Influence of Depth and Retrieval Speed on Yellow Perch Barotrauma Recovery Time in Winter

Authors

Bradley J. Klingsheim

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Physoclistous fish are often affected by barotrauma because the swim bladder is not connected to the esophagus. Barotrauma is increasingly being used in assessing mortality in fish brought from deep water. Barotrauma is the physical damage that occurs because of the over inflation of the gas bladder resulting from a rapid decrease in ambient pressure. The two important factors influencing barotrauma effects are water depth and decompression. In this study, two experiments were conducted on yellow perch (Perca flavescens) at three depth locations on Grace Lake, Bemidji, Minnesota. Fish were measured for barotrauma recovery time (s) following capture by hook and line. Barotrauma recovery time was considered as the time for the individual to swim below the ice. Over the course of the study 88% of the individuals recovered in less than 3 seconds at 3.0 m, 72% at 4.5 m, and 37% at 6.0 m. Barotrauma recover time differed significantly by depth (p-value < 0.01). In contrast, the recovery time at the two retrieval speeds were similar (p-value = 0.86). This study will help further understand how freshwater physoclistous fish are affected by barotrauma, even at shallow depths

Publication Date

2015

Comments

Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program

Recommended Citation

Klingsheim, Bradley J., "Influence of Depth and Retrieval Speed on Yellow Perch Barotrauma Recovery Time in Winter" (2015). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 43.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/43