Defining Characteristics of an Optimal Shad Population. Sport Restoration Project

摘要

Maintaining satisfactory growth rates of sport fishes is necessary to sustain211u001ehigh quality fisheries. Growth rates of sport fishes vary considerably among 211u001eMissour impoundments. In some reservoirs, sport fishes grow rapidly, while in 211u001eother they grow slowly and few attain desirable sizes for anglers. Poor growth 211u001erates of sport fishes may indicate that inadequate prey resources are available. 211u001eIn most larger Missouri impoundments, gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedlanum are the 211u001emost abundant prey fish, and are important prey for most sport fishes. This study 211u001ewas designed to determine relationships between growth rates of sport fishes and 211u001ethe abundance and sizes of gizzard shad. If the abundance and sizes of gizzard 211u001eshad are important in regulating growth of sport fishes, then it is important to 211u001edetermine what factors influence gizzard shad. If these factors can be 211u001eidentified, it may be possible to manipulate gizzard shad populations so that 211u001ethey provide adequate prey for sport fishes. This Job 4 final report documents 211u001erelationships between gizzard shad and sport fish growth, and identifies factors 211u001ethat influence gizzard shad populations.