Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

When applied to ponds at equivalent rates, liquid fertilizer was much more effective than granular triple superphosphate in increasing futrable orthophate concentrations. Four methods of applying liquid fertilizers were tested: (1) liquid fertilizer was introduced into the intake side of a pump, mixed with water, and discharged into ponds, (2) a power sprayer was employed to spray the fertilizer over portions of pond surfaces, (3) a compression-type hand sprayer was used to spray fertilizer along shallow water edges of ponds, and (4) fertilizer was drained into the propeller wash of an outboard motor as the boat was driven back and forth over pond surfaces. All 4 methods proved effective. For 20 tests (5 for each method), filtrable orthophosphate concentrations averaged 0.02 mg/l before application and 0.29 mg/l 24-hr after treatment.

Six cages (1 m3 each) suspended in a Virginia pond were each stocked with 100 channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerlings (127 mm TL, average) to evaluate 2 commercial fish feeds, each replicated 3 times. Both commercial diets were nutritionally complete and expanded 4-mm diameter pellets of comparable texture, color, and water stability. The daily feeding rate was 3% of biomass during the 124-day feeding period. Growth, net production, and feed utilization efficiencies with commercial trout feed were significantly greater than with commercial catfish cage feed. Survival was not influenced by diet type. The observed differences in catfish growth, production, and feed utilization efficiencies were primarily attributed to the higher levels of methionine, lysine, and metabolizable energy in the commercial trout feed.

Growth studies of channel catfish (Icatalurus punctatus) from 2 domestic and 2 wild strains were conducted in ponds. Growth rate, percent survival and size variability were evaluated. Domestic strains had higher growth rates than wild strains. There were no significant differences among strains for survival. Initial variations at stocking in length and weight among strains (as a function of time of spawning) were reduced during the growing season.

First generation inbred channel catfIsh (Ictalurus punctaius) were produced from full brother-sister matings to be compared in growth response to various temperature regimes to a control family produced from the same base population. Temperature regimes involved: (1) constant 22 C well water for 28 weeks, (2) well water heated to 27 C for 20 weeks and not heated (22 C) for the subsequent 8 weeks, and (3) ambient temperature of a 2-ha reservoir. Results indicated that genetic divergence between 2 lines was associated with a differential response to temperature regime. Weekly weight gain and total length growth were the highest in ambient temperature, intermediate in 27C, and least in 22 C temperature. Inbred catfIsh gained more than the controls in all 3 temperatures.

Bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) in 1.6-ha commercial channel catfish ponds fed entirely on zooplankton did not use demand feeders. Catfish ponds with buffalo stocked at 14 to 125 fish/ha had an average zooplankton density of 14 ml/m3 , as compared to 57 mlIm3 in catfish monoculture ponds. At a stocking rate of 500 buffalo/ha, 681 kg/ha of buffalo were produced in addition to the catfish crop.

Bigmouth buffalo (BM) (Ictiobus cyrinellus) X black buffalo (BL) (L niger) and BL X BM were compared with BM parentals when reared in polyculture with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), grass carp (Ctenopharynogodon idella) , and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) over a 2-season period. All buffalo were 1 year old when stocked and 2~ years of age at harvest. All other fish were yearlings when stocked. Stocking rates per hectare were 2500 catfish, 30 grass carp, 100 bass and 250 buffalo. At harvest, catfish averaged slightly over 1 kg each, while bigmouth, BL X BM, and BM X BL hybrids were 2.86, 2.93, and 2.14 kg, respectively. Grass carp averaged 3.33 kg each for all combinations. Highest catfish yields and greatest total fish production were achieved in the polyculture combinations. The polyculture stocking combination with bigmouth buffalo was best with BL X BM next. The monoculture yield was lowest, even when just catfish production was compared.

Abnormal characteristics studied were taillessness, triple-tailed, crookedback, albinism, and piebaldness in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and missing dorsal rm in blue tilapia (Tilapia aurea). Tailless catfish were divided into 2 groups: (1) totally tailless with the caudal rm completely missing and (2) partially tailless with the caudal rm reduced in size and modified in shape. Results indicated that the absence of the caudal rm in channel catfish severely reduced body weight and total length and should be selected against. Crooked back abnormality reduced body weight by 28 and 39% at 4 and 12 weeks of age, respectively. Triple-tailed catfish, however, were comparable in body weight to normal catfish at 4 and 12 weeks of age. Tailless, partially tailless, and normal catfish did not rank differently under different culture conditions indicating that multiple-environmental testing will not be required to determine relative growth of the 3 phenotypes.

Age and growth data pertaining to particular year-classes of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), white crappie (Pomoxis annularis), bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), white bass (Morone chrysops), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), blue catfish (Ictalurus (urcatus) , and channel catfish (L punctatus) from particular Oklahoma impoundments were tested for consistency of backcalculations at particular annulus formations among sampling years. A compilation of the results showed that there were significant differences (a = 0.10), among what should have represented the same populations of scaly fish 69, 76, and 46% of the time for backcalculations at annulus I, annulus II, and annulus m, respectively. Significant differences among catfish data occurred 59 and 38% of the time at annulus I and annulus II, respectively.

The reproductive biology of chain pickerel in Lake Conway, Florida was studied from July 1976 to June 1977. The overall ratio of females to males was 1.1:1.0. Spawning apparently took place in shallow water among thick Vallisneria during a sharply dermed period from December to February. Average fecundity per female was 1232. Youngest fish to spawn were 2 years old.

Food of larval yellow perch (Perea flaveseens) from Keowee Reservoir, South Carolina was determined before (1973) and after (1976) power production began a 2,580-MW nuclear power plant Mean water temperatures at 1 m increased 2-3 C throughout the reservoir by 1976. The diet of larvae examined consisted exclusively of zooplankton. Cyclopoid copepods, Diapromus mississippiensis and Diaphanosoma braehyurum were the principal organisms eaten in all areas even though other organism were sometimes more abundant. The operation of the plant reduced zooplankton abundance in the discharge cove while the amount of zooplankton consumed by larval yellow perch increased.

Food items of 29 channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) collected during flooding of the Tombigbee River, Mississippi were almost exclusively composed of insects although other arthropods and in 1 case 2 rodents were eaten Terrestrial insects composed 84.7%, by weight, of the food eaten by catfish taken during floods compared to 1.2%, by weight, of the stomach contents of 15 catfish taken during normal flow conditions. Members of the orders Rodentia, Oligochaeta, Orthoptera and Trichoptera were the dominant foods, by weight, during flood conditions, contributing 64.4,6.1,6.0 and 5.8%, respectively. The stomach contents, by weight, of the catfish taken during normal flow were composed mainly of fish (51.0%), trichopterans (17.4%) and crayfish (12.9%).

Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) were introduced into the Cape Fear River in 1966 when 11 adult specimens weighing in a total of 107 kg were released near Fayetteville, North Carolina. The population has expanded from this initial release and now inhabits a 201·km section of the Cape Fear River. Growth rates of flathead catfish during this expansion phase has exceeded rates of riverine populations as previously reported by other investigators. Fishes were found to be the dominant forage consumed by flathead catfish as measured by frequency of occurrence, total numbers and total weight Species from the families Ictaluridae, Centrarchidae and Clupeidae were the most frequently utilized. A comparison was made of fish population samples taken prior to the introduction of flathead catfish with samples collected during this study.

A field investigation of 3 cutoff bendways and 1 natural bendway in the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (Tombigbee River) was conducted from December 1979 to September 1980. Conductivity, pH, and current were significantly different (P < 0.05) among transects regarding corresponding bendway locations. Conductivity, dissolved oxygen, current, carbon dioxide, alkalinity, secchi visibility, turbidity, ammonia, total phosphorus, and orthophosphorus were significantly different among bendways. Dissolved oxygen stratification occurred from late July through August with little or no dissolved oxygen in the bottom stratum at most transects. Six divisions of phytoplankton including 150 taxa were observed. Lowest total numbers of plankton occurred in December (l21/ml) and increased to a maximum of 20,632 organisms/ml in late August.

The distribution of spawning blueback herring was determined on the West Branch of Cooper River and on the Santee River, South Carolina. On the West Branch of Cooper River, the main river channel and abandoned ricefields were utilized for spawning. The use of tributaries for spawning was limited. On the Santee River, the main river channel and tributaries were utilized for spawning. Ranges for selected physical and chemical water quality characteristics associated with the distribution of spawning blueback herring were determined from 9 Cooper River and 15 Santee River sampling stations during the herring run. Those ranges were: surface water temperature, 11 - 20 C; dissolved oxygen, 6 - 11 mg/l; dissolved carbon dioxide, 5 - 25 mg/l; pH, 6.0 - 7.5; and depth, 0.4 - 3.1 m.

The striped bass (9) white bass (d') hybrid (Monroe saxatilis X chrysops) was fIrst stocked into West Point Reservoir in May of 1978. Fishermen interviews established that a fIshery had developed as early as January of 1979. The hybrid bass were stocked at 2 rates over the period of study, 84 mixed fry and fingerlings per hectare in 1978 and 150 mixed fry and fingerlings per hectare in 1979. Fish in the 1979 year class had a mean length at annulus 1 which was 48 mm greater than those stocked in 1978; threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) made up most of the diet, and increased growth in 1979 was apparently due to an increased abundance of threadfm shad. Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus), gizzard shad (D. cepedianum), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were also found in the stomachs of hybrids that were longer than 100 mm. Hybrid bass that had not yet progressed to a piscivorous diet relied heavily on insect larvae of the family chironomidae.

Numerous young of the year sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) trawled from West Hackberry nearshore sites along the Louisiana coast indicated spawning peaks occurred during spring and late summer. Sexual maturity is reached at about 1 year of age and 150 mm SL for males and females. Growth of zero-year class sand seatrout during summer to fall and fall to winter was approximately 40 mm SL. Standard length of sand seatrout collected during the study ranged from 26 to 268 mm. Small young of the year were abundant during summer and winter at the nearshore site and during winter at the Weeks Island offshore site. Numerous individuals older than 6 months were present only during summer and fall at the nearshore site. Peak condition of spring fish at the nearshore site indicated preparation for spawning and favorable environmental conditions.

Effects of liberalized season and the institution of a trophy trout water classification were evaluated at 35 sample stations on 24 trout streams. Trout standing crop significantly increased (0.05 level) at 1 station and significantly decreased at 2 stations. Two stations showed significant increases and 2 stations showed significant decreases in trout abundance. Analyses of pooled data for all streams indicated no significant change. Following the implementation of the 11month season, trout standing crop increased in 50% of the streams and 71% exhibited an increase in trout abundance. The longer fishing season apparently has had little effect on the lotic population of wild trout. All trophy trout waters showed increased standing crops and abundances with significant increases (0.05 level) in standing crops in 2 streams and a significant increase in abundance in 1 stream. The trophy trout regulation has served to increase the wild trout biomass and abundance.

Knowledge and attitudes are major components of environmental perception and are important influences on each other. Knowledge about ecological concepts, wildlife, and endangered and threatened species was measured, using 1,300 8th-graders in Broward County, Florida, as the sample group. Knowledge scores were associated with attitudes, non-consumptive attitude orientations, involvement in animal activities, and other variables. Knowledge plays a relatvely minor role in predicting attitudes. Knowledge was significantly related to 16 to 25 attitude items, but the associations were weak, indicating that other factors may be more important determinants of attitude. Non-consumptive users of wildlife greatly outnumbered consumptive users and were more knowledgeable. Sex, race and parental education were the most important demographic predictors of knowledge.

Lead poisoning of waterfowl is a serious problem causing a loss nationwide of about 2 million ducks and geese each year. Using non-toxic shot on key problem areas may be as significant to the well-being of our waterfowl resource as preserving nesting areas, a project which has long been an important objective of waterfowlers. Yet many hunters fail to see the extent of the lead poisoning problem or object to the use of steel shot for various reasons. With this in mind, the Southeastern Directors I&E Committee with 16 directors concurring at the annual meeting have voted to distribute a 15:50-min, 80-slide presentation produced by the Southeastern Cooperative Information and Education Committee. This project explains the seriousness of the lead poisoning problem and addresses 3 major complaints hunters voice regarding the use of steel shot: price, barrel damage, and fear of increased loss.

The conflict between trappers and houndsmen in many areas of the southeast, over the same resource, the raccoon, has nationwide implications. Animal rights organizations have publicly attacked trapping, and indications are that these anti-organizations are encouraging the conflict between trappers and houndsmen to help their goal to abolish trapping, then coursing and other forms of hunting with dogs. Trappers and houndsmen must unite and form an alliance to collectively fight this threat to both sports. The following is the script of a slide show that has been developed for use by all states in the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

One of the most important, yet difficult challenges facing wildlife agencies is increasing the public's awareness of the economic value of wildlife. Wildlife associated recreation including hunting, fishing, bird watching and other outdoor activities all add dollars to national and state economies. Yet, loss of this potential is rarely considered when conflicts occur between habitat protection and development. This slide show addresses the economic value of wildlife and can be adapted for use by all states in the Southeastern Association membership.

A system for program development and evaluation of fisheries and wildlife extension programs is presented. The system based on the character and needs of potential audiences. Landowners, commercial interests, general public, youth groups and conservation organizations are considered the important citizen audiences. Significant professional audiences include university colleagues, natural resource agency professionals, and university students. For each audience, a rationale for involvement and suggestions for the nature and extent of program development is provided.

Members of federal and state agencies as well as the public schools are being asked to provide conservation education information and activities for the general public. This session deals with successful teacher conservation education training activities in Oklahoma, general methods and procedures that characterize a successful workshop, and research providing data concerning workshop effectiveness.

The need for effective hunter education is great and growing. Program effectiveness should be evaluated by agency administrators and external authorities. Administrators can perform a self-evaluation, based on a new model of the ideal program developed by the Hunter Education Committee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the North American Association of Hunter Safety Coordinators. The model recognizes the role of external evaluation to penetrate the difficult questions of educational effectiveness of the program. Major concepts of educational evaluation, including a discussion on threats to the validity of evaluation research are disussed. The Virginia hunter education program is being evaluated to determine if graduates have sufficient knowledge of safety and ethics and if graduates behave closer to ideal hunters in the field than hunters who have not participated in the program.