Document Type
Article
Abstract
Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu are known as a popular sport fish for anglers. When a known smallmouth bass fishery appears to have a dwindling population, it raises questions about the population health. A common indicator of the health of the population is the mortality rate. By comparing mortality, conclusions can be made on whether smallmouth bass are dying at a different rate in the system over time. Therefore, the objective of this study was to see if there had been a significant change in smallmouth bass mortality over a span of thirty years in Round Lake (DOW:010204), Aitkin County, Minnesota. Smallmouth were sampled using Minnesota Department of Natural Resources standard gillnets, trap nets, and electrofishing gear following their procedures for a standard lake survey. Once data was collected, annual mortality was calculated. Catch curves were analyzed using regression analysis and graphed with 95% confidence intervals. There was not a significant trend in mortality rates through time (P = 0.37), and there was overlap of confidence intervals among years. Mortality ranged from 0.05 to 0.61 with a mean of 0.29 (SD = 0.20) over the years sampled. It appears the mortality rates reported in this study are similar to those previously published for smallmouth bass in similar systems.
Publication Date
2024
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Caleb D., "Long Term Trends In Mortality Rates Of A Smallmouth Bass Population" (2024). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 59.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/59
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Population Biology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
Comments
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program