USGS Science⌕ Search

SEARCH · USGS Science

Results for “North American Journal of Fisheries Management.”

Search indexed USGS publications on groundwater, aquifers, geologic maps, mineral resources and earthquakes. Explore source records by subject and place.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
USGS2026

Indicators of mercury concentration in Lake Trout: Can fish location and appearance provide information to anglers to reduce their exposure?

Objective People are exposed to mercury (Hg) through the consumption of fish. State and federal governments provide broad, often-generalized food safety guidance to reduce exposure; however, numerous rural fishing areas lack testing and location- or species-specific guidance. The aim of this study was to provide tangible, visible, or easily measured characteristics of Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush that could convey information on Hg exposure to people harvesting and consuming fish where no location-specific guidance exists. Methods We investigated potential indicators of Lake Trout total Hg (THg) concentrations in muscle across 10 lakes in Alaska's national parks. Potential indicators, including lake, lake zone (i.e., littoral, pelagic, profundal), fish length, head size, body condition, and general appearance, were evaluated by competing linear mixed-effects models. Results Lake Trout THg concentrations ranged widely from 22 to 1,306 ng/g wet weight. Much of the variation (48%) in THg concentrations was attributed to differences among individual lakes, but the interaction of the fish's lake zone, body length, and head size accounted for an additional 21%. Predicted THg concentrations increased with Lake Trout length and head : body proportion, but the rate of THg concentration increase with length varied by head : body proportion and lake zone. Conclusions Given the overwhelming evidence of high lake-to-lake variability in Lake Trout THg concentrations, we find support for use of lake-specific guidance when data are available. When lake-specific THg concentrations are not available, the best potential way to reduce exposure is to harvest and consume Lake Trout with mean predicted THg concentrations that are within state and federal safe consumption guidelines. This included Lake Trout from surface waters (i.e., pelagic or littoral zone) that are ≤70 cm in length; if harvesting fish from deep waters (i.e., profundal zone), lower THg concentrations were found in Lake Trout with heads ≤25% of their body length. The indicators—lake zone, length, and head size—of Lake Trout THg concentrations can provide harvesters with additional information in the absence of data for specific lakes.

Alaska↗
USGS1981

Substrate conditions and abundance of lake trout eggs in a traditional spawning area in southeastern Lake Michigan

Spawning by planted lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) was documented by sampling with a diver-assisted pump in a traditional spawning area in southeastern Lake Michigan near Saugatuck, Michigan in mid-November in 1978 and 1979. Bottom depths at the 11 locations sampled ranged from 3 to 12 m and substrate size from boulders to sand. Periphyton (Cladophora and associated biota) was several millimeters thick at most stations but sparse at the shallowest. The most eggs recovered from a single sample occurred at the shallowest depth (3 m). In both years, some of the small numbers of eggs collected (9 in 1978, 14 in 1979) were alive and fertilized. Laboratory incubation of viable eggs resulted in successful hatching of larvae. When compared with egg densities measured at spawning sites used by self-sustaining populations of lake trout in other lakes, densities in the study are (0-13/m 2 ) appeared to be critically low. Insufficient numbers of eggs, combined with harsh incubation conditions (turbulence, ice scour, sedimentation), were implicated as prime causes for lake trout reproductive failure in the study area, although other factors, such as inappropriate spawning behavior (selection of suboptimal spawning location, depth, or substrate) also may have reduced survival of eggs and larvae.

Lake Michigan↗
USGS1982

Effects of an aquatic plant and suspended clay on the activity of fish toxicants

Rotenone, antimycin, permethrin, pydrin, and Salicylanilide I were tested for their toxicities against fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) in the presence of Canadian waterweed ( Elodea canadensis ) or suspended clay. The plants had little effect on the activity of rotenone and antimycin but substantially reduced the activity of permethrin and pydrin (synthetic pyrethroids). Bentonite severely inhibited the activity of all chemicals tested. Salicylanilide I was affected least and pydrin most (27 times as much pydrin was required when I g/liter of bentonite was present in 96-hour tests). The efficacy of the registered fish toxicants rotenone and antimycin is probably not significantly affected by vegetation under field conditions, but is greatly reduced by suspended bentonite clay.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1982

Feeding activity and spawning time of striped bass in the Colorado River Inlet, Lake Powell, Utah

Striped bass, Morone saxatilis , from Lake Powell, Utah spawned in or near the mixing zone of the reservoir and the Colorado River in 1980 and 1981. The fish did not move through Cataract Canyon rapids just above the reservoir in either year. Of 321 adult striped bass stomachs examined, 30% contained food and 28% contained threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense. No stomachs contained native threatened or endangered Colorado River fishes.

Utah↗
USGS1983

Fish abundance and population stability in a reservoir tailwater and an unregulated headwater stream

Fish abundance and population stability were compared in the tailwater and in an unregulated tributary of Barren River Lake, a flood control reservoir in south central Kentucky. Fish abundance was greater in the tailwater near the dam and was dominated by three species common in the reservoir: gizzard shad ( Dorosoma cepedianum ), bluegills ( Lepomis macrochirus ), and white crappies ( Pomoxis annularis ). Three riverine suckers were less abundant in the tailwater than in the unregulated stream: northern hog suckers ( Hypentelium nigricans ), black redhorse ( Moxostoma duquesnei ), and golden redhorse ( Moxostoma erythrurum ). The fish populations in the tailwater, particularly common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ), northern hog suckers, black redhorse, and golden redhorse, were less stable than those in the unregulated stream. Population stability is defined as the extent to which fish remain in a stream section. This study suggests that the occurrence of reservoir species in the tailwater was the result of fish passage from the reservoir during high discharges in fall and winter. Reservoir operations (altered flow, low summer water temperature, and poor summer water quality) probably were responsible for the unstable populations of common carp and riverine suckers in the tailwater.

Kentucky↗
USGS1983

Selective control of common carp: Ineffectiveness of 2-(digeranylamino)-ethanol (GD-174) in pond trials

The candidate piscicide, 2‐(digeranylamino)‐ethanol, (commonly known as GD‐174) was subjected to efficacy trials in ponds under a wide variety of conditions. Results of the trials were disappointing considering that laboratory tests had shown the compound to be selectively toxic to common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ). Results of pretreatment, on‐site toxicity tests were misleading and indicated concentrations that failed to kill all of the carp in 19 of 23 ponds. In a few instances, the chemical killed the carp with little or no effect on nontarget fishes. No fish were killed in some trials and large numbers of nontarget fishes were killed in others. Twenty of 25 pond trials were judged to be unsuccessful. Success or failure of pond treatments could not be correlated with any particular combination of physical, chemical, and biological factors. Because the activity of GD‐174 against mixed populations of fish cannot be predicted, further development of this compound as a selective toxicant for carp has been discontinued at the National Fishery Research Laboratory.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1984

First evidence of successful natural reproduction by planted lake trout in Lake Huron

Twenty-two lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) swim-up fry, 24-27 mm long, were captured with emergent fry traps and a tow net in northwestern Lake Huron on a small nearshore reef off Alpena, Michigan, between May 10 and June 1, 1982. These catches represent the first evidence of successful production of swim-up fry by planted, hatchery-reared lake trout in Lake Huron since the lake trout rehabilitation program began in 1973.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1984

Role of fish distribution on estimates of standing crop in a cooling reservoir

Estimates of fish standing crop from coves in Keowee Reservoir, South Carolina, were obtained in May and August for 3 consecutive years. Estimates were significantly higher in May than in August for most of the major species of fish collected, suggesting that considerable numbers of fish had migrated from the coves by August. This change in fish distribution may have resulted from the operation of a 2,580-megawatt nuclear power plant which altered reservoir stratification. Because fish distribution is sensitive to conditions of reservoir stratification, and because power plants often alter reservoir stratification, annual cove sampling in August may not be sufficient to produce comparable estimates of fish standing crop on which to assess the impact of power plant operations on fish populations. Comparable estimates of fish standing crop can probably be obtained from cooling reservoirs by collecting annual samples at similar water temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1984

Relationship of young-of-the-year northern pike to aquatic vegetation types in backwaters of the upper Mississippi River

The association of young-of-the-year northern pike ( Esox lucius ) with different aquatic plant types (e.g., submerged, emergent, floating) was studied to evaluate the impacts of a potential loss of backwaters on available fish nursery habitats in the upper Mississippi River. Eight biweekly collections were made at each of six representative lentic habitats in Navigation Pool 7. In the spring, average catches of northern pike from areas with submerged vegetation were nearly three times greater than from areas with emergent vegetation, and more than 10 times greater than from an area with no vegetation. This pattern was consistent until late summer, when the young became more common in the more highly oxygenated, less heavily vegetated waters. Food and growth were examined as possible indicators for the selection of areas with submerged vegetation over other habitats. Food varied among fish in the different vegetation types; however, no significant patterns of improved growth or condition were apparent. Young northern pike apparently were successful, opportunistic feeders. Although preference for habitats with submerged vegetation was seemingly not related to food, the overall production of young was clearly best in these habitats.

Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin↗
USGS1985

Stocking and hooking mortality of planted rainbow trout in Jocassee Reservoir, South Carolina

Attempts to establish a 'put-grow-and-take' fishery for rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) in Jocassee Reservoir, South Carolina failed despite plantings of 200,000 fish in 1972-1979 because few of the stocked fish survived to legal size. At the same time, a fishery for brown trout (Salmo trutta) was established successfully by planting far fewer fish. Experiments were conducted to determine if stress at stocking and injuries and stress associated with catch and release of fish by shoreline anglers were responsible for the poor survival of rainbow trout. Only 1 of the 606 rainbow trout stocked in floating wire cages anchored in the reservoir died during the first 3 days, and fewer rainbow trout than brown trout died as a result of catch-and-release fishing during the first 11 days after stocking. Thus, these factors were not responsible for the lack of success in establishing a rainbow trout fishery in this reservoir.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1986

Persistence of rotenone in ponds at different temperatures

Two ponds were treated with liquid rotenone (5% rotenone), one with 3 mg/L at 24°C and the other with 2 mg/L at 0°C (concentrations of active rotenone were 0.15 and 0.10 mg/L, respectively). Water samples were collected and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of rotenone declined to 0.02 mg/L in 48 h in warm water and in 11 d in cold water. The half-life of rotenone was calculated at 13.9 h in warm water and 83.9 h in cold water.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1986

Evaluation of coded wire tags for marking lake trout

Among hatchery-reared lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) of the 1979-1982 year classes stocked in New York waters of Lake Ontario, more than 3 million fish were marked with a coded wire tag (CWT) plus an adipose fin clip, and 1.5 million with only conventional fin clips. Altogether, 7,640 tags were recovered from fish collected with bottom trawls and gill nets or caught by anglers during 1980-1983. One person was able to extract and decipher 200 or more CWTs per day with about a 1% error rate in reading and recording codes. Presence of the CWT did not affect growth. The adipose fin clip did not regenerate. The occurrence of fish with an adipose fin clip but no CWT resulted primarily from the regeneration of paired fins among fish marked with a combination of the adipose fin and a paired fin. Loss of CWTs between marking and stocking (generally 4-5 months for fish stocked in spring and 1-8 d for fish stocked in fall) declined from nearly 11% for the 1979 year class stocked as fall fingerlings to less than 3% for the 1981 and 1982 year classes - a difference that primarily reflected improvements in instrumentation and tagging technique. The rate of CWT loss after the marked fish were stocked was probably less than 1% per year. The CWT is a reliable method for marking hatchery-reared lake trout. A large number of experimental groups can be uniquely marked, and fish from each group can be accurately identified throughout their life. Use of this technique should greatly facilitate evaluations of genetic strain, hatchery experience, condition at time of stocking, season of stocking, size at stocking, method of stocking and other factors that affect poststocking survival and performance of lake trout stocked in the Great Lakes.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1986

Marking fingerling striped bass and blue tilapia with coded wire tags and microtaggants

Fingerling striped bass ( Morone saxatilis ) of two year classes were tagged in four body locations with coded wire tags and on two locations with Microtaggants (laminated plastic particles containing layers of fluorescent and magnetic material). Retention of coded wire tags ranged from 33% for tags in the nose to 100% for tags in the cephalic portion of the adductor mandibularis (a small muscle located below the eye). Twenty percent of the fish tagged with Microtaggants in 1982 retained tags after 471 d; 98% of the ones tagged in 1983 retained Microtaggants after 270 d. Fingerling blue tilapias ( Tilapia aurea ) were tagged on the body with Microtaggant particles and in the nose and epaxial muscle with coded wire tags. After 328 d, retention was 11% for Microtaggants. Coded wire tag retention was 93% for tags in the nose, 94% for tags in the epaxial muscle anterior to the dorsal fin, and 88% for tags in the muscle posterior to the dorsal fin. For striped bass, implantation of coded wire tags in the adductor mandibularis is recommended for long-term tag retention. Implantation of coded wire tags in the nose is recommended for blue tilapia for long-term retention. Microtaggants are not recommended for long-term tagging of either species, but are appropriate for short-term studies of 1 year or less.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1987

Habitat suitability index curves for paddlefish, developed by the delphi technique

A Delphi exercise conducted with a panel of 11 experts on paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and an evaluator resulted in 14 riverine habitat suitability index curves associating various life stages or activities of paddlefish with four variables: velocity, depth, substrate type, and temperature. The panel reached a consensus on six of the curves and eight to 10 panelists agreed on the others. Several panelists reported that they found the Delphi exercise to be a good learning experience, and they believed the technique is an appropriate interim method for developing suitability index curves when available data are inadequate for more conventional statistical analyses. Documentation of good paddlefish spawning habitat was the data need most commonly identified by the panelists.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1987

Effect of brief navigation-related dewaterings on fish eggs and larvae

Short-term dewatering of nearshore spawning areas often occurs during passage of commercial tows in the upper Mississippi River as well as in other navigated river systems. This phenomenon was examined experimentally to identify potential effects on survival of fish eggs and larvae. Early life stages of walleyes ( Stizostedion vitreum vitreum ) and northern pike ( Esox lucius ) were dewatered 2 min in laboratory studies at intervals of either 1, 3, 6, or 12 h from just after fertilization to 10-14 d posthatch. Dewatering did not cause mortality of eggs, but significant mortality of larvae of both species occurred at dewatering frequencies of 1 or 3 h. Therefore, significant mortality first was observed at a frequency equivalent to a mean passage of eight tows per day.

upper Mississippi River↗
USGS1987

Comparative efficacy of 16 anesthetic chemicals on rainbow trout

Presently there are no legally registered fish anesthetics that allow for the release of fish or use of the fish for food soon after they have been anesthetized. MS-222 (tricaine), the only anesthetic registered for use on fish in the United States, cannot be used within 21 d of harvesting the fish for food. As the start in a search for an anesthetic that can be used with little or no withdrawal period, we tested the efficacy of 16 chemicals as anesthetics on rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri. Efficacy was defined by the fish (1) becoming handleable (quiet enough to be manipulated and handled readily) in 3 min or less, (2) recovering in 10 min or less, and (3) showing no mortality after 15 min in the anesthetic solution. Four chemicals--MS-222, quinaldine sulfate, benzocaine, and 2-phenoxyethanol--met these criteria for efficacy. Chemicals that yielded excessive induction or recovery times or caused excessive mortality were methylpentynol, chlorobutanol, etomidate, metomidate, Piscaine, propanidid, carbon dioxide, nicotine, salt, Halothane, Metofane, and Biotal. Because carbon dioxide leaves no residues and requires no withdrawal period, it may be an acceptable alternative for fishery workers who can tolerate somewhat shallower anesthesia and longer induction and recovery times.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management↗
USGS1987

Minimum tailwater flows in relation to habitat suitability and sport-fish harvest

The instream flow needs of four sport fishes (rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri , channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus , smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui , and white crappie Pomoxis annularis ) were evaluated in the tailwater below Green River Lake, Kentucky. The Newcombe method, a simple procedure developed in British Columbia that is based on the distribution of water depths and velocities at various flows, was used to predict usable habitat at seven flows. Predicted usable habitat was two to six times greater for rainbow trout than for any of the other species at all flows. Angler harvest corresponded to the predicted abundance for rainbow trout and smallmouth bass, but the catch of channel catfish and white crappies was seasonally greater than expected. The presence of the dam and reservoir apparently disrupted the normal movement and feeding patterns of these species and periodically overrode the relation between usable habitat and abundance assumed in the Newcombe method. The year-round minimum flow of 4.6 m 3/s recommended for the tailwater would generally increase the amount of habitat available in the tailwater from April through October, and the minimum flow of 2.4 m3/s recommended for periods of drought would allow the maintenance of a trout fishery.

Kentucky↗