The long-term Illinois River fish population monitoring program, F-101-R-8 : annual report / Todd M. Koel, et al.

This document describes the methodological evolution of the Long-Term Illinois Rivers Fish Population Monitoring Program since its inception. The principal changes include a shift from fixed-site sampling to stratified random sampling at the reach scale to benefit statistical robustness and a concurrent shift from AC electrofishing to pulsed-DC electrofishing to increase the breadth of the diversity and size classes of fishes encountered. These changes in methodology were implemented during the 2016 field season and are based on quantitative assessments of program data and other results from recent peer-reviewed publications. These refinements will likely improve the program’s ability to detect and describe patterns and trends in the fish assemblages of the Illinois River and other large rivers of Illinois and the Midwest.

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Intrafragment riverscape conservation for an imperiled, small-bodied, pelagic-broadcast spawning minnow: speckled chub (Macrhybopsis aestivalis)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2014-0191 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (4) ◽

pp. 527-537 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Christopher W. Hoagstrom ◽

Thomas P. Archdeacon ◽

Stephen R. Davenport ◽

David L. Propst ◽

James E. Brooks

Keyword(s):

Flow Regime ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Population Monitoring ◽

Older Individuals ◽

High Quality ◽

Broadcast Spawning ◽

Distributional Patterns ◽

Class Strength ◽

Explained Variation

Intrafragment ecology is little studied for imperiled riverine fishes although river fragmentation and habitat loss increasingly threaten sensitive species. A long-term population-monitoring program in the Pecos River, New Mexico, provided detailed data for 15 annual cohorts of speckled chub (Macrhybopsis aestivalis), which were used to assess intrafragment patterns in recruitment and year-class strength in relation to distributional patterns, flow-regime characteristics, and air temperature. Cohorts avoided a degraded upstream reach. Age-1 and older individuals had distributions consistently centered within a central, relict-ecosystem reach that contained high-quality habitat. Age-0 individuals were widespread within the relict-ecosystem reach and a channelized reach downstream. Distributional patterns suggested that some individuals that recruited in the channelized reach dispersed upstream into relict-ecosystem habitat thereafter. One cohort always numerically dominated the population because cohorts never lived beyond 2 years. Recruitment was density-independent and predicted year-class strength. No aspect of the flow regime explained variation in recruitment. Year-class strength was consistent among cohorts because of density-dependent mortality. High-quality habitat in a centralized location, potential for dispersal between channelized and relict-ecosystem reaches, and diffuse distribution of pelagic-broadcast propagules throughout both reaches combined to facilitate successful annual recruitment and population persistence.

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Population stability in the endangered Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) and a program for long-term monitoring

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo14106 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 214 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gemma Quick ◽

Ross L. Goldingay ◽

Jonathan Parkyn ◽

David A. Newell

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

New South ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Population Monitoring ◽

Population Stability ◽

South Wales ◽

Long Term Monitoring ◽

Term Monitoring ◽

Very High

In the wake of the global decline in amphibians there is a need for long-term population monitoring. Previous research suggested that the endangered Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) had recovered after a severe decline. We aimed to determine whether this recovery has been sustained and to test an example of a monitoring program that could be employed at intervals of five or more years to assess long-term population stability. We conducted capture–mark–recapture five years after the last detailed census at Brindle Creek in Border Ranges National Park, New South Wales. Frogs were captured along a 200 m creek transect between September 2013 and February 2014. We used program Mark to estimate demographic parameters of adult male frogs using two modelling approaches: robust design (RD) and the POPAN formulation of the Jolly–Seber model. Abundance was estimated at 38.2 ± 0.5 (s.e.) (RD) and 46.0 ± 2.7 (POPAN). Abundance in 2008 was estimated at 53.2 ± 10.0 (POPAN) male frogs. Estimates of apparent monthly survival over our five-month-long study were very high (RD: 1.0 ± 0.0; POPAN: 1.0 ± 0.02). Recapture estimates were also high (RD: 0.40 ± 0.07 to 0.72 ± 0.05 per session; POPAN: 0.84 ± 0.05 per month). These data suggest that the Brindle Creek population has remained relatively stable over a period of ~10 years.

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Status, trends, and population demographics of selected sportfish species in the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River

Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin ◽

10.21900/j.inhs.v42.216 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 2019002 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Levi Eric Solomon ◽

Richard M Pendleton ◽

Kristopher A Maxson ◽

Daniel K Gibson-Reinemer ◽

Cory A Anderson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Lepomis Macrochirus ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Illinois River ◽

Population Declines ◽

Population Demographics ◽

White Bass ◽

Management Actions ◽

Catch Rates

Abstract Sportfish species, specifically Yellow Bass Morone mississippiensis, White Bass Morone chrysops, Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides, Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and White Crappie P. annularis, often drive economically valuable fisheries in large river systems, including the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). Within the Illinois River, part of the UMRS, these species are routinely sampled by an ongoing long-term fisheries monitoring program. Through this program, we investigated long-term trends (1993-2017) in catch rates and relative weights and quantified demographic rates from 2012-2016. We found all six species, with the exception of Yellow Bass, to have declining catch rates with this decline being most stark in larger, older fishes. Population demographics for Yellow Bass, White Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie suggest populations are dominated by younger individuals, with only Black Crappie regularly living to age 3 and older, which may be driving population declines. There are many environmental stressors acting on the Illinois River that could be contributing to the lack of older and larger fishes, including, but not limited to, navigation efforts, altered hydrology, pollution, sedimentation, lack of overwintering habitat, and introduction of invasive species. Results of this study demonstrate that additional research to understand mechanisms driving reduced abundance and stunted age structure are needed to identify effective management actions that would benefit populations of recreationally valuable sportfish species.

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