Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
1982
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
First Advisor
Charles G. Scalet
Abstract
The effectiveness of stocking rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) in 47 selected stock ponds in south-central South Dakota was analyzed in 1977 and 1978. Rainbow trout were captured in 31 (66.0%) ponds during the study. Twenty-five of the 31 ponds (80.6%) appeared to have excellent rainbow trout populations. Rainbow trout stocked in ponds with a resident largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) population had poor survival. The growth rates and condition factors for 93 and 463 rainbow trout in 1977 and 1978, respectively, were excellent. The average total length for age-groups I and II rainbow trout in 1977 was 195 and 224 mm, respectively. The values for age-groups I, II, III, and V rainbow trout in 1978 were 184, 290, 366, and 499 mm, respectively. The average coefficient of condition value for all rainbow trout in 1977 was 1.04 and 1.07 for all trout in 1978. Stomachs were removed from 463 rainbow trout in 1978. Hemipterans and gastropods were the dominant food organisms eaten. Other organisms frequently consumed were coleopterans, dipterans, odonates, and cyprinids. Odonates and cyprinids were more frequently consumed by larger trout. The maximum surface temperatures recorded were 26.0 C in 1977 and 28.5 C in 1978. All ponds contained water with temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels within the reported tolerance ranges of rainbow trout. Several ponds, however, contained marginal levels and may have been responsible for our failure to capture rainbow trout in 16 ponds.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Rainbow trout -- Growth
Rainbow trout -- Food
Fish stocking -- South Dakota
Farm Ponds -- South Dakota
Fishes -- South Dakota
Description
Includes bibliographical references (pages 43-51)
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
88
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/
Recommended Citation
Clodfelter, Kenneth C., "Growth, Food Habits, and the Relative Effectiveness of Stocking Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri) in South-Central South Dakota" (1982). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 30.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/30