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Effects of nutrient enrichment on channel catfish growth and consumption in Mount Storm Lake, West Virginia
Author(s) -
Blanc Todd J.,
Margraf F. Joseph
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
lakes and reservoirs: research and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.296
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1440-1770
pISSN - 1320-5331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-169x.2002.00184.x
Subject(s) - catfish , environmental science , zooplankton , zoology , fishery , stocking , nutrient , ictalurus , phosphorus , channel (broadcasting) , hydrology (agriculture) , ecology , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , chemistry , electrical engineering , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Abstract With the objective of augmenting fish production in Mount Storm Lake, Virginia Electric and Power Company initiated a programme of phosphorus addition to increase primary production, and ultimately, channel catfish ( Ictaturus punctatus ) growth in the 486 ha cooling reservoir. We simulated channel catfish growth dynamics using two bioenergetics modelling scenarios: (i) effects of average reservoir temperature on growth, conversion efficiency and consumption; and (ii) effects of reservoir enrichment on growth, which is simulated by increasing feeding rates. During 1991–1993, fish were sampled monthly, but sampling was increased to every 2 weeks during the peak growing season (June–September). Most of the channel catfish collected were aged 0 year and aged 1 year with rapid annual growth rates ranging from 9.0 to 13.7 J/g. We found many age 1 250–300 mm catfish, but few beyond this size. Conversion efficiency (joules gained/joules consumed) was low at approximately 18–19%. High algae consumption (40%) was evident, but consumption of zooplankton and Asiatic clam ( Corbicula sp.) increased over the study. Simulated increased feeding rates showed that channel catfish were food limited in summer and fall (July–December). Weight gains with 5 and 10% feeding increases were 6–13% and 18–38%, respectively, from the baseline. Catfish of all sizes should benefit from phosphorus additions.