Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2019 An evaluation of tournament angling impacts on a Largemouth Bass population using mark-recapture data Andrea Lynn Sylvia Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons Recommended Citation Sylvia, Andrea Lynn, "An evaluation of tournament angling impacts on a Largemouth Bass population using mark-recapture data" (2019). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 17576. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/17576 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. An evaluation of tournament angling impacts on a Largemouth Bass population using mark-recapture data by Andrea Sylvia A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Fisheries Biology Program of Study Committee: Michael J. Weber, Major Professor Stephen J. Dinsmore Philip M. Dixon Joseph E. Morris Clay L. Pierce The student author, whose presentation of the scholarship herein was approved by the program of study committee, is solely responsible for the content of this dissertation. The Graduate College will ensure this dissertation is globally accessible and will not permit alterations after a degree is conferred. Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2019 Copyright © Andrea Sylvia, 2019. All rights reserved. ii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to John-Michael, Mom, Dad and Nick. I could not have accomplished half of what I have in this life without your unwavering support. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ...........................................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................xv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. xvi CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................1 References .................................................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 2. INFLUENCE OF LARGEMOUTH BASS BEHAVIOR AND ANGLER SPATIAL OVERLAP ON CAPTURE PROBABILITY AT FISHING TOURNAMENTS ........11 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 12 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 15 Sampling ............................................................................................................................. 15 Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 17 Results ...................................................................................................................................... 24 Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 27 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 30 References ................................................................................................................................ 31 Tables ....................................................................................................................................... 38 Figures ...................................................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER 3. USE OF A MARK-RECAPTURE MODEL TO EVALUATE CATCH AND RELEASE DELAYED TOURNAMENT MORTALITY.............................................................51 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 51 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 52 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 56 Sampling ............................................................................................................................. 56 Model.................................................................................................................................. 56 Cumulative mortality estimates .......................................................................................... 62 Application of survival rates to a theoretical tournament event ......................................... 62 Results ...................................................................................................................................... 63 Application of survival rates to a theoretical tournament event ......................................... 66 Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 66 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 72 References ................................................................................................................................ 72 Tables ....................................................................................................................................... 79 Figures ...................................................................................................................................... 86 iv CHAPTER 4. TOURNAMENT AND RECREATIONAL ANGLERS HAVE LITTLE EFFECT ON A LARGEMOUTH BASS POPULATION COMPARED TO NATURAL MORTALITY ................................................................................................................................92 Abstract .................................................................................................................................... 92 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 93 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 96 Sampling ............................................................................................................................. 96 Model.................................................................................................................................. 97 Results .................................................................................................................................... 105 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 109 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 117 References .............................................................................................................................. 117 Tables ..................................................................................................................................... 126 Figures .................................................................................................................................... 134 CHAPTER 5. ASSESSING SIZE-DEPENDENT POPULATION-LEVEL EFFECTS OF LARGEMOUTH BASS TOURNAMENT MORTALTY ..........................................................142 Abstract .................................................................................................................................. 142 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 143 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 145 Sampling ........................................................................................................................... 145 Model................................................................................................................................ 146 Population estimation ....................................................................................................... 152 Simulations ....................................................................................................................... 152 Results ...................................................................................................................................