Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Samples of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were collected by electrofishing in 28 streams in 5 southeastern states between June 1977 and March 1978. Whole and sectioned otoliths were used to estimate age and the annual growth increments of 998 fish. General compliance with 4 criteria suggested validity of the otolith ageing method. Although 1 fish was age X, 98% were age III or younger. Brook trout from all streams grew the most in length during their first year. Second-year growth represented 28% (median) of median first-year growth. Growth of males and females did not differ significantly. Growth rates were generally slower than those reported for brook trout from other regions. Age and growth patterns of individual populations were not consistent within a given drainage basin. In several streams, no fish obtained a length of 152 mm (6 inches) or the minimum legal limit, by age III.

The biology of the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, was studied extensively from September 1982 to July 1984. Females were larger and lived longer than males. Males grew faster than females during the first 6 years of life and females more in later years. Twelve age groups were identified. Age groups V and VI represented 33% of the population. Males were more numerous than females in the winter and spring. Annual gonad development began in October and spawning occurred in late April and early May. Males matured at age V and females at age VIII. Prominent fat body development was related to gonad development. Cyclopoid copepods and cladocerans were the dominant food items. Tag returns were high indicating a high fishing mortality. Adult paddlefish congregated in large groups and moved extensively. Harvest data suggest the need for regulations governing commercial utilization of the species in Lake Cumberland.

A comparison of striped bass, Morone saxatilis, egg abundance, distribution and survival during 2 years in the Savannah River estuary gave some indications of the possible effects of the Savannah River Tide Gate on the spawning success of this species. Eggs are more likely to be found farther upstream when the tide gate is in operation. Apparently striped bass respond to increased salinities by spawning farther upstream. By using egg stage as a measure of age, survivorship curves based on relative abundance of the different egg stages were calculated. While the 1977 data were of limited use for this purpose, the excellent fit of the 1978 data indicates that this technique could be used to advantage to estimate in-river egg survival rates. Adjusted mortality to hatching was 0.984 in 1977 and 0.999 in 1978.

The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) population of the French Broad River was sampled to determine relative abundance and growth characteristics and to document muskellunge reproduction. In addition, forage fish availability was also documented. Electrofishing catch per unit of effort rates were 4.7 fish/hour in the French Broad River. Over one-third of the muskellunge captured were non-stocked fish, indicating reproduction is occurring. Back-calculated total lengths for muskellunge in the French Broad River were 325, 476, 621, 727, 809, 881,910,961, and 1,026 mm total length at ages I-IX, respectively. Growth patterns of French Broad River muskellunge are similar to other riverine populations. That is, growth rates are faster at the younger ages (I-III) and slower at the older ages (VII-IX) than lacustrine populations.

A radio-telemetry study was conducted to determine spatial and temporal movements of adult striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in the Jones Bluff section of the Alabama River. Five fish were successfully implanted with radio transmitters during the summer of 1981 and the spring of 1982. These fish made extensive use of the Thurlow Dam tailwater on the Tallapoosa River. The fish arrived at Thurlow Dam in the spring when temperatures ranged from 16° to 17.5° C and left the tailwaters in late fall and early winter when water temperatures decreased to 19.5° and 18.5° C in 1981 and 1982 respectively. Study fish overwintered in the Alabama RiverlJones Bluff Reservoir 145 to 177 kIn downstream from Thurlow Dam. In Thurlow Dam tailwater, peak striped bass movement occurred at dawn and dusk. One major holding site was used during daylight hours when water was not being released and 3 additional sites were used when it was; movement between sites accounted for most daylight movement.

Twelve adult fish, three each of northern and Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides and M. s. jloridanus) in each of 2 approximately 2-ha impoundments were implanted with ultrasonic transmitters and located over a period of 1 year to determine if distributional differences existed between the subspecies and to determine what factors might be responsible for any observed differences. Home range was beween 0.37 and 1.11 ha for all individuals. Average home range sizes were similar between subspecies and ponds. However, Florida bass generally made intensive use of small areas (i.e., usually <0.2 ha) within their home ranges while northern bass locations were more evenly distributed throughout their home ranges. Activity centers, within home ranges, rarely overlapped those of other tagged fish and seasonal shifts in their location were not apparent. Selection of water depths and type of cover was similar for both subspecies and reflected availability within the ponds.

We sampled the fish community of 607-ha Lake Ellis Simon (Lake Ellis), North Carolina, from 1980 to 1983 with 6 types of gear. Several currently used fishery indices were calculated from the data and the values evaluated for classification of the fish community of Lake Ellis Simon. More of the 21 species recorded from the lake were taken by electrofishing and rotenone (18 and 17, respectively) than by the other methods. Electrofishing provided the largest catch per unit of effort. Standing crop estimates based on rotenone sampling were 51 kg/ha in 1981 and 78.7 kg/ha in 1983. About 91% of the biomass in the rotenone samples was contributed by 8 species: yellow bullhead (Ictalurus natalis), lake chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta), yellow perch (Percaflavescens), bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), chain pickerel (Esox niger), redfin pickerel (Esox americanus americanus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

A 3-year tagging study was conducted to determine movement and distribution of catfish in the St. Johns River, Florida. A total of 8,800 white catfish (lctalurus catus), channel catfish (I. punctatus), brown bullhead (I. nebulosus) and yellow bullhead (I. natalis) were tagged with Floy FD-68B anchor tags from May 1983 through December 1985. Of these tagged fish, 1,227 (13.9%) were recaptured. The highest return was from lake habitat (22.8%) followed by riverine (17.1 %) and tributary (7.0%) habitats. The longest distance travelled was 178.2 kIn upstream. Approximately 52.0% of the recaptured catfish travelled upstream while 24.4% moved downstream and 23.6% remained stationary. Once a catfish reached the Lake George area, the likelihood that it would be available to the commercial fishery downstream appeared remote.

Highway construction necessitated relocating 0.8 kIn of Simpson Creek, a small Appalachian trout stream. Streambank stabilization was undertaken using a flexible soil reinforcement matting made of heavy nylon monofilaments fused into an 18-mm thick mat of open construction followed by grass seeding. The matting provided a matrix for vegetative root development and accelerated revegetation over untouched banks and banks only hydro- or hand-seeded. Loss of the project during a 100+ year flood is attributed primarily to soil type and channel configuration problems.

Wildlife agencies in the 16 southeastern states were surveyed by mail to determine what programs were offered to encourge wildlife management on and public access to privately owned lands. To promote wildlife management on these lands, 14 agencies offered technical services, 7 agencies provided wildlife management materials, and 1 offered tax incentives. Public access to private lands was promoted through free cooperative areas in 9 states and fee-based cooperative areas in 5 states. All agencies considered their programs successful. Seven agencies were studying new programs to encourage management and 5 agencies were examining new programs to increase public access. Opportunities for agencies to improve management on and access to private lands may be with forest industry ownerships, the federal Conservation Reserve Program, and compensation of landowners.

A population estimation technique for red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis), originally developed in the South Carolina Coastal Plain, was tested in the Georgia Piedmont. The technique provided an accurate estimate within 8% of the true population size. The survey procedures have been tested in the major habitat types occupied by red-cockaded woodpeckers and should provide valid population estimates throughout the species' range.

Relative abundance of birds and cavity use by vertebrates were determined on 2 20-ha sites in a mature, second-growth Appalachian forest. One site received timber stand improvement (TSI) by tree girdling 25 years prior to measurement, and the other site did not receive TSI. Although snag density, animal-created cavity density, tree density, and tree basal area were higher on the TSI site than on the control, there were few differences in the relative abundance of birds between sites. Whitebreasted nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) and wood thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) were more abundant on the control than on the TSI site. Cavity use was dominated by gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans). Higher snag and animal-cavity densities did not result in higher cavity-associated bird abundance on the TSI area relative to the control area, but cavity use by vertebrates was higher on the TSI area than on the control.

A non-electric method of detonating blasting caps used to release whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and turkey (Meleagus gallapano) drop nets was investigated under field conditions. This method was tested on 12 occasions, with 9 drops on deer or turkey. This method is considered safer than the electric dynamite cap method and results indicated that it is comparable to the electric blasting cap method in reliability and ease of assembly.

Stomachs from 111 adult-size (~1.83 m) alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were collected during September 1981 and 1982. Alligators were harvested from cypress (Taxodium distichum) lake habitat. Reptiles and amphibians ranked highest in frequency of occurrence, but mammals were the most important food items in percent weight and percent volume. Reptiles and amphibians, primarily turtles, were second in importance, followed closely by fish, primarily non-game species. Non-food items comprised almost 25% of stomach contents by weight and volume.

Wildlife agency personnel monitored 70 hunters using centerfire weapons and shotguns to take free-swimming American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) at a managed freshwater marsh in southeast Texas. One or more shots were fired by 64 hunters at 117 alligators of which 43 alligators were killed and retrieved; a minimum of 17 were visibly hit but not retrieved. There was no association between the outcome of a specific shooting event and the method of hunting, size of the alligator, or distance at which shots were initiated. There was an association between outcome of an event and the type of weapon used; shotguns resulted in more hits without retrieval. Despite better performance than shotguns, centerfire weapons caused a minimum 22% nonretrieval rate.

People (N = 1,2(0) with first hand knowledge of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) were interviewed in October 1982 by questionnaire to determine observability and reaction following harvest on Newnanas Lake, Alachua County, Florida. Of 353 respondents, 60% enjoyed seeing alligators, and 52% attributed a decline in abundance to harvest. Most (76%) approved of harvest, but 20% believed it was part of the nuisance alligator program. No differences (P > 0.05) were detected concerning harvest approval when compared by age, sex, and user group. Males (P ≤ 0.01) and young «40 years) (P ≤ 0.01) respondents derived more pleasure from observing alligators. Additional public information and education pertaining to alligator management are needed.

Systems claiming to predict fish and wildlife activity based on solar and lunar gravitational forces are popular among sportsmen. If valid, these could have implications for wildlife management. Two such systems, the Solunar Tables® and Fish and Game Forecastet, were evaluated using data from free-ranging and captive birds and mammals. Neither system accurately or consistently predicted activity, although some data sets revealed suggestive relationships.

During 1981-1984, digestive tracts of 262 coyotes (Canis latrans) from Tennessee were examined for food items, and data were assessed in relation to sex, age, seasonal, annual, and spatial variation. Foods with highest percent occurrence were rodent, persimmon (Diospyros virginia), rabbit (Sylvilagus spp), and whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). There were no differences between sexes and for foods eaten, and only persimmon varied significantly among age classes. Seasonal variation was found for rodent, insect, reptile and amphibian, opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and persimmon. Livestock, insect, and grass varied across years. Little spatial variation in food use was detected, and examination of environmental data with percent occurrence of food items revealed no associations.

Forty-five ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) were relocated in late summer 1984 from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Piedmont of Georgia to assess the feasibility of establishing huntable populations. Nineteen radio-equipped birds survived 2 to 183 days (x = 82 days). Radio-monitored grouse preferred hardwood scrub habitats, sparse hardwood sawtimber, and bottomland hardwoods-all of which had high understory stem densities. Unradioed grouse were observed periodically from release until spring of 1985, but there was no evidence of reproduction. A grouse also was seen in the study area 2 years after the release (August 1986). Survival and moderate range sizes, dispersal, and daily movements indicated that the study area was capable of supporting grouse at least through early spring. However, heavy losses to predators occurred during late fall and winter. The number of grouse released may have been insufficient to sustain overwinter losses and reproduce successfully.

Gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) harvest was investigated on a 2,320-ha Maryland study area from 1976 through 1981 using harvest/recovery estimates (Brownie et al. 1978) of marked squirrels. The minimum percentage removed by hunters was estimated to be 7% of adults and 9% of young and subadults. Hunting pressure, expressed as the number of trips, averaged 1,641 annually over a 17-week season with the majority (95%) occurring in the first 6 weeks. Average annual survival rate estimates were 0.52 for adults and 0.46 for subadults and young. However, survival esimates were variable. Results showed that current harvest levels could be sustained.

Data from 2 aerial surveys of waterfowl using catfish ponds were used to compare sampling efficiences between 2 stratified sampling designs and 2 completely random designs. Completely random designs produced slightly lower coefficients of variation (CV) than post-stratified sampling designs. The unbiased estimator was simplest to compute. Based on a curve established from proportions of catfish ponds sampled and CV's, sampling intensity may be reduced if lower levels of precision were acceptable. Sampling intensity can be reduced by employing a stratified design and optimal allocation of the sample size.

Brood habitat use and preference by eastern wild turkey hens (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied by radio telemetry in central Mississippi in 1984 and 1985. Habitat use and preference were determined for 11 broods in the 1-14 days age group and 8 broods in the 1-84 days age group. Mature bottomland hardwood forests with a continuous canopy, sparse shrub and understory, and moderate herbaceous (grasses, forbs, vines, sedges) ground cover were highly perferred (P ≤ 0.05) brood habitat for both age periods. Mature pine (Pinus spp.) stands and pine or hardwood regeneration areas > 1 year were avoided. Use of fields or burned pine stands was low and was influenced by their location in reference to preferred habitat.

Seventeen female eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were fitted with transmitters and monitored continuously during March 1984-May 1985. Mean home range for 4 hens that survived the 15-month study period was 677 ha. Adult (i = 66 ha) and subadult (i = 149 ha) home ranges differed (P < 0.05) during spring and may be related to nesting activities. Mean home ranges during summer, fall, and winter were 124,402, and 254 ha, respectively. Average distance traveled in 24 hours did not differ (P > 0.05) between age classes or among seasons. Subadults and adults differed (P < 0.001) in their habitat use with the greatest disparity occurring during spring. Intermediate (11- to 20-year-old) pine was the most consistently preferred (P < 0.05) habitat. Upland sites were preferred (P < 0.05) during nesting. Turkeys concentrated activities in areas surrounding dairy pastures.

Forty-four adult (;;'2.5 years) white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) does were separated into 9 groups. Each group was offered a paired combination diet of high, medium, or low protein; and high, medium, or low digestible energy (DE) for a 60-day period ending December 1983 (Study I). Forty-six adult does were maintained on a paired combination diet of high or low protein and high or low digestible energy for a 6-month period ending December 1984 (Study II). Thyroid gland activity data were collected only from deer in Study II. Thyroid activity based on cell height was greater at high than at low protein (P ≤ 0.05). Ovarian activity and thymus weight data were collected from deer in Studies I and II. Number of corpora lutea in Study I was greater at medium protein than at high or low protein and greater at high and medium energy than at low energy (P ≤ 0.05). Mean size of the 5 largest ovarian follicles in Study II was greater at high than at low protein (P ≤ 0.01).

Fifty-two white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus) were obtained from penned breeding stock (31) and wild captures (21) during the 1985 fawning period. Birth dates ranged from mid-April to late August. Fawns were reared in pens on evaporated milk. Water and calf starter were provided ad libitum. Fawns were weighed at 2 week intervals. Birth weights recorded for 23 fawns and estimated for 8 fawns of known birth date, differed (P ≤ 0.05) among early, middle, and late born fawns. Weight gain also differed (P ≤ 0.05) among birth categories with fawns born during the middle period gaining weight the fastest and reaching the heaviest weaning weights.