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Monongahela River, Wv Channel Catfish Population Assessment BearWorks MSU Graduate Theses Fall 2019 Monongahela River, WV Channel Catfish Population Assessment Kristen Lee Chestnut-Faull Missouri State University, [email protected] As with any intellectual project, the content and views expressed in this thesis may be considered objectionable by some readers. However, this student-scholar’s work has been judged to have academic value by the student’s thesis committee members trained in the discipline. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. Follow this and additional works at: https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses Part of the Natural Resources and Conservation Commons Recommended Citation Chestnut-Faull, Kristen Lee, "Monongahela River, WV Channel Catfish opulationP Assessment" (2019). MSU Graduate Theses. 3462. https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3462 This article or document was made available through BearWorks, the institutional repository of Missouri State University. The work contained in it may be protected by copyright and require permission of the copyright holder for reuse or redistribution. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MONONGAHELA RIVER, WV CHANNEL CATFISH POPULATION ASSESSMENT A Master’s Thesis Presented to The Graduate College of Missouri State University TEMPLATE In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science, Biology By Kristen Lee Chestnut-Faull December 2019 MONONGAHELA RIVER, WV CHANNEL CATFISH POPULATION ASSESSMENT Biology Missouri State University, December 2019 Master of Science Kristen Lee Chestnut-Faull ABSTRACT Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus populations have been evaluated using many sampling gears in rivers. However, a consensus has not been reached on which gear or gears produce the most reliable population demographics. Specifically, this study compares population demographics of Channel Catfish throughout the Monongahela River, WV using multiple gear types. Fish were sampled seasonally during 2018 using baited hoop nets, low- frequency electrofishing, and trotlines. Firstly, too few fish were collected using electrofishing and were excluded from all analyses. In terms of relative abundance, fish sampled with hoop nets had higher catch rates (mean SCPUE = 5.8, SE = 0.4) than trotlines (mean SCPUE = 3.1, SE = 0.1). Both gear types also produced differing length- frequencies (n= 560, KSa= 3.71, Pr <KSa <0.0001). Specifically, the size distribution collected by hoop nets was more equally distributed than trotlines. Trotlines on average captured larger fish (mean length = 532-mm, SE = 4.7), while the mean length of catfish captured in hoop nets was smaller (457-mm, SE = 6.8). Given the discrepancies observed between catch rates and length frequency distributions, hoop nets produced the most representative sample of the Channel Catfish population. Furthermore, throughout all seasons hoop net catch rates did not vary (F< 4, df = 39). With these results, the WVDNR can develop a long-term sampling program for Channel Catfish in the Monongahela River using hoop nets as they provide more biologically reliable results compared to electrofishing and trotlines. Additionally, fish collected during 2018 and 2019 via hoop nets were used to estimate population dynamics. Length, weight, sex, fecundity, and age data were obtained from collected individuals. Population characteristics (e.g., relative abundance, size structure, age structure, growth, etc.) were modeled under three various length limits of 300-mm, 375-mm, and 450-mm. Simulation results indicated that growth overfishing may occur when exploitation rates reach 36% under a 300-mm length limit. Furthermore, recruitment overfishing began to occur at 40% exploitation under a 300-mm length limit. Additionally, simulations suggest that no recruitment or growth overfishing occur at length limits of 375-mm or 450-mm until extremely high exploitation levels are reached. Thus, we suggest the WVDNR implement a 375-mm length limit of Channel Catfish in the Monongahela River to prevent growth and recruitment overfishing while also ensuring anglers are still able to harvest fish. KEYWORDS: Channel Catfish, gear efficiency, population dynamics, hoop nets, trotlines, electrofishing, river, West Virginia ii MONONGAHELA RIVER, WV CHANNEL CATFISH POPULATION ASSESSMENT By Kristen Lee Chestnut-Faull A Master’s Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College Of Missouri State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Biology December 2019 Approved: Quinton Phelps, Ph.D., Thesis Committee Chair Dustin Smith, Ph.D., Committee Member Chris Barnhart, Ph.D., Committee Member Julie Masterson, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate College In the interest of academic freedom and the principle of free speech, approval of this thesis indicates the format is acceptable and meets the academic criteria for the discipline as determined by the faculty that constitute the thesis committee. The content and views expressed in this thesis are those of the student-scholar and are not endorsed by Missouri State University, its Graduate College, or its employees. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, I would like to thank my husband, Ben, for supporting me through the trying times of grad school. I’m not sure I would have made it without you! I would also like to thank my dog Brutus for keeping me sane and loving me unconditionally every day even when I was away for months at a time. Additionally, my family for supporting me through many sporadic decisions throughout my college life. Secondly, I would like to thank the staff at the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, especially Dave Wellman and Dustin Smith, for making this project possible and for teaching me so much about fish management as well as many life lessons over the past couple of years. I am forever grateful for my time in the District 1 office and for all of the opportunity’s you guys have provided me with. Thank you both for being such great mentors. I would also like to thank my advisor, Dr. Quinton Phelps. I am also very thankful for all of the people who volunteered their time helping both in the lab and in the field. I dedicate this thesis to the Monongahela River catfish population iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Overview Page 1 Chapter 2: Evaluation of 3 Gear Types for Estimating Population Page 2 Demographics of Channel Catfish in a Mid-Size, WV River Introduction Page 2 Methods Page 3 Study Site Page 4 Sampling Techniques Page 4 Analyses Page 5 Results Page 6 Discussion Page 7 References Page 9 Chapter 3: Population Dynamics of Channel Catfish in the Page 17 Monongahela River, WV Introduction Page 17 Study Site Page 19 Methods Page 19 Field Sampling Techniques Page 19 Laboratory Methods Page 20 Analyses Page 20 Results Page 22 Discussion Page 22 References Page 25 Chapter 4: Summary Page 33 Appendix Page 34 v LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Population dynamic parameters used in FAMS for the Page 28 Monongahela River 2018 and 2019 Channel Catfish population. vi LIST OF FIGURES Chapter 2 Figure 1. Map of the Monongahela River (bold), which flows north Page 14 from Fairmont, West Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Figure 2. Length –frequency distributions for Channel Catfish sampled Page 15 with (A) 25-mm hoop nets and (B) trotlines in the Monongahela River during 2018. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals are given for PSD and PSD-P. Figure 3. Age frequency distributions for Channel Catfish sampled Page 16 with (A) hoop nets, and (B) trotlines in the Monongahela River during 2018. Chapter 3 Figure 1. Map of the four pools of the Monongahela River in West Page 29 Virginia. The river flows from Fairmont, West Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pools are named after the downstream lock and dam. Figure 2. Length frequency distribution of Channel Catfish sampled Page 30 from the Monongahela River using hoop nets during 2018 and 2019. Figure 3. Age frequency distribution of Channel Catfish sampled in the Page 31 Monongahela River using hoop nets during 2018 and 2019. Figure 4. Predicted yield (per 1,000 recruits) for various exploitation Page 31 rates and three minimum length limits (mm) for Channel Catfish in the Monongahela River, WV. Figure 5. Predicted spawning potential ratio (per 1,000 recruits) for Page 32 various exploitation rates and three minimum length limits (mm) for Channel Catfish in the Monongahela River, WV. vii CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW The following thesis examines the Channel Catfish population in the Monongahela River of West Virginia, in two chapters that are designed to be independently publishable units. Chapter 2 assesses various methods for collecting representative population samples for Channel Catfish in riverine systems. Chapter 3 examines population dynamics of Channel Catfish in the Monongahela River, WV and models a variety of minimum length limit effects on the population. All individuals were collected in association with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources District 1 Fisheries Biologists under West Virginia University IACUC Protocol #1810018491 approved March 1, 2019. 1 CHAPTER 2: EVALUATION OF 3 GEAR TYPES FOR ESTIMATING POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS OF CHANNEL CATFISH IN A MID-SIZE, WV RIVER Introduction Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus are a highly sought-after sportfish targeted by anglers throughout their range. This increase in interest over time has led many state agencies to focus
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