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Agricultural Streams as Spawning and Nursery Habitat for Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in the North Branch of the Portage River Drainage of Northwestern Ohio

Tessler, Nathanial R.

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Science, University of Toledo, Biology (Ecology).
Many studies have attempted to quantify spawning and nursery habitat requirements of northern pike (Esox lucius) in marshes, lakes and rivers. These requirements in agricultural streams have been overlooked. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between selected habitat variables and spawning and nursery success for pike in an agricultural landscape linked to Lake Erie. Seines were used to sample nine agricultural streams in the North Branch of the Portage River drainage of northwestern Ohio for adult pike in spring of 2010 (March 29-April 12). Five adult pike (44cm TL, ¿¿¿¿ 12cm, mean ¿¿¿¿ STD) were collected from three streams. The presence of running and spent adult pike identified these streams as spawning habitat. Four weeks later, seines were used to sample for young-of-year (YOY) pike. A total of 174 young-of-year pike were collected in seven streams. Pike lengths (TL) ranged from 39mm to 90mm. Geometric mean densities of YOY were as high as 9.2 pike per 50m stream length. YOY abundance was negatively correlated with levels of suspended solids during low-water conditions (p=0.05), and both stream depth (p=0.03) and width variability (p=0.001). It had a weak positive relationship with in-stream vegetation density (p=0.08). A forward stepwise multiple linear regression model, using these four predictor variables, was significant (p=0.003) and explained 81% of variation in YOY abundance. Results were supported through a principal components analysis. YOY pike abundance was positively correlated with proximity to quality adult pike habitat (p=0.03), however, this relationship may have been influenced by stream maintenance during the spawning migration. This was supported by a nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination; therefore steam maintenance was removed from statistical analyses. Suitable nursery habitat in streams had a homogeneous channel (both width- and depth-wise) in their lower 3 km, dense and diverse vegetation community, and low levels of total suspended solids combined with stable water levels. Habitats that most closely mimic the marshes that existed here prior to the clearing and draining of the land may provide the best nursery. Incorporating conditions of successful nursery habitat into the design and management of agricultural streams, while maintaining drainage function, will allow fisheries managers to restore pike populations in agricultural watersheds. As such, a compromise between agricultural production and ecologically-important pike habitat may be accomplished.
Johan Gottgens, PhD (Advisor)
Elliot Tramer, PhD (Committee Member)
John Casselman, PhD (Committee Member)
161 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tessler, N. R. (2012). Agricultural Streams as Spawning and Nursery Habitat for Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in the North Branch of the Portage River Drainage of Northwestern Ohio [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1336686805

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tessler, Nathanial. Agricultural Streams as Spawning and Nursery Habitat for Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in the North Branch of the Portage River Drainage of Northwestern Ohio. 2012. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1336686805.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tessler, Nathanial. "Agricultural Streams as Spawning and Nursery Habitat for Northern Pike (Esox lucius) in the North Branch of the Portage River Drainage of Northwestern Ohio." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1336686805

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)