Travis Tuten

Gear catch efficiencies have a large effect on data collected to describe fish populations and communities used by managers to make informed decisions. We measured the retention rate of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and sunfish (Lepomis spp.) from a seeding experiment composed of 10 haul seines pulled at three lakes. Approximately 50 individuals of each group were marked and placed into closed haul seines, and fish recovery rates were measured. Retention rates ranged between 0.34 and 0.94 for black crappie and 0.38 and 0.89 for sunfish. Akaike's Information Criterion was used to...

We investigated the microhabitat selection of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and Suwannee bass (M. notius) using multivariate logistic regression modeling. Relative use probabilities for cover types were similar among juvenile and adult bass of both species with minor differential use. However, the water velocity and depth selection functions between juveniles were associated with slow and shallow locations, while the selection functions between adults were associated with intermediate speeds and depths. The predictive abilities of the habitat selection models significantly...