Kurt Kuklinski

This project sought to classify 108 Oklahoma impoundments based on water quality as well as determine if water-quality parameters in these impoundments influenced the relative weight (Wr) of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) and black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Agglomerative hierarchical clustering and subsequent discriminant analysis of seven water-quality parameters resulted in the grouping of impoundments into three classes. Chlorophyll-a, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen were the most important...

New supervisory biologists can find themselves tasked with operational responsibilities (e.g., personnel, budgets, procurement, safety) with limited formal training in those areas. This sometimes sudden role change can be jolting, but it need not be debilitating. Here we present information and guidance on various topics ranging from recruiting new personnel and conducting performance evaluations to maintaining a sound safety program as well as confronting legal considerations regarding personal and institutional liabilities for job-related issues. Often, your first task as the new...

Blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus electrofishing samples were collected on nine Oklahoma reservoirs and age and growth estimates were made on seven of these reservoirs. Catch rates of blue catfish were high (up to 700/h) on all reservoirs sampled but catch rates of preferred-sized (>762 mm total length) catfish were low (<5/h). Growth rates varied widely both within and among reservoirs but were generally slow with blue catfish not reaching preferred size until ages 13-16. A negative relation between catch rates and growth was identified. Total annual mortality rates averaged 26% for...