Demographics and Parasites of Spotted Bass in the Wabash River Evan C
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Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications 2016 Demographics and Parasites of Spotted Bass in the Wabash River Evan C. Boone Eastern Illinois University This research is a product of the graduate program in Biological Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Boone, Evan C., "Demographics and Parasites of Spotted Bass in the Wabash River" (2016). Masters Theses. 2449. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2449 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) with respect to the contents of the thesis and with respect to information concerning authorship of the thesis, including name and status as a student at Eastern Illinois University. I have conferred with my graduate faculty advisor. My signature below indicates that I have read and agree with the above statements, and hereby give my permission to allow Booth Library to reproduce and distribute my thesis. My adviser's signature indicates concurrence to reproduce and distribute the thesis. - Graduate Candidate Signature v Paculty AdvistiSignature Piflted Name 6(1 ft, t Date Please submit in duplicate. DEMOGRAPHICS AND PARASITES OF SPOTTED BASS IN THE WABASH RIVER (TITLE} BY EVAN C. BOONE THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS 2016 YEAR I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE ..... �//// l/j/11 I 'THE$1&'t:OMMITTEE CHAIR DATE DEPART�/SCHOOL CHAIR DATE CHAIR'S DESIGNEE cMb . \. �4,/14� THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER DATE ;HESIS CO�EE MEMBER DATE THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER DATE THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER DATE DEMOGRAPHICS AND PARASITES OF SPOTTED BASS (MICROPTERUS PUNCTULATU S RAFINESQUE) IN THEW ABASH RIVER by Evan Chauncey Boone B. S. Eastern Illinois University, 2014 (Under the Direction of Drs. Robert E. Colombo and Jeffrey R. Laursen) A Thesis Submittedfor the Requirements forthe Degree of Master of Science Departmentof Biological Sciences EasternIll inois University June 2016 ABSTRACT Spotted Bass Mi cropterus punctulatus Rafinesque are a popular sport fish primarily found in the streams and reservoirs of the south. The Wabash River, a large tributary of the Ohio River, contains a naturally reproducing population on the northern boundary of their range. Currently, the lower Wabash River is monitored using two different sampling designs, the Long Term Electrofishing Program monitors community assemblages using stratified random sampling whereas the Illinois Department of Natural Resources uses a fixed sampling design. Due to the wide distribution but low abundance of Spotted Bass throughout this drainage, captures from each design were compared to assess differences in abundance and size structure. Demographic data collected from each sampling design suggests that this population is of low density primarily composed of small individuals specific to particular habitats. The findings of this study suggest random sampling designs should be used when monitoring low density populations of fishes in a large riverine systems because this method provides the greatest spatial coverage of habitats, evaluates heterogeneity in distribution, and provides a representative measure of abundance throughout an entire aquatic system. Black bass, including Spotted Bass, are the top predatory species in most Midwestern rivers andreservoirs. Like many fishes, they exhibit ontogenetic shifts in habitat use and diet, resulting in selection of different prey items and the use of specific habitats throughout their life history. These shifts could lead to different parasite assembladges within different size classes of Spotted Bass. In 2014 and 2015, a subsample of 126 Spotted Bass ranging in size from 34 - 399 mm were necropsied and examined for helminths. Eleven parasites taxa (1 Acanthocephala, 4 Trematoda, 1 Cestoda, 1 Crustacea, 4 Nematoda) were recovered. All parasites recovered from Spotted Bass have been previously reported and are common within many other fish species. With the exception of Posthdiplostomum minimum centrarchi, prevalence of all other parasites was relatively low. Total length of the host was positively associated with total parasite abundance, parasite richness, and prevalence of individual helminth taxa, all of which are likely due to differences in exposure and changes in diet. Overall, the parasite communityin Spotted Bass from the Wabash River exhibited low prevalence, abundance, and diversity resembling the characteristics of an isolationist community. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisors Drs. Jeffrey R. Laursen, Robert E. Colombo, and Scott J. Meiners for all of their help and support throughout my graduate career at Eastern Illinois University. Without their guidance, I undoubtedly would not be where I am today. I would like to thank all individuals who have helped work on this project past and present including members of the fisheries and aquatic research team at Eastern Illinois University and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Les Frankland and Cassi Carpenter were instrumental in data collection and without their help this project would not have been possible. I would like to extend a special thank you to Hanna Kruckman, Zachary Mitchell, Alex Sotola, Shannon Smith, Carl Favata, Dan Roth, Clint Margeson, and David Petry for making my time at Eastern Illinois University a truly remarkable experience. The memories shared while in the field, at conferences, and on campus will be cherished. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and family for their continuous support throughout my tenure at Eastern Illinois University. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................ ........................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES .................. .......................................................... ....................................... vii INTRODUCTION . ................................................................................................... ................... I LITERATURE CITED .................................................................... ......................................... 5 FIXED VERSUS RANDOM SAMPLING IN A LOW DENSITY POPULATION OF SPOTTED BASS (MICROPTERUS PUNCTULATUS) ....................................................... 9 ABSTRACT. .............................................................................................................................. 9 INTRODUCTION. .................................................................................................................. 10 METHODS .............................................................................................................................. 13 Sampling ...................................................................................................................