University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Estimating population size of largemouth bass and black crappie at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve prior to reconnection to the Illinois River

Mendenhall, Olivea M.; DeBoer, Jason A.; Fritts, Andrea K.; Fritts, Mark W.; Pendleton, Richard M.; Solomon, Levi E.; VanMiddlesworth, Todd D.; Casper, Andrew F.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95738

Description

Title
Estimating population size of largemouth bass and black crappie at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve prior to reconnection to the Illinois River
Author(s)
  • Mendenhall, Olivea M.
  • DeBoer, Jason A.
  • Fritts, Andrea K.
  • Fritts, Mark W.
  • Pendleton, Richard M.
  • Solomon, Levi E.
  • VanMiddlesworth, Todd D.
  • Casper, Andrew F.
Issue Date
2017-03-15
Keyword(s)
  • Illinois River
  • Emiquon Nature Preserve
  • Population estimate
  • largemouth bass
  • black crappie
  • fisheries
  • fish populations
Geographic Coverage
  • The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Nature Preserve
  • Illinois
Abstract
Prior to completion of the water control structure at The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Nature Preserve (Emiquon), a mark-recapture study was conducted on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus to estimate the populations of both species. Largemouth bass > 150 mm and black crappie > 100 mm were captured using pulsed-DC electrofishing, fyke nets, and tandem fyke nets and double tagged using T-bar style clear tags. Results of this study show very large populations of both species, with populations of largemouth bass estimated at 21,090 (17,110-27,484) and black crappie estimated at 205,042 (91,198-490,563). Information gained in this study will allow Nature Conservancy managers to make informed decisions on future management actions and allow for potential evaluation of those management actions on two major components of the recreational fishery at Emiquon.
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey Prairie Research Institute
Series/Report Name or Number
Technical Report INHS 2017 (12)
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95738

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.