Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2016

AUTHORS: William D. Oeming*, LTBB NRD; Jason B. Smith, LTBB NRD; Kevin C. Donner, LTBB NRD

ABSTRACT: Yellow perch Perca flavescens are an important species to subsistence and recreational fishermen in Lake Michigan. Age data collected for yellow perch in Lake Michigan are assessed annually by numerous fisheries management agencies lakewide. These agencies use different physical structures to estimate ages of yellow perch including dorsal spines, anal spines, otoliths and scales. Our objective was to determine whether dorsal or anal spines were more precise for estimating age. We evaluated estimated ages within and across readers as well as perceived ease of reading for each spine. To do this, we collected 30 yellow perch from Lake Michigan. We then extracted, prepped and mounted all dorsal and anal spines from each fish in a hardened epoxy. Each spine was sectioned into three, 2 mm-thick pieces using an IsoMet Low Speed Saw. Each section was then photographed, cataloged, randomized and aged independently by three different readers. In addition, each photograph was assigned a score (1 to 5) based on its ease of reading. Estimated ages ranged from two to eight years old. Across readers, the range of agreement for anal spines was higher (from 72% to 82%) than for dorsal spines (from 54% to 72%). The largest age discrepancy across readers for anal spines was only 2 years while for dorsal spines it was 5 years. Within reader agreement was also somewhat higher for anal spines (from 63% to 73%) than for dorsal spines (from 59% to 68%). Similarly, within reader agreement for anal spines had a lower age discrepancy (up to 2 years) than dorsal spines (up to 4 years). Also, readers judged anal spines (1.7) to be easier to read than dorsal spines (2.7). It is our conclusion that anal spines are more precise than dorsal spines for estimating ages of yellow perch. 

AUTHORS: James N. McNair*, Annis Water Resources Institute - Grand Valley State University; Carl R. Ruetz III, Annis Water Resources Institute - Grand Valley State University; and Ariana Carlson, Annis Water Resources Institute - Grand Valley State University

ABSTRACT: Obtaining accurate estimates of fish abundance at the reach scale is an important task in managing stream fisheries. One of the commonest procedures used for this purpose worldwide is the 2-sample mark-recapture method. This closed-population method assumes there is no dispersal into or out of the study reach between samples (spatial closure), an assumption likely to be violated when block nets cannot be used or are not fully effective. Open-population methods permitting dispersal are available but often are infeasible in management applications. The 2-sample mark-recapture method therefore continues to be widely used, though violation of the spatial-closure assumption can result in substantially biased abundance estimates. We review effects of several dispersal scenarios on bias of the classical Dahl-Petersen-Lincoln abundance estimator with deterministic sampling, including some new results. We also outline new results showing the dual effects of dispersal and sampling variation on bias of Chapman’s estimator with stochastic sampling. We show that when the spatial-closure assumption is violated, abundance estimates can be biased upward, biased downward, or unbiased, depending on the rate and pattern of dispersal, true abundance, capture probabilities, and other factors, and that bias typically differs markedly between estimates of study-reach abundance and total population size. Finally, we propose and illustrate (with simulation results) a practical modification of the standard sampling scheme used in 2-sample mark-recapture studies with electrofishing that, when feasible, can reduce or eliminate bias effects of dispersal.

AUTHORS: John West

ABSTRACT: Chevron dikes are a relatively new structure designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to aide navigation by concentrating flow and inducing channel scour. They have also been justified for promoting physical habitat and habitat heterogeneity. To date, only a few studies of fish community have occurred for these structures. Since 1993, river miles 29-80 on the Middle Mississippi have been monitored for fish community structure and water quality for the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP). With this program, several habitats are sampled which include artificially manipulated river structures. However, chevrons are not included in the sampling protocol because chevrons were constructed well after the program sampling methods were established. Also, the Open Rivers and Pool 26 are the only two of six LTRMP reaches that have chevrons. The Open Rivers reach has seven chevron dikes which occur from river miles 32-36. To date, only sporadic trotlining, electrofishing, and trawling from the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers have been done to evaluate these chevrons. The objective of this study is to compare fish community assemblages between traditional wing dike structures and chevron dikes using LTRMP electrofishing and hoop netting.

AUTHORS: Nathan J. Lederman*, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Shannon J. Fisher Minnesota State University, Mankato

ABSTRACT: The Minnesota River is under increasing scrutiny, as commercial and recreational use increases, and threat of exotic species invasion heightens. Larval fish are extremely sensitive to environmental changes and therefore, maybe indicators of system functionally. Larval fish, however, are challenging to capture in riverine systems due to spatial and temporal distribution and clustering. To further understand larval sampling in riverine systems, light traps and a modified slednet was assessed. Collectively, 106 larvae and 8 eggs were captured during the 2014 sample season (representing 8 families and 19 genera). In 2014, the slednet captured a total of 87 larvae, and light traps captured a total of 27 larvae. Slednets captured 6 families representing 16 genera with a CPUE of 0.02/m3 (SE = 0.48). Light traps captured 3 families representing 9 genera with a CPUE of 0.3125/trap night (SE = 0.11). Light traps captured 2 unique taxon, whereas, sled nets captured 14. The slednet also captured more taxa during the earlier sampling periods (mid-May to mid-June), while light traps captured more during later periods (July and August). Additional data were collected during the 2015 field season in a differing hydrologic regime and using both modified versions of previously used gears and non-modified versions were employed. Initial recommendation is both gears should be utilized to secure a better data set than each would achieve individually however, gear selection should be objective orientated.

AUTHORS: Julia Guyton*, Missouri Cooperative Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife; Lisa Webb, U.S. Geological Service, Missouri Cooperative Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife; Craig Paukert, U.S.Geological Service, Missouri Cooperative Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife; Frank Nelson, Missouri Department of Conservation, Big Rivers/Wetlands Field Station

ABSTRACT: Historically, the primary focus of Missouri’s public wetlands has been to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl. While the basic assumption is that these wetlands are also used by other wetland-dependent taxa, such as fish, this hypothesis is not regularly evaluated. The ability to identify and monitor the full suite of taxa using wetland areas would be insightful to comprehensively manage these unique habitats. Our goal is to develop a standardized rapid assessment protocol to efficiently determine fish species presence and richness in Missouri wetlands. We are evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of four sampling methods including two passive methods (mini-fyke nets and minnow traps) and two active methods (dipnets and seines). We sampled 24 wetlands in three Missouri ecoregions during spring and summer 2015. We collected over 120,000 individual fish comprised of 52 fish species, including 6 Missouri Species of Conservation Concern (SOCC). Our results suggest that mini-fyke nets caught the greatest number of individuals and the most species but were also the most time consuming method. Mini-fyke nets caught all 6 of the SOCC, including one species not caught by any other gear, while minnow traps, dipnets, and seines each caught 3 of the 6 SOCC. Although the objective of this study is to evaluate gear efficiency, results have hinted at the productive and diverse aquatic communities that are using Missouri’s publicly managed wetlands. This research is the first step in identifying the means to efficiently and effectively quantify the species richness of the less visible taxonomic communities using wetlands, which in turn, can lead to more informed management decisions benefiting these wetland systems as a whole.

AUTHORS: Richard R. Budnik* and Jeffrey G. Miner - Aquatic Ecology and Fisheries Laboratory, Bowling Green State University; Chuck Murray- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

ABSTRACT: Over 2 million juvenile steelhead are stocked into Lake Erie tributaries each year to sustain a valuable sport fishery. These juvenile fish are stocked into tributaries and must emigrate to Lake Erie where they grow and mature. Although considerable effort is put into raising and then stocking steelhead, little is known about the tributary residence time and survivorship of these juveniles after stocking. Additionally, the influence that environmental conditions and size effects have on steelhead emigration is not well determined. We implemented a Dual Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON) near the mouth of a small Lake Erie tributary in order to measure juvenile steelhead emigration. Footage was recorded continuously over two stocking seasons (April-May 2014; April-June 2015) and total counts were determined every hour. Fish lengths were estimated using the DIDSON fish-measuring tool. The number of emigrants increased with increased water temperature and photoperiod but was not affected by water discharge rate, contrary to our expectation. Timing of emigration was not statistically related to fish length; however, we found smaller fish (than the average stocked length) remaining in the stream at the end of tracking periods. Population estimation with electroshocking was performed after the DIDSON sampling period and revealed that >4% of the steelhead stocked remained in Trout Run in both years, even > 2 months after stocking.

AUTHORS: Nicole Watson*, Central Michigan University; Steven Hummel, Central Michigan University; Jory Jonas, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; James Student, Central Michigan University; Kevin Pangle, Central Michigan University

ABSTRACT: Lake Michigan steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss are a mix of hatchery-produced and wild fish, the latter originating from many different natal tributaries within the lake basin. Mixed stock populations can complicate conservation and management due to unequal contributions from various stocks, thus making it necessary to understand the natal origins of such populations. We evaluated the use of otolith chemistry as an approach to identify the natal origin of Lake Michigan steelhead. Using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we analyzed the otoliths of juvenile steelhead collected in 2013 and 2014 from 46 Michigan and Wisconsin tributaries of Lake Michigan. We found distinct chemical signatures occurring between fish from different natal streams and hatcheries that could be used to accurately predict their natal origins. The study included the analysis of calcium the major cation in otolith carbonate, and the trace elements magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, strontium, barium, and lead. Strontium was found to be the most important trace element for discrimination, with highest values generally occurring in otoliths of fish from the Manistee River. A variety of the other trace elements concentrations are indicative of a number of specific streams. Classification accuracies were found to be higher at the regional scale versus the individual stream level both spatially and temporally with the year class of fish having little effect. Our results clearly demonstrate the utility of otolith chemistry and pave the way for future studies to determine the natal origins of adult steelhead, thus benefiting the management of both steelhead and their natal habitats.

AUTHORS: Daniel J. Traynor*, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Shawn P. Sitar, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Traditional fish biological data collection involves about six steps until data are ready for analyses. These steps include: observation, relay, recording, transcription to database, data proofing, and error correction. The traditional data collection process requires at least two people: an observer that speeches data to the data recorder. The recording medium in the field has typically paper data sheets and has evolved to electronic entry on portable computers. Data that are recorded on paper are entered into computer databases and are prone to keypunch errors. Quality control measures to detect and correct errors from keypunched data are time consuming and costly. Electronic entry of fish biodata in the field eliminates the data transcription step, but can be slow and inefficient when high numbers of fish must be sampled. In order to make fish biodata collection more efficient and to reduce errors, we utilized desktop voice recognition software integrated with a relational computer database to develop the Voice Data Recording System for use on our research vessel for fish surveys on Lake Superior. The hardware includes laptop computer, wireless headset, computer monitor, and label printer. A portable version of the VDRS system for monitoring commercial fisheries landings includes only a laptop computer and wireless headset. The VDRS has been used since 2009 processing over 33,000 fish with more than 620,000 measurements and making our research vessel paperless. Furthermore, the VDRS has been able to successfully record fish biodata under high noise and high sea conditions. The VDRS has saved our station about 150-200 staff hours per year because many of the traditional data collection steps have been eliminated. Our successful use of voice recognition technology to efficiently record fish biological data onboard a research vessel and in commercial harvest monitoring indicates potential applicability to other types of fish surveys.

AUTHORS: Chris Cieciek*, LimnoTech; Nancy A. Auer*, Michigan Technological University

ABSTRACT: Traditional taxonomic identification keys are limited by new species introductions (intentional and unintentional), minor errors during publication, updated corrections for taxa and the fact that regional keys can’t cover all freshwater environments. Hardbound publication costs have sometimes restricted publication batches and access to important resources. Scientists have therefore relied on outdated, multiple keys to process samples from freshwater systems. Recently available, web-based key platforms provide flexibility for updates/corrections, expansion, inclusion of high-resolution images, and greater identification precision as additional taxonomic characters are developed. Under a project funded by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a collaborative effort was initiated to develop an open-access, web-based version of the seminal taxonomic key, Identification of Larval Fishes of the Great Lakes with Emphasis on the Lake Michigan Drainage (Auer, 1982). This updated open-access taxonomic resource includes larvae and eggs for fishes found within the Great Lakes region, as well as other freshwater environments. The key includes a total of 153 species from 25 families and is intended to assist taxonomists with an update and expanded resource for identifying this challenging life stage. The key was designed using Lucid3 software and is available at http://www.EPRIlarvalfishid.com. The key functions as a multi-access diagnostic tool as opposed to a traditional dichotomous key. This format allows the user to specify multiple features in any order. As known taxonomic features are entered, the list of possible individuals is narrowed and the tool identifies the species that have been eliminated along with an explanation as to why a species was eliminated. Thumbnail images are clickable and bring up a slide viewer to show multiple images and a larger view. The expanded view also provides metadata for the image including size, collection location, and author/copyright information. This presentation will include a brief description of key development and a step-by-step example demonstration of functionality.