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Biotelemetry of White Crappies in a South Dakota Glacial Lake
Author(s) -
Guy Christopher S.,
Willis David W.,
Jackson Jeffrey J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1994)123<0063:bowcia>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - diel vertical migration , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , fishery
Ultrasonic telemetry was used to determine monthly and diel movements of white crappies Pomoxis annularis in a South Dakota glacial lake, Sonic transmitters were surgically implanted in 37 adult white crappies (265–327 mm, total length; 315–530 g) at intervals from 10 April through 22 September 1992. From 15 April to 15 October, 1,712 locations were recorded for 34 of these fish. Movement (m/h; measured along the straight‐line distance between successive locations) was significantly different among months ( P < 0.05). Movement was highest in May (102.1 m/h) and significantly different from movements in April and June, The second highest amount of movement was in July (82.4 m/h). Other than in early spring, movement did not vary significantly among months. Depth of lake at white crappie locations differed significantly among months. White crappies were in significantly shallower lake areas in June and October than in August. Distance from shore differed significantly among months. White crappies were nearest to shore in April, June, and October and farthest from shore in August. Home range varied from less than 0.1 to 85.0 hectares with a median of 15.8 hectares and differed significantly among months. Movement differed significantly among diel periods for May, June, and August. Depth of lake at fish location was significantly different among diet periods for April, May, June, and September. Distance from shore differed significantly among diel periods for all months except July and October. For diel comparisons yielding no significant differences, power (1 – β) values were low (≤0.51). We found weak relationships between environmental variables and movement. Although there have been few biotelemetry studies of crappies, it appears that the major monthly and diel movements are similar between species and among various water bodies where these fish have been studied. Minor differences in movement were observed but are likely related to lake morphology and geographic location.