View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange South Dakota State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange Theses and Dissertations 1985 Evaluation of Structure and Growth of Bluegills and Black Bullheads Stocked With Largemouth Bass in South Dakota Farm Ponds Charles E. Morris Follow this and additional works at: http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd Part of the Natural Resources and Conservation Commons Recommended Citation Morris, Charles E., "Evaluation of Structure and Growth of Bluegills and Black Bullheads Stocked With Largemouth Bass in South Dakota Farm Ponds" (1985). Theses and Dissertations. 187. http://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/187 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EVALUATION OF STRUCTURE AND GROWTH OF BLUEGILLS AND BLACK BULLHEADS STOCKED WITH LARGEMOUTH BASS IN SOUTH DAKOTA FARl-1 PONDS BY CHARLES E. MORRIS A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science Major in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (Fisheries option) South Dakota State University 1985 EVALUATION OF STRUCTURE AND GROWTH OF BLUEGILLS AND BLACK BULLHEADS STOCKED WITH LARGEMOUTH BASS IN SOUTH DAKOTA FARM PONDS This thesis is approved as a creditable and independent investigation by a candidate for the degree, Master of Science, and is acceptable for meeting the thesis requirements for this degree. Acceptance of this thesis does not imply that the conclusions reached by the candidate are necessarily the conclusions of the major department. Tnes1s Aav1sor Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences EVALUATION OF STRUCTURE AND GROWTH OF BLUEGILLS AND BLACK BULLHEADS STOCKED WITH LARGEMOUTH BASS IN SOUTH DAKOTA PONDS Abstract CHARLES E. MORRIS A two-year study estimated standing stock, growth, condition, survival rates, and population structure of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) stocked in South Dakota farm ponds with largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Bluegills and black bullheads reproduced during the second growing season and by the end of the study three year-classes of fishes were present in most ponds. Mean back-calculated bluegill total lengths at annuli 1-3 were 58, 125, and 153 mm, respectively. Mean back-calculated black bullhead total lengths at annuli 1-3 were 82, 182, and 240 mm, respectively. A significant north vs south difference (P�0.05) in third-year bullhead total lengths was detected. Bullheads in southern ponds averaged 262 mm; northern pond bullheads averaged 220 mm. No significant differences (p2,.0.05) in total lengths were found for the 1980 and 1981 year-classes of bullheads in the same comparison. Bluegill standing stock estimates ranged from 22-64 kg/hectare (20-57 lbs/acre) and averaged 41 kg/hectare (37 lbs/acre). Standing stock estimates for black bullheads ranged from 145-398 kg/hectare (129-354 lbs/acre) and averaged 273 kg/hectare (243 lbs/acre). Bluegill and black bullhead survival for the first two years in eastern South Dakota ponds was 31.0% and 30.2%, respectively. Survival from 1980-1981 was i 83. 9% for bluegills and 69. 1% for bullheads. Mean relative weight of bluegills (122) indicated above average condition for fish in South Dakota ponds. Black bullheads had a relative weight of 99. No significant geographical differences (P�0. 05) were detected in bluegill or black bullhead relative weights. Proportional Stock Density (PSD) values for bluegill ranged from 36-79%. Bluegill Young-Adult Ratio (YAR) values for the two ponds were 2. 2 and 2. 0. Black bullhead PSD values ranged from 9-80%. YAR values of black bullheads ranged from 0. 3-290. 0. Both Bluegill and black bullhead PSD values indicated a large number of quality size fish with few stock size fish. PSD values of 20-60% for bluegill are considered optimal when management of ponds is for both largemouth bass and bluegills. Bluegill YAR values were within the optimal range (1-10) while bullhead YAR values were extremely high. Discriminate analysis was used for predicting physical and chemical parameters influencing survival of individual fish populations. Five parameters were selected (area, maximum depth, conductivity, turbidity, and carbonates) and ponds were analyzed by individual species and all species combined. When all species were analyzed, pond depth was the most important parameter (P�0. 05). ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express appreciation to my graduate advisor Dr. Timothy C. Modde, for assistance and inspiration during the course of this study. I would like to thank Drs. Charles G. Scalet, Lester D. Flake, W. Lee Tucker, and Andrew W. Halverson for their review and comments on this manuscript. I am grateful to Dean Beck and Randy Smidt for their assistance with �ollection of field data. I would like to express my appreciation to Pete Johnson for his assistance with the computer. I am particularly appreciative to my wife, Elizabeth, for her support and encouragement during the course of this study. I would also like to express my appreciation to my family for support which I will never forget. Financial support was provided by the South Dakota Agricultural Experimental Station and the Department of Game, Fish and Parks Dingell-Johnson Project F-15-R. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ..•.. 1 METHODS AND PROCEDURES 4 Study Area 4 Design 6 Field and Laboratory Techniques 7 Analysis 8 RESULTS 13 Bluegill Populations 13 Black Bullhead Populations 20 Factors Affecting Pond Failure 26 Forage Availability 27 DISCUSSION ....... 30 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 38 LITERATURE CITED 40 APPENDIX 47 iv LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Back-calculated total lengths of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) showed no significant difference (P.,20.05) in a southwestern vs southeastern comparison, as determined by analysis of variance using a nested classification, 1981. 14 2. Back-calculated total lengths (mm) at each annulus and relative weights (Wr) of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) stocked in South Dakota ponds, 1981 . 15 3. Back-calculated total lengths (mm) at each annulus and relative weights (Wr) of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) stocked in South Dakota ponds, 1982 . 15 4. Survival rates of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) after two years (1979-1981), and survival from 1980-1981, sampled in eastern South Dakota ponds, 1981 . 18 5. Proportional stock density (PSD) and young-adult ratio (YAR) for bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) sampled in South Dakota ponds, 1982. 19 6. Back-calculated total lengths (mm) at each annulus and relative weights (Wr) of black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) stocked in South Dakota ponds, 1981. 21 7. · Back-calculated total lengths (mm) at each annulus and relative weights (Wr) of black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) stocked in South Dakota ponds, 1982............. 21 8. Relative weights (Wr) of black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) sampled in 1981 indicated no significant difference (P_2 0.05) in a southwestern vs southeastern comparison, as determined by analysis of variance using a nested classification. A significant difference (P�0.05) of black bullhead total lengths was shown in a north vs south comparison, 1982 ...24 9. Seining catch rates (fish/seine haul) of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and forage species in September, 1981 (LMB = largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides); GS= golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas; BB= black bullhead, Ictalurus melas; BG= bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus; FHM = fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas) .........28 v LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1. State of South Dakota showing locations of black bullhead (Ictalurus melas) (represented by squares) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) (represented by circles) study ponds. Light circles or squares show initially stocked ponds and darkened ponds had a fish population in 1982 . 5 2. Ranges (vertical lines), standard deviations (rectangles), and means (horizontal lines) for bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) relative weights (Wr) in South Dakota ponds, 1982 .....17 3. Comparison of mean total lengths of black bullheads (Ictalurus melas), ages I-III, from north and south quadrants, 1982 ..22 4. Ranges (vertical lines), standard deviations (rectangles), and means (horizontal lines) of black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) relative weights (Wr) in South Dakota ponds during the spring, 1982 ...... • ••25 5. Comparison of back-calculated total lengths (mm) of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) in South Dakota study ponds with Iowa lakes, South Dakota lakes, and Kansas ponds ...... 31 6. Comparison of back-calculated total lengths (mm) of black bullheads (Ictalurus melas) in South Dakota study ponds, with South Dakota lakes, Oklahoma ponds, and North Dakota lakes . 32 vi LIST OF APPENDIX TABLES APPENDIX TABLE Page 1. Physical and chemical data collected from ponds that contained a fish population (group 1) and ponds that were determined to have complete fish mortality (group 2) by the end of the study, 1982 (LMB = largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides; GS=