Florida Largemouth Bass in the canals, with similar electrofishing catch rates and size structure to those in the main lake. The canal creel showed that anglers used canals throughout the study, with peak use during the spawning season. The tagging study revealed anglers caught Florida Largemouth Bass in canals throughout the 12-mo study and that Florida Largemouth Bass migrated between the lake and canals. We conclude that the canals support a significant portion of the overall angler effort for the Lake Griffin fishery. Failing to consider the canals at Lake Griffin results in substantial underestimates of fish populations, angler use, and the fishery's economic impact. Our data suggest, however, that monitoring only the lake section still may represent trends occurring throughout the entire body of water, resulting in lowering sampling time and financial requirements. Fishery managers can identify any impacts canal systems or other lake sections may have to the fishery by including additional sections of a body of water into their sampling protocol.


<em>Abstract.-</em>Demographic studies have indicated that, since 1990, Kentucky’s urban population has experienced an 18% increase while its rural population has expanded by less than 1%. These demographic changes, coupled with a decline in fishing license sales, focused the need to develop and increase fishing opportunities in and around urban areas. In 2005, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources initiated a pilot urban fishing program aimed at providing urban residents with high quality fishing opportunities close to home. Five pilot lakes, located within four of Kentucky’s most populated counties, were selected to receive regular stockings of rainbow trout <em>Oncorhynchus mykiss</em>, channel catfish <em>Ictalurus punctatus</em>, largemouth bass <em>Micropterus salmoides</em>, and hybrid bluegill <em>Lepomis macrochirus </em>x <em>L. cyanellus</em>. Rainbow trout were stocked at each lake in April and October. Channel catfish, largemouth bass, and hybrid bluegill were stocked in May and June. Monthly stocking rates were 202 trout/ha, 34 channel catfish/ha, 12 largemouth bass/ha, and 81 hybrid bluegill/ha. Creel and angler attitude surveys were conducted at two of the pilot lakes from April through August 2006 to determine angler catch and satisfaction. Although fishing pressure at these two lakes was high, most anglers practiced catch and release. Catch rates were 1.03 fish/h at Stein Lake and 0.79 fish/h at Upper Sportsman’s Lake. Angler attitude survey results indicated that the majority of anglers interviewed were not aware of the program and did not know that regular fish stockings were occurring at the lakes. The typical angler fishing these lakes was a white male between the ages of 30 and 49, who was satisfied with his fishing experience regardless of the number or size of fish caught. Further studies need to be completed to compare results from this study, and to refine stocking and marketing techniques used in the program.


2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 998-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob P. Ziegler ◽  
Colin J. Dassow ◽  
Stuart E. Jones ◽  
Alexander J. Ross ◽  
Christopher T. Solomon

Littoral structure is often assumed to provide refuge to young of year (YOY) freshwater fish species, but empirical in situ tests of this relationship are lacking. We estimated mortality rates of YOY largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) over the open-water season in 13 lakes in northern Wisconsin and Michigan using repeated snorkel surveys. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that mortality rate is negatively related to the abundance of littoral coarse woody habitat, which ranged from 3 to 1500 pieces of wood per kilometre of shoreline in these lakes. Instantaneous mortality rates were well-constrained and ranged from 0.04 to 0.19 among the 13 lakes. Mortality was not related to coarse woody habitat abundance. Our results suggest that the relationship between coarse woody habitat and YOY mortality might not be as strong or universal as is often assumed.


1960 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 345-390
Author(s):  
Donald F. Hansen ◽  
George W. Bennett ◽  
Robert J. Webb ◽  
John M. Lewis

The objective of the pond fertilization measure the effect of certain fertilization practices on sport fishing for largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede), and bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, in small ponds located in a region of relativelv unproductive soils. From catch records gathered over a 6-year period, 1947-1952, from three fertilized ponds and three unfertilized or control ponds, we have been able to compare the sizes of the fish caught, the annual hook-and-line yields, and the catch rates in terms of fish per fisherman-hour. The six ponds used in the experiment are located at the University of Illinois College of Agriculture Dixon Springs Experiment Station in Pope County, southern Illinois. The fertilization program used at Dixon Springs was of apparent benefit to bluegill fishing but of doubtful benefit to bass fishing; any benefits derived from direct fertilization of ponds were in addition to benefits that may have resulted from fertilization of the pond watersheds. Comparison of yields from the fertilized and unfertilized ponds at Dixon Springs shows that the greater yields of fish from the fertilized ponds were obtained at costs estimated to range from $0.71 to $1.18 a pound. Whether the improvement in the quality of bluegill fishing attributed tofertilization was great enough to be detected by fishermen is questionable for at least two of the three fertilized ponds.


<em>Abstract</em>.—We evaluated the influence of lake morphometry, water quality, and common carp <em>Cyprinus carpio </em>and largemouth bass <em>Micropterus salmoides </em>population structure on quality black crappie <em>Pomoxis nigromaculatus </em>and bluegill <em>Lepomis macrochirus </em>populations for 20 Iowa impoundments. Growth of black crappie was positively related to growth of largemouth bass. Black crappie catch per unit effort (CPUE) was positively associated with watershed size and alkalinity and negatively related to largemouth bass growth. Size structure of bluegill populations was positively influenced by chlorophyll concentrations and largemouth bass catch rates. Total phosphorus and CPUE of stock-to-quality length largemouth bass were also positively related to bluegill growth. Bluegill CPUE was inversely related to largemouth bass growth. Quality largemouth bass populations were allied with turbid (high total suspended solids and low Secchi disk depth) impoundments that had a diverse shoreline and large watersheds. Largemouth bass growth was inversely related to mean depth, and largemouth bass CPUE was inversely related to alkalinity and total suspended solids. Information from this study will be used to classify and rank impoundments in terms of their management priorities. Based on impoundment morphometry and water quality, managers can then target management practices toward species best suited to a particular impoundment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 1859-1867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuntaro Koizumi ◽  
Nicola Craig ◽  
Jacob A. Zwart ◽  
Patrick T. Kelly ◽  
Jacob P. Ziegler ◽  
...  

Negative relationships between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and fish productivity have been reported from correlative studies across lakes, but to date there have not been experimental tests of these relationships. We increased the DOC concentration in a lake by 3.4 mg·L−1, using a before–after control–impact design, to quantify the effects on the productivity and population structure of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Greater DOC reduced the volume of the epilimnion, the preferred habitat of largemouth bass, resulting in increased bass density. The likelihood that adult bass had empty diets decreased despite this increase in bass density; diet composition also changed. There was no apparent change in bass growth or condition. Overall, there was no net change in largemouth bass productivity. However, changes in young of year and juvenile recruitment and feeding success suggest the possibility that future effects could occur. Our results are the first to examine the effects of an increase in DOC on fish productivity through a 5-year temporal lens, which demonstrates that the relationship between DOC and fish productivity is multidimensional and complex.


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