Eastern Illinois University The Keep Masters Theses Student Theses & Publications 1-1-1989 Growth Increments and Condition Factors of Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) in the Years Following Completion of the Pump Storage Reservoir at Lake Charleston, Charleston, IL, 1982-1988 Herbert Clinton Fairow Eastern Illinois University This research is a product of the graduate program in Zoology at Eastern Illinois University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Fairow, Herbert Clinton, "Growth Increments and Condition Factors of Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) in the Years Following Completion of the Pump Storage Reservoir at Lake Charleston, Charleston, IL, 1982-1988" (1989). Masters Theses. 2532. http://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2532 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Theses & Publications at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact tabruns@eiu.edu.
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GROWTH INCREMENTS AND CONDITION FACTORS OF POMOXIS ANNULARIS ( WHITE CRAPPIE ) IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE PUMP STORAGE RESERVOIR AT LAKE CHARLESTON, CHARLESTON, IL, 1982-1988. (TITLE) BY HERBERT CLINTON FAIROW THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THE GRADUATE SCHOOL, EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS 1989 YEAR I HEREBY RECOMMEND THIS THESIS BE ACCEPTED AS FULFILLING THIS PART OF THE GRADUATE DEGREE CITED ABOVE
ABSTRACT Fairow, Herbert c. 1989. Growth increments and condition factors of Pomoxis annularis (white crappie) in the years following completion of the pump storage reservoir at Lake Charleston, Charleston, IL, 1982-1988. Masters thesis, Eastern Illinois University. Major advisor: Dr. Leonard Durham. The purpose of this study was to attempt to document any changes that may have occured due to the construction of a pump storage reservoir at Lake Charleston. The age I white crappie present in the new reservoir were observed to exhibit an increase in first year growth in 1982. This increase was observed in subsequent years but not to the same degree as was observed initially. The age II fish present in the new reservoir in 1982 exhibited a very large increase in growth for the first year of the new impoundment. In the years after 1982 the annual growth of age II crappie returned to essentially pre-construction levels. The large initial increase in size of age II fish is believed to be related to a very large gizzard shad spawn in 1982. The slow growth of white crappie in the years after 1982 is believed to be related to a lack of adequate forage for white crappie. ii
DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to my daughter, Aimee Nicole. Study hard. I would also like to dedicate this to Debi. Let's not waste one minute. iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Leonard Durham for his patience and help during my graduate program. I would also like to thank Sue Darrow, Barb Geiger and Eric McGee for their help with the collections, even if it did mean getting stranded on the lake once or twice. I would like to express a special thanks to Wayne Tucker for his help in the technical area of producing this thesis. I would especially like to thank Dr. Ted Storck for his inspiration and not-sogentle encouragements during this endeavor. iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract.........ii Dedication... iii Acknowledgements.. iv Table of Contents.............................. v List of Tables..vi List of Figures..vii Introduction...................................... 1 Methods.......................................... 7 Results........................................... 10 Discussion........................................ 19 Summary and Conclusions........... 37 Appendicies...................................... 42-50 v
Lis t of Tables Tab 1 e 1..... 6 Table 2............................... 12 Table 3................................... 17 Table 4....................... 18 Table 5........................ 32 Table 6...................... 33 vi
List of Figures Figure 1.......................................... 2 Figure 2... 3 Figure 3... 13 Figure 4... 14 Figure 5.......................................... f S" - Figures 6 & 7..................................... 21 Figures 8 & 9 22 Figures 10 & 11... 2 3 Figures 12 & 13... 24 Figures 14 & 15................................ 2 5 vii
INTRODUCTION The city of Charleston (Coles co. Illinois) has depended on the Embarras River as a water source since it was first impounded in the 1930's. In 1947 Riverview Dam was constructed to further impede the river and increase the volume of the original lake. The surface area after completion of the dam was 341 acres (136. 4 hectares) with an average depth of over three meters. By the early 1970's the average depth had decreased to less than one meter (Figure l} due to sedimentation from the river. Minor water shortages in the late 1970's prompted the city to explore alternate water storage facilities. It was decided that a pump storage reservoir would be constructed as proposed by the engineering consulting firm of Beam, Longest, and Neff with the water level of the reservoir to be 588ft above sea level at full pool. The Embarras River channel was diverted around the new impoundment with the two being seperated by an earthen levee (Figure 2). The pump storage reservoir was to have a surface area of 350 acres (140 hectares) with an average depth of slightly more than three meters. 1
Figure f. Lake Charleston, Coles Co. Illinois, prior to 1982 llddification.
3 Figure 2.. Lake Charleston side channel reservoir, Coles Co.... - Illinois, as constructed in 1982
4 water is now pumped from the river to maintain the desired water level in the impoundment. As has been shown (Durham, 1983 ; Lyon, 1983 ), the separation of the reservoir from the river appears to have caused some changes in the fish populations present. The years immediately following construction of the reservoir provided exceptional fishing with crappie (Pomoxis ) being the most sought after gamefish (Durham, 1983). During the peak years of crappie fishing, there were as many as fifty boats of fishermen on the lake on any given day (personal communication, Dr. L. Durham). The importance of Lake Charleston as a crappie f isherie has declined since that time with few large fish being caught. The intent of this study is to examine the growth increments and condition factors of the age I and age II white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) population from 1982 through 1987. Species compositions of Lake Charleston as observed during sampling are included in appendicies A through J.
STUDY AREA Lake Charleston and the Pump Storage Reservoir are located about 1. 9 Km southeast of Charleston Illinois (Sec. 24 and 25; T12N; R9E; Sec. 19; T12N; RlOE; ) on the Embarras River. Lake Charleston has always been of local importance as a recreational fishery. There are at least 24 species of fishes present in the lake (Table 1). city records indicate that largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were introduced. Additional species originated from the river and old lake prior to construction of the pump storage reservoir. During the years following the construction of the pump storage reservoir Lake Charleston began drawing f isherrnen from the Chicago area and also from several ajoining states due to the very desirable crappie fishery that developed after the reservoir was completed. Construction of the pump storage reservoir began in June, 1980 and was completed in time for full pool to be reached by January, 1982. At completion, the reservoir had a surface area of 350 acres (140 hectares) at 588 feet above sea level and a capacity of 1200 million gallons (Lookis 1983). 5
6 Table 1. Species list from 1983 population survey of Lake Charleston, Coles Co. Illinois. From Illinois Dept. of Conservation report of 1/5/83. Scientific name common name Fishes common in_the lake: Pomoxis annularis Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis cyanellus Carpus carpio Dorosoma cepedianum Ictalurus melas Morone mississippiensis Minytrema melanops Lepomis megalotis Lepomis humilis Ictalurus punctatus Pylodictis olivaris Carpiodes carpio Carpiodes cyprinus white crappie largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish common carp gizzard shad black bullhead yellow bass spotted sucker longear sunfish oranges potted sunfish channel catfish flathead catfish river carpsucker quillback carpsucker Fishes present in the lake: Lepomis gulosus Micropterus puntulatus Lepomis microlophus Ictalurus natalis Moxostoma erythrurum Notropis whipplei Fundulus notatus Labidesthes sicculus Pomoxis migromaculatus warmouth spotted bass redear sunfish yellow bullhead golden redhorse steelcolor shiner blackstripe topminnow brook silverside black crappie
.,,.,.. ' Methods The scales evaluated in this study were collected from fish obtained from the reservoir by means of electrofishing. Scales were collected at least once per year except in 1987. Scales collected in June 1988 were used to determine the 1987 growth. All scales used in this study were either collected by the author or obtained from the Zoology department at Eastern Illinois University. The electrofishing gear consisted of a 230 volt A. C. single phase generator with three electrodes suspended from the front of a jon boat as described in Larimore et al. 1950. All stunned crappie were netted and placed into a holding tank in the boat. The holding tank was not oxygenated so the runs were kept short and the fish were observed for signs of stress. After a shocking run the black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) were returned to the lake. The white crappie collected were weighed to the nearest gram and their total length (TL) was measured to the nearest millimeter. The length and weight measurements were then recorded on a dated scale envelope. Scales collected from below the lateral line and posterior to the pectoral fin (Lagler, 1956) 7
9 3. Coefficient of condition (K t 1 > A. The average K tl per shocking date by year-class is compared for the years sampled. B. The average K tl by length group is compared for three size groups.
Results Data from 251 white crappie collected from 1982 to 1988 were used in this study (Table 2). Scale samples were obtained from 157 of these fish. Five scale samples were not used due to extreme difficulty interpreting annuli or insufficient data on the scale envelope. Age structure analysis of the white crappie samples collected by electrof ishing showed that a high percentage of 1-year-old fish was present in 1982 and 1983. The data show that in 1984 the sample was fairly evenly divided between one and two-year-old fish. After 1984, two-year-old fish comprised the major portion of the sample (Figure 3). There were no age o, few threeyear-old fish, and almost no four-year-old fish collected during the six years of sampling. This may be due to sampling bias problems often associated with electrofishing (Reynolds, 1983) and will be addressed elsewhere in this paper. Calculated lengths at annuli show interesting trends for both first and second year growth. Mean first year growth increased significantly (p<. 05, t-calc=3. 17) when comparing fish from 1981 to 10
11 1982 (Figure 4). Second year growth peaked in 1982 and has declined slightly since. An independent t-test was employed to analyze growth increments and average lengths at annuli. It was found that first year growth for 1982 was significantly higher than growth in 1981 but the differences between 1982 and 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 were not found to be significant. Second year growth showed no significant difference between 1981 and 1982. When second year growth for 1982 was compared to second year growth for 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1987 there was a significant difference in each comparison (t-calc = 4. 10, 6.19, 7.66 and 6. 79 respectively). There was no significant difference between second year growth for 1982 and second year growth for 1986 (Figure 5). I
12 Table 2. summary of white crappie sampled from 1982 to 1988 from Lake Charleston, Coles Co. Illinois. -------------------------------------------------------- Date # of crappie -------------------------------------------------------- 8-5-82 18 12-2-82 12 4-29-83 12 8-15-83 12 12-2-83 34 5-4-84 13 10-3-84 16 4-19-85 11 9-15-86 22 6-14-88 19 --------------------------------------------------------
M. 10 [J - r-- r-.--... I'-...- r-- r-- 50 1-- -,_ - - - I"- t- i- i- 0 I 2 1>2. - - - I z. 1>2. 8-5-82 12-2-82 - - -- - - --- I z i>z. I z. f>z. 4-29-83 8-15-83 -- -- - - - -- - I 2.. >2 I 2. r>l I 2. )2. I z. >2. I z. )l I z. '>Z 12-2-83 5-4-84 10-3-84 4-19-85 9-15-86 6-14-Rf. :::_ Flguro 3. A a truc ure y i of
..... 100 Figure 4. Mean lengths at age I for white crappie from Lk. Charleston.. E E..c: Q') c: Cl> _J 90 I I 801 ' : ' 70 I 80 i ' 50 -i. 40 -I 30 ; I 20 1 10 j I 0 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1988 Year growth occured. - -t:.,x,,_1..jb1;1i "i.ii.j;,;.... ',.:.:..: " - -. --- --..; :
- -- - -- -- - - - - - ----- ---- ---- ------- 220 _ ---------=-=:= ::_c : ::_ fg:l..ii- -e:_ 5:-=:=-=- ei::rn te-n gtns at a g e n fb r white crappie from Lk. Charleston. 210 200 190.,,-... E E..._,..c +-' Ol c Cl> _J 180 170 180-4 150 140 130 j 120 --! I 110 100 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 Year growth occured. 1988 1987 t;
The condition coefficients (K t 1 ; Table 3) indicate a decrease in average K tl per shocking date from 1982 to 1988. The condition coefficients ranged from 1.45 in August 1982 to 1.09 in June 1988. 16 Since K tl varies with length, Table 4 allows for a comparison between fish of the same size range collected on different sampling dates. The samples have been divided into three groups, 140-190mm, 191-251mm and >251mm. Dates of the highest and lowest average K tl recorded for each size group are as follows: Size group Highest Lowest 140-190mm 1982 1983 191-252mm 1982 1988 >252mm 1983 1984
1111 17 Table 3. Avera i e calculated coefficients of condition (K t1 > for white crappie collected from Lake Charleston, Coles Co. Illinois. Sample date # of fish Average K tl 8-5-82 18 1.45 "I' ',) 1 12-2-82 12 1. 35 4-29-83 12 1.36 8-15-83 12 1.19 12-2-83 32 1.13 5-4-84 13 1.16.. 10-3-84 15 1.07 4-19-85 11 1. 19 9-15-86 22 1.13 6-14-88 19 1.09 * Fulton type condition factor. K t1 =(W/L 3 )X.
Table 4. 18 Average K tl by size group per shocking date for white crappie from Lake Charleston, Coles Co. IL. Sampling Date 140-190 Size Groups (mm) 191-252 > 252 8-5-82 1. 5 1. 5 1. 5 12-2-82 1. 5 1.5 1.4 4-29-83 ----- 1. 4 1. 7 8-15-83 1.2 1.5 1. 3 12-2-83.92 1.0 ----- 5-4-84 1.0 1. 1 1.6 10-3-84 1. 1 1.1 1.2 4-19-85 1.2 ----- 1.4 9-15-86 1.1 1.1 ----- 6-14-88 1.0 1. 0 -----
Discussion A total of 251 white crappie were collected during the six years of the study. Scale samples were collected from 157 of those fish collected. The samples were collected by fisheries classes at Eastern Illinois University in cooperation with Mr. Don Dufford, a fisheries biologist with the Illinois Department of Conservation. The scope of this study was narrowed to first and second year growth after the age structure analysis revealed an inconsistant and sparse representation of fish greater than age II (Figure 3). The lack of fish with an age greater than II would be understandable in the first years of a new impoundment but it persists over the six years that collections were made. It is reported that older white crappie are seldom collected by electrofishing and are occasionally difficult to collect in trap nets on Lake Shelbyville (pers. comm. Harry White, Reservoir Biologist with IL Dept. of Conservation). The presence of both age I and age II fish in the reservoir in 1982 indicates that the fish were present when the levee separated the new impoundment from the river. If there had been a high percentage of fish with an age greater than two years, 19
20 they too would have been present in the new impoundment and should have shown up in the samples more frequently. In August 1982 the average length at capture was 228mm. In August 1983 the average length at capture was 176mm. This decrease in average size of fish collected is consistant throughout the six years of sampling, giving an indication that the size of the fish sampled is declining. Additional evidence indicating a decrease in the size of white crappie present in Lake Charleston is presented in Figures 6 to 15. In the length frequency distribution presented for August 5, 1982 {Figure 6) members of the population in the 260 and 300mm size ranges are clearly represented in the sample. The length frequency distribution for December 2, 1982 {Figure 7) shows those members of the population that are in the 270mm 300mm and 340mm size groups represented. Figures 8 through 15 show a much decreased representation of these larger size groups. Length frequency distributions for the 1986 and 1988 samples do not show any fish sampled that were over 250mm. The decrease in size of fish sampled is not believed to be an effect of gear selectivity since the same type of gear was used on all samples. If the larger fish were
21 80 1- z w 0 a: 60 w > I- <(...I w a: 40 20 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 LENGTH GROUP (mm) Table 6. Length Frequency for 8-5-82. 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 LENGTH GROUP (mm) Table 7. Length Frequency for 12-2-82.
2. "Z.. 80. c (J) 0.. (J) c. (J) > Q) a: 60 40 20 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 Length group {mm). Figure 8. Length frequency for 8-15-83 sample from Lake Charleston.... z w 80 0 60 w > 40... < _J w a: 20 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 LENGTH GROUP (mm) Figure 9. Length frequen6)r 4-29-83 sample.
100 23 80 +"' c: <l> 0 L... <l> 0.. <l> > +::; C'CS Q5 ([ 60 40 20 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 Length group (mm). Figure 10. Length Frequency for 12-3-87 for sample. 80 c <l> 0 L... <l> 0.. <l> > +::; C'CS Q5 ([ 60 40 20 90 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 270 290 310 Length group (mm). Figure 11. Length Frequency for 5-4-84 sample.
100 24 80 c <1> 0 L- <1> a. <1> > +:i as (i) a: 80 40 20 100 120 Figure 12. 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 Length group (mm). Length Frequency for 10-3-84 sample. 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 Length group {mm). Figure 13. Length Frequency for 4-19-85 sample.
80 25 c (I) 0 (i> 60 0. (I) > 40 (I) a: 20 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 Length group (mm). Figure 14. Length Frequency for 9-15-86 sample. 80 c (I) 0 60 0. (I) > 40 as (I) a: 20 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 Length group (mm). Figure 15. Length Frequency for 6-14-88 sample.
26 collected by electrofishing in 1982, they should have been represented in the later samples also. The absence of large numbers of older fish from the samples is most probably explained by the selectivity of the electrofishing gear. The selectivity of the gear discriminates aginst age O and older fish that may inhabit areas of the lake not suitable for sampling with this gear (Reynolds, 1983). This selectivity would not have changed during the course of the study and should not have initiated the decrease in larger fish sampled. An alternate explaination could be high mortality in the older fish. Storck (1986) found that the shad biomass in Lake Shelbyville fluctuated from year to year with a i I I high overwinter mortality. This compounded with a shortage of alternative prey has been found to increase mortality in the older year-classes of largemouth bass. This could also explain the mortality of older crappie. Buck and Thoits (1970) found a 37% mortality among adult crappie in an Illinois pond during the summer months. Slow growth of fish under 200mm in the third year of life followed by high mortality with few fish living to age V is a recognized occurance in crappie populations. Two additional causes of high mortality may be energy
27 expenditure versus availible prey size or the high energy demand of large crappie in warm water (Hansen, 1951). The ability of white crappie to utilize gizzard shad is limited by the size attained by the young-ofthe-year shad. Young-of-the-year gizzard shad quickly out grow their usefulness as a prey species (Mosher, 1984). Age O shad that reach 10 cm are almost entirely safe from predation by crappie (Carlander, 1977) and are rarely found in stomachs of largemouth bass of small and intermediate sizes (Storck, 1986). White crappie can utilize young-of-the-year Lepomis spp. when availible. Lyon (1983) found an inverse relationship between the success of bluegill and the presence of large numbers of gizzard shad. If the same relationship exists between the piscivorous age groups of crappie and young-of-the-year Lepomis spp., as was found in Lake Shelbyville between age o largemouth bass and young-of-the-year Lepomis spp. (Storck, 1986), the presence or absence of a good bluegill spawn during a shortage of small age o gizzard shad could determine the fate of the age I and older white crappie.
28 The growth increments of age I and age II white crappie were seen to increase in 1982. The increase in age I growth was found to be statistically significant (p>. 05, t-calc = 3. 17) when compared to the 1981 growth increment. This initial increase was not carried through to the subsequent years. The 1982 age II growth increment increase was not found to be significantly different from that observed in 1981. The difference between 1982 growth and the following years was significant for age II fish. The large initial increase in growth increments after completion of the impoundment was not reflected in the years after 1982. The increased growth of both age I and age II white crappie must be related to the environmental parameters present in the new impoundment. Those parameters that improved after the impoundment are decreased alkalinity, decreased turbidity and increased volume of the lake. This increase in volume resulted from the increase in average depth from one meter to three meters. The surface area of the new lake was essentially the same as the old. The reduced crappie population and the increased volume of the lake served to reduce the concentration of the fish. It is well known that
29 reducing the number of fish present in a body of water will cause an increase in growth and condition of those individuals remaining through a reduction in competition for availible food resources. This unintentional ''thinning" of the crappie population is believed to be only part of the reason for the increased growth. In 1982 there was a very large spawn of gizzard shad. The young of the year shad present were estimated in the millions (Durham, 1982, unpublished report). The numbers of age O shad present could be equated with the increased forage density experienced in a study by Mosher (1984). Mosher introduced threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) into a lake containing white crappie. These white crappie showed increased growth increments of 150mm and 72mm for age I and age II respectively. This increased growth did not carry into succeeding years. The stocking density of threadfin shad was doubled for the second year of the study and the increased numbers are thought to have competed with the yearling white crappie for zooplankton and suppressed their growth. The length at age II reported for 1982 is much higher than those reported for the other years. This
figure is the result of five back-calculated lengths at 30 age II from fish collected in 1983. An Illinois Department of Conservation population survey report from December, 1982 showed an average length for white crappie collected (n= 72) as 218. 7 mm. This average length at capture, measured after growth had ceased, compares favorably with an average length at age II of 213. 4mm for those fish for which scales were evaluated, indicating that the calculated length is not an over estimation The average length at age II reported for 1982 in this study is believed to be representative of the population present at that time. Carlander (1977) compiled data on over 6,000 age I white crappie collected in Illinois and has reported average lengths for age I crappie as being 155mm with the central 50% ranging from 129-183mm for age I. Anaverage length of 196mm with the central 50% ranging from 169-221mm is reported for age II white crappie. All years of age I average lengths are well below the average and central 50% reported by Carlander (Table 5). Most years are not even within the range of the data evaluated by Carlander (Table 6). This is believed to be the result of a shortage of prey of appropriate size
31 during the transition of the young crappie from foraging on plankton and small insects to small fish which occurs as the fish approach lengths of approximately 150mm. The average lengths at age II reported in this study are closer to the average reported by Carlander. The average length at age II for 1982 is greater than the average reported by Carlander. This is most likely due to the ability of these fish to utilize the large year class of gizzard shad spawned in 1982. 1 ""' One indication of a fish population's well being is the condition of the individuals in that population.
32 Table 5. Average lengths at age I and age II and ranges observed for Illinois white crappie. From Carlander, 1977. Age # of Fish Mean Length Range Central 50% I 6, 000+ 155mm 71-24 1mm 129-183mm II 5, 000+ 196 136-255 169-221
33 Table 6. Lengths at Age I and Age II, (growth increments) by cohort, for white crappie collected from 1980 through 1988 from Lake Charleston, Coles Co. Illinois. lengths at annulus (mm) Cohort I II 1987 ----- ----- 1986 84. 4 158. 2 (73. 8) 1985 83. 5 165. 8 (82. 3) 1984 79. 2 156. 3 (77. 1) 1983 81. 4 155. 8 (74. 4) 1982 77. 4 165. 6 (88. 2) 1981 63. 2 213. 4 (150. 2) 1980 69. 8 176. 4 (106. 6) 1979 190. 8 (-----)
Fulton type condition factors (K tl > are best used when comparing fish of similar sizes collected at the 34 same time of the year. A fish sampled prior to spawning will have a different body shape than one sampled after spawning. The data anaylyzed in this study were not collected on the same dates each year, but there are several dates close enough to the same time of year as to be of use in a comparison of condition factors. In Table 3 the average condition factors by sample date are shown. These figures are the average of all fish examined for that date. Average condition factors will be examined by size group later in the text. The average condition factor for fish collected on August 5, 1982 was 1. 45 (n= 12). This is higher than was found for the August 15, 1983 sample for which the average condition factor was 1. 19 (n=12). closest sample date was September 15, 1986. The next The average condition factor for this date was 1. 13 (n=32), still lower than previous years. A second set of sample dates which can be compared together consists of December 2, 1982 and December 2, 1983. This pair of sampling dates shows a decline in average condition factors from 1. 35 (n=12) to 1. 13 (n=32). The April 29, 1983 and the April
35 29, 1985 samples show the same relationship with a decline in average condition factors from 1. 36 (n=12) to 1. 19 (n=ll). These comparisons show the obvious downward trend which is believed to be the slow crappie growth syndrome which has been of concern to fisheries biologists since the 1940's. Additional information about the decreasing quality of the crappie fishery in Lake Charleston is presented in Table 4. The average condition factor by size group is found to reflect the same trend as was seen in the average condition per shocking date. In the 140mm to 190mm size group, the August samples show a decrease in condition factor from 1. 4 in 1982 to 1. 2 in 1983. The December samples show a more 34 pronounced change from 1982 to 1983 with a decrease in condition factor from 1. 5 to 0. 92. The last sample date of this set, September 15, 1986 shows a condition factor of 1. 1 for this size group, a slight increase over December 1983 but still below the value observed in 1982. August samples for the l91mm to 252mm size group shows a slight decrease from 1982 to 1983. The December samples do show a decrease from 1. 5 in 1982 to 1. 0 in 1983.
36 The largest size group, >252mm, shows an erratic pattern in the years after impoundment. Condition factors are expected to be higher in longer fish. The very small sample sizes in this size group and large variation in lengths of fish collected in this size group are most likely responsible for the erratic data.
37 summary and conclusions Water shortages in the late 1970's prompted the city of Charleston to construct a pump storage reservoir to replace the old reservoir which had been created by darning the Embarras River. The new facility had a much higher volume and a lower turbidity after completion in 1982. The impoundment of the new facility initially had a very beneficial effect on the fish populations present. The size and quality of the white crappie, I, population increased dramatically after completion of the pump storage reservoir. The quality of the white crappie fishery declined in about three years to a level that was considered unacceptable by anglers. The occurance observed in Lake Charleston has been documented many times in many small impoundments. White crappie reproduce rapidly and in the absence of heavy predation or environmental factors which can limit thier success, they can over populate a small reservoir in a few years. White crappie managment in a small reservoir has been studied for many years and there has been no one method has been found to work in all reservoirs at all times. Maintaining a quality white crappie fishery in a
38 small reservoir requires a combination of the many methods that have been applied to ending the small crappie syndrome. Spring draw-down can be used to limit the reproductive success of white crappie (Mitzner, 1972). The addition of appropriately sized forage fish has also been found to increase the quality of the crappie fishery. The introduction of predators such as largemouth bass and northern pike has also increased the sizes of crappie present in some lakes. Thinning of the population is time consuming but it can increase the quality of the fishery by reducing intraspecific competition for availible food sources (Rutledge and Barron, 1972). The problem of managing a white crappie population is further compounded in reservoirs where multiple species are being managed. It is only reasonable to conclude that a reservoir management plan must specify those species to be managed and find the combination of management practices that will promote those species.
39 Literature cited Anderson, R. O. ands. J. Guteuter., 1983. Length, weight, and associated structural indicies. In Fisheries Techniques. L. A. Nielsen and D. L. Johnson, Eds. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda, MD. 468p. Buck, D. H., C. F. Thoits, III, 1970. Dynamics of onespecies populations of fishes in ponds subject to cropping and additional stocking. Il. Nat. Hist. Surv. Bull. 30: 68-165. Carlander, K. D. 1977. Handbook of freshwater fishery biology. Vol. 2; Iowa state University Press. 432p Carlander, K. D. 1982. Standard intercepts for calculating lengths from scale measurments for some centrarchid and percid fishes. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 111:332-336 Durham, L. B. 1983. Observed changes in the largemouth bass population since construction of a new pump storage reservoir at Charleston, Illinois. M. S. Thesis. Eastern Illinois University., 31 p.
' ' Hanson, D.F., 1951. Biology of the white crappie in 40 Illinois. Ill. Nat. Hist. Bull. 25(4):209-265. Lagler, K.F. 1956. Freshwater Fishery Biology. 2nd ed., Dubuque, IA Wm. c. Brown Co., 421pp Larimore, R.W., L. Durham, G.W. Bennett, 1950. A modification of the electric fish shocker for lake work. J. Wildl. Mgnt. 14(3):320-323. Lookis, K.F. 1983. Raw water quality in the new Charleston, Illinois pump storage reservoir. M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University., 53pp Lyon, L.D. 1983. The bluegill CLepomis macrochirus) population of Lake Charleston, Coles Co. Illinois. M.S. Thesis, Eastern Illinois University., 25p. Mosher, T.D. 1984. Responses of white crappie and black crappie to threadf in shad introductions in a lake containing gizzard shad. North Am. J. Fish. Mgmt. 4:365-370. Mitzner, L. 1972. Some vital statistics of the crappie population in Coralville reservoir with an evaluation of management. Iowa Conservation Comm. Des Moines, IA Tech. Ser. #72-1.
Reynolds, J. B. 1983. Electrofishing. Chapter eight in 41 Fisheries Techniques. L. A. Nielsen and D.L. Johnson Eds. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD. 468p. Rutledge, W. P., J. C. Barron, 1972. The effects of the removal of stunted crappie on the remaining crappie population of Meridian State Park, Bosque, Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. Tech. Series # 12. Storck, T. W. 1986. Importance of gizzard shad in the diet of largemouth bass in Lake Shelbyville, Illinois. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 115:21-27. Tesch, F. W. 1968. Age and Growth, in Methods for assessment of fish production in freshwaters. W. E. Ricker, ed. pp. 93-123.
APPENDIX A 42 Species composition list for the August 5, 1982 electrofishing sample from Lake Charleston. From Durham, 1983. # col. 113 24 84 20 16 58 38 9 14 1 1 1 12 2 86 * 4 2 1 1 1 2 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis cyanellus Pomoxis annularis Lepomis gulosus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis humilis Merone mississippiensis Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Esox americanus Minytrema melanops Labidesthes sicculus Micropterus punctulatus Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes cvorinus Ictalurus natalis Ictalurus punctatus Pylodictus olivarus Ictalurus melas Moxostoma macrolepidotum Common name largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish white crappie warmouth longear sunfish orangespotted sunfish yellow bass carp golden shiner grass pickerel spotted sucker brook silversides spotted bass gizzard shad quillback yellow bullhead channel catfish flathead catfish black bullhead shorthead redhorse * several thousand were observed.
APPENDIX B 43 Species composition list for the December 2, 1982 electro-fishing sample from Lake Charleston. From Durham, 1983. # col. 7 31 12 72 9 8 4 18 4 13 3 7 5 4 2 1 1 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis cyanellus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Lepomis gulosus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis humilis hybrid Cyprinus caroio Esox americanus Minytrema melanops Labidesthes sicculus Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes cyprinus Ictalurus natalis Pylodictus olivarus Common name largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish white crappie black crappie warmouth longear sunfish orangespotted sunfish longear X warmouth carp grass pickerel spotted sucker brook silversides gizzard shad quillback yellow bullhead flathead catfish
44 APPENDIX C Species composition list for the April 29, 1983 electrofishing sample from Lake Charleston. From Durham, 1983. # col. 38 57 20 2 6 7 1 29 21 2 6 4 1 1 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis cyanellus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Lepomis gulosus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis humilis Marone mississippiensis Cyprinus carpio Esox americanus Minytrema melanops Dorosoma cepedianum Carpiodes cyprinus Ictalurus natalis Common name largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish white crappie black crappie warmouth longear sunfish orangespotted sunfish yellow bass carp grass pickerel spotted sucker gizzard shad quillback yellow bullhead * this includes an extra 15 minute sampling period for largemouth bass.
45 APPENDIX D Species composition list for the August 15, 1983 electro-fishing sample from Lake Charleston. # col. 17 42 25 16 6 40 1 1 1 1 4 25 9 5 1 3 1 2 6 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis cyanellus Pomoxis annularis Lepomis gulosus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis humilis hybrid hybrid Micropterus ounctulatus Merone mississippiensis Dorosoma cepedianum Cyprinus carpio Ictalurus natalis Ictalurus punctatus Minytrema melanops Pylodictus olivarus Moxostoma macrolepidotum Labidesthes sicculus Common name largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish white crappie warmouth longear sunfish orangespotted sunfish bluegill X greensunf ish warmouth X greensunf ish spotted bass yellow bass gizzard shad carp yellow bullhead channel catfish spotted sucker flathead catfish shorthead redhorse brook silversides
46 APPENDIX E Species composition list for the December 2, 1983 electro-fishing sample from Lake Charleston. # col. 2 60 36 a1* 13 1 6 2 1 2 2 3 6 1 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepornis rnacrochirus Lepornis cyanellus Pornoxis annularis Pornoxis nigrornaculatus Lepornis gulosus Lepornis rnegalotis Lepornis hurnilis Merone mississippiensis Cyprinus carpio Noternigonus crysoleucas Esox americanus Minytrerna melanops Labidesthes sicculus Common name largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish white crappie black crappie warmouth longear sunfish orangespotted sunfish yellow bass carp golden shiner grass pickerel spotted sucker brook silversides * small fish were only collected for the first thirtyminutes.
APPENDIX F 47 1984 electro Species composition list for the May 4, fishing sample from Lake Charleston. # col. 20 129 9 18 4 6 14 1 40 12 31 2 12 3 1 6 6 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis cyanellus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Lepomis gulosus Lepomis megalotis Lepomis humilis Morone mississippiensis Dorosoma cepedianum Cyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Carpiodes cuprinus Ictalurus natalis Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus melas Minytrema melanops Common name largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish white crappie black crappie warmouth longear sunfish orangespotted sunfish yellow bass gizzard shad carp golden shiner quillback yellow bullhead channel catfish black bullhead spotted sucker
48 APPENDIX G Species composition list for the October 3, 1984 electro-fishing sample from Lake Charleston. # col. 17 131 * 10 18 18 5 34 11 10 ** 17 2 4 1 1 3 6 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis cyanellus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Lepomis gulosus Lepomis megalotis Merone mississippiensis Dorosoma cepedianum cyprinus carpio Notemigonus crysoleucas Carpiodes cuprinus Ictalurus natalis Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus melas Minytrema melanops Common name largemouth bass bluegill green sunfish white crappie black crappie warmouth longear sunfish yellow bass gizzard shad carp golden shiner quillback yellow bullhead channel catfish black bullhead spotted sucker * many more seen but not collected. ** only larger bluegill collected during second run. Many hundreds of small Lepomis sp. not collected.
49 APPENDIX H Species composition list for the April 19, 1985 electrofishing sample from Lake Charleston. # col. 5 31 26 4 2 27 87 56 29 8 3 1 4 1 Species Micropterus salmoides Lepomis macrochirus Pomoxis annularis Pomoxis nigromaculatus Lepomis gulosus Lepomis megalotis Merone rnississippiensis Dorosorna cepedianum Cyprinus carpio Carpiodes cuprinus Ictalurus punctatus Ictalurus rnelas Minytrerna rnelanops Esox arnericanus Common name largemouth bass bluegill white crappie black crappie warrnouth longear sunfish yellow bass gizzard shad carp quillback channel catfish black bullhead spotted sucker grass pickerel
50 APPENDIX I Species composition list for the September 15, 1986 electro-fishing sample from Lake Charleston. # col. 1 Species 20 Pomoxis annularis Common name white crappie Note: only white crappie were.netted. APPENDIX J Species composition list for the June 14, 1988 electrofishing sample from Lake Charleston. # col. 19 Species Pomoxis annularis Common name white crappie Note: only white crappie were netted.