Demographic and Life History Characteristics of Black Bullheads Ameiurus melas in a North Temperate USA Lake

Black bullheads Ameiurus melas are an environmentally tolerant omnivorous fish species that are found throughout much of North America and parts of Europe. Despite their prevalence, black bullheads are an infrequently studied species making their biology, ecology, and life history poorly understood. Although limited information has been published on black bullheads, evidence suggests that bullheads can dominate the fish biomass and have profound influences on the fish community in some north temperate USA lakes. The goal of our study was to provide additional information on black bullhead population demographics, growth rates, life history characteristics, and seasonal diet preferences in a northern Wisconsin lake. Using common fish collection gears (fyke netting, electrofishing), fish aging protocols, fecundity assessments, and diet indices, our results suggested that black bullheads exhibited relatively fast growth rates, early ages at maturity, moderate fecundity, and a diverse omnivorous diet. Due to these demographic and life history characteristics, black bullheads have the potential to dominate fish community biomass in their native and introduced range. Results from our study may inform the management of black bullhead as native and invasive species.

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Temporal variation in the early life-history characteristics of the King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata) from analysis of otolith microstructure

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf9960809 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 809 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

AJ Fowler ◽

DA Short

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Early Life ◽

Somatic Growth ◽

South Australia ◽

Early Life History ◽

Exponential Relationship ◽

Life History Characteristics ◽

Linear Relationships ◽

Temperature Regimes

This study describes the duration of the settlement season, the somatic and otolith growth rates, and presettlement durations for Sillaginodes punctata at Barker Inlet, South Australia. The settlement season was from June to November, with settlement occurring in two phases over this period. Somatic growth rates ranged from <0.1 to 0.25 mm day-1 depending on age and time of year, making size (SL) a relatively poor indicator of age. Alternatively, otolith size (OL) was strongly related to age, but the linear relationships varied systematically among sampling occasions. Because of variation in somatic growth rates, the SL-OL relationships were relatively poor. The biological intercept method was used to back-calculate fish sizes from otolith increment widths for three samples of fish. These growth trajectories differed considerably, two being logistic in shape and the third being an exponential relationship. Presettlement durations increased from 80 to 130 days between June and September and were inversely related to growth rate. Settlement competence is related more to size than to age. The broad natural variation in early life-history characteristics is likely to relate to water temperature regimes along larval advection pathways through the long settlement season.

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A review of growth and life-history traits of native and non-native European populations of black bullhead Ameiurus melas

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries ◽

10.1007/s11160-016-9436-z ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 441-469 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Gordon H. Copp ◽

Ali Serhan Tarkan ◽

Gérard Masson ◽

Michael J. Godard ◽

Ján Koščo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Black Bullhead ◽

European Populations ◽

Ameiurus Melas

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Non-native Fishes Inhabiting the Streams and Lakes of Illinois

Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin ◽

10.21900/j.inhs.v35.126 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 35 (1-5) ◽

pp. 1-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Christopher A. Laird ◽

Lawrence M. Page

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Common Carp ◽

Native Species ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

The State ◽

Turn Of The Century ◽

Additional Information ◽

Life History Characteristics ◽

The Common ◽

Native Fishes

At the turn of the century, only one non-native species of fish, the common carp, was established in Illinois (Forbes and Richardson 1908). In contrast, by 1979, six non-native fishes were reproducing in Illinois (Smith 1979) and, in 1996, only 17 years later, seven more nonnative fishes have become established (Table 1). In addition to these 13 species, 9 non-native fishes are periodically stocked in Illinois or stray into the state from nearby states where they are stocked (Table 1). Because several of these fishes only recently have become introduced or are expanding their ranges in Illinois, they are not familiar to most residents of the state. The keys and descriptions in this publication are intended to assist in the identification and monitoring of the impacts of these 22 species. Also included for each species is a brief summary of its ecological and life history characteristics, and a discussion of its Illinois distribution. Additional information can be found in accounts by Smith (1979) and by Burr (1991), who reviewed various aspects of recent changes in the fish fauna of Illinois.

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Empirical evidence of plasticity in life-history characteristics across climatic and fish density gradients

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2016-0023 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 74 (4) ◽

pp. 464-474 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Hillary G.M. Ward ◽

John R. Post ◽

Nigel P. Lester ◽

Paul J. Askey ◽

Theresa Godin

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Life History Theory ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Somatic Growth ◽

Life History Strategies ◽

Fish Density ◽

Density Gradients ◽

Life History Characteristics

Understanding how environmental productivity and resource competition influence somatic growth rates and plasticity in life-history traits is a critical component of population ecology. However, evolutionary effects often confound the relationship between plasticity in life-history characteristics and environmental productivity. We used a unique set of experimentally stocked populations of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to empirically test predictions from life-history theory relating to patterns in immature growth rates, age- and size-at-maturity, and the energy allocated into reproduction across climatic and fish density gradients. Our results support theoretical predictions that plasticity in life-history characteristics is a function of environmental variables. In particular, we demonstrate that immature growth rates are best explained by climatic and density-dependent competition effects and that age-at-maturity and the energy allocated to reproduction depends on juvenile growth conditions. Empirical evidence of these relationships helps to improve our understanding of optimal life-history strategies of fish populations.

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