Randy S. Kautz

Determinations of the habitat values of a particular site can be viewed from the perspective of either individual wildlife species or the wildlife community as a whole. When reviewing development proposals, the habitat values of a site to particular species are most important when species listed as endangered or threatened are present since these species are among our highest conservation priorities. In the absence of listed species, the habitat values of a site to the entire wildlife community assume importance. Major factors which influence the richness of species and abundance of...

The status of the fish populations of 8 North Florida rivers and their relationships to major quality parameters were explored in an effort to better understand potential effects of man's activities. Of the 10 water quality parameters analyzed, only conductivity, total dissolved solids and total nitrogen were found to have significant predictive capabilities for the total fish population Rivers in the Florida Panhandle, which are low in nutrients, pH and organic carbon and high in turbidity, support a high biomass of rough fish, a moderate biomass of sport fish, and a low biomass of...

From an analysis of the trophic status and fish populations of 22 Florida lakes, total fish biomass is low in oligotrophic lakes, increases to a maximum in mesotrophic-eutrophic lakes, and fluctuates around the maximum value in hypereutrophic lakes. Total fish density likewise is low in oligotrophic lakes and increases to a maximum in mesotrophic-eutrophic lakes; but unlike biomass, fish density declines as lakes become hypereutrophic and gizzard shad becomes the dominant species of fish. Sport fishes reach maximum biomass and optimum densities in mesotrophic-eutrophic lakes with a total...