Effects of Cooler Northern Waters on Growth Rates in Bluegill and Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Authors

Alec Spurbeck

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The Centrarchidae family range spans all across the United States making them a favorite target for many recreational anglers. In northern Minnesota, most water bodies do not reach optimal growth temperatures for the sunfishes, putting them right on the edge of their suitable range and potentially slowing overall growth. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to 1) determine if sunfish growth rates respond to the severity of winter and 2) investigate growth differences between two sunfish species. Growth rates of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) were estimated from Big Sugar Bush Lake, MN, by backcalculating length at age from scale samples obtained by angling fish throughout the summer of 2014. Scales were measured and aged in lab; all fish lengths were backcalculated to age-1 and age-2. Growth from age-1 to age-2 ranged from 10.6 to 30.9 mm. The average growth for all species was 19.3 mm. There was evidence to suggest growth of all species increased with an earlier ice out date and decreased when ice persisting longer into the spring (p-value = 0.03, R² = 0.77).

Publication Date

2015

Comments

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

Recommended Citation

Spurbeck, Alec, "Effects of Cooler Northern Waters on Growth Rates in Bluegill and Pumpkinseed Sunfish" (2015). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 45.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/45