David R. Bayne

This study was conducted to determine population structure, relative condition, food availability, and food habits of bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) from West Point Reservoir in 1980 and 1981. Fish were collected with rotenone and by seining 3 times, weekly, from May through September. Zooplankton and benthic samples were collected at each fish sampling site. Scarcity, small size, relative old age, and poor physical condition of the fish indicated that the population was stunted. Results of fish food inventory and gut content analysis revealed a shortage of preferred food for bluegills of...

In 1980 and 1981, bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, were collected concurrently and in adjacent littoral areas of West Point Lake, a 10,480-ha reservoir (Alabama-Georgia), by seining (S) and by poisoning with rotenone (R). A statistical comparison of total stomach content volume and individual food item volume for Sand R fish was conducted to determine if rotenone caused either gorging or regurgitation of food as reported for some piscivorous fishes. Stomach contents of 744 R and 1,121 S fish were examined. Data were paired by date, site, and fish size. Although significant differences in...