Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The research phase of this project was completed Oct. 14, 2010. The remainder of the current year was spent in analyzing and presenting the data and findings. Findings were disseminated to target audiences during a national conference and during a university conference. The national conference audience consisted of approximately 50 scientists, graduate students, extension agents, and farmers. A presentation and published abstract was made at a regional meeting of 25, 1890 scientists and students. The university audience consisted of approximately 50 faculty and students. In addition, abstracts were published from both of these presentations in the Books of Abstracts. An online book chapter was solicited for research findings from previous projects dealing with herbicide effects on water bodies and aquaculture. This online book is made available at no charge to an international audience. Previous meetings presented a project poster to state aquaculture farmers, extension agents and scientists. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Gerald Ludwig, scientist, USDA/ARS Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center collaborated on the herbicide projects to analyze zooplankton data. Dr. Lin Xie, assistant professor, Aquaculture and Fisheries Department, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff collaborated on the current project to assist in data analysis. Ms. Tofuli Baendo, undergraduate student, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff assisted and acquired training in water quality sampling and data entry. Ms. Adjwoa Hogue, undergraduate student, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff developed a project and was trained in data analysis and presentation TARGET AUDIENCES: Faculty and research scientists engaged in water quality studies and studies with baitfish and catfish. Extension agents working with fish farmers. Fish farmers of catfish and baitfish PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The primary outcome/impact of this project are changes in knowledge. These areas include baitfish and catfish aquaculture water quality and plankton dynamics. Baitfish aquaculture in particular is little studied in water quality and a current issue is possible mortality from high pH. In the spring stocking season, pH was negatively correlated with TDS (total dissolved solids). TDS is easily increased and could assist in control. Catfish aquaculture water quality and especially problem algae has been little studied during the winter-spring cool season. During two years of cool season sampling, algae known to cause earthy tainting of catfish flesh (rendering them unmarketable) were identified in 14.5% of the samples, compared with 40.7% of samples during the warm season. Thus, although incidence was higher in the warm season, cool season levels were high enough to be of concern. The highest levels were found in April during the cool season sampling.
Publications
- Xie, L. and P. Perschbacher. 2011. Water quality and zooplankton correlations from cool season and warm season sampling on four commercial baitfish farms. Aquaculture America 2011, Book of Abstracts:71.
- Perschbacher, P.W. and G. M. Ludwig. 2011. Effects of diuron drift on hatchery pond plankton and water quality. 16th Biennial Research Symposium, 1890 Association of Research Directors, Book of Abstracts:154-155.
- Hogue, A., P. Perschbacher and L. Xie. 2011. Relationship between TDS, alkalinity, and hardness in commercial baitfish ponds. University of Arknasas at Pine Bluff 24th Annual Student/Faculty Research Forum, Book of Abstracts:13.
- Perschbacher, P., R. Edziyie and G. Ludwig. 2012. Row crop herbicide drift effects on water bodies and aquaculture. Chapter 15 in Md. Hasaneen (ed.), Herbicides Book 3, InTech-Open Access Publishing, Rijeka, Croatia. (in press)
- Perschbacher, P. 2012. Algal management in intensive channel catfish production trials. Asia Aquaculture Network 4 (reprinted from World Aquaculture 26(3) 1995). (accepted)
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The two-year weekly/monthly sampling program of 12 water quality parameters was completed on 4 golden shiner farms and in 3 ponds on each farm. Correlation matrices examined with Dr. Lin Xie determined stressful water quality periods and related parameters. In the stocking season (Mar-May), DO and temperature, ammonia (NH3) and temperature, ammonia and pH, pH and total dissolved solids (TDS), and % bluegreen algae (BG) and chlorophyll a were significantly correlated. In the production season (May-Oct.), the same parameters were also significantly correlated, with the exception of pH and TDS. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Peter Perschbacher, PI Dr. Lin Xie, statistical analyses, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Dr. Hugh Thomforde, project baitfarm practices and analyses, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 1890 Extension Aquaculture Specialist Coco Lihono, field and laboratory data collection and analyses, University of Arkansas undergraduate student Adjowa Hogue, laboratory data collection and analyses, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff undergraduate student TARGET AUDIENCES: Bairfish farmers and researchers in water quality. A poster presentation was made to farmers at an annual state aquaculture conference. An oral presentation was made to researchers, extension personnel and farmers at an international annual aquaculture conference. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
As in the catfish sampling phase of this study, physical factors were more influential in the cool stocking season, while biological (phytoplankton and feeding) were more influential in the warmer production season.
Publications
- Perschbacher, P.W. 2011. Experimental partitioned coculture of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus. accepted. Asian Fisheries Science.
- Perschbacher, P. and L. Xie. 2010. Water quality correlations from cool and warm season sampling on four commercial catfish farms. Book of Abstracts, Aquaculture 2010, 1110.
- Green, B., P. Perschbacher, G. Ludwig and S. Duke. 2010. Threadfin shad impacts phytoplankton and zooplankton community structures in channel catfish ponds. Aquaculture Research 41(9):524-536.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Weekly sampling during the cool season and monthly during the warm season of 12 commercial baitfish ponds commenced for two years. The ponds were further divided into 6 managed intensively and 6 not managed intensively, with 3 ponds sampled at each of 4 farms. Each sampling consisted of measuring 12 key water quality parameters.The catfish phase has been completed and two abstracts published and one presentation made at a major aquaculture conference. Another abstract and presentation has been accepted for the 2010 conference.Two sets of first year selected baitfish data have been distributed to the 4 owners by the extension agent. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Martin Matute, UAPB interim Biology Dept. Chair Ms. Tofuli Lihono, research assistant and UAPB student Ms. Regina Edziyie, doctoral student, North Texas State University TARGET AUDIENCES: Catfish and baitfish farmers and researchers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The results show occurrence of off-flavor by month and correlations between parameters measured. This may be helpful to farmers to better understand cool weather conditions and anticipate and prevent losses. First year baitfish data found stressful conditions during several months. This information may be useful to the baitfish farmers to anticipate and reduce losses.
Publications
- Matute, M. and P. Perschbacher. 2010. Determination of benthic soil conditions using nematodes: nematode food web conditions in fish ponds in Lincoln and Desha counties of Arkansas. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science. In press.
- Matute, M.M. and P. Perschbacher. 2009. Suppressivity of microinvertebrate populations in a freshwater ecosystem. 22nd Annual Student/Faculty Research Forum, UAPB, pg. 21.
- Matute, M.M. and P. Perschbacher. 2009. Determination of benthic soil conditions using nematodes. 93rd Annual Meeting Arkansas Academy of Science,pg. 17.
- Perschbacher, P., G. Ludwig and A. Nanninga. 2009. Evaluation of winter feeding on experimental channel catfish growout pond plankton. Aquaculture America 2009 Book of Abstracts. Pg. 270.
- Perschbacher, P.W., G.W. Ludwig and R. Edziyie. 2009. Risk evaluation to aquaculture ponds from common aerially-applied herbicides in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain (Delta). Aquaculture America 2009 Book of Abstracts. Pg. 271.
- Perschbacher, P. 2009. Incidence of winter off-flavor algae in 12 ponds on four Arkansas catfish farms 2006-2008. Book of Abstracts. Technical Session Catfish Farmers of America 2009. p 20.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the Oct.07 to May 08 period and May 08 to Oct.08 period, weekly and monthly sampling was performed on four catfish farms, respectively. A total of 23 trips were made and 2530 water quality and plankton measurements taken. PARTICIPANTS: Student Tofuli Lihono (Republic of Congo citizen) assisted the project during the reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Catfish farmers in the U.S. are the target audience. An abstract for the national meeting in 09 has been sent and will be read by the attending farmers, researchers and extension personnel. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Change in knowledge: the incidence of off-flavor causing phytoplankton in the catfish ponds during the winter-spring cool weather period was determined. During the sampling period of Dec. 07-April 08, the overall incidence (occurrences in all ponds combined) was 22.2% of samples. Monthly incidences were similar. Overall samples with numbers of these algae exceeding 1000 filaments per milliliter (likely to cause tainting of fish flesh) was 9.7% and the incidence was similar by month. Summer incidence was 43.8% for off-flavor algae and incidence of numbers in excess of 1000 per ml was highest in August(50%).
Publications
- Perschbacher, P.W., G.M. Ludwig and R. Edziyie. 2008. Risk evaluation to aquaculture ponds from common aerially-applied herbicides. UAPB Aquaculture/Fisheries Field Day, Book of Abstracts:15.
- Matute, M.M., P. Perschbacher and A. Newell. 2008. Important invertebrate populations in freshwater fish ponds in Arkansas. 21st Student/Faculty UAPB Research Forum, Book of Abstracts:16.
- Matute, M.M. and P.W. Perschbacher. 2008. Nematode community composition in winter fed freshwater fish ponds. 93rd Annual Meeting Ecological Society of America, online abstracts.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Feeding and no feeding effects on plankton in UAPB experimental channel catfish ponds data was taken and study was completed. This data is in the process of being organized and presented in poster form at an aquaculture conference. First year of the feeding and no feeding effects on plankton in commercial catfish ponds data was taken and study was completed. Off-flavor algae spore occurrence in pond sediments data was taken and study was completed.
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Gerald Ludwig of USDA/ARS, Stuttgart, AR - collaborator Dr. Martin Matute, UAPB, Pine Bluff, AR - collaborator Adam Nanniga - collaborator Anaky Newell - student worker Malisa Hodges - student worker Coco Lihono - student worker Student workers recieved training Professional development was furthered by attending an aquaculture conference and making several presentations and chairing a session
TARGET AUDIENCES: Aquaculture researchers and producers are the target audiences.
Impacts
Change in knowledge: Evalulation of algae and chlorophyll a in the winter feeding study in UAPB experimental ponds found algal numbers were significantly greater and approximately twice as high in fed ponds, but chlorophyll a did not differ. Proportions of various algal groups did not differ and off-flavor causing algae did not differ. Diatoms comprised approximately 60% in both treatments. These results are being organized into a poster which will be presented at an aquaculture conference. Change in knowledge: No off-flavor algal spores were found in the sediments, indicating overwintering of these algae is not occurring in this manner. Spores were seen in the water column.
Publications
- Perschbacher, P.W. and G.M. Ludwig. 2007. High drift rate effects of propanil and Basis Gold on the plankton communities and water quality of a prestocking sunshine bass, Morone chrysops X M. saxatilis, fry pond. Journal of Applied Aquaculture 19(2):101-112.
- Perschbacher, P., G. Ludwig and R. Edziyie. 2007. Effects of drift from 39 aerially-applied herbicides on production pond plankton and water quality. WAS Triennial Book of Abstracts: 704.
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