Biology and Management of Inland Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass

<em>Abstract</em>.—The striped bass <em>Morone saxatilis </em>was introduced into the lower Colorado River in the late 1950s and into Lake Mead, Nevada and Arizona, in the late 1960s. The unintended immigration of striped bass into Lake Mohave, Nevada and Arizona, on the main stem, and Lake Pleasant, a tributary reservoir in central Arizona, has resulted in changing management practices. Striped bass entered Lake Mohave via downstream emigration from Lake Mead through Hoover Dam at various life stages, and the newly established population quickly became the primary sport fish in the reservoir. Predation from the striped bass population in Lake Mohave coincided with elimination of threadfin shad <em>Dorosoma petenense </em>and a rapid decline in the survival of stocked rainbow trout <em>Oncorhynchus mykiss</em>. Striped bass are also believed to be hindering ongoing efforts to reestablish the native endangered species razorback sucker <em>Xyrauchen texanus </em>and bonytail chub <em>Gila elegans</em>. Striped bass gained access to Lake Pleasant via Lake Havasu, California and Arizona, by way of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Canal. Operation of the CAP Canal began in 1985 and the canal was fully connected to Lake Pleasant in 1992. In 1986 and 1989, striped bass population densities in the CAP Canal were estimated at 70 ± 37 fish/ha and 3 ± 1 fish/ha, respectively. Striped bass were first captured in Lake Pleasant in 1998 during a gill-netting survey. Catch per unit effort increased almost yearly from 0.13 fish/net-night in 1998 to 6.74 fish/net-night in 2005. Since their unintended introduction into both reservoirs, striped bass have established viable reproducing populations. Management efforts have emphasized promoting harvest and minimizing the impacts of striped bass on existing fisheries. These experiences provide guidance for evaluating unintended dispersion of striped bass elsewhere.

2007 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 2059-2071 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. French ◽  
D. J. Hunsaker ◽  
T. R. Clarke ◽  
G. J. Fitzgerald ◽  
W. E. Luckett ◽  
...  

Weed Science ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 508-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vince M. Davis ◽  
Kevin D. Gibson ◽  
Thomas T. Bauman ◽  
Stephen C. Weller ◽  
William G. Johnson

Horseweed is an increasingly problematic weed in soybean because of the frequent occurrence of glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of crop rotation, winter wheat cover crops (WWCC), residual nonglyphosate herbicides, and preplant herbicide application timing on the population dynamics of GR horseweed and crop yield. A field study was conducted at a site with a moderate infestation of GR horseweed (approximately 1 plant m−2) with crop rotation (soybean–corn or soybean–soybean) as main plots and management systems as subplots. Management systems were evaluated by quantifying horseweed plant density, seedbank density, and crop yield. Crop rotation did not influence in-field horseweed or seedbank densities at any data census timing. Preplant herbicides applied in the spring were more effective at reducing horseweed plant densities than when applied in the previous fall. Spring-applied, residual herbicide systems were the most effective at reducing season long horseweed densities and protecting crop yield because horseweed in this region behaves primarily as a summer annual weed. Horseweed seedbank densities declined rapidly in the soil by an average of 76% for all systems over the first 10 mo before new seed rain. Despite rapid decline in total seedbank density, seed for GR biotypes remained in the seedbank for at least 2 yr. Therefore, to reduce the presence of GR horseweed biotypes in a local no-till weed flora, integrated weed management (IWM) systems should be developed to reduce total horseweed populations based on the knowledge that seed for GR biotypes are as persistent in the seed bank as glyphosate-sensitive (GS) biotypes.


HortScience ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom L. Weinert ◽  
Thomas L. Thompson ◽  
Scott A. White ◽  
Michael A. Maurer

Microsprinkler irrigation may result in increased efficiency of N and water application to citrus. However, best management practices (BMPs) have not yet been developed for microsprinkler use, particularly on newly established citrus. Experiments were conducted during 1997-98 in central Arizona to evaluate the effects of N rate and fertigation frequency on `Newhall' navel oranges (Citrus sinensis) planted in Mar. 1997. Two experiments were conducted, each with factorial combinations of N rate (0 to 204 g/tree/year) and fertigation frequency (weekly to three times per year). In one experiment, nonlabeled N fertilizer was used, and in the other 15N-labeled fertilizer was used. Trunk diameter, leaf N, and 15N partitioning in the trees were monitored. During 1997, neither trunk diameter nor leaf N were affected by N rate or fertigation frequency. No more than 6% of N applied was found in the trees. During 1998, leaf N in fertilized plots was significantly higher than in nonfertilized plots, but leaf N in all trees remained above the critical N concentration of 25 mg·g-1. During 1998, no more than 25% of the fertilizer N applied was taken up by the trees. Results suggest that N applications are not needed during the first growing season after planting for microsprinkler-irrigated citrus in Arizona. Only low rates of N (≤68 g/tree/yr) may be needed during the second growing season to maintain adequate tree N reserves.


1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 1551-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. McMahon ◽  
Gordon F. Hartman

Winter habitat use by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) varied with cover type and flow level in outdoor stream channels. Cover utilization and the number of fish remaining in stream channels increased significantly as cover complexity increased. Most fish emigrated during a simulated freshet unless the most complex cover (low velocity, shade, and wood debris combined) was available. At both high and low flows, emigration occurred primarily during the rapid decline in light levels at twilight. Most coho formed aggregations beneath cover, exhibiting feeding and aggression at temperatures as low as 2.5 °C. We conclude that (1) social interactions, in concert with habitat features, influence the abundance of coho salmon within specific stream habitats in winter, and (2) structural complexity of wood debris is an important consideration for management practices designed to protect or enhance winter habitat for this species.


<em>Abstract.</em>—In July 2000 and 2001, we sampled adjacent screened and unscreened agricultural irrigation diversions in the Sacramento River, California to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of a custom fish screen for excluding four open-water fishes: native delta smelt <em>Hypomesus transpacificus </em>and alien threadfin shad <em>Dorosoma petenense</em>, inland silverside <em>Menidia beryllina</em>, and striped bass <em>Morone saxatilis</em>; and (2) examine factors affecting entrainment of each species. We also compiled trawl and beach seine data from contemporaneous monitoring programs to make inferences about microhabitat use by these fishes and its implications for entrainment vulnerability. The fish screen reduced entrainment of each species by 99% or more and excluded many fish less than 25 mm, the approximate minimum length it was designed to exclude. Tidal and diel influences on entrainment through the unscreened diversion were observed, but diel cycles appeared to be more important, as most entrainment occurred at night or during crepuscular periods. Except for delta smelt, our results suggested that open-water fishes may undergo ontogenetic changes in vulnerability to unscreened irrigation diversions. Fishes entrained during daylight (threadfin shad and striped bass) averaged only 15–16 mm in length. At night, average lengths of entrained threadfin shad and inland silverside were 22–25 mm, even though larvae continued to be entrained. Similarly, a diel influence on striped bass entrainment was observed only in 2000, when individuals larger than 20 mm were consistently collected. No striped bass were collected at sizes greater than 35 mm, even though larger individuals occupied the study area. We found no evidence of size-related changes in delta smelt vulnerability to entrainment, but the monitoring data indicated that delta smelt were abundant offshore, whereas the other three species were most abundant nearshore. We think that low and inconsistent entrainment of delta smelt reflected (1) predominantly offshore habitat use by delta smelt, and (2) the relatively small hydrodynamic influence of the diversion.


<em>Abstract</em>.—A CE-QUAL-W2 water quality model was used to characterize the availability of striped bass <em>Morone saxatilis</em> habitat in Lake Greenwood, South Carolina, during 2004 and 2005. Although the lake has a productive fishery, water quality and aquatic habitat are affected by nutrient loading, algal blooms, and extensive oxygen depletion in the bottom waters. The main objectives were to characterize habitat availability and predict the implications of a change in phosphorus loading from the Saluda and Reedy rivers. The baseline scenario of the model showed that habitat was most critical during July and August, when as little of 5% of the reservoir contained tolerable habitat (temperature <28°C and dissolved oxygen >2 mg/L). Favorable habitat (temperature <25°C and dissolved oxygen >2 mg/L) was usually absent for most of July and August. Pulses of higher inflow or freshets produced short-term increases in tolerable habitat, especially in the upper end of the reservoir. Phosphorus-loading scenarios predicted that large reductions (50% or more) would be required to improve habitat substantially during midsummer. For the manager of a striped bass fishery, water quality models can be useful tools for evaluating habitat, especially under marginal conditions, and for predicting the impact of altered water management practices.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document