Relative Survival and Growth of Walleye and Saugeye Fingerlings Stocked in South Dakota Small Impoundments

Walleye Stizostedion vitreum and saugeye (purposeful walleye x sauger Stizostedion canadense hybrids) fingerlings were concurrently stocked at equal densities into five small impoundments in 1997 and 1998 to evaluate relative survival and growth. Prior to stocking, fish were differentially marked with 7 0 0 ppm oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) to allow accurate identification of each fish as a walleye (fry mark) or a saugeye (fingerling mark). Spring and fall night electrofishing was used to sample the stocked percids, as well as potential competing species such as largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Differences in relative survival (indexed as catch per hour (CPUE] from night electrofishing) and growth (mean total length) between walleyes and saugeyes were compared across water bodies. For the 1997 year class, walleyes survived significantly better Cr= 0. 05) than saugeyes in Bode Pond and Jones Lake. Walleye survival also appeared slightly higher in Hanson Lake. Saugeyes exhibited higher survivability than walleyes only in Lake Iroquois. For the 1998 year class, walleye survival was better in Hanson Lake and Lake Iroquois. Sample sizes were too small to detect differences in relative survival in the other three lakes, and survival could generally be characterized as low. Overall, highest survival for both walleyes and saugeye was observed for the 1997 small fingerling introductions in Bode Pond; spring 1999 night electrofishing collected 215 walleye/h and 78 saugeye/h from the 1997 year class. Survival was lowest for the 1997 introductions in Hayes Lake, where electrofishing CPUE for both walleye and saugeye combined was ≤ 3/h from all sample periods. Stress from the transport and stocking process likely reduced survival of fingerlings and masked differences in survivability. Differences in survival observed for the large fingerling stocked in 1997 appeared to be related to the date of stocking. Fingerlings were stocked during two different time periods in fall 1997; fish stocked during the earlier period, regardless of percid type, were poorly represented in subsequent catches during all three sample periods. Relative growth of walleyes and saugeyes was inconsistent among waters, but was generally similar within each lake. The only consistent difference in growth was observed for the 1997 year class in Bode Pond, where saugeyes were significantly longer than walleyes. Mean relative weight (Wr) values of walleyes and saugeyes percids varied considerably among the impoundments, but were generally similar within each lake during each sample period. For the 1997 year class in all five impoundments, mean Wr values for both percids were highest in spring 1998 and lowest in fall 1998. Overall, neither percid demonstrated a substantial advantage in performance in small impoundment environments.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - University Access Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

Year

2000

Author dc:creator

• Koski, Kris D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Michael L. Brown

• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2000 Kris D. Koski. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/508

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1508