Off-campus South Dakota State University users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your South Dakota State University ID and password.

Non-South Dakota State University users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1990

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

First Advisor

David W. Willis

Keywords

ponds, population, largemouth bass, panfish, south dakota

Abstract

Spring electrofishing samples were collected from 13 small impoundments in 1988 to determine relationships between largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and bluegills Lepomis macrochirus in South Dakota. Largemouth bass catch per hour of electrofishing, defined as catch per unit effort (CPUE) for stock-length fish, was inversely correlated with bass proportional stock density (PSD) (i= - 0.70, P=0.01), and relative stock density of preferred-length bass (RSD-P) (r = -0.79, P=0 .001). Largemouth bass CPUE was positively correlated with bluegill PSD (r = 0.72, P=0.02). Largemouth bass PSD was inversely correlated with bluegill PSD (r=- 0.83, P=0.003); bluegill PSD exceeded 60 only when largemouth bass PSD was less than 20. Bluegill PSD was inversely correlated with largemouth bass mean relative weight (Wr) (r =- 0.72, P=0.02). Largemouth bass CPUE and RSD-P were inversely correlated with bluegill growth. In 1989, eight small South Dakota impoundments were sampled to evaluate relationships between largemouth bass and yellow perch Perca flavescens. Largemouth bass CPUE was positively correlated with yellow perch PSD 9(r = 0.81, P=0.02). Largemouth bass PSD was inversely correlated with yellow perch PSD (r= -0.82, P=0.01). Mean relative weight (Wr) of yellow perch was inversely correlated with RSD-P of largemouth bass (r = 0.71, P=0.05). Yellow perch growth was inversely correlated with largemouth bass size structure. The highest correlation was noted between mean back-calculated length of yellow perch at age 4 and largemouth bass PSD (R = -0.95, p=0.01). Seven environmental factors (i.e., aquatic vegetation coverage, specific conductance, Secchi disk transparency, surface area, maximum depth, total alkalinity, turbidity) were measured to determine the relationship between largemouth bass density and environmental variables in the ponds sampled in 1988 and 1989. Largemouth bass CPUE was positively correlated with aquatic vegetation coverage (r = 0.65, P=0.001) and Secchi disk transparency (r = 0.48, P=0.032). In addition, multiple regression analysis with these two variables produced a significant model (P=0.0016) that accounted for 51% (R2=0.51) of the variability in largemouth bass CPUE.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Largemouth bass
Yellow perch -- South Dakota
Bluegill -- South Dakota
Fish populations -- South Dakota

Description

Includes bibliographical references (page 59-71)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

85

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

Copyright © 1990 Christopher S. Guy. All rights reserved.

Download

Share

COinS