Mark V. Hoyer
Andrew Kenneth Carlson
2023
<p><span>Research on Bluegills, </span><i><span class="html-italic">Lepomis macrochirus</span></i><span> R., is abundant but typically focuses on water bodies with similar environmental conditions. We assessed Bluegill density, relative abundance (catch per unit effort [CPUE] by electrofishing), growth, and size structure in 60 lakes with wide-ranging surface areas (2–12,412 ha), trophic states (oligotrophic–hypereutrophic), and macrophyte abundances (0.3–100 percent of lake volume inhabited [PVI]) across Florida, USA. Bluegill density and CPUE increased with lake productivity and decreased with macrophyte abundance. Bluegill growth increased with lake productivity and CPUE of stock-length Florida Bass, </span><span class="html-italic">Micropterus floridanus</span><span> L., a Bluegill predator. Bluegill size structure increased with lake productivity and decreased with Bluegill density. Results indicate that Bluegill fisheries with abundant individuals of quality size (≥150 mm) require productive (>25 μg/L chlorophyll-</span><span class="html-italic">a</span><span> concentration) lakes with moderate to high macrophyte coverage (PVI 50–100), abundant stock-length Florida Bass (>40 fish/h of electrofishing), and Bluegill densities <300 fish/ha. This study provides an approach to predict Bluegill population demographics based on abiotic and biotic factors, establish fisheries management expectations, and develop regional and lake-specific management tools.</span></p>
application/pdf
10.3390/fishes8020100
en
MDPI
Bluegill population demographics as related to abiotic and biotic factors in Florida lakes
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