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Growth, Survival, and Recruitment of Hybrid Crappies Stocked in Small Impoundments
Author(s) -
Hooe Michael L.,
Buck D. Homer,
Wahl David H.
Publication year - 1994
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(1994)014<0137:gsaroh>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - stocking , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , fishery
White crappie Pomoxis annularis and black crappie P. nigromaculatus are popular sport fish, but because of erratic recruitment they are difficult to manage and generally are not recommended for stocking in small impoundments. We examined the growth, survival, and recruitment of interspecific F 1 hybrid crappies stocked in ponds with established predator and prey populations, to determine if they were more amenable to management in small impoundments than their parent species. The F 1 hybrids had lengths at age similar to those of white crappies through age 5. Survival of the stocked F 1 hybrids was low, especially beyond age 1. Recruitment was also low; none of the stocked hybrid crappie populations were capable of maintaining their initial densities. Because their recruitment is low and they have growth rates similar to their parent species, we believe hybrid crappies provide a viable alternative to stocking white and black crappies in small impoundments. Before more specific management recommendations can be developed, additional research is needed to identify the factors influencing recruitment of hybrid crappies under a range of natural conditions.