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Articles 1 - 30 of 97
Full-Text Articles in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
Enhancing Walleye (Ogaa) Recruitment: Evaluating Assisted Reproduction As A Mitigation Strategy, Douglass Keiser
Enhancing Walleye (Ogaa) Recruitment: Evaluating Assisted Reproduction As A Mitigation Strategy, Douglass Keiser
Biology Graduate Theses
Over the past several decades, cold- and cool-water fish populations across the Upper Midwest, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, have shown troubling signs of decline. Among the most affected is the walleye/Ogaa (Sander vitreus), a species deeply embedded in the ecological balance, cultural identity, and economic vitality of the region, and central to the lifeways, treaty-reserved rights, and resource stewardship of Tribal Nations, including Ojibwe communities across the Upper Midwest. Despite ongoing stocking efforts and harvest regulations, many lake systems have experienced persistent declines in natural recruitment, prompting resource agencies to investigate the underlying causes. One such system is …
Emerald Bowfin Amia Ocellicauda Ecology In Three Minnesota Lakes: Abundance, Age Analysis, Diet Composition, And Stable Isotope Food Web, Griffin Blegen
Emerald Bowfin Amia Ocellicauda Ecology In Three Minnesota Lakes: Abundance, Age Analysis, Diet Composition, And Stable Isotope Food Web, Griffin Blegen
Biology Graduate Theses
The Emerald Bowfin Amia ocellicauda is a predatory fish species native to Minnesota that has often been discriminated against. This research expands ecological knowledge of Bowfin in Minnesota and provides population data to guide future management. Bowfin were sampled in the spring of 2024 and 2025 and a multi-census mark–recapture model was used to estimate abundance in three lakes. Estimated populations were 196 individuals in Little Toad Lake (95% CI: 116, 242) or 4.4 fish/littoral ha (95% CI: 2.7,5.7), 657 in Lake Sarah (95% CI: 436, 1014) or 4.2 fish/littoral ha (95% CI: 3.0, 6.7), and 612 in Gun Lake …
Largemouth Bass Diet Changes Through The Summer In Central Minnesota, Ethan Kunz
Largemouth Bass Diet Changes Through The Summer In Central Minnesota, Ethan Kunz
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Largemouth Bass Micropterus nigricans is one of the most widespread fish species in the world, due in part to human introduction for angling. Largemouth Bass are opportunistic predators that will consume the largest prey they can often find; however, it has been shown that their diet mainly consists of invertebrates such as crayfish, with less focus on other fish species. This research aimed to determine what the Largemouth Bass diets in Central Minnesota consist of, and how they may change from the beginning of summer through the beginning of fall. A total of 174 Largemouth Bass were sampled from late …
Relationship Between Ratio Of Hybrid Sunfish To Their Parent Species And Latitude, Maxwell Kattner
Relationship Between Ratio Of Hybrid Sunfish To Their Parent Species And Latitude, Maxwell Kattner
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Hybrid sunfish of the Lepomis genus make up a generally small but notable portion of the population of sunfish in Minnesota lakes. Hybrid sunfish play a significant role in freshwater ecosystems across the United States. They are both morphologically and behaviorally distinct in some ways and similar in other ways to their parent species, causing them to both fill and compete with their parent species for niches occupied by multiple Lepomis species. Despite this, the ratio of hybrid sunfish to their parent species has never been properly explored. This study observed if the ratio of hybrid sunfish to their parent …
Effectiveness Of Walleye Stocking In Winter Kill Lakes, Tyler Haus
Effectiveness Of Walleye Stocking In Winter Kill Lakes, Tyler Haus
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Winter kill events, marked by extensive fish mortality due to hypoxic conditions under the ice, are a common phenomenon in shallow eutrophic lakes, especially in the northern lakes in the northern United States. These events can drastically alter fish communities and often result in the elimination of top predators. Though these lakes will typically slowly bounce back to what they were in a couple of years. This study evaluates the effectiveness of walleye, Sander vitreus, stocking in lakes after a winter kill. For this study, four known winter kill lakes that are consistently stocked with walleye were studied. Pre- …
Assessing Urban–Rural Differences In Largemouth Bass Abundance In Minnesota, Jonathan Gates
Assessing Urban–Rural Differences In Largemouth Bass Abundance In Minnesota, Jonathan Gates
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Urbanization can significantly alter freshwater ecosystems and influence sport fish populations. This study examined differences in largemouth bass Micropterus nigricans catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) between urban and rural lakes in Minnesota and evaluated temporal changes between 2000–2010 and 2011–2021. Forty lakes (20 urban, 20 rural) were selected using Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries survey data. Lakes were classified using NLCD 2019 land cover data, with ≥10% developed land designated as urban. Nonparametric analyses (Wilcoxon rank-sum and signed-rank tests) were used to assess spatial and temporal differences in CPUE. Results showed that rural lakes had consistently higher median CPUE than urban lakes …
Statewide Northern Pike Response To Minnesota’S 2018 Regulation Change, Elijah Wozniak
Statewide Northern Pike Response To Minnesota’S 2018 Regulation Change, Elijah Wozniak
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Management of northern pike (Esox lucius) is challenging because it attempts to balance ecological sustainability with angler interests. Northern pike often stunt their own growth by diminishing the size and abundance of prey fish, their food source. Anglers are often displeased when small pike occur in high population densities. In response to populations of small northern pike, the DNR implemented a new, statewide northern pike regulation in 2018. The objective of this study was to determine whether the regulation successfully changed the mean weight, length, and CPUE of northern pike in Minnesota. The secondary objective was to test …
Neonicotinoid Bioaccumulation In Bluegill And Bullhead Within Lake Julia And Lake Zumwalde, Jake Stuber
Neonicotinoid Bioaccumulation In Bluegill And Bullhead Within Lake Julia And Lake Zumwalde, Jake Stuber
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus, Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis, and Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus are unique in their stark differences. Bullhead are scaleless bottom feeders that can tolerate high pollution and low O2 conditions. In contrast, Bluegill are scaled, aggressive nesters and are less tolerant of high pollutants or low-oxygen conditions. Among these pollutants include a class of chemicals called neonicotinoids (hereafter referred to as neonics). Neonics are a class of insecticides primarily used within agriculture and pest management. Due to the effectiveness, application has escalated on a global scale. They have been well documented by many toxicology assessments. …
Comparison Of Calcified Structures To Estimate Ages Of Northern Pike Esox Lucius In Various Lakes, Kaed Rauk
Comparison Of Calcified Structures To Estimate Ages Of Northern Pike Esox Lucius In Various Lakes, Kaed Rauk
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Northern pike Esox lucius are a dominant predatory fish in many aquatic systems. They can have significant impacts on the ecosystems they inhabit and are also a popular game fish among anglers. However, northern pike are a difficult species to age accurately. This study aimed to compare calcified aging structures to identify trends and determine which structure provides the most accurate age estimates. A total of 119 northern pike were sampled, and multiple structures from each fish were independently aged by two readers. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated for each structure to assess precision. Sectioned sagittal otoliths exhibited …
Evaluating The Condition Of Age-0 Burbot In Relation To Diet, Cian Verbridge
Evaluating The Condition Of Age-0 Burbot In Relation To Diet, Cian Verbridge
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Burbot are becoming more and more popular for angling and aquaculture. However, populations have been declining across the world. Very little information is available about their early life and their interactions in the ecosystem due to challenges in sampling. Condition estimates and diet metrics were used to better understand the status of burbot in Lake Bemidji. Using backpack electrofishing, 45 young of the year burbot were collected. The lengths ranged from 86 to 146 mm and the wet weights ranged from 4.29 to 24.36 g. The stomach contents were removed and stored in ethanol for later analysis. The burbot were …
Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez
Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Wild rice (mannoomin; Zizania palustris) is an aquatic grain that grows in slow-moving rivers and shallow bays throughout northern Minnesota. In Headquarters Bay on Leech Lake, wild rice has served as a cultural staple for Indigenous communities for centuries. However, its population has declined in recent years due to multiple environmental issues. One potential contributor is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM), an invasive species that forms dense mats capable of outcompeting native aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. EWM was first recorded on the southern shoreline of Leech Lake in 2005 and has since become widespread. This study …
The Effect Of Zebra Mussels On Minnesota Fish Communities, Benjamin D. Strei
The Effect Of Zebra Mussels On Minnesota Fish Communities, Benjamin D. Strei
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an aquatic invasive species that has been spreading quickly throughout Minnesota water bodies since 1989. Zebra mussels are known to change certain morphological conditions in lakes such as turbidity, phytoplankton abundance, and aquatic invertebrate populations. However, studies showing impacts of the infestation of zebra mussels on the health of a fish community have been hard to prove due to a lack of repeated surveys and a suite of other confounding variables such as natural and seasonal variability, plant community, and lake morphometry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether zebra mussels have …
Size Of Age-0 Sander Vitreus Pre And Post Dreissena Polymorpha Infestation On Brainerd And Bemidji Area Lakes, Quady Bernu
Size Of Age-0 Sander Vitreus Pre And Post Dreissena Polymorpha Infestation On Brainerd And Bemidji Area Lakes, Quady Bernu
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Walleye Sander vitreus is the Minnesota state fish and a vital predator fish in lake ecology. Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha were first found in Minnesota inland lakes in the 1980’s. These mussels have had huge impacts on water clarity as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton population levels which affect how age-0 fish feed, especially a low light feeding predator fish like walleye. A study took place on age-0 walleye size and it supported the conclusion that age-0 walleye were negatively impacted by zebra mussels in Minnesota’s large lakes. The goals of this study were to determine how the size of …
Microsatellites Reveal The Population Genetic Structure Of Yellow Perch In Minnesota, Megan Boche
Microsatellites Reveal The Population Genetic Structure Of Yellow Perch In Minnesota, Megan Boche
Journal of Earth and Life Science
When analyzing a population’s genetic makeup, looking at variation of individuals and populations is a crucial factor. The management of yellow perch will be aided by this information particularly in regard to stocking or relocation. Microsatellite loci were used to analyze the genetic population structure of yellow perch Perca flavescens within and among 29 sampling areas throughout Minnesota’s basins. Seven microsatellite DNA loci were evaluated, with heterozygosities ranging from 0.41 to 0.78. The Lower Mississippi basin samples showed higher numbers of alleles per locus and greater expected heterozygosities compared to other basins, with Lake Pepin (PEP) exhibiting the highest average …
Aquatic Invertebrate Populations In Roadside Wetlands In Relation To Water Characteristics, Ellen P. Isakson
Aquatic Invertebrate Populations In Roadside Wetlands In Relation To Water Characteristics, Ellen P. Isakson
Journal of Earth and Life Science
The continual habitat destruction and draining of wetland systems makes the need to understand the ecology of roadside wetlands all the more necessary. Roadside wetlands provide valuable habitat to countless aquatic invertebrates, which can provide insight into the health of the wetland system due to their diversity. The objective of this study was to analyze the populations of aquatic invertebrates in roadside wetlands in relation to water characteristics such as pH, salinity, conductivity, water depth and temperature, and dissolved oxygen. This was done by collecting samples of invertebrate populations from roadside wetlands, in addition to data on water quality characteristics …
Journal Of Earth And Life Science, Academic Year 2024-2025, Megan Boche, Nathan D. Pyburn, Ben Hoover, Jayden R. Alsleben, Hector Montoya, Jr, Reed Cumberland, Rose Kuhlmann, Ray Anderson, Ellie Isakson, Seth Sisneros-Martinez, Zanden Mellen, Quady Bernu, Cian Verbridge, Benjamin D. Strei, Madelaine Adamich, Arian Garcia, Tegwen Romportl, Sandra J. Marcu, Bemidji State University
Journal Of Earth And Life Science, Academic Year 2024-2025, Megan Boche, Nathan D. Pyburn, Ben Hoover, Jayden R. Alsleben, Hector Montoya, Jr, Reed Cumberland, Rose Kuhlmann, Ray Anderson, Ellie Isakson, Seth Sisneros-Martinez, Zanden Mellen, Quady Bernu, Cian Verbridge, Benjamin D. Strei, Madelaine Adamich, Arian Garcia, Tegwen Romportl, Sandra J. Marcu, Bemidji State University
Journal of Earth and Life Science
No abstract provided.
Size Structure Of Black Crappie And Bluegill In Northern, Eastern, Western, And Southern Minnesota, Ray Anderson
Size Structure Of Black Crappie And Bluegill In Northern, Eastern, Western, And Southern Minnesota, Ray Anderson
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Fish size structure is an important factor in a fishery population. Panfish such as black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus play a major role in the health of fisheries. Five lakes from southern, northern, eastern, and western Minnesota were selected for analysis. Data were collected using standard sampling methods, including gill nets, electrofishing, and fyke nets. Length-frequency distributions were created to assess size structure in each region. Relative abundance was measured using catch per unit effort. Data analysis included a one-way ANOVA to compare Proportional Size Distribution (PSD) values and the distribution of fish sizes among regions. Chi-square …
Comparison Of Hoop Nets To Trap Nets In Sampling Panfish, Jayden R, Alsleben
Comparison Of Hoop Nets To Trap Nets In Sampling Panfish, Jayden R, Alsleben
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Panfish including bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus are gamefish species of significance found in Minnesota. Hoop nets and trap nets are two types of gear that can be used to sample these fish. Fisheries managers and anglers alike are interested in the best tactics to capture panfish. The behavior of fish, including bluegill and black crappie, change throughout the sampling season and make it difficult to assume accurate representations. Trap nets have historically been adequate in sampling near shore populations, but questions surrounding the gear have allowed other options to be pursued. The objective of this study …
The Relationship Between Plant Density And Microplastic Concentration In The Water In Lake Bemidji, Mn, Arian Garcia
The Relationship Between Plant Density And Microplastic Concentration In The Water In Lake Bemidji, Mn, Arian Garcia
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are an increasing environmental threat, particularly due to their widespread distribution and toxicity. While much research has focused on larger freshwater and marine ecosystems, the presence and impacts of microplastics in smaller inland lakes remain less understood. This study investigates the relationship between plant density and microplastic concentrations in Lake Bemidji, a smaller freshwater lake. A total of 30 water samples were collected across varying vegetation conditions, ranging from open water (0%) to 90% plant coverage. Microplastics were identified and categorized into six morphological types: fibers, fragments, films, spheres/beads, and foam. The samples …
A Sample Of Fish Communities In Beaver Ponds Of Northern Minnesota, Reed Cumberland, Rose Kuhlmann
A Sample Of Fish Communities In Beaver Ponds Of Northern Minnesota, Reed Cumberland, Rose Kuhlmann
Journal of Earth and Life Science
The North American beaver Castor canadensis is an ecosystem engineer and a keystone species to the environment. Beaver inhabit ponds and construct dams to build ponds that provide habitat for certain fish. Little information is provided on the species of fish that live in beaver ponds. The objective of this study is to sample the fish communities in beaver ponds while comparing the effectiveness of two styles of minnow traps. Twelve beaver ponds were selected in the Bemidji area to be sampled. The quantity and species caught in each style of trap were recorded to compare effectiveness of each trap …
Does Depth Affect Zebra Mussel Length In Scalp Lake?, Zanden Mellen
Does Depth Affect Zebra Mussel Length In Scalp Lake?, Zanden Mellen
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Since its first sighting in 1996, zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha have been confirmed in hundreds of Minnesota lakes. Not only were they found in lakes, but they are also found in rivers too. With lack of effective treatments to impede their spread, zebra mussels continue to colonize new areas causing ecological as well as economic harm. The objective of this study was to see if there was a relationship between a zebra mussel length and the depth, they are found using shell length (mm) and depth (cm). The comparison of zebra mussel length and depth was done by performing a …
Age Class Is Not Related To Size Or Composition Of Home Ranges Among Suburban White-Tailed Deer During Parturition, Nathan D. Pyburn
Age Class Is Not Related To Size Or Composition Of Home Ranges Among Suburban White-Tailed Deer During Parturition, Nathan D. Pyburn
Journal of Earth and Life Science
How white-tailed deer use the landscape in an urban environment can help us understand the effects of urbanization on deer populations. White-tailed deer form observable matriarchal hierarchies in studied populations. This study examines the matriarchal structure, home range size, and home range composition of 25 collared white-tailed deer within the city limits of Bemidji, MN. The results found no significant difference between age class and home range size or composition. However, movement metrics from yearling and mature age classes were more similar than the juvenile age class females. I propose this is because social acceptance between mature females was higher …
Relationship Of Utricle And Trap Door Size On Common Bladderworts Utricularia Macrorhiza, Tegwen Romportl
Relationship Of Utricle And Trap Door Size On Common Bladderworts Utricularia Macrorhiza, Tegwen Romportl
Journal of Earth and Life Science
The common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza is a carnivorous aquatic plant that captures organisms with its bladders. This study was aimed at setting the stage for future research which might determine if U. macrorhiza could be a biological method of control for invasive species. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between utricle and trap door sizes and to gather data on the size ranges of these two morphological features. A regression analysis was used to obtain results which showed there was enough evidence to suggest that the size of bladderwort trap doors have a significant, positive relationship …
The Effects Of Habitat Characteristics And Location On Brook Trout Size Distribution, Bryce Groves
The Effects Of Habitat Characteristics And Location On Brook Trout Size Distribution, Bryce Groves
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Adfluvial Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis are known to typically grow larger than riverine Brook Trout. The Kabekona River in Hubbard County, Minnesota exhibits suitable habitat for both fluvial and adfluvial Brook Trout populations. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationships between depth, stream width, canopy cover, water temperature, sediment size, and distance from Kabekona Lake on Brook Trout size distribution in the Kabekona River. Brook Trout (n=35) were angled from the Kabekona River from August 24 to September 26, 2023. Each fish was measured and released, with habitat metrics being recorded at time of release. ArcGIS was …
Effect Of Walleye Fry Stocking On Future Gillnet Cpue, Alexander Barker
Effect Of Walleye Fry Stocking On Future Gillnet Cpue, Alexander Barker
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Walleye Sanders vitreus for many states, is a key attractant of anglers from around North America. Due to immense popularity, management efforts have been conducted to maintain Walleye populations, especially in the form of stocking. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of Walleye fry stocking on gillnet catch per unit effort (CPUE). A total of 90 lakes were analyzed for this study within three defined regions of Minnesota, 30 from each region. The regions chosen for this study are the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources northern pike Esox lucius regulation regions which consist of the Southern, …
Fillet Weight Comparison For Bluegill, Black Crappie, And Yellow Perch, Mikenna A. Pattrin
Fillet Weight Comparison For Bluegill, Black Crappie, And Yellow Perch, Mikenna A. Pattrin
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Panfish, including bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and yellow perch Perca flavescens are three sought-after species. Anglers often perceive a change in regulations as an attempt at limiting the amount of harvest. However, the goal of many regulation proposals is to increase the size structure of panfish, allowing anglers to achieve their ideal harvest with less fish. The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between panfish fillet weight and total length to estimate how many fillets would be needed to reach a harvest weight of 0.5 lbs. The secondary objective was to …
Specific Measurements Of A Yellow Perch Head Compared To The Total Length, Alex Timm
Specific Measurements Of A Yellow Perch Head Compared To The Total Length, Alex Timm
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens is a popular fish for harvesting in Minnesota. Because of this the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources survey populations with gill nets, however, some water bodies have Rusty Crayfish Faxonius rusticus that commonly consume most of the body leaving only the head to be accurately measured. The goal of this research was to see if there is a relationship between specific measurements of the head and the total length of the fish. The number of Yellow Perch sampled in this study was 72 and all came from Lake Bemidji in Minnesota during the month of October …
Long Term Trends In Mortality Rates Of A Smallmouth Bass Population, Caleb D. Anderson
Long Term Trends In Mortality Rates Of A Smallmouth Bass Population, Caleb D. Anderson
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu are known as a popular sport fish for anglers. When a known smallmouth bass fishery appears to have a dwindling population, it raises questions about the population health. A common indicator of the health of the population is the mortality rate. By comparing mortality, conclusions can be made on whether smallmouth bass are dying at a different rate in the system over time. Therefore, the objective of this study was to see if there had been a significant change in smallmouth bass mortality over a span of thirty years in Round Lake (DOW:010204), Aitkin County, Minnesota. …
Relationship Between Northern Pike And Walleye Cpue In Minnesota Lakes, Simon Oslund
Relationship Between Northern Pike And Walleye Cpue In Minnesota Lakes, Simon Oslund
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Northern pike Esox lucius and walleye Sander vitreus are both top predators in freshwater systems. Due to their predatorial nature, high populations of one species can prohibit populations of the other species from thriving, specifically northern pike foraging on walleye. This information is tracked by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources through catch per unit effort (CPUE). CPUE data was gathered for all lakes in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and a regression analysis was done to test for a relationship between pike and walleye. It was found that the relationship between northern pike and walleye CPUE was significant (P = 0.02). …
The Effects Of Length, Weight, Age, And Gender On Mercury Concentrations In Burbot In North-Central Minnesota Lakes, Liam Hanley
The Effects Of Length, Weight, Age, And Gender On Mercury Concentrations In Burbot In North-Central Minnesota Lakes, Liam Hanley
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Burbot Lota lota in north-central Minnesota lakes have the potential to reach large sizes and consume large volumes of prey. This caveat may make burbot susceptible to higher rates of biocontamination, bioaccumulation and biomagnification. The objective of this study was to determine how changes in age, length, gender, weight, and lake affect total mercury concentrations in burbot. In this experiment 28 burbot were angled from three lakes: Cass (n = 17), Winnibigoshish (n = 4), and Bad Medicine (n = 7). Then tissue samples were taken from each fish and were lyophilized and homogenized. Homogenized tissue samples were analyzed by …