Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


osu1268241546.pdf (560.44 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Using fish culture ponds to examine factors affecting larval hybrid striped bass growth and survival

Brumbaugh, Erica Nicole
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1268241546

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
Hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis) is an important sportfish in many systems across the U.S. and is often stocked into reservoirs as fry or juveniles. However, determining the success or failure of fry stocking and factors underlying fry survival in reservoirs has been difficult for fisheries managers because of the complications in collecting larvae in reservoirs. Using fish culture ponds, I was able to examine the effects of physical and biological variables on the growth and survival of larval hybrid striped bass, providing information to help fisheries managers to identify reservoir attributes that can support hybrid striped bass stocking. I conducted experiments over three years at two Ohio fish hatcheries to determine: 1) the effects of increased fish fry stocking density on larval fish growth and zooplankton availability; 2) whether the zooplankton prey base in ponds and reservoirs is adequate to support larval and juvenile growth; 3) the potential magnitude of cyclopoid copepod predation on fry in ponds and reservoirs. I found that fry stocking density did not influence fish yield (g/m3) or survival; however, a low density treatment produced larger, albeit fewer, juveniles at harvest than did a high density treatment. Therefore, stocking rates should be based upon whether managers wish to produce larger or higher numbers of juvenile hybrid striped bass. Hybrid striped bass growth and diet analyses indicate that copepod nauplii are an important prey during the first week of life and copepodites during the entire culture period, whereas Daphnia spp. were less important . My study also found that culture ponds and their source waters have similar zooplankton prey composition, size frequency and densities, suggesting that a hatchery environment can serve as a good proxy for studying reservoir ecology. Cyclopoid copepod predation on larval hybrid striped bass at copepod and larval densities found in culture ponds and reservoirs is unlikely to cause significant mortality; however, other types of predation could affect growth and survival of hybrid striped bass.
Stuart A. Ludsin (Advisor)
David A. Culver (Committee Member)
Harold Walker (Committee Member)
75 p.
Aquaculture
hybrid striped bass; larval fish; larval fish stocking; larval fish diets

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Brumbaugh, E. N. (2010). Using fish culture ponds to examine factors affecting larval hybrid striped bass growth and survival [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1268241546

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Brumbaugh, Erica. Using fish culture ponds to examine factors affecting larval hybrid striped bass growth and survival. 2010. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1268241546.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Brumbaugh, Erica. "Using fish culture ponds to examine factors affecting larval hybrid striped bass growth and survival." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1268241546

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1268241546
726
© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.