Redear Sunfish occurrence, abundance, growth, and size structure as related to abiotic and biotic factors in Florida lakes

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By:  and 

Links

Abstract

Panfish support popular, socioeconomically valuable fisheries across the United States. Whereas Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus receive considerable research attention, Redear Sunfish Lmicrolophus are seldom studied despite their wide distribution, large size, socioeconomic contributions, and invasion potential in parts of their introduced range. We evaluated Redear Sunfish occurrence, density, relative abundance, growth, and size structure in 60 Florida lakes with varied surface area (2–12,412 ha), trophic state (oligotrophic to hypereutrophic), and macrophyte abundance (0.3–100% of lake volume inhabited), a range of environmental conditions over which Redear Sunfish populations have scarcely been investigated. Lake surface area, chlorophyll-a concentration, and macrophyte abundance explained 98% of variation in Redear Sunfish occurrence. Redear Sunfish density increased asymptotically with calcium concentration, whereas relative abundance (electrofishing fish/h) peaked at intermediate surface area (50–100 ha) and chlorophyll a (20 μg/L). Mean length at age 3 declined with increasing macrophyte abundance and was parabolically related to Redear Sunfish density, peaking at approximately 450 fish/ha. The proportional size distribution (PSD) and PSD of preferred-length fish were also negatively related to macrophyte abundance, and PSD declined with increasing Redear Sunfish density. Our results suggest that Redear Sunfish fisheries with abundant individuals of quality size (≥180 mm) require large (>100 ha), fertile (>20 μg/L chlorophyll a) lakes with calcium concentrations >5 mg/L, moderate macrophyte abundance (0–25% of lake volume inhabited), and Redear Sunfish densities between 200 and 700 fish/ha. Our modeling approach can help managers predict Redear Sunfish occurrence, density, relative abundance, growth, and size structure based on a suite of abiotic and biotic variables.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Redear Sunfish occurrence, abundance, growth, and size structure as related to abiotic and biotic factors in Florida lakes
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1002/nafm.10764
Volume 42
Issue 3
Publication Date April 10, 2022
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher American Fisheries Society
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Atlanta
Description 12 p.
First page 775
Last page 786
Country United States
State Florida
Additional publication details