Effect of Aquathol K Treatments on Activity Patterns of Largemouth Bass in Two Coves of Lake Seminole, Georgia

摘要

Thirty largemouth bass (udMicropterus salmoideuds Lacepde)udwere implanted with radio tags in late October 2003 in twoudcoves of Lake Seminole, Georgia, and tracked over a 24-hourudperiod about every 10 days to determine their response toudherbicide application. After five weeks of tracking, hydrillaud(udHydrilla verticillataudRoyle) in each cove was treated in earlyudDecember 2003 with dipotassium salt of endothall (AquatholudK; 7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) at audrate of 3.5 ppm. Largemouth bass were tracked during applicationudand tracking continued for three months post treatmentudto assess effects of herbicide treatment on activityudpatterns. The treatment in Desser Cove successfully reducedudhydrilla in approximately half the cove. However, the treatmentudin Peacock Lake completely eliminated all submersedudaquatic vegetation (SAV) by April 2004. Movement and activityudcenters remained similar between treatment periods inudDesser Cove, but increased after treatment in Peacock Lake.udDepth occupied by telemetered fish decreased afterudAquathol K treatment in both coves. In general, behavior ofudlargemouth bass did not change appreciably during treatment,udand only minor changes were observed in the posttreatmentudperiod in Peacock Lake, where all SAV was eliminated.udFish showed little attraction to or movement awayudfrom treatment areas, and fish migration from either coveudwas nil after treatment. Application of Aquathol K and subsequentudreduction of SAV had little effect on largemouth bassudbehavior or movement. (PDF has 8 pages.)