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Initial Poststocking Survival of Hatchery‐Reared Fishes
Author(s) -
Pitman Veronica M.,
Gutreuter Steve
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1993)013<0151:ipsohr>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - micropterus , stocking , stizostedion , bass (fish) , fishery , biology , lepomis macrochirus , predation , morone , zoology , centrarchidae , ecology , fish <actinopterygii>
We evaluated 24‐h poststocking survival of 10 fish species in the absence of predation. Sixty‐six experimental stockings were conducted in 55 freshwater reservoirs. For each stocking, 25 or more randomly selected fry (≤16 mm in total length) or fingerlings (>16 mm in total length) were held in each of three cages submerged at the stocking site, Survival rates of paddlefish Polyodon spathula , Florida largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides floridanus, smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu , black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus , white crappie Pomoxis annularis , and coppernose bluegill Lepomis macrochirus purpurescens ranged from 95.6 to 100%. Survival of striped bass Morone saxatilis varied from 0 to 100% and differed between size‐groups; all striped bass fry died. Logistic regression showed associations between survival of striped bass fingerlings and hauling time, pH and conductivity of water in the reservoirs, and cumulative changes in temperature and conductivity to which fry were exposed during stocking. Survival of a hybrid of striped bass, Morone saxatilis × M. chrysops , varied from 0 to 100%; decreased survival of the hybrid fry was associated with decreased dissolved oxygen at stocking sites, and survival of hybrid fingerlings was associated with cumulative changes in pH and conductivity to which they were exposed during stocking. Survival of fry of walleye Stizostedion vitreum varied from 0 to 34% and was inversely related to hauling time. Survival of fry and fingerlings of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus varied from 0 to 12% and showed no discemable pattern.