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Variable Movements After Catch-And-Release Tournament Angling and Isotopic Niches

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Variable Movements After Catch-And-Release Tournament Angling and Isotopic Niches Variable movements after catch-and-release tournament angling and isotopic niches of walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis) A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Biology University of Regina by Jessica Carroll Butt Regina, Saskatchewan November, 2016 © 2016: J. C. Butt UNIVERSITY OF REGINA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH SUPERVISORY AND EXAMINING COMMITTEE Jessica Carroll Butt, candidate for the degree of Master of Science in Biology, has presented a thesis titled, Variable movements after catch-and-release angling and isotope niches of walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis), in an oral examination held on November 14, 2016. The following committee members have found the thesis acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material. External Examiner: Dr. Douglas Chivers, University of Saskatchewan Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Somers, Department of Biology Committee Member: Dr. Mark Brigham, Department of Biology Committee Member: Dr. Richard Manzon, Department of Biology Chair of Defense: Dr. Maria Velez, Department of Geology ! II ABSTRACT Walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis) are closely related freshwater species that are ecologically and economically important throughout North America. These two species are sympatric in many areas, and are often regulated as a single entity. However, the important similarities and differences that exist between these species in the context of various management issues remain uncertain. The first chapter of my thesis addresses the effects of catch-and-release fishing that is part of angling tournaments on walleye and sauger. Catch-and-release tournaments are popular in Saskatchewan and other areas, but frequently prompt management concerns regarding fish health and mortality. Potential sub-lethal effects on movement and habitat use are particularly poorly studied. I tracked both walleye and sauger after catch-and-release using telemetry following four 2015 tournaments. My objectives were to: (1) describe post-release movements; and (2) evaluate factors that may affect post- release behaviour. The initial movements I observed were highly variable; for example, some fish moved less than 1 km, whereas others moved long distances, the maximum recorded being 31 km. All large movements I observed were made by walleye, while the farthest a sauger moved was 2 km. Fish exited the release area (500 m) faster (2.6±1.1 days versus 3.9±1.6 – 4.4±1.7 days) and moved farther in the first 48 hours (3,712.8±4,427.9 m versus 608.1±392.1 – 1065.3±687.8 m) at one tournament compared to the other three. Stress scores were significantly lower at this tournament (3.50±0.73 versus 4.60±1.17 – 4.75±1.48), and an important negative predictor of fish movement. However, there were few common predictors of movement among tournaments. I confirmed delayed mortality of tagged fish at only one tournament, which was high ! III (45%) and mostly due to avian predation. I conclude that walleye and sauger behaviour after tournaments varies widely, likely due to varying tournament and environmental conditions. The understanding of factors that modify fish behaviour remains limited and warrants further study. The second chapter of my thesis assesses the ecological relationship between walleye and sauger when they co-exist. Limited information is available regarding potential niche partitioning across different time scales by these sympatric congeners, though I expected niche overlap to be high during early ages and lower later in life. I used multi-tissue (liver, muscle, and bone layers) isotopic niche analysis to quantify overlap by these species in two large reservoirs in Saskatchewan. Population niche size was larger for sauger (1.73 – 3.60 ‰2) than walleye (0.51 – 2.61 ‰2) in Lake Diefenbaker, but this trend was reversed in Tobin Lake (sauger = 0.54 – 2.57 ‰2; walleye = 1.30 – 2.94 ‰2). Inter-species niche overlap at the population level also varied by site (Diefenbaker = 3- 19%, Tobin = 9-31%), and niche partitioning was evident in both systems at all time scales. The niche size of individual fish and levels of intra- and inter-specific overlap were highly variable by site. Walleye and sauger appear to use different resources but the factors influencing variation in niche size and overlap are currently unclear. My findings indicate there is considerable variation in the response of walleye and sauger to catch-and-release angling, as well as in their resource use and niche overlap. The important differences I describe between these species suggest that a re-evaluation of regulating them as one entity may be warranted. ! IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding and support was provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, the Regina Fish & Game League, the Saskatchewan Walleye Trail, and angler donations. I received additional support from the University of Regina, as well as the Institute of Environmental Change and Society (IECS). I thank my field crew, Una Goncin, Tom Morgan, and Tony Fernando, for their invaluable assistance in chasing fish. I also appreciate the help of various other volunteers who gave their time on short notice. They include Rebecca Eberts, Tera Edkins, Gabe Foley, Shayna Hamilton, Andrea Murillo, Kelsey Marchand, Adam Matichuk, Natalie Taylor, Tyler Vanstone, and Lindy Whitehouse. I thank Rebecca Eberts a second time for her extensive help with my stable isotope analysis and her unending patience as I learned the many necessary procedures. Additionally, I thank Kayla Balderson Burak for GIS help, Leanne Heisler and Gavin Simpson for help solving various statistical conundrums, and Bjoern Wissel for stable isotopes guidance. Finally, I thank my supervisor Chris Somers, who saw enough potential in this Yank to bring her North. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor for the many adventures and learning curves in this project. Thank you for letting me “tour the lakes” of Saskatchewan, putting up with my sometimes constant visits to your office, and giving me the support and advice I needed to become the biologist I am today. ! V POST DEFENSE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my External Examiner, Dr. Doug Chivers, for thought- provoking questions, insightful discussion, and a thoroughly enjoyable defense. ! VI DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my family – Mum, Dad, and little Sis – thanks for always believing in me, even when I ran away to Canada. ! VII TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………...IV POST DEFENSE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………...V DEDICATION…………………………………………………………………………...VI TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………………………….VII LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………..X LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………..XII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS & SYMBOLS………………………………………….XIV 1. CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION……………………………………...1 1.1. Life history and ecology of walleye and sauger……..…………………………...1 1.2. Walleye and sauger in Saskatchewan…………………………………………….5 1.3. Research interest #1: Catch-and-release tournament angling…………………….9 1.4. Research interest #2: Niche ecology of sympatric species……………………...10 1.5. Research objectives……………………………………………………………..11 2. CHAPTER 2: Variable short-term movements by walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis) after catch-and-release at angling tournaments………….12 2.1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………12 2.2. MATERIALS & METHODS…………………………………………………...16 2.2.1. Study sites……………………………………………………………….16 2.2.2. Fish capture & handling………………………………………………...20 2.2.3. Angler survey…………………………………………………………...21 2.2.4. Fish stress assessment…………………………………………………..21 ! VIII 2.2.5. Application of radio or acoustic transmitters.…………………………..22 2.2.6. Fish tracking…………………………………………………………….23 2.2.7. Post-tournament behaviour……………..……………………………….24 2.2.7.1. General fish movement……………………………………………..25 2.2.7.2. Departure from release area……......……………………………….25 2.2.7.3. Fish mortality……………………………………………………….26 2.2.7.4. Statistical analyses…………………………………………………..26 2.3. RESULTS……………………………………………………………………….27 2.3.1. Angler survey…………………………………………………………...28 2.3.2. Fish stress assessment…………………………………………………..29 2.3.3. Fish tracking…………………………………………………………….29 2.3.4. Departure from release area……..……………………………………...33 2.3.5. Movement in 48 hours…………………………………………………..37 2.3.6. Overall movement………………………………………………………44 2.4. DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………...49 3. CHAPTER 3: Sympatric walleye (Sander vitreus) and sauger (S. canadensis) in large reservoirs: variable niche size and overlap across multiple time scales…...59 3.1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………59 3.2. MATERIALS & METHODS…………………………………………………...63 3.2.1. Study sites & fish collection………………………………………………63 3.2.2. Multi-tissue processing & analyses……………………………………….66 3.2.3. Statistical analyses………………………………………………………...69 3.3. RESULTS……………………………………………………………………….70 ! IX 3.3.1. Niche overlap……………………………………………………………..70 3.3.2. Niche size…………………………………………………………………72 3.3.3. Individual niches………………………………………………………….73 3.4. DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………...85 3.4.1. Niche overlap…………………………………………………………….85 3.4.2. Niche size………………………………………………………………...88 3.4.3. Individual niches…………………………………………………………90 3.4.4. Differences among study sites…………………………………………...91
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