TY - JOUR
T1 - An ecological context for evaluating the factors influencing muskellunge stocking success
AU - Wahl, David H.
N1 - Funding Information:
Numerous individuals associated with the Kas-kaskia Biological Station, Center for Aquatic Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey and the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University assisted with this work. Special thanks are due R. Stein, M. Mather, L. Einfalt, T. Szendrey, and D. Clapp, who collaborated on much of the work summarized here. I also thank S. Stuewe, L. Willis, and S. Krueger of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and T. Nagel and P. Keyes Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODW) for providing fish. J. Mick, K. Cottrell, D.Austen, S. Stuewe, G. Tichacek, and L. Dunham coordinated activities with the IDNR, and D. B. Apgear with the ODW. The manuscript was improved by comments from Paul Shafland, Richard Schrfhaar, Paul Radomski, and the Aquatic Ecology Discussion Group, Kaskaskia Biological Station. The study was supported in part by funds from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act under project F-113-R, administered through the IDNR, and project F-57-R, administered through the ODW.
PY - 1999/2
Y1 - 1999/2
N2 - From an ecological perspective, predation, competition or resource partitioning, and abiotic factors interact to affect species distribution and abundance. To make management recommendations, I review research dealing with the relative influence of these factors in determining stocking success of muskellunge Esox masquinongy. Survival of stocked muskellunge is affected by losses to resident predators. Prey preference and composition are also important, and better muskellunge survival and growth occurs in systems with soft-rayed or fusiform prey rather than in centrarchid-dominated systems. However, potential for competition with resident fishes has not been carefully considered. Abiotic factors, particularly temperature, can influence stocking mortality and subsequent growth. Survival increases with size and is maximized with large muskellunge fingerlings (>240 mm), but cost-effectiveness can vary substantially with predator and prey populations. Hatchery rearing techniques can also affect muskellunge stocking success. Pellet-reared fish have lower survival than minnow-reared fish because predation mortality is higher, but both groups exhibit similar food consumption and growth. The parental population can affect survival and growth because temperature-related differences in bioenergetic variables occur among muskellunge populations. In addition to compromising genetic integrity, the mixing of populations with different physiological characteristics may have negative consequences for native populations. Thermal regimes of recipient waters should be considered in choosing the most appropriate population for stocking outside the native range. Muskellunge stocking should be pursued within an ecological context that integrates the relative importance of predation, competition, and abiotic factors. This framework provides a guide for making management decisions concerning populations, hatchery rearing techniques, sizes, and timing of muskellunge introductions into systems with specific characteristics.
AB - From an ecological perspective, predation, competition or resource partitioning, and abiotic factors interact to affect species distribution and abundance. To make management recommendations, I review research dealing with the relative influence of these factors in determining stocking success of muskellunge Esox masquinongy. Survival of stocked muskellunge is affected by losses to resident predators. Prey preference and composition are also important, and better muskellunge survival and growth occurs in systems with soft-rayed or fusiform prey rather than in centrarchid-dominated systems. However, potential for competition with resident fishes has not been carefully considered. Abiotic factors, particularly temperature, can influence stocking mortality and subsequent growth. Survival increases with size and is maximized with large muskellunge fingerlings (>240 mm), but cost-effectiveness can vary substantially with predator and prey populations. Hatchery rearing techniques can also affect muskellunge stocking success. Pellet-reared fish have lower survival than minnow-reared fish because predation mortality is higher, but both groups exhibit similar food consumption and growth. The parental population can affect survival and growth because temperature-related differences in bioenergetic variables occur among muskellunge populations. In addition to compromising genetic integrity, the mixing of populations with different physiological characteristics may have negative consequences for native populations. Thermal regimes of recipient waters should be considered in choosing the most appropriate population for stocking outside the native range. Muskellunge stocking should be pursued within an ecological context that integrates the relative importance of predation, competition, and abiotic factors. This framework provides a guide for making management decisions concerning populations, hatchery rearing techniques, sizes, and timing of muskellunge introductions into systems with specific characteristics.
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U2 - 10.1577/1548-8675(1999)019<0238:AECFET>2.0.CO;2
DO - 10.1577/1548-8675(1999)019<0238:AECFET>2.0.CO;2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0033024732
VL - 19
SP - 238
EP - 248
JO - North American Journal of Fisheries Management
JF - North American Journal of Fisheries Management
SN - 0275-5947
IS - 1
ER -