M. S. Allen 2011 <p><span>Catch-curve analysis is frequently used to estimate total annual mortality (A) of exploited fishes, but the method assumes constant recruitment. Because populations of crappie&nbsp;</span><i>Pomoxis</i><span>&nbsp;spp. have exhibited large fluctuations in recruitment, I conducted simulations to assess the amount of variability in recruitment that precludes the use of a catch curve and compared results to recruitment dynamics in six crappie populations. Coefficients of variation (CV = 100.SD/mean) in recruitment to age 1 ranged from 55% to 84% among the six crappie populations. Simulations suggested that recruitment variability in these ranges would likely allow estimation of A within ± 10%, but the probability of obtaining estimates of A that were ±5% or more of the true A would exceed 0.15. 1 suggest that catch curves may be used to approximate A in crappie populations but that managers should consider the effects on management recommendations if A were ± 10% of the estimated A.</span></p> application/pdf 10.1577/1548-8675(1997)017<0202:EOVROC>2.3.CO;2 en Wiley Effects of variable recruitment on catch-curve analysis for crappie populations article