Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Israeli carp (Cyprinus carpio) eggs were cold-shocked after fertilization at various temperature regimes and durations. Nine months later their hlood was sampled for analysis. Stained erythrocyte nuclei were measured with an ocular micrometer to calculate mean relative areas. Polyploidy appeared to have heen induced in each coldshock group, hut no group appeared to consist entirely of polyploids. Gonadal examination showed no apparent differences hetween the control group and the cold-shocked groups.

Growth of striped bass Morone saxatilis fry on a diet of rotifers was studied in the laboratory and in the field. Although the rate of growth was slower when rotifers were the principal food than when other acceptable zooplankton were eaten, rotifers were judged to be acceptable as a starting diet. This was based upon the fact that survival was higher and more consistent from pond to pond than was the case when mixed zooplankton was the source of food initially. Trichlorfon as Masoten® was used in rearing ponds to reduce predaceous and competitive invertebrates and to favor development of the rotifer population.

During summer, 1976, limnological and fish population data were obtained from 56 flood prevention lakes of the Trinity River watershed. Fish samples obtained by gillnetting, electrofishing, and seining indicated that the principal fishes were largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), black bullheads (Ictalurus melas), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), channel catfish (lctalarus punctatus), golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), and redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus). Analysis of fish data was performed by simple and multiple correlation techniques in relation to physical, limnological, and biological variables. Variation in fish biomass, as indicated by gill net catch, was explained by a combination of biological and physical characteristics, whereas species composition was a more important factor in largemouth bass models.

The most noticeahle differences in the pre- and post-impoundment tailwater fish communities in Green and Barren rivers, Kentucky, were reduced biomass, loss of cyprinid species, increased game-fish numbers, and decreased rough-fish numbers. These differences were attributed to altered post-impoundment environmental conditions in the tailwater (lowered water temperatures and irregular flow patterns), and species recruitment through the dams. Carp, while not present before impoundment in the tailwater reaches, represented a prominent component of the community after damming.

Dispersion patterns of 578 tagged rainbow trout stocked into pool and riffle habitats of Big Stony Creek, Giles County, Virginia, were determined from voluntary tag returns and a creel census of fishermen during the 1979-80 trout fishing season. Twentytwo percent of the trout remained within the original 30 m stocking location; 45 percent of the trout moved downstream whilc 33 percent moved upstream. The median dispersion distance and direction for aU trout that moved beyond tbe initial release sites was 30 m downstream. The majority (75%) of the marked fish were caught within 400 m of the stocking location. There was no significant difference (P > 0.136) between the median distance moved of trout stocked into pools and those stocked into riffles. Three major physical factors (residence time, water temperatures, and stream flow rates) were found to strongly influence stocked trout dispersion.

Creel census data for 3 catchable trout fisheries in Virginia revealed that desirable attributes of the fisheries increased from a lightly-stocked stream to a lightlystocked lake to a heavily-stocked stream. Total effort, participation by non-local anglers, evenness of seasonal use, catch rate, and return rate all were higher for the heavilystocked stream than for the lightly-stocked stream. For the trout lake, total effort and participation by non-local anglers were similar to the heavily-stocked stream, but catch per effort, return rates of stocked fish, and seasonal distribution of effort were similar to the lightly-stocked stream. Most anglers at the lake fished from shore, so that a large portion of the potential fishing area was not utilized.

Two hundred and thirty Roanoke bass (Ambloplites cavifrons) were collected from the Tar and Eno rivers in Piedmont, North Carolina. Seven age groups (I to 7) were collected from the Tar River and 5 age groups (I to 5) were collected from the Eno River. Mean back-calculated total lengths were similar in both rivers. Five-year old fish from the Tar River averaged 246 mm and from the Eno River 243 mm. Roanoke bass were generally opportunistic feeders, hut larger individuals selectively fed on crayfish (Cambarus sp.) and fish. Feeding appeared to he concentrated in ve~etated riffle areas.

Age-growth analysis was performed on Anguilla rostrata from 2 study sites on the Cooper River, South Carolina. Length ranged from 98 to 834 mm and weight ranged from 1 to 1224 g. Examination of otoliths gave mean age of 5.1 years with a range of 0-15 years. Length-weight relationship was established as: log w = -6.56 + 3.34 log (L). Eels were sexed by morphological and histological examination of gonad tissue. Males comprised only 1.6 percent of the population from Pinopolis Dam and 1.3 percent from Wadboo Creek. Eels smaller than 210 mm could not be sexed.

Larval fish were collected in the Lower Mississippi River at Sunnyside Revetment on 27-28 June 1978 to investigate diel fluctuations in diversity and ahundance and to determine whethersamples collected for 1-2 hours and from opposite sides of the hoat can he considered replicate samples for a time period. Numher of taxa and density differed significantly (P < 0.01) hetween time periods of the diel cycle. Numher of taxa and density were greatest at dusk. Twelve taxa were collected only in dusk, night, and dawn samples. Aplodinotus grunniens, Carpiodes spp. and c1upeids accounted for 95 percent of the larvae collected. A. grunniens and Carpiodes spp. were more ahundant in dusk and night samples. Clupeids were more ahundant diurnally.

The 1978-79 survey of Arkansas' wild commercial fishery was compared to a previous 1977-78 survey. A tremendous increase in the commercial fishery industry has occurred since mid 1977. The 1978-79 commercial fishery harvest of 8,320,774 kg valued at $4,923,259 represents a probable all time high for the industry. Large increases in the number of licensed commercial fishermen and their gear were also documented for 1978-79. Catch per unit effort values were reported for the various gear types from each watershed.

Tilapia aurea and T. mossambica fry were stocked in a flowing system at varying stocking densities (5,10,20,30,40,50 and 60 fish/tank in 60 liters of water) in an intensive tank culture system. The fish were maintained for 1I5 days on commercial pelleted feed. In terms of length increase, weight gain, condition, total yield, and food conversion rates, T. aurea performed significantly better than T. mossambica at all stocking densities. The T. mossambica experienced much higher mortality and reduced growth due to an auto-immune reaction related to stocking density, which effectively limits the density at which this species can be stocked. Hypersensitivity reactions began when the biomass reached about 20g/liter with a turnover time of one-half hour, although further research is needed to completely quantify their crowding tolerance limits. T.

Ichthyoplankton communities of Galveston, Texas barrier island environments were characterized from 22 January through 27 August 1979. Beachfront and saltmarsh sites were sampled with a Renfro beam trawl to determine seasonal and diel trends in species composition and abundance of subadult fishes. Beach and saltmarsh constituted important temporary habitats for many ichthyoplankton species. Most larvae initially penetrated beach and tidal pass habitats but sought nutrient-rich saltmarsh environs. The beachfront yielded the highest number of taxa while the saltmarsh produced the greatest catch per effort. Peak ichthyoplankton abundances at both sites occurred during winter and early spring. Day and night sampling at the beach yielded similar catch statistics while peak yields at the saltmarsh consistently occurred during the day.

Artificial midwater structures constructed primarily with fiberglass panels and automobile tires were placed in an oligotrophic storage reservoir to determine the extent of fish association witb these structures. SCUBA observations were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the structures. Comparisons were made between these and previous structures used by Reeves et al. (1977). Six species of game fish were attracted; however, Alahama spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus henshalli) and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were the predominant species. Concentrations of harvestable spotted bass were noted throughout most of the summer months.

Adult mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) were live trapped on the Texas A&M University Campus during August through December in 1978 and 1979. Known adult doves were examined to determine the sequence of primary replacement. A linear regression of primary molt on time indicated that less than 1 percent of adults completed molt by 1 September. All adult doves had completed molt by 1 December. Classing all doves which have completed molt in September as hatch-year birds would cause no significant aging bias in Texas.

Trapped or hunter-harvested juvenile female mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in Virginia were examined for reproductive activity during the late summer and fall of 1975, 1976, and 1977. Body, ovary, and oviduct weights, diameter of the 3 largest follicles in the ovary, presence or absence of eggs in the reproductive tract, and presence or absence of crop gland activity were recorded for all trapped juveniles. Blood samples also were collected for estradiol and progestin analysis. All pertinent reproductive data, excluding body weights and blood samples, were collected from hunter-harvested juveniles as previously described. Gonadal and crop gland data indicated that a small percentage offemale doves attained puberty at approximately 93 days (07 primary feather replacement). Reproductive capabilities of juvenile females appeared to increase with age class.

Success of I-parent mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) nests was the same as success of normal 2-parent nests, when the nests were disrupted following the eighth day after hatching. The time from hatching to fledging of I-parent nests was the same as the period of parental care for normal2-parent nests, when the nests were disrupted following the tenth day after hatching. Nests disrupted before the eleventh day after hatching, required a longer period of parental care. The age of 2 squabs, which could be successfully reared by 1 adult, coincides with the onset of crop gland regression in the adult.

This study in 1972-73 in northweste"n Oklahoma, using soil-vegetation cores and sweep-net samples, assessed the seasonal biomass of invertebrates and "principal" seeds that are potential foods of bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in 2 natural (stabilized dunes, upland woods) and 4 man-altered habitats (old disked areas, recently disked areas, mature food plots, and thinned bottomland forest). Mature food plots had greater (P< 0.05) amounts of seeds during summer and fall than other habitats. Food productivity remains high the second year after a food plot is planted and perhaps longer. Stabilized dunes and old disked areas contained the most foods during winter. Stabilized dunes are preferred winter habitat and require little or no management. When not disturbed annually, disked fire lanes were rich in quail food and did not require the planting costs of food plots.

A 10-year study of interrelationships between highways and wildlife was conducted to determine potential management options and to identify areas where further research is needed. Management of highways for wildlife is divided into 3 phases: geographic location, design, and maintenance. Specific recommendations are: (1) create wetlands adjacent to highways by using highway base as a dam, (2) design bridges to attract birds such as swallows, but to repel birds such as starlings, (3) mow cover crops at 3-5 year intervals, (4) seed woody species, using native plants, at time of construction, (5) initiate a public education program to explain benefits of managing highways for wildlife, and (6) use management practices to mitigate losses where adverse impacts due to highways cannot be prevented.

This paper presents a vegetative classification system based on photosynthetic layers (overstory, understory, etc.) that is easily applied to a variety of habitat types and can be used to evaluate a habitat for various wildlife species.

A DDT manufacturin/!; plant that operated on the Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Alabama dischar/!;ed DDT-laden effluent from 1947 to 1970 into a creek on Wheeler National Wildlife Refu/!;e. Seven to 9 years after the plant closed, high DDT, DDE, and DDD levels were reported in soils, river sediments, and fish in the area. Eleven of 27 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) collected on the Refu/!;e during February 1979 had carcass DDE residues that exceeded levels associated with e/!;gshell thinning. DDE residues in a smaller number of mallards exceeded levels associated with egg breakage, poor hatchability, and abnormal behavior and poor survival of offspring. Several avian species have disappeared from the Refuge since 1950, prohahly due to hoth industrial discharges of DDT from the plant and insecticidal use of DDT in the area.

Maryland's Cooperative Wildlife Management Area Program provides public hunting on selected private lands surrounding the Baltimore metropolitan area. An agreement is signed by the landowner permitting tbe Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Administration to manage the wildlife resource on his property. The Wildlife Administration, in return, is responsible for posting the area, establishing access points, repairing hunter caused property damage and controlling hunter use by issuing daily permits. A total of2,899 ha (30 units) were open during the 1979-1980 hunting season. One thousand seventy nine different hunters utilized 56.7 percent of the 7,523 permits available during the 1979-'80 hunting season. Sixty-seven percent of hunters using the program were from the Baltimore area.

Soft mast production was measured on lohlolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations, ages 1 to 9 years, in Kemper County, Mississippi. A fertilized 6-year-old plantation, site prepared hy hedding, had the largest numher (6) of soft mast produce,'s. B1ackhelTY (Rubus argutus) production accounted for 91 percent of the total soft mast yield. B1ackherry and total soft mast production (93 kg/hal was significantly greater (P < 0.05) on a 5-year-old hedded plantation than on all othe,' plantations. Total fruit yield was greater on 6- and 7-year-old fertilized than on ,wn-fe"tilizl'd plantations.

Total deer (Odocoileus virginianus) forage (grass, forb, vine, woody) in August was significantly (P < 0.05) greater on burned (481 kg/ha) and burned-thinned (554 kg/ha) than on untreated plots (141 kg/ha) in an 8-9 year old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation. Total deer forage also was significantly greater on burned (57 kg/ha) and burned-thinned (53 kg/ha) than untreated plots (26 kg/ha) in February, 1979 and 1980. Total deer forage on burned plots declined 52 percent in August and 50 percent in February in the second year after treatment. The decline was only 18 percent (August) and 24 percent (February) on the burned-thinned plots.

Small mammal and bird commumtles were compared between uncut and improvement cut stands in bottomland hardwoods and upland pine-harrlwoods. Uncut plots were compared between riverfront hardwoods and a nearby cottonwood (Populus deltoides) plantation. More (225%) small mammal captures were made on cut plots in bottomland hardwoods than on uncut plots. Small mammals were captured more frequently than expected on ridge sites in bottomland hardwoods. Captures increased 143 percent following cutting in upland hardwoods, but captures were not different between riverfront hardwoods and a cottonwood plantation. Bird species diversity anrl equitability were highest in the spring and/or summer rlue to the occurrence of large flocks of yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata), common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), and white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis).

Time-area counts in east-central Mississippi revealed squirrel (5ciurus spp.) fall densities of 3.06/ha in pine-hardwood forests (PH), 3.14/ha in pine-hardwood forests next to streamside management zones (PH-SMZ), and 6.55/ha in streamside management zones (SMZ) in 1974. In 1975 squirrel densities were 1.48/ha (PH) and 2.55/ha (SMZ). Densities were also higher in SMZ (3.38/ha) than in PH (2.32/ha) and in PH-SMZ (1.95/ha) in 1978. PH had a slightly higher squirrel density (3.41/ha) than SMZ (3.36/ha) in 1979. Average detection distance was 31.4 m and average time for detection was 13 minutes. SMZ with an average width of 100 m in bottomland sites, provided higher (averaging 4.08 squirrels/ha) gray squirrel (5. carolinensis) populations.