Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Partner organizations for this research project included the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, as well as support from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission that allowed us to compare and contrast research results across state boundaries. We have advanced knowledge for both groups because of comparisons we can make between the two geographic locations. We presented research results at annual winter meetings with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and during fisheries division meetings held by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. In addition, students (both undergraduate and graduate) and professional scientists benefitted from the research results that we presented at professional meetings. During the duration of this study (2003 to 2008), we presented 9 oral presentations and 6 posters on yellow perch reproduction and recruitment, 4 oral presentations and 9 posters for bluegill, 3 oral presentations and 4 posters for common carp, and 10 presentations and 4 posters for gizzard shad. Research results likely had the most influence on biologists with South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Research efforts on prey fish dynamics supported 5 M.S. theses and 1 Ph.D. dissertation from 2003 to 2005, and 3 Ph.D. students are currently in progress with research efforts that primarily address prey fish dynamics. One distinct target audience was South Dakota private landowners. Portions of the project relevant to private waters are disseminated via our departmental web page. In addition, popular articles were published in Pond Boss magazine (5) and the South Dakota Conservation Digest (1). PARTICIPANTS: Participants included Dr. David Willis, and graduate students Dan Isermann, Melissa Wuellner, Justin Van De Hey, Kris Edwards, Andrew Jansen, Matt Ward, and Thomas Bacula under the primary project. Graduate students Jeff Jolley and Timothy DeBates were supported by complementary research funded by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Undergraduate technicians included Jeff Appleman, Nathan Baker, David Coulter, Jonah Dagel, Bethany Galster, Nathan Gosch, Jeff Grote, Arron Husman, Mark Kaemingk, Nathan Kuntz, Andrew Kvien, Emily Lorenzen, Jon Meerbeek, Kyle Mosel, Jason Nordmann, Nathan Olson, Nick Peterson, Nathan Pool, Joe Rydell, Travis Schaeffer, George Scholten, Doug Schultz, Jaimie Shepherd, and Cody Symens. Partner organizations included the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, as well as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The Nebraska state agency is supporting research similar to that undertaken in South Dakota, and we have advanced knowledge for both groups because of comparisons we can make between the two geographic locations. All of the graduate students and undergraduate technicians benefit from the professional development provided via this project. Collaborators from the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks included Geno Adams, Dr. Brian Blackwell, Mark Ermer, Gene Galinat, Robert Hanten, John Lott, David Lucchesi, Bill Miller, Kyle Potter, James Riis, Jason Sorensen, and Todd St. Sauver. Collaborators with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission include Andrew Glidden, Dr. Richard Holland, and Joel Klammer. Collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska occurs via Mark Lindval. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include biologists with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and biologists with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. A distinct target audience is South Dakota private landowners. Portions of the project relevant to private waters are disseminated via our departmental web page. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The three objectives of this study were to contrast the larval production of bluegills in South Dakota impoundments, assess adult gizzard shad population structure and reproductive biology in South Dakota reservoirs, and determine relations between climate and yellow perch reproduction in South Dakota lakes. Bluegill and yellow perch research in South Dakota was complemented with similar research in Nebraska Sandhill lakes. The overarching component of the study was to determine whether prey fish reproduction and recruitment were erratic or consistent, as well as the degree of synchrony among populations. Our assessment of adult bluegill population structure indicated that recruitment was erratic within populations and asynchronous among populations. Biotic influences likely had more influence than climate on bluegill recruitment in these systems. We described spawning periodicity, hatching duration, and peak larval densities for bluegill in Nebraska and South Dakota. Larval density and spawning duration were generally lower than other reported studies of bluegill from southern latitudes. Multimodal peaks in abundance only occurred in four instances. Our assessment of adult yellow perch population structure indicated that recruitment in South Dakota waters was related to the nature of the water body. In lakes with complex basin morphometry and submergent aquatic vegetation, perch reproduction and recruitment were more consistent, while in lakes with simple, bowl-shaped basins and limited or nonexistent submergent vegetation, reproduction and recruitment were erratic. Yellow perch recruitment patterns were highly correlated with weather patterns; reproduction tended to be higher in years with less wind, more precipitation, and warmer air temperatures during spring. We found that climate (temperature, precipitation, and wind during the open-water period) was correlated with common carp recruitment across a broad geographical scale (i.e., Moran effect) and that carp recruitment thus was erratic within populations and highly synchronous among populations in South Dakota glacial lakes. We also assessed common carp recruitment in two Nebraska lakes. In one Sandhill lake that contained predator fishes, we found the expected erratic recruitment pattern. However, another lake without predators supported a common carp population with highly consistent recruitment. Finally, gizzard shad function quite differently from bluegill, yellow perch, and common carp at northern latitudes (i.e., South Dakota). Adult population densities are very low in South Dakota waters because of substantial and at times complete, overwinter mortality of the age-0 shad. We linked gizzard shad recruitment patterns in South Dakota to both winter duration and the size of age-0 shad going into the winter. Because gizzard shad appear to be moving northward in the state, our current research efforts include an experimental assessment the influence of gizzard shad on both walleye and yellow perch in northeastern South Dakota lakes.
Publications
- Coulter, D.A., Jolley, J.J., Edwards, K.R., and Willis, D.W. 2008. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) population characteristics and recruitment in two Nebraska Sandhill lakes. Trans. Neb. Acad. Sci. 31:35-41.
- Isermann, D.A., and Willis, D.W. 2008. Emergence of larval yellow perch Perca flavescens cohorts in South Dakota lakes: potential implications for recruitment. Fish. Manage. Ecol. 15:259-271.
- Jolley, J.C., and Willis, D.W. 2008. Characteristics of a grass pickerel Esox americanus vermiculatus population in Pony Lake, Nebraska. J. Freshwater Ecol. 23:497-499.
- Jolley, J.C., Willis, D.W., DeBates, T.J., and Graham, D.D. 2008. The effects of mechanically reducing northern pike density on the sport fish community of West Long Lake, Nebraska, USA. Fish. Manage. Ecol. 15:251-258.
- Phelps, Q.E., Isermann, D.A., and Willis, D.W. 2008. Influence of hatch duration and individual daily growth rates on size structure of age-0 smallmouth bass cohorts in two glacial lakes. Ecol. Freshwater Fish 17:363-373.
- Phelps, Q.E., Graeb, B.D.S., and Willis, D.W. 2008. First-year growth and overwinter survival of common carp in two South Dakota lakes. Fish. Manage. Ecol. 15:85-91.
- Phelps, Q.E., Graeb, B.D.S., and Willis, D.W. 2008. Influence of the Moran effect on spatio-temporal synchrony in common carp recruitment. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 137:1701-1708.
- Rydell, J.J., Jolley, J.C., Phelps, Q.E., and Willis, D.W. 2008. Northern pike (Esox lucius) population characteristics and relations to recruitment in Hackberry Lake, Nebraska. Trans. Neb. Acad. Sci. 31:43-49.
- Ward, M.C., Willis, D.W., Herwig, B.R., Chipps, S.R., Parsons, B.G., Reed, J.R., and Hanson, M.A. 2008. Consumption estimates of walleye stocked as fry to suppress fathead minnow populations in west-central Minnesota wetlands. Ecol. Freshwater Fish 17:59-70.
- Willis, D.W., and Brown, M.L. 2008. Fisheries management. Page 391 to 393 in G. Goreham, editor. Encyclopedia of rural America: the land and people. Grey House Publishing, Millerton, NY.
- Willis, D.W., Scalet, C.G., and Flake, L.D. 2009 (actual publication date January 2008). Introduction to wildlife and fisheries: an integrated approach, second edition. W.H. Freeman and Company, NY.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Bluegill and yellow perch are important fish community members because they provide prey for predatory fishes in South Dakota and also provide sport fisheries. High abundances of common carp and gizzard shad can result in competition with bluegill and yellow perch for food resources; however, carp and shad also can provide prey for predators such as largemouth bass, walleye, and northern pike. Understanding the recruitment patterns (i.e., year-class strength) of bluegill, common carp, gizzard shad, and yellow perch will allow a better understanding of predator-prey dynamics for all South Dakota fisheries, both for landowners with private waters and resource agency biologists who manage public waters. Larval bluegill sampling was completed in South Dakota impoundments in 2006, while similar sampling continues in Nebraska Sandhill lakes that are being compared to the South Dakota impoundments. Larval yellow perch sampling continues in eastern South Dakota glacial lakes. Larval
gizzard shad sampling continued in central and western South Dakota reservoirs, and will be initiated in 2008 in northeastern glacial lakes. Research results have been provided to private landowners through our departmental web page. We have followed a variety of dissemination pathways for the funding agencies, including technical reports via theses, dissertations, publications, and agency reports; information transfer at local (e.g., Dakota and Nebraska chapters, American Fisheries Society), regional (e.g., Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference), and international (e.g., American Fisheries Society annual meeting) professional meetings; and through technical meetings with agency staff (e.g., specific research meetings with select biologists and presentations to the entire fisheries division at meetings twice per year).
PARTICIPANTS: Participants included Dr. David Willis, and graduate students Melissa Wuellner, Justin Van De Hey, Kris Edwards, Andrew Jansen, and Thomas Bacula. Undergraduate technicians included Jeff Appleman, Nathan Baker, David Coulter, Jonah Dagel, Bethany Galster, Jeff Grote, Nathan Kuntz, Andrew Kvien, Emily Lorenzen, Kyle Mosel, Jason Nordmann, Nick Peterson, Nathan Pool, Travis Schaeffer, and Cody Symens. Partner organizations included the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, as well as indirect support from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The Nebraska state agency is supporting research similar to that undertaken in South Dakota, and we have advanced knowledge for both groups because of comparisons we can make between the two geographic locations. All of the graduate students and undergraduate technicians benefit from the professional development provided via this project. Collaborators from the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks included
Geno Adams, Dr. Brian Blackwell, Mark Ermer, Gene Galinat, Robert Hanten, John Lott, David Lucchesi, Bill Miller, Kyle Potter, James Riis, Jason Sorensen, and Todd St. Sauver. Collaborators with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission include Andrew Glidden, Dr. Richard Holland, and Joel Klammer. Collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska occurs via Mark Lindval.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include biologists with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and biologists with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. A distinct target audience is South Dakota private landowners. Portions of the project relevant to private waters are disseminated via our departmental web page.
Impacts
The purpose of our bluegill project was to assess their utility as a prey species for largemouth bass. Peak larval bluegill abundances were highly variable among populations during both years. In 2005, peak larval abundances were unimodal in all impoundments and peaked in late June in all impoundments. However, in 2006 larval abundances had multiple modes in three out of the four impoundments. Based on otolith daily ring counts we estimated that bluegill populations had spawning durations as short as 38 d and as long as 77 d over the two years of study. The differential timing of bluegill spawning in different years might have implications not only for bluegill recruitment but also for predators such as largemouth bass. The purpose of our gizzard shad projects is to better understand the biology of gizzard shad in South Dakota waters, and the extent to which they contribute to the prey base for walleyes. Gizzard shad recruitment patterns in South Dakota were linked to
both winter duration and the size of age-0 shad going into the winter. Gizzard shad appear to be moving northward in the state and we thus will assess the influence of gizzard shad on both walleye and yellow perch in northeastern South Dakota lakes. The yellow perch study was undertaken because this fish is both a popular panfish and a primary prey species for many predators. We continued our long-term larval yellow perch sampling in 2007, adding to a trawling database that dates back to 1995. Various assessments of the database continue to indicate that spring weather patterns (precipitation, temperature, and wind) are the primary determinants of yellow perch recruitment. Common carp are being studied because they can be a competitor with bluegill and yellow perch. We hypothesized that climate factors correlated across a broad geographical scale (i.e., Moran effect) may induce synchrony in recruitment for common carp in 18 South Dakota glacial lakes. To evaluate the influence of the
Moran effect on recruitment, we examined several candidate models using an information-theoretic approach. Cross-correlation analysis indicated that common carp population fluctuations were highly synchronous among lakes. The interaction of temperature, precipitation, and wind during the open-water period was the most supported model among our candidate models. This interaction indicates that no single climatological variable was most influential in determining common carp recruitment dynamics, just as we found for the yellow perch and gizzard shad recruitment assessments.
Publications
- Phelps, Q.E., Powell, K.A., Chipps, S.R. and Willis, D.W. 2007. A method for determining stomach fullness for planktivorous fishes. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 27:932-935.
- Wanner, G.A., Shuman, D.A. and Willis, D.W. 2007. Food habits of juvenile pallid sturgeon and adult shovelnose sturgeon in the Missouri River below Fort Randall Dam, South Dakota. J. Freshwater Ecol. 22:81-92.
- Wanner, G.A., Shuman, D.A., Brown, M.L. and Willis, D.W. 2007. An initial assessment of sampling procedures for juvenile pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River downstream of Fort Randall Dam, South Dakota and Nebraska. J. Appl. Ich. 23:529-538.
- Ward, M.J., Fisher, S.J. and Willis, D.W. 2007. Environmental influences on walleye fingerling production in southwestern Minnesota shallow lakes. N. Am. J. Aquacult. 69:297-304.
- Ward, M.J., Willis, D.W., Miller, B.H. and Chipps, S.R. 2007. Walleye consumption and long-term population trends following gizzard shad introduction into a western South Dakota reservoir. J. Freshwater Ecol. 22:339-345.
- Willis, D.W., Stukel, S.M. and Brown, M.L. 2007. Eastern natural lakes. Pages 123-133 in C. Berry, Jr., editor. History of fisheries and fishing in South Dakota. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre.
- Berry, C., Higgins, K., Willis, D. and Chipps, S., editors. 2007. History of fisheries and fishing in South Dakota. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre.
- Edwards, K.R., Phelps, Q.E., Graeb, B.D.S. and Willis, D.W. 2007. Asynchronous bluegill recruitment in four South Dakota impoundments. J. Freshwater Ecol. 22:19-22.
- Guy, C.S., Neumann, R.M., Willis, D.W. and Anderson, R.O. 2007. Proportional size distribution (PSD): a further refinement of population size structure index terminology. Fisheries (Bethesda) 32:348.
- Isermann, D.A., Willis, D.W., Blackwell, B.G. and Lucchesi, D.O. 2007. Yellow perch in South Dakota: population variability and the predicted effects of creel limit reductions and minimum length limits. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 27:918-931.
- Kaemingk, M.A., Graeb, B.D.S., Hoagstrom, C.W. and Willis, D.W. 2007. Patterns of fish diversity in a mainstem Missouri River reservoir and associated delta. Riv. Research Appl. 23:786-791.
- Phelps, Q.E., Edwards, K.R. and Willis, D.W. 2007. Precision of five structures for estimating age of common carp. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 27:103-105.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The purpose of our bluegill project is to assess their utility as a prey species for largemouth bass. We found substantial contrast between the duration and abundance of larval bluegills produced between two years. In 2005, we found a single mode for larval bluegill abundance in our trawling data, while in 2006 we found multiple modes in trawling abundance and a greatly extended time period when larval bluegill were produced. Thus, there was a substantial difference in the amount of small bluegill available as prey for young predators between the two years, which could directly affect predator recruitment. The purpose of our gizzard shad project is to better understand the biology of gizzard shad in South Dakota reservoirs, and the extent to which they contribute to the prey base for walleyes. Gizzard shad recruitment patterns in South Dakota were linked to both winter duration and the size of age-0 shad going into the winter. Gizzard shad appear to be moving
northward in the state, as evidenced by their increasing abundance in Lake Oahe, and the fact that age-1 shad (i.e., survived the first winter) were collected for the first time ever in Shadehill Reservoir on the South Dakota/North Dakota border. The yellow perch study was undertaken because this fish is both a popular panfish and a primary prey species for many predators. We continued our long-term larval yellow perch sampling in 2006, adding to a trawling database that dates back to 1995. Various assessments of the database continue to indicate that spring weather patterns (precipitation, temperature, and wind) are the primary determinants of yellow perch recruitment. Common carp are being studied because they can be a competitor with bluegill and yellow perch. We hypothesized that climate factors correlated across a broad geographical scale (i.e., Moran effect) may induce synchrony in recruitment for common carp in 18 South Dakota glacial lakes. To evaluate the influence of the
Moran effect on recruitment, we examined several candidate models using an information-theoretic approach. Cross-correlation analysis indicated that common carp population fluctuations were highly synchronous among lakes. The interaction of temperature, precipitation, and wind during the open-water period was the most supported model among our candidate models. This interaction indicates that no single climatological variable was most influential in determining common carp recruitment dynamics, but rather, carp population fluctuations were determined by the interaction of these variables.
Impacts
Bluegill and yellow perch represent two of the most important prey species for predatory fishes in South Dakota, and also provide sport fisheries themselves. Common carp and gizzard shad are two species that, when in high abundance, can compete with bluegill and yellow perch for food resources; however, carp and shad also can be primary prey items for predators such as walleye and northern pike. Thus, a better understanding of the recruitment patterns (i.e., year-class strength) of bluegill, common carp, gizzard shad, and yellow perch will allow a better understanding of predator-prey dynamics for South Dakota fisheries. Both landowners with private waters and resource agency biologists who manage public waters will benefit from this knowledge.
Publications
- Guy, C.S., Neumann, R.M., and Willis, D.W. 2006. New terminology for proportional stock density (PSD) and relative stock density (RSD): proportional size structure (PSS). Fisheries (Bethesda) 31:86-87.
- Phelps, Q.E. 2006. Population dynamics of common carp in eastern South Dakota glacial lakes. M.S. thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings.
- Shuman, D.A., Willis, D.W., and Krentz, S.C. 2006. Application of a length-categorization system for pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). J. Fresh. Ecol. 21:71-76.
- Wanner, G.A. 2006. Juvenile pallid sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon sampling and ecology in the Missouri River below Fort Randall Dam. M.S. thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings.
- Ward, M.J., Willis, D.W., and Galinat, G.F. 2006. Gizzard shad recruitment patterns in a western South Dakota irrigation reservoir. J. Fresh. Ecol. 21:201-207.
- Gosch, N.J.C., Phelps, Q.E., and Willis, D.W. 2006. Habitat characteristics at bluegill spawning colonies in a South Dakota glacial lake. Ecol. Fresh. Fish 15:464-469.
- Graeb, B.D.S. 2006. Sauger population ecology in three Missouri River mainstem reservoirs. Ph.D. dissertation, South Dakota State University, Brookings.
- Willis, D.W., and Grimes, C.B. 2006. Developing your knowledge, skills, and professionalism as an undergraduate. Pages 1-12 in D.A. Hewitt, W.E. Pine III, and A.V. Zale, editors. An AFS Guide to Fisheries Employment, second edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.
- Adams, W.E., Jr., Kallemeyn, L.W., and Willis, D.W. 2006. Lake sturgeon population characteristics in Rainy Lake, Minnesota and Ontario. J. Appl. Ich. 22:97-102.
- Edwards, K.R., Phelps, Q.E., Shepherd, J.L., Willis, D.W., and Jungwirth, J.D. 2005. Comparison of scale and otolith age estimates for two South Dakota bluegill populations. Proc. S. Dak. Acad. Sci. 84:181-186.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
The purpose of our bluegill project is to assess their utility as a prey species for largemouth bass. We collected adult bluegill samples from four impoundments and found that recruitment (year-class strength) varied by water body, and was not regionally affected by broad climatic patterns. In 2005, we began the first of two years of larval bluegill trawling to better understand the duration and periodicity of bluegill spawning at this northern latitude. The purpose of our gizzard shad project is to better understand the biology of gizzard shad in South Dakota reservoirs, and the extent to which they contribute to the prey base for walleyes. Assessment of gizzard shad recruitment patterns indicated that winter duration alone did not dictate year-class strength. Rather, growth of age-0 gizzard shad was also important, as larger age-0 shad were more likely to survive the extended winter period. Adult walleyes in Angostura, Orman, and Shadehill reservoirs did not exhibit
growth in length during May and June; most growth occurred in July and August after age-0 gizzard shad reached sizes sufficient to provide prey. The yellow perch study was undertaken because this fish is the most popular panfish species sought by South Dakota anglers, and because perch serve as the primary prey species for walleyes in eastern South Dakota lakes. We continued our long-term larval yellow perch sampling in 2005. This trawling database goes back to 1995, and we will begin a new project in 2006 to capstone this long-term evaluation. Common carp are a common competitor with bluegill and yellow perch; a carp aging comparison was conducted using asteriscus otoliths (the only validated aging structure for this fish species). However, otoliths can be difficult to age and require a time-expensive process that involves sacrifice of fish. Therefore, we analyzed aging precision among four alternative structures. Scales, vertebrae, opercles, pectoral fin rays, and asteriscus
otoliths were aged using methods similar to those recommended by previous researchers. Average percent error for each structure compared to otoliths was 6.8% for scales, 15.4% for vertebrae, 9.9% for opercles, and 1.2% for pectoral fin rays. Ages from pectoral fin ray sections through age 13 were nearly as precise as otoliths (lowest average percent error) compared to all other structures. Thus, the pectoral fin ray provided a precise, economical, and non-lethal alternative to assess common carp age structure.
Impacts
Bluegill and yellow perch represent two of the most important prey species for predatory fishes in South Dakota, and also provide sport fisheries themselves. Common carp and gizzard shad are two species that, when in high abundance, can compete with bluegill and yellow perch for food resources; however, carp and shad also can be primary prey items for predators such as walleye and northern pike. Thus, a better understanding of the recruitment patterns (i.e., year-class strength) of bluegill, common carp, gizzard shad, and yellow perch will allow a better understanding of predator-prey dynamics for South Dakota fisheries. Both landowners with private waters and resource agency biologists who manage public waters will benefit from this knowledge.
Publications
- Graeb, B.D.S., Shepherd, J.L., Willis, D.W., and Sorensen, J.S. 2005. Delayed mortality of tournament-caught walleye. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 25:251-255.
- Isermann, D.A., Willis, D.W., Lucchesi, D.O., and Blackwell, B.G. 2005. Seasonal harvest, exploitation, size-selectivity, and catch preferences associated with winter yellow perch anglers on South Dakota lakes. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 25:827-840.
- Jackson, J.R., Boxrucker, J.C., and Willis, D.W. 2004. Trends in agency use of propagated fishes as a management tool in inland fisheries. Pages 121-138 in Nickum, M.J., Mazik, P.M., Nickum, J.G., and Mackinlay, D.D., editors. Propagated fish in resource management. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 44, Bethesda, Maryland.
- Phelps, Q.E., Ward, M.J., Paukert, C.P., Chipps, S.R., and Willis, D.W. 2005. Biotic and abiotic correlates with black bullhead population characteristics in Nebraska Sandhill lakes. J. Freshwater Ecol. 20:295-302.
- Rumble, M.A., Willis, D.W., and Smith, B.E. 2004. Wildlife of created palustrine wetlands. Pages 216-239 in McKinstry, M.C., Hubert, W.A., and Anderson, S.H., editors. Wetland and riparian areas of the intermountain west: ecology and management. University of Texas Press, Austin.
- Ward, M.J. 2005. Gizzard shad biology and predator-prey relations with walleyes in western South Dakota impoundments. M.S. thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The purpose of our bluegill project is to assess their utility as a prey species for largemouth bass. Sampling to compare the reproductive output of bluegills in two established populations in central South Dakota, with the output from lower-density populations in two southeastern impoundments will be initiated in 2005. In 2004, we collected adult bluegill samples, and removed otoliths for aging. Otolith ages were compared with scale ages determined by state biologists, and agreement was high for ages 1-5. However, the age of older (i.e., 6-10 years) bluegills was underestimated by scale analysis. The purpose of our gizzard shad project is to better understand the biology of gizzard shad in South Dakota reservoirs, and the extent to which they contribute to the prey base for walleyes. In 2004, larval gizzard shad were collected from Angostura, Francis Case, Orman, Shadehill, and Sharpe reservoirs. Adult samples were also collected. Otoliths from adults will be aged to
determine patterns in year-class strength among years and among reservoirs. The yellow perch study was undertaken because this fish is the most popular panfish species sought by South Dakota anglers, and because perch serve as the primary prey species for walleyes in eastern South Dakota lakes. We continued our long-term larval yellow perch sampling in 2004. This trawling database goes back to 1995, and we evaluated relationships between climatological variables and abundance of larval yellow perch. Age-0 yellow perch were collected using a 0.75 m diameter ichthyoplankton net from May through mid-June at 7-10 day intervals. Highest correlation coefficients with larval yellow perch abundance across the 1995-2003 time period were for April total precipitation (r=0.95-0.99; P=0.09-0.01; three lakes), mean March wind speed (r=-0.98 to -0.99; P=0.02-0.006; two lakes), mean of May average daily temperatures (r=0.78; P=0.12; one lake) and mean May wind speed (r=-0.82; P=0.02; one lake).
Multiple regression modeling resulted in improved models for only two of the seven lakes (R2=0.90-0.98; P=0.05-0.02). However, March through May weather patterns in some combination were related to larval yellow perch abundance in all seven study lakes. Larval abundance tended to be higher in years with less wind, more precipitation, and warmer air temperatures. Whether wind, temperature, or precipitation was most influential varied by lake.
Impacts
Bluegill, gizzard shad, and yellow perch represent three of the most important prey species for predatory fishes in South Dakota. Bluegills tend to be most prevalent in small private and public impoundments, yellow perch are a primary prey species in private and public eastern glacial lakes, and the gizzard shad is a primary prey species in several central and western reservoirs. Thus, a better understanding of the production of age-0 bluegill, gizzard shad, and yellow perch will allow a better understanding of predator-prey dynamics for South Dakota fisheries. Both landowners with private waters and resource agency biologists who manage public waters will benefit from this knowledge.
Publications
- Adams, W.E., Jr. 2004. Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) spawning habitat and biology in Rainy Lake, Minnesota and Ontario. M.S. thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings.
- Billington, N., D. Isermann, R. Koigi, and D. Willis. 2003. How long can Stizostedion specimens remain in gillnets in summer before significant breakdown of diagnostic isozyme markers occurs? Gene Families and Isozymes Bull. 36:20.
- Billington, N., R. Koigi, B. Graeb, and D. Willis. 2004. Hybridization and introgression between walleye and sauger in three main-stem Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota determined by protein electrophoresis. Southeastern Biologist 51:120-121
- Billington, N., R.N. Koigi, Brian D.S. Graeb and D.W. Willis. 2004. Hybridization between sauger and walleye in Lewis and Clark Lake, South Dakota, determined by protein electrophoresis. Pages 115-116 in T.P. Barry and J.A. Malison, editors. Proceedings of Percis III: The Third International Percid Fish Symposium. University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, Madison.
- Olson, N.W., S.K. Wilson, and D.W. Willis. 2004. Effects of spatial variation on zooplankton community assessment in fishery studies. Fisheries (Bethesda) 29(4):17-22.
- Paukert, C.P., and D.W. Willis. 2004. Environmental influences on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides populations in shallow Nebraska lakes. Fisheries Manage. Ecol. 11:345-352.
- Paukert, C.P., D.W. Willis, and M.A. Bouchard. 2004. Movement, home range, and site fidelity of bluegills in a Great Plains lake. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 24:154-161. Phelps, Q.E., D.A. Isermann, and D.W. Willis. 2003. Influence of hatch timing and daily growth rate on size structure of age-0 largemouth bass cohorts in Enemy Swim Lake, South Dakota. Proc. S. Dak. Acad. Sci. 82:35-41.
- Schultz, D.W., D.A. Isermann, and D.W. Willis. 2003. Hatching dates and daily growth of age-0 black crappies in Pickerel Lake, South Dakota. Proc. S. Dak. Acad. Sci. 82:153-160.
- Ward, M.J., D.A. Isermann, and D.W. Willis. 2003. Effects of maternal size on egg and larval characteristics in South Dakota yellow perch populations. Proc. S. Dak. Acad. Sci. 82:243.
- Ward, M.J., Anderson, M.R., Shannon J. Fisher, D.A. Isermann, Q.E. Phelps, and D.W. Willis. 2004. Relations between climatological variables and larval yellow perch abundance in eastern South Dakota glacial lakes. J. Freshwater Ecol. 19:213-218.
- Willis, D.W. 2004. Use of the case study method to enhance the educational experience for students. S. Dak. State Univ. Bush Project Anthology 1:38-41.
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