Northwestern Ontario Population Finescale Dace
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ESTIMATION OF THE ABUNDANCE,BIOMASS AND GROWTHOF A NORTHWESTERNONTARIO POPULATION OF FINESCALEDACE (PHOXINUS ~OGAEUS), WlTH COMMENTSON THE SUSTAINABILITYOF LOCAL COMMERCIALBAITFISH HARVESTS. Jeffrey B. Eddy A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Namal Resources Management. Natural Resources Institute University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba March 2000 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Weilingîm OnawaON KlAON4 CMawaON K1AON4 Canada cana& The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive Licence ailowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, dismbute or seii reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/tilm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis.nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACWLTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES **te* COPYRIGHT PERMISSION PAGE Estimation of the Abundance, Biomass and Growth of a Northwestern Ontario Population of Finescale Dace (Phoxinus neogaeus), with Comments on the Sustainability of Local Commercial Baiffish Harvests Jeffrey B. Eddy A ThesidPracticum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fuifiiiment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Natural Resources Management JEFFREY B. EDDY O 2000 Permission has been grrnted to the Librrry of The University of Manitoba to lend or seU copies of this thesis/prrcticum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis/practicum and to lend or sell copies of the fdm, and to Dissertations Abstracts international to pubbsh an rbstract of this thesidprrcticum. The author reserves other pubücation rights, and neithet this thesis/practicum nor extensive extracts from it mry be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's wrinen permission. The abundance, biomass and growth of the aduit fish in a population of finescale dace (Phoxinus neogueus) were estimated using both multiple mark-recapture and removal methods in Lake 115, a small(6.5 ha) bog lake in the Expenmental Lakes Area, northwestern Ontario. Mark-recapture data were analyzed by Jolly-Seber death-only and open models. Data From removal methods were analyzed by Leslie, Delury, and Moran and Zippin's rnethods. The best estirnates of the population size were 27 244 fish for the death-only model, 22 745 fish for the open-model, 18 468 fish for the Leslie method, 20 135 for the Delwy method, and 19 330 for the Moran and Zippin's method. Biomass estimates were based on the death-oniy abundance estimate. There was an estimated biomass of 52.0 kg for the entire lake, which translates to 8.0 kg ha*' for fish in the population over the age of 1+. The majority of Lake 1 15's fmescale dace biomass was calculated to be made up of fish in the 52 to 68mm size class, which is probably composed prirnarily of age 2+ fish. Growth estimated for finescale dace between May 24" and September 14~1999 uidicated that growth rates varied among age classes, with older fish growing less over the course of the season than younger fish. Information collected fiom northwestem Ontario commercial baitfish harvesters suggested that baitfish production in lakes can fluctue and is based on a wide range of factors, including lake size and depth, physical and chemical characteristics, species assemblages, and weather pattern. Commercial harvesters indicated that they used specific strategies to prevent overharvesting in their baitfish lakes. The use of baitfish blocks, which grants exclusive rights to fish in individual Mes, encourages sustainabte resource use by creating a limited-access fishery. More information on the biology, population dynamics and productivity of baitfish species couid help increase the sustainability of this industry, while ensuring that any regdations that are put into place, such as those restricting baitfish harvest in waters containhg garnefish, are based on actual biological responses. I would like to thank Dr. Drew Bodaly for his guidance and generous support throughout this project. Special thanks to Dr. Ken Mills for help al1 of his help during editing, data analysis, and interpretation. Thanks also to Prof. Thomas Henley and Dr. Bill Frantin for their comments and advice. I would also like to thank the baitfish harvesters who took the time to answer my questions and provided me with insight into the northwestem Ontario commercial baitfish industry. Specificdly, 1 would Iike to thank Mr. Ken Bernier for his assistance in formulating my questionnaire, and giving me the opportunity to meet with BA0 members, and Mr. Wayne Clark for his generous time and valuable information. Thanks to Mr. Rob Rabasco for al1 of his help during the fieldwork. Most importantly 1 wish to thank Sara Melnyk for her editoriai and technical assistance, support, and constant encouragement. This research was hdedby the Experimental Lakes Area Graduate Fellowship. TABLE OF CONTENTS A bs trac t Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................ .i. Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ 11 List of Figures ................................................................................................................ iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................. iv Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................................... v CHAPTER 1: ~NTRODUC~ION................... .... ..............................................................1 1.1. Context .................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Relevance of Research to Society ........................................................................... 1 1.3. Research Opponinity .............................................................................................. 3 1.4. Research Objectives ............................................................................................... 4 1.5. Methods ................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2: LITERATUREREVIEW .............................................................................. 8 2.1 . Scope ....................................................................................................................... 8 Finescale Dace 2.2. Ta.. onomy and Distribution .................................................................................... 8 2.3. Breeding ................................................................................................................ 10 2-40 DIET~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-~~~--~~~~----*-*- 11 Estimating Fish Populations 2 .5 . Available Methods ......................~.........~~......................~~......~..~...~........................12 2.6. Catch per Unit Effort ............................................................................................ 12 2.7. Direct Enumeration ............................................................................................... 14 2.8. MARK-RECAPTURE............................................................................................ 15 2.9. Methods of Marking Fish ..................................................................................... 17 2.1 0 . Capture Techniques ............................................................................................. 19 2.1 1 . Biomass of Cyprinid Populations in SmalI Lakes ............................................. 23 The Baitfish Industry 2.12. Economics ............................................................................................................ 25 2 .13 . Regulations ......................................................................................................... 26 2.14. Commercial Practices .......................................................................................... 27 2.15. Ecological Impacts ............................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER 3: METHODS................................................................................................. 33 ? -l 3.1 . Location and Species ........................................................................................... 33 3- 3 .2 . Multiple Mark-Recapture ..................................................................................... 22 9 3 ... Statistical Anaiysis of Multiple Mark-Recapture Data ........................................ 36 3.4. Catch per Unit Effort ..........................................................................................