Sauger Population Ecology in Three Missouri River Mainstem Reservoirs

Sauger Sander canadensis populations have experienced widespread declines across much of their range. Factors suspected to contribute to these declines include hybridization, exploitation, loss of spawning areas, and general habitat alterations associated with regulated rivers. Several sauger populations within the Missouri River basin are also experiencing similar declines, particularly in the headwaters of Montana, and the lower basin states of Nebraska and Missouri. However, sauger populations in many of the reservoirs in South Dakota (between Montana and the lower basin) have relatively stable populations. Given the paucity of information on factors influencing sauger population ecology in general, and Missouri River populations in particular, I studied several aspects of sauger population ecology in three Missouri River reservoirs to better understand factors influencing population structure. I focused on three primary research areas during the course of this study: 1) natural hybridization of sauger with walleye Sander vitreus, 2) sauger spawning habitat use in reservoirs, and 3) population dynamics of gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum, the primary prey fish for sauger in these systems. Results from this study will hopefully contribute to the understanding of sauger ecology and facilitate the advancement of conservation efforts. Walleye and sauger naturally hybridize in many populations, but factors influencing hybridization are not completely understood. I genetically identified and determined relative year-class strength for 1,454 sauger, walleye, and naturally produced hybrids from three Missouri River reservoirs (Lakes Sharpe, Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark) to examine patterns of hybridization, and to quantify factors influencing year class formation. Hybridization rates varied from 4% in Lakes Sharpe and Francis Case to 21% in Lewis and Clark Lake. Hybrids comprised several year classes in each system indicating that hybridization does not occur in erratic pulses, but rather at a consistent low-level recruitment rate. Hybridization was directionally biased toward walleye as 60- 72% of hybrids in each system were walleyes backcrossed with sauger genes. Yearclass strength of sauger, walleye, and hybrids varied among reservoirs and species within reservoirs. Neither year-class strength of hybrids nor walleye was correlated with that of sauger, indicating that dissimilar factors influence year-class strength among hybrids and pure parental walleye and sauger. As such, recruitment modeling was scaled at individual species and hybrids and within individual reservoirs. Because Lake Francis Case had a low sample size of cohorts to model (few individuals \u3eage 5) this system was excluded from recruitment modeling. Factors affecting recruitment of hybrids in Lewis and Clark Lake and parentals in both Lakes Sharpe and Lewis and Clark shared the common positive influence of warmer water temperatures during fish early life history, but recruitment differed among species and systems with regard to the effect of flow. Increased flow, either from mainstem cumulative discharge (hybrids) or tributary inputs (parentals), was negatively associated with year-class strength in my models for Lewis and Clark Lake, whereas tributary inputs and discharge were not well supported in models for sauger in Lake Sharpe (although tributary input warrants further investigation for walleye). The effect of flow on recruitment of sauger and walleye in Lewis and Clark Lake was confounded by an interaction with temperature. Tributary inputs negatively affected recruitment of sauger and walleye when water temperatures were reduced, but the effect of tributary input was negated during warmer years. Thus, these models suggest that higher than average recruitment can be expected during years with warmer spring/early summer water temperatures in Lakes Sharpe and Francis Case, and during years when flow (either from mainstem discharge for hybrids, or tributary inputs for sauger and walleye) are reduced in Lewis and Clark Lake

Temperature, Hatch Date, and Prey Availability Influence Age-0 Yellow Perch Growth and Survival

Throughout their range, Yellow Perch Perca flavescens are an important ecological and economic component of many fisheries, but they often exhibit highly variable recruitment. Much research effort has been devoted to better understanding the mechanisms responsible for these erratic recruitment patterns, yet few studies have examined this process at the detail necessary to reveal complex interactions that may exist across multiple early life stages. Our current understanding of the early life recruitment patterns of Yellow Perch suggests a strong abiotic component. Using existing information, we developed three working hypotheses to examine Yellow Perch recruitment at two larval stages (5–14 and 15–24 d old) and to further identify the overarching mechanisms (abiotic versus biotic) related to Yellow Perch recruitment in 332-ha Pelican Lake, Nebraska, during 2004–2012. Larval Yellow Perch growth and mortality were largely regulated by hatching date, temperature, and zooplankton availability. The growth of young larval Yellow Perch (5–14 d old) was positively related to temperature and hatch date; that of old larval perch (15–24 d old) was positively related to water temperature and postlarval age-0 (≤25 mm TL) Yellow Perch density but negatively related to the available preferred zooplankton biomass. Mortality was inversely related to total zooplankton biomass and water temperature. Our results describe a model with two potential Yellow Perch recruitment bottlenecks, one immediately posthatch that is regulated by hatch date and temperature and another during the older larval stage that is regulated by temperature and zooplankton

Temperature, Hatch Date, and Prey Availability Influence Age-0 Yellow Perch Growth and Survival

Throughout their range, Yellow Perch Perca flavescens are an important ecological and economic component of many fisheries, but they often exhibit highly variable recruitment. Much research effort has been devoted to better understanding the mechanisms responsible for these erratic recruitment patterns, yet few studies have examined this process at the detail necessary to reveal complex interactions that may exist across multiple early life stages. Our current understanding of the early life recruitment patterns of Yellow Perch suggests a strong abiotic component. Using existing information, we developed three working hypotheses to examine Yellow Perch recruitment at two larval stages (5–14 and 15–24 d old) and to further identify the overarching mechanisms (abiotic versus biotic) related to Yellow Perch recruitment in 332-ha Pelican Lake, Nebraska, during 2004–2012. Larval Yellow Perch growth and mortality were largely regulated by hatching date, temperature, and zooplankton availability. The growth of young larval Yellow Perch (5–14 d old) was positively related to temperature and hatch date; that of old larval perch (15–24 d old) was positively related to water temperature and postlarval age-0 (≤25 mm TL) Yellow Perch density but negatively related to the available preferred zooplankton biomass. Mortality was inversely related to total zooplankton biomass and water temperature. Our results describe a model with two potential Yellow Perch recruitment bottlenecks, one immediately posthatch that is regulated by hatch date and temperature and another during the older larval stage that is regulated by temperature and zooplankton

Habitat and prey availability attributes associated with juvenile and early adult pallid sturgeon occurrence in the Missouri River, USA

The pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus is a federally endangered species native to the Missouri and lower Mississippi Rivers, USA. As part of recovery efforts, over 360 000 pallid sturgeon have been stocked into the Missouri River since 1994, and a standardized, long-term monitoring program was initiated in 2003. Understanding the distribution and habitat requirements of juvenile and early adult pallid sturgeon (fork length \u3c720 mm, age \u3c10 yr) is an important goal of the monitoring and recovery programs. In this study, we collected information on habitat characteristics and prey availability from the upper Missouri River along the Nebraska-South Dakota border and compared these attributes between capture (present) and non-capture (absent) locations (N = 59). To evaluate the relative influence of habitat and prey availability on pallid sturgeon occurrence, we examined several candidate models using an informationtheoretic approach. A prey availability model had the most support and included site-specific information on Diptera and Ephemeroptera abundance. A habitat-based model showed that juveniles and early adults were found in relatively deeper water and avoided areas where bottom velocities were greater than 1.2 m s−1. Although not as well supported as the prey-effects model (evidence ratio = 6.4), habitat features also provided a plausible model for predicting occurrence. The models developed here could be used to evaluate pallid sturgeon habitat potential in the Missouri River basin and help guide future monitoring and conservation management of this endangered species

Vulnerability of age-0 pallid sturgeon \u3ci\u3eScaphirhynchus albus\u3c/i\u3e to fish predation

Stocking is a commonly employed conservation strategy for endangered species such as the pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus. However, decisions about when, where and at what size pallid sturgeon should be stocked are hindered because vulnerability of pallid sturgeon to fish predation is not known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of age-0 pallid sturgeon to predation by two Missouri River predators under different flow regimes, and in combination with alternative prey. To document vulnerability, age-0 pallid sturgeon (\u3c100 mm) were offered to channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus and smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in laboratory experiments. Selection of pallid sturgeon by both predators was measured by offering pallid sturgeon and an alternative prey, fathead minnows Pimephales promelas, in varying prey densities. Smallmouth bass consumed more age-0 pallid sturgeon (0.95 h−1) than did channel catfish (0.13 h−1), and predation rates did not differ between water velocities supporting sustained (0 m s−1) or prolonged swimming speeds (0.15 m s−1). Neither predator positively selected pallid sturgeon when alternative prey was available. Both predator species consumed more fathead minnows than pallid sturgeon across all prey density combinations. Results indicate that the vulnerability of age-0 pallid sturgeon to predation by channel catfish and smallmouth bass is low, especially in the presence of an alternative fish prey

Escapement of Fishes from Modified Fyke Nets with Differing Throat Configurations

We performed a field experiment in five eastern South Dakota lakes to investigate fish escapement differences between modified fyke nets with two common throat configurations (restricted and unrestricted). Nets with restricted and unrestricted throats were deployed in pairs for 24 h on similar habitat. Captured fish were measured for TL and were given day-specific marks. The paired nets were redeployed, and marked fish were randomly assigned to be stocked into the restricted or unrestricted net for 24 h; stocking densities (stratified into low, medium, and high) were species specific. Marked fish that were retained after 24 h were used to quantify escapement, whereas newly captured fish were used to estimate differences in mean CPUE and size structure. Mean CPUE of Black Bullheads Ameiurus melas, Black Crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and BluegillsLepomis macrochirus approximately doubled when restricted nets were used. Mean TL of Black Crappies was 31 mm greater (95% confidence interval [CI] = 6–57 mm greater) and mean TL of Bluegills was 21 mm greater (95% CI = 8–35 mm greater) in restricted nets than in unrestricted nets. Escapement from restricted nets was 4.4% for Black Crappies and 10.3% for Bluegills, whereas escapement from unrestricted nets was 71.7% for Black Crappies and 58.4% for Bluegills. We urge researchers to consider the influence of varying fyke-net throat configurations on calculated population metrics, and we recommend inclusion of the restricted throat feature in gear specifications for North American standard modified fyke nets