Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Animal Sciences (95)
- Aquaculture and Fisheries (94)
- Laboratory and Basic Science Research (94)
- Population Biology (51)
- Physical Sciences and Mathematics (47)
-
- Environmental Sciences (46)
- Natural Resources and Conservation (32)
- Biodiversity (28)
- Water Resource Management (28)
- Behavior and Ethology (27)
- Environmental Monitoring (25)
- Environmental Health and Protection (20)
- Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment (8)
- Natural Resources Management and Policy (8)
- Animal Experimentation and Research (6)
- Research Methods in Life Sciences (6)
- Sustainability (6)
- Environmental Health (5)
- Other Environmental Sciences (5)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health (5)
- Anatomy (4)
- Medicine and Health Sciences (4)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (4)
- Animal Structures (3)
- Environmental Studies (3)
- Genetics and Genomics (3)
- Publication Year
- Publication
- Publication Type
Articles 31 - 60 of 97
Full-Text Articles in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
A Guide To Otoliths Of Minnesota Fishes, Baylor J. Short
A Guide To Otoliths Of Minnesota Fishes, Baylor J. Short
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Investigations into the diet patterns of piscivores can provide crucial information on predator-prey relationships, population dynamics, and responses to changing ecosystems. However, digestive processes often remove or alter physical characteristics that are traditionally used to identify consumed fish. This problem has been addressed to some degree with advances in molecular technologies, although these methods can be costly and require specific training and equipment to do so. In contrast, bony structures such as otoliths, vertebrae, cleithra, and others frequently have morphologies that are unique among families, genera, and species. Because these structures are resistant to digestion, they can be used to …
The Effect Of Triaenophorus Crassus On The Condition Of Coregonus Artedi, Alexander Surma
The Effect Of Triaenophorus Crassus On The Condition Of Coregonus Artedi, Alexander Surma
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Cisco Coregonus artedi is, historically, the largest commercial fishery in the Great Lakes. The species is also important to commercial and recreational fisheries in inland lakes. Tapeworm Triaenophorus crassus larvae embed themselves into the flesh of Ciscoes, rendering the fish unmarketable to humans. Triaenophorus crassus is common in inland waters such as Leech Lake and Cass Lake, MN. One Canadian researcher has suggested that the parasite negatively affects the growth and weight of Ciscoes. Poor condition can reduce fecundity, leading to lower recruitment rates. This would mean a detrimental impact on not only individual fish, but the health of …
Do Channel Catfish Consume Zebra Mussels?, Casey M. Myers
Do Channel Catfish Consume Zebra Mussels?, Casey M. Myers
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus are a generalized opportunistic feeder with a wide range of diet compositions. In the Midwest, zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha have quickly spread, causing large effects on aquatic ecosystems structures and functions. Channel catfish are known to consume native mollusks, however, little research has been done on the potential predation of zebra mussels by channel catfish. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze channel catfish diets to determine if zebra mussels are consumed. The channel catfish were obtained from the Sauk River chain of lakes between the dates of 14 June and 28 July 2023. …
Effect Of Initial Infestation Of Zebra Mussels On Freshwater Drum Diets In Red Lake, Mn, Marissa M. Pribyl
Effect Of Initial Infestation Of Zebra Mussels On Freshwater Drum Diets In Red Lake, Mn, Marissa M. Pribyl
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha veligers were first found in the Red Lake system in Beltrami County in 2017, however no adult zebra mussels have been documented. When zebra mussels first invade a system, fish often switch their prey use to this new abundant resource. Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens is one of these fish species known to consume physidae and bivalves, including zebra mussels, using pharyngeal teeth, the molar-like grinders in the back of their throats. This research aims to identify any presence of adult zebra mussels in the system and determine freshwater drum diet composition and feeding patterns by analyzing …
Have Rusty Crayfish Affected The Diets Of Yellow Perch?, Matthew D. Kvam
Have Rusty Crayfish Affected The Diets Of Yellow Perch?, Matthew D. Kvam
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most susceptible to invasive species. It is one of the reasons they face the highest levels of species endangerment. Rusty crayfish Faxonius rusticus are one such invasive species, they fragment food webs and negatively affect native species. However, it seems as though native species are beginning to rely on them as a source of food. Yellow perch Perca flavescens, an important forage and game species, is one such species that is highly affected by these invasions. At smaller sizes yellow perch primarily feed on invertebrates whose populations are degraded by rusty crayfish. Therefore, the …
A Diet Comparison Of Bluegill And Bluegill X Pumpkinseed Hybrids, Russell D. Zwiers
A Diet Comparison Of Bluegill And Bluegill X Pumpkinseed Hybrids, Russell D. Zwiers
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus commonly prey upon macroinvertebrates but have been found to show different preferences to what type of macroinvertebrates. Hybrids of the two species have been found to display physical characteristics of both parents but prey selection of the hybrids compared to the parents is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the diets of bluegill and bluegill x pumpkinseed hybrids to understand what each species’ preference is when it comes to food as well as finding how a hybrid’s diet compares to the pure breed of one of the two crossed …
Effects Of Velocity And Substrate Size On The Formation Of Zebra Mussel Druses, Ian Mott
Effects Of Velocity And Substrate Size On The Formation Of Zebra Mussel Druses, Ian Mott
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Zebra Mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an invasive bivalve species that are highly successful at dominating new environments. These invaders have been known to colonize substrate so thoroughly that all they have to attach to are members of their own species. When large mats of interconnected mussels completely cover a riverbed, it can have a drastic effect on the surrounding environment. This study serves to create a better understanding of the hydrologic parameters needed for Zebra Mussels to create these ecosystem-transforming colonies known as druses. Data was collected on a small stretch of the Upper Mississippi River in Northern Minnesota, previously …
Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji, William J. Peterson
Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji, William J. Peterson
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Phytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms that are the base of aquatic food webs. In a dimictic temperate lake such as Lake Bemidji, the environment adjusts with the changing water temperatures and sunlight levels. The phytoplankton in a dimictic lake are adapted to subsist in long term seasonal changes but the exact change to the number of phytoplankton in unknown. The focus of this study was to estimate the biomass of phytoplankton in a long term period including winter stratification and summer peak. From a period between March 2023 and October 2023 water samples were collected from the lake in the south …
Environmental Influences On The Growth Of Inland Cisco Populations In Three Minnesota Sentinel Lakes, Edward Carlson
Environmental Influences On The Growth Of Inland Cisco Populations In Three Minnesota Sentinel Lakes, Edward Carlson
Biology Graduate Theses
Cisco Coregonus artedi are a pelagic cold-water fish that are widely distributed throughout many inland lakes across the northern Midwest and play an important role as forage for large piscivores. Inland Cisco populations have been observed to vary in their overall size and recruitment potential based on the system in which they are found. Cisco are sensitive to oxythermal stress and with climate change, land use, and invasive species effects becoming more prevalent in Minnesota, aspects of lake ecosystems are changing, ultimately making Cisco more susceptible to these stressors. To investigate how different factors were affecting the population dynamics of …
An Assessment Of Burbot Life History In Minnesota With A Focus On Movement Dynamics And Spawning Vulnerability, Tyler Robinson
An Assessment Of Burbot Life History In Minnesota With A Focus On Movement Dynamics And Spawning Vulnerability, Tyler Robinson
Biology Graduate Theses
Burbot have a circumpolar range spanning from rivers of Alaska to lentic systems in Minnesota. Although Burbot population dynamics have been studied, their movement dynamics have been rarely investigated. Our objectives were to assess seasonal home range changes of Burbot in a closed-lentic system and quantify the scale of spawning aggregations. Sixty-six Burbot were implanted with acoustic transmitters in Bad Medicine Lake, Minnesota, with 32 surviving the length of the study period between 10 April 2019 to 11 June 2020. The peak spawning date for Burbot in Bad Medicine Lake was estimated to be mid-March, when home range estimates were …
Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Mercury In Upper And Lower Red Lake Walleye, Tyler Orgon
Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Mercury In Upper And Lower Red Lake Walleye, Tyler Orgon
Biology Graduate Theses
Mercury is a global pollutant that is released into our environment by natural and anthropogenic processes resulting in extensive studies conducted on mercury cycling in aquatic ecosystems which has led to the issuance of human-health-based fish-consumption advisories. We examined total mercury concentrations in Walleye Sander vitreus from Upper and Lower Red Lakes, located in north central Minnesota, between 2019 and 2020. Upper and Lower Red Lake form a contiguous water body consisting of two large (483.1 and 665.6 km2, respectively) basins that are naturally connected by a 1.4 km-wide strait. Both basins are important fisheries for recreation, subsistence, and commercial …
Analysis Of Hematocrit Levels In Walleye Sander Vitreus From Similar Waterbodies, Alyssa Hauser
Analysis Of Hematocrit Levels In Walleye Sander Vitreus From Similar Waterbodies, Alyssa Hauser
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Walleye Sander vitreus are a popular fish among anglers and hold a prominent place in Minnesotan’s identity as their state fish. Because of this, multiple management practices are used to ensure the continued health of their populations within Minnesota waters. In this study, the process of analyzing hematocrit levels was used to determine if the analysis of hematological parameters could be a useful tool in detecting differences in population health. To evaluate this, blood samples were acquired from age-0 and age-1 fish from two similar lakes and run through a hematocrit centrifuge to separate platelets from plasma to read the …
The Effects Of Diet On Yellow Perch Morphology Throughout Lake Bemidji, Quiana L. Radaich
The Effects Of Diet On Yellow Perch Morphology Throughout Lake Bemidji, Quiana L. Radaich
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Morphology is very important as it looks at the arrangement of an organism’s parts to determine their functionality, development, and how they could have changed through evolution. It is also important for the identification of species as it can show how closely species are related. This study examines if the morphology of yellow perch changes throughout Lake Bemidji. Along with examining a subset of five stomachs for each group (A-F) of yellow perch collected to determine if diet was a driving force behind morphological changes. The data collected in this study suggested that morphology does change throughout Lake Bemidji and …
Zebra Mussel Length-Weight Relationships Across Various Substrate Types In Lake Bemidji, Mitch Kehne
Zebra Mussel Length-Weight Relationships Across Various Substrate Types In Lake Bemidji, Mitch Kehne
Journal of Earth and Life Science
As of November 2021, zebra mussels were confirmed in 270 Minnesotan lakes with another 232 lakes listed as infested due to their connection or proximity to where zebra mussels have been found. With lack of effective treatments to impede their spread, zebra mussels continue to colonize new areas causing ecological as well as economic harm. The goal of this study was to establish a length-weight relationship for the zebra mussel population in Lake Bemidji using shell length (SL) and wet weight (WW), as well as to assess substrate type and log transformed shell length as predictors of log transformed zebra …
Changes In The Minnesota Northern Pike Population Over The Past Thirty Years, Joey Severin
Changes In The Minnesota Northern Pike Population Over The Past Thirty Years, Joey Severin
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Northern pike Esox lucius are one of the most popular game fish in Minnesota. Many anglers have noticed that northern pike seemed to decrease in size throughout much of this state. Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) drives average weight for northern pike; within lakes, as CPUE goes up average weight decreases. Decreases in size has led the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) to implement new regulations on northern pike. The MNDNR noticed that not all the state has this same problem with Northern Pike, and has broken down the state into three zones, with different protected slots and …
Feeding Patterns And Diet Overlap Of Muskellunge And Co-Occurring Piscivores In Minnesota Lakes, Kamden Glade
Feeding Patterns And Diet Overlap Of Muskellunge And Co-Occurring Piscivores In Minnesota Lakes, Kamden Glade
Biology Graduate Theses
Muskellunge Esox masquinongy are the largest member of the family Esocidae found in Minnesota and are managed for trophy angling opportunities with large minimum size requirements, limited harvest, and stocking to support existing populations or expand angling opportunities. While Muskellunge impacts at the community level appear minimal based on available literature, relatively little is known about Muskellunge diets, eat the le particularly in Minnesota. In this study, we used gastric lavage to examine gut contents of Muskellunge, Northern Pike Esox lucius, Walleye Sander vitreus, and Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. Diets were quantified using an index of relative importance (IRI) and …
Assessing The Dispersal And Recruitment Of Stocked Walleye Fry In A Northern Minnesota Chain Of Lakes, Joseph W. Amundson
Assessing The Dispersal And Recruitment Of Stocked Walleye Fry In A Northern Minnesota Chain Of Lakes, Joseph W. Amundson
Biology Graduate Theses
As part of Minnesota's Walleye Sander vitreus egg take practice, 10% of eggs taken for hatchery purposes are stocked back into the donor lake. For Andrusia, part of the Cass Lake Chain of Lakes (Chain), this practice can result in elevated fry densities (mean: 17,000 fry/littoral hectare). However, if fry are able to disperse and use all available littoral hectares throughout the Chain, fry densities would be intermediate to typical stocking densities for Minnesota lakes (1,200 - 2,400 fry/littoral hectare). In 2016-2018, 3-3.5 million fry were mass-marked by immersion in oxytetracycline (OTC) prior to stocking into Andrusia to allow differentiation …
Comparing The Condition Of Deformed And Non-Deformed Walleyes In Long Lake, Mn, Clayton Beck
Comparing The Condition Of Deformed And Non-Deformed Walleyes In Long Lake, Mn, Clayton Beck
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Walleye Sander vitreus is a popular game fish in Minnesota. Walleye’s have become such a popular game fish for anglers that it has led agencies to raise Walleye in rearing ponds. Farm raised fish can show deformities due to environmental, genetic, nutritional, infectious, and toxic factors. Due to this phenomenon, the purpose of this study was to determine if the condition of the Walleye differed between those with and without deformities in Long Lake, MN. Angling was the method of capture during the months of September 2020 through July 2021. There was no evidence to suggest condition differed between non-deformed …
Stress Response Of Largemouth And Smallmouth Bass: Barbless Hooks Versus Barbed Hooks C & R, Wesley Steinmetz, Carson Tembrock
Stress Response Of Largemouth And Smallmouth Bass: Barbless Hooks Versus Barbed Hooks C & R, Wesley Steinmetz, Carson Tembrock
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides and Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu are two of the most popular species of fish for anglers to target in Minnesota. In this study, Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass stress was characterized by handling time and recovery time. This study compares handling time and recovery time between barbed and barbless hooks. For Largemouth Bass, there was a significant relationship between recovery time and time out of the water for barbed (P = 0.02, R2 = 0.86) and barbless hooks (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.74). For Smallmouth Bass, there was no significant relationship between recovery time and time …
Effects Of Salt Runoff On Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Colonies, Kendra Fink
Effects Of Salt Runoff On Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Colonies, Kendra Fink
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Aquatic macroinvertebrates bridge the gap in part between primary and secondary consumers, making them ecologically important for most aquatic systems. They are used as biotic indicators for water quality due to their sensitivity to pollutants and may be affected, specifically, by chloride ion concentrations in the water. Water quality can be evaluated by looking at species compositions and their respective tolerance values. To determine long-term effects of road salt on macroinvertebrate colonies, a total of 338 identified macroinvertebrates of 10 families (two generalized to class) at 9 sites were collected from before, after, and between three bridges on Turtle River …
Factors Influencing Aquatic Invertebrate Diversity In Mine Pit Lakes Along The Mesabi Iron Range, Jeremy Laurich
Factors Influencing Aquatic Invertebrate Diversity In Mine Pit Lakes Along The Mesabi Iron Range, Jeremy Laurich
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Restoration of mine pit lakes for recreation is going to be very important for the future of Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range area. As many as 250 lakes will need to be restored in the future along this 100-kilometer-long swath of mining country. Information regarding the organisms that currently inhabit these lakes is important for future restorations to be a success. The focus of this study was to identify the types of aquatic invertebrates present in pit lakes and to identify some of the factors that influence their abundance and diversity. During this study, invertebrate samples were taken along the shore …
Is There A Relationship Between Aquatic Vegetation And Amphipod Stocking Mortality?, Alaina Taylor
Is There A Relationship Between Aquatic Vegetation And Amphipod Stocking Mortality?, Alaina Taylor
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Amphipod occurrence and abundance has declined in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). Wildlife managers have stocked prairie pothole wetlands with Gammarus lacustris since 2018 to establish self-sustaining populations. G. lacustris have been detected in only 2 of 22 stocked basins, suggesting that they have died or failed to reproduce in most stocking attempts. Aquatic plant surveys were conducted in stocked wetlands and compared to data from surveys of wetlands with naturally occurring populations to understand if G. lacustris would be expected to survive in stocked wetlands based on characteristics of the aquatic vegetation communities. SAV coverage was significantly higher in …
Predicting Total Length Of Fish In Minnesota Lakes Using Bony Structure Dimensions, Jay Holland
Predicting Total Length Of Fish In Minnesota Lakes Using Bony Structure Dimensions, Jay Holland
Journal of Earth and Life Science
This study seeks to establish a relationship between a fish’s total length to the size of various bony structures of prey fishes. Three important prey fish species in Minnesota were selected for examination in this study, including Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens. Length and weight dimensions of each fish’s otoliths, cleithra, and vertebrae were associated to total lengths of the fish they came from. In many dietary studies, the need for these relationships is strongly related to the disfigurement or degradation of prey fish in stomach samples. With accurate enough regression equations, researchers …
Abiotic Factors Effect On Summertime Fish Sampling, Kyle Oxley
Abiotic Factors Effect On Summertime Fish Sampling, Kyle Oxley
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Fish surveys are vital in understanding various information about a fishery. Surveys lay the groundwork to how an agency views the status of the fishery, are used to set appropriate regulations, and manage stocking. Understanding which areas of a fishery holds the greatest density of fish is key to achieving the most accurate sample that reflects the fishery. The objective of this study was to track fish densities throughout the summer of 2021 and establish if there is a relationship between high fish density locations and specific water column characteristics. Fish density, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were measured bimonthly at …
Burbot Post-Spawn Diet, Madison Gibson
Burbot Post-Spawn Diet, Madison Gibson
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Burbots have become an increasingly popular game fish among anglers and have become a strong predator within the systems, consuming a wide variety of organisms. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare male and female burbots diets post-spawn in a system. Burbots angled from Bad Medicine Lake were sacrificed and the stomach contents were observed, categorized by the lowest taxonomic key, and then weighed in grams. Percent by weight was calculated for each category of organisms and presented in a pie charts. In all three analyses, crustaceans were the main source of the diet structure at more than …
Effectiveness Of Endothall Treatment In Reducing Potamogeton Crispus In Lake Julia, Jake Sorensen
Effectiveness Of Endothall Treatment In Reducing Potamogeton Crispus In Lake Julia, Jake Sorensen
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Curly leaf pondweed Potamogeton crispus, is a submerged aquatic plant non-native to North America. It was most likely introduced when common carp Cyprinus carpio were intentionally brought to the Midwest. Endothall is an aquatic herbicide commonly used to control curlyleaf pondweed in lakes. This study focused on collecting data from Lake Julia in Sherburne County, MN. Lake Julia is treated annually in the spring to control curlyleaf pondweed. The results show treatment areas saw a significant increase in vegetation density compared to control areas (P < 0.01). Changes in percent vegetation coverage by date were insignificant (P = 0.24). No significant signs of fish kills were observed. Because this study looked at overall vegetation coverage instead of specifically curlyleaf pondweed, we cannot conclude the increase in vegetation coverage was from curlyleaf pondweed alone. Based on the results from Poovey et al. (2002) we would expect lower vegetation coverage in treatment areas instead of the increased vegetation coverage observed in our study. This suggests the possibility that the endothall treatment successfully killed curlyleaf pondweed in treated areas, which allowed for new growth of submerged aquatic plants to take place as water temperatures increased.
Using Northern Pike And Yellow Perch To Attempt A Trophic Cascade, Bryan Sea
Using Northern Pike And Yellow Perch To Attempt A Trophic Cascade, Bryan Sea
Journal of Earth and Life Science
In the midwestern USA, water clarity has decreased in shallow lakes as a result of large populations of Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas and agriculture that impact the life that depend on shallow habitats, such as waterfowl, fish, and aquatic plants. Northern Pike Esox lucius and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens were stocked in a few lakes in attempt to create a tropic cascade and reduce populations of nuisance Fathead Minnows. Northern Pike were stocked as fry and Yellow Perch were stocked as adults either pre-spawn or post-spawn. Lake managers hypothesized adult Yellow Perch would spawn and the age-0 Perch would feed …
Walleye Sander Vitreus Visceral Fat Accumulation, Cole Daleiden, Seth Renner
Walleye Sander Vitreus Visceral Fat Accumulation, Cole Daleiden, Seth Renner
Journal of Earth and Life Science
For ectothermic species, proper lipid retention is critical to surviving in regions with limited growing seasons. Visceral fat is the dominant form of this energy storage in fish. Build up and depletion of these lipids occur seasonally as activity levels change throughout winter and spring. Due to this annual pattern, the purpose of this study is to determine a trend in the amount of visceral fat Walleye Sander vitreus accumulate in a time of year when metabolic rates are low and transition into the spawning process has yet to occur. Angling was the method of capture conducted during the months …
Spatial And Temporal Variability In Post-Larval Yellow Perch Density, Steve Hauschildt
Spatial And Temporal Variability In Post-Larval Yellow Perch Density, Steve Hauschildt
Biology Graduate Theses
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens are important as forage for other species and for sport fishing in many northern lakes. However, estimating post-larval Yellow Perch populations can be difficult because of many environmental factors that cause unexplained variation. The objective of this study was to help reduce unexplained variation by determining a post-larval Yellow Perch population density estimate on Blackduck Lake, MN, provide guidance to help determine the number of trawls required for trawling-based recruitment indices to achieve varying levels of precision, and test for the effects of wind speed and direction on post-larval Yellow Perch spatial variability. This study estimated …
Changes In Walleye Fecundity And Egg Size Before, During, And After Rehabilitation Of The Red Lakes Fishery, Benjamin J. Miller, Benjamin D. Erb
Changes In Walleye Fecundity And Egg Size Before, During, And After Rehabilitation Of The Red Lakes Fishery, Benjamin J. Miller, Benjamin D. Erb
Journal of Earth and Life Science
The Red Lakes in northern Minnesota experienced a major Walleye Sander vitreus fishery crash in the late 20th century, but has since recovered to record abundances and supports a major commercial and recreational fishery. Fecundity is an integral aspect of recruitment that can contribute greatly to the understanding of fishery population dynamics. To elucidate the effects of varying Walleye densities and exploitation rates on fecundity and egg size in years 1989 (overexploited fishery), 2004 (recovering fishery), and 2017 (recovered fishery), we analyzed linear models that related fecundity or egg size to morphological features for these three sampling periods. Walleyes were …