Life Sciences Commons^™

Masked Expression Of Life- History Traits In A Highly Variable Environment, Jason A. Deboer, Joseph J. Fontaine, Christopher J. Chizinski, Kevin L. Pope

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Differing life-history strategies may act as a constraint on reproductive expression that ultimately limits the ability of individual species to respond to changes in the magnitude or frequency of environmental variation, and potentially underlies the variation oft en inherent in phenotypic and evolved responses to anthropogenic change. Alternatively, if there are environmental cues that predict reproductive potential, differential expression of life-history strategies may represent differences in the adaptive capacity to optimize current reproductive value given variation in environmental conditions. We compared several aspects of walleye Sander vitreus spawning ecology at two reservoirs that diff er in environmental variability (i.e., annual …

Experimental Evaluation Of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss Predation On Longnose Dace Rhinichthys Cataractae, Kelly C. Turek, Mark A. Pegg, Kevin L. Pope

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Laboratory and in-stream enclosure experiments were used to determine whether rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss influence survival of longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae. In the laboratory, adult rainbow trout preyed on longnose dace in 42% of trials and juvenile rainbow trout did not prey on longnose dace during the first 6 h after rainbow trout introduction. Survival of longnose dace did not differ in the presence of adult rainbow trout previously exposed to active prey and those not previously exposed to active prey (x²₁ = 0.28, P = 0.60). In field enclosures, the number of longnose dace decreased at …

Effects Of Alternative Framing On The Publics Perceived Importance Of Environmental Conservation, Amanda E. Sorensen, Daniel Clark, Rebecca C. Jordan

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Effective communication of science to the general public is important for numerous reasons, including support for policy, funding, informed public decision making, among others. Prior research has found that scientists participating in public policy and public communication must frame their communication efforts in order to connect with audiences. A frame is the mechanism that individuals use to understand and interpret the world around them. Framing can encourage specific interpretations and reference points for a particular issue or event; especially when meaning is negotiated between the media and public audiences. In this study, we looked at the effect of framing within …

Estimation Of Juvenile Striped Bass Relative Abundance In The Virginia Portion Of Chesapeake Bay : Annual Progress Report : 2014-2015, Christopher D. Davis, Mary C. Fabrizio, Troy D. Tuckey

Reports

The 2014 Striped Bass juvenile abundance index was 11.30 and was not significantly higher than the historic average of 8.56. Abundance indices from individual rivers in 2014 varied compared with their respective historic averages, and significantly higher recruitment was observed in the York and Rappahannock rivers. Average recruitment occurred in the James River. Increased catches of young‐of‐the‐year Striped Bass at upriver and downriver auxiliary sites suggest an expansion of Striped Bass nursery grounds in 2014. Similar to Striped Bass, juvenile White Perch abundance indices in 2014 were above the historic average for this species. A weak year class for Atlantic …

Phase Ii Protecting Juvenile Flounder From Becoming A Crab Pot By-Catch, Michael W. Joslin

Reports

This study is an attempt to discover new methods to reduce the by-catch of juvenile flounder when using conventional crab pots. An escape panel for the juvenile flounder was constructed and inserted into 20 crab pots, known as "treated" pots. To ascertain the validity of the project, 20 "untreated" pots were fished alternating with the 20 "treated" pots. On three rotations of exactly the same number of days being fished, data was collected to determine if the panels were effective as an escape for the juvenile flounder and if the panels had an impact on the number of crabs caught.

Testing Experimental Collection Gears To Increase Harvest Efficiency Of The Electrofishing Fishery Targeting Introduced Blue Catfish In Virginia Waters, George Earl Trice Iv

Reports

The goal of the project was to design a more effective way to harvest invasive catfish (predominantly blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus) in Virginia waters stunned by low-frequency electrofishing (LFE).

Tidal Floating Upweller System (Flupsy), Jennifer Palazzo

Reports

The purpose of our project was to achieve traditional oyster seed growth using the tidal current (not electricity) and a wire cage and bag (not silo) system to deliver nutrients in the upper three feet of water column.

Our Tidal Flupsy design will have long term economic benefits (no pump to purchase/maintain, no extra labor for silo cleaning, and no electrical costs) and be a resource efficient alternative,especially for the small to medium sized oyster operation

Analysis Of Short-Term Temporal Variation In Densities Of Pathogenic Vibrio Species In Virginia Oysters, Kimberly Huskey

Reports

The objective of this project was to establish the baseline densities of the pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus(Vp) and Vibrio vulnificus(Vv) strains in oysters from Virginia across seasons and over a short time scale.

Simulations To Compare The Performance Of Two Length-Based Estimators Of Total Mortality Rate, Amy Y. Then, John M. Hoenig

Reports

Mean length-based methods to estimate instantaneous total mortality rates, Z, are important assessment tools for data-poor stocks. One commonly used method was developed by Beverton and Holt (1956). The behavior of this method, especially in relation to bias, has been fairly well characterized. Another method by Ehrhardt and Ault (1992) was proposed to "correct" the Beverton-Holt (BH) method for applications to length frequency distributions that are truncated at the upper end. The Ehrhardt-Ault (EA) method has zero bias at equilibrium when there is no variability in length at age but the reliability of the method has not been demonstrated under …

The Status Of Stonecats (Noturus Flavus) In The Laplatte And Missisquoi Rivers, Vermont, Elizabeth Puchala

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Stonecats (Noturus flavus, Rafinesque 1818) are designated as a Vermont state-listed endangered species because their known distribution is limited to two systems, the LaPlatte and Missisquoi rivers. The restricted distribution and lack of knowledge on abundance in either river is cause for concern in the continued survival of these populations. Based on the capture numbers and large size range of individuals, we predicted that the population in the LaPlatte River, which provides quality benthic habitat, is stable. However, the Missisquoi River population has the potential for increased intermittent mortalities from two sources, lampricide (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) treatment every four years and dewatering …

Vulnerability Of Larval Fish Populations To Oil Well Blowouts In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Emily Chancellor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

On April 20th, 2010, a fire broke out on the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) offshore oil drilling rig on the Macondo prospect located off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). This fire and resulting explosions resulted in the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig and the largest marine oil spill in history. An estimated 4.9 million (+/- 10%) barrels were released into the Gulf of Mexico over the ensuing 87 days. Many economically important fish species spawn in northern Gulf of Mexico waters; the spawning seasons and pelagic larval phase of many of these species occur within the temporal …