Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

The author explains how he involved high school FFA students in wildlife depredation control, hunter education, and wildlife habitat improvement programs in a large, rural west-central Arkansas county.

The professionalism of an officer and his department is established through the values and principles he chooses to live and work by. The quality of the individual, the family, the dependent, and the community depends on his code of ethics. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the importance of high ethical standards in a law enforcement officer's work and in his every day life.

The Verbal Tactics Training program was developed to teach both new Missouri Department of Conservation agent trainees and veteran agents how to use verbal skills as a force option to control or defuse dangerous situations. This program is a key aspect of our sequential training for officer survival. The training is conducted by means of lecture, group discussion, role playing, and simulated field checks. Verbal Tactics training strengthens officer awareness during field confrontations.

The role of the Wildlife Officer has changed dramatically over the years, due to expanded police powers, growth in population, endangered and threatened species enforcement, and environmental degradation. In South Florida, specialized enforcement activities have been established to protect Florida panthers on several highways in the Big Cypress Preserve. The West Indian manatee receives considerable attention during the winter months. Endangered sea turtles receive special enforcement efforts during nesting season. Environmental problems associated with dumping and pollution are increasing dramatically throughout the state.

The concept of accreditation for law enforcement agencies became a reality in 1983 when the first agencies were accredited with the newly formed Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. Accreditation provides a means for all law enforcement agencies, regardless of primary function, to document their commitment to the furtherance of professionalism in services provided to the public.

A cooperative agreement among the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and 5 other organizations led to a unique conservation educational experience for visitors to the Unicoi County Heritage Museum (UCHM) in northeastern Tennessee. The adjacent grounds were designated a Wildlife Observation Area that provided an opportunity to view wildlife in natural situations. A quarter-mile nature trail and accompanying audiocassette guide were developed. A natural history exhibit featuring plants, animals, and geologic material was added to the museum. Local school groups and other citizens have taken advantage of this outdoor education experience through participation in Conservation Education Now for Tennessee Students (CENTS) and Project WILD activities.

Sixth-grade students (N = 2,916) attending 127 Missouri public schools were surveyed (86% response) to detennine their behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge about fishing and the aquatic environment. Data were collected using a stratified random sampling procedure. Most students enjoyed fishing (82%), although a few students did not want to fish again (7%). Student scores reflected a need for more education about aquatic ecology (67%), aquatic resource management (62%), and water topics (45%). An analysis of variance indicated students' knowledge scores significantly differed for gender, region, population, swimming ability, and parent's fishing experience. Although about one-third ascribed animal-rights philosophies to fish, students are more likely to develop "no kill" values than to avoid sport fishing.

Striped bass (Marone saxatilis) from the Apalachicola River, Florida; Chattahoochee-Flint River, Georgia; Ogeechee River, Georgia; Savannah River, Georgia; Santee-Cooper River, South Carolina; Tallapoosa River, Alabama; and Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, were examined for polymorphism in their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genotype. The Xba I site loss that is supposed to identify individuals with matemallineage from Gulf Coast stocks was found in some fish from the Apalachicola and Chattahoochee-Flint rivers, as well as one individual from the Ogeechee River. Additionally, a unique Bgl I site gain was found in these same populations. Several rare genotypes found in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint system were also rare genotypes in Chesapeake Bay. Several unique genotypes of low frequency were found in the Ogeechee River. Fish from the Santee-Cooper River were fixed for a unique Dra I genotype.

Radiotelemetry which employed temperature-sensitive transmitters was used to monitor spring movement and summer habitat selection of 19 adult striped bass (Marone saxatilis) in the Santee-Cooper reservoirs, South Carolina. Nine fish were followed for 63 days during the late spring and summer 1985. Of the 61 recorded locations, 9 were fish which had utilized a thermal refuge. Mean water column temperature (28.1 0 C) and average thermal selection (27.80 C) did not differ significantly in observations where fish did not use thermal refuges. Average water column temperature was 29.00 C when fish were observed using refuge sites. Refuge sites averaged 0.340 C cooler than the recorded bottom temperature. Ten fish were monitored during the late winter and spring 1986 and located on 74 occasions. Striped bass exhibited a spring migration out of the reservoirs and into upstream areas.

Fourteen radio-tagged adult hybrid striped bass (female Morone saxatilis x male M. chrysops) were tracked from February to November 1987 in Ross Barnett Reservoir, Mississippi. Radio-tagged hybrids moved into the Pearl River in early March and remained upstream until water temperatures exceeded 27° C and dissolved oxygen decreased below 4 mg/liter at which time all except 2 fish returned to the main lake. These 2 fish, remaining in a well-aerated refuge at a lowhead dam, died in July when water temperatures exceeded 30° C. The fish which returned to the main lake showed decreased movements and remained near mid-lake in 4 small areas in and adjacent to submerged oxbows and/or the Pearl River channel. Mean monthly dissolved oxygen was significantly higher in mid-lake than elsewhere. Adult hybrids avoided depths of 0-2 m. Concurrent radio telemetry studies of 5 largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) showed little overlap of habitat.

Densities of fingerling striped bass (Marone saxatilis) resulting from natural reproduction in the Santee-Cooper Reservoir were estimated. Estimates during July and August of 3 years were 3.9, 4.0, and 7.8 fingerlings per hectare, which are much lower than typical reservoir stocking rates. Estimates were derived using a combination of the Petersen method and relative abundance.

A defatted rice bran (DRB) product was evaluated as a potential ingredient in practical channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) feeds by partial substitution of control feed ingredients. Fingerlings in aquaria were fed I of 4 feeds: 0 (control) - a standard commercial feed, 1 - DRB replaced regular rice bran, 2 - DRB replaced some com, soybean meal, and rice bran, 3 - DRB replaced some com, fish meal, and rice bran. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in survival or feed conversion among fish fed the 4 feeds, but fish fed feed 2 had a greater weight gain than fish fed feed 0 or feed 3. Feeds 0 and 2 were then each fed in 3 O.04-ha ponds stocked with fingerling catfish from June 1987 to November 1987. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in growth, survival, or feed conversion between fish fed either feed. Defatted rice bran appears to be an acceptable feedstuff for use in catfish feeds.

Two nursery trials were conducted in 0.I-ha ponds to examine effects of density on production of juvenile reciprocal cross hybrid striped bass (female Marone chrysops x male M. saxatilis). In 1986, 1.4-g hybrids were stocked at 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 fishlha. In 1987, 1.7-g hybrids were stocked at 12,500, 25,000, and 37,500 fishlha. During the studies, the fish were fed a commercial trout feed (38% protein) several times per day. Aeration and water exchange were provided to maintain satisfactory oxygen levels. After approximately 280 days, fish were harvested. At harvest fish ranged from 165-195 g in mean size, except those stocked at 5,000/ha which were significantly smaller (mean size 116 g). Mean survival was similar in all treatments and ranged from 82%-99% (mean 90.4%). Harvest biomass was related to stocking density with the highest density yielding a significantly greater harvest biomass (5,984 kg/ha).

Inorganic fertilizers were tested in combination with organic fertilization to study enhancement of zooplankton communities in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) rearing ponds in southeast Colorado. Under study conditions, additions of triple superphosphate produced the greatest number of zooplankton/liter, a combination of liquid ammonium nitrate and phosphoric acid produced the greatest growth, and the highest yields were found in ponds treated with phosphoric acid alone. Triple superphosphate was as effective as liquid inorganic fertilizers in maintaining sufficient numbers of zooplankton and was easier to apply. Fish were returned at the desired length of 50 mm, which was longer than in previous years in spite of an increased stocking rate. Although total zooplankton/liter was lower than in previous years at the hatchery, cladoceran populations were maintained with no significant declines.

Macrobenthos was sampled during the summer of 1984 in a series of experimental fishponds with water alkalinity artificially adjusted to different levels (2.0, 3.8,6.9,8.4, and 35.8 mg/liter of CaC03 equivalents). Chironomid midges, nematodes, and tubificid oligochaetes accounted for 67% of all benthic organisms recovered. No significant trends were apparent as to abundance or type of benthic organisms encountered in each treatment. The most numerous midge in the samples was the detritivore/herbivore Einfeldia. The smaller predator midge Procladius was the second most abundant. Chironomus was most common in ponds with deep, rich bottom muds. Tanytarsus was more common in ponds where many aquatic macrophytes had developed. Taxa diversity indices ranged from 1.88 to 2.82 and were not significantly different among treatments. Fish biomass increased with alkalinity but no significant correlation was found with benthos numbers.

Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) were collected from Matagorda Bay, Texas, from April 1984 through March 1986 and a gonosomatic index determined. Relative batch fecundity and ooycte maturation size were compared among females collected from April through October 1984, and randomly selected females were subjected to hormone-induced strip-spawning during June and July 1984. All females collected from April through August had yolked eggs and 4%-90% of fish collected in March, September, and October had yolked ova. No yolked ova were present in fish from November through February. Gonosomatic indices suggest greatest spawning activity occurred from April through May of each year. Median relative batch fecundity of females (N = 169) collected from April through October 1984 was 258 eggs/g body weight and was not significantly different from the median relative batch fecundity of 453 eggs/g body weight of hormone spawned fish (N = 16).

Differences in catch statistics (catch rates, length structure, and age structure) by gear and season were evaluated for white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) sampled with trap nets, electrofishing, and gill nets. Catch per man-hour of effort by trap nets was significantly higher than those of other gears tested in spring and fall. Variation in catch per man-hour was less for trapnet samples than for electrofishing or gillnet samples. Within-season variation in length distribution for trapnet samples was consistently less than within-season variation for the other gears tested. Gill nets sampled for the narrowest size range of crappie. Trap nets were the only gear that collected substantial numbers of age-O crappie in fall. Spring trap net and electrofishing samples caught a greater proportion of older Crappie than did the respective fall samples. Trap nets collected more fish and provided more precise data on white crappie populations than did the other gears tested.

Trap nets were evaluated as sampling gear for black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) in 4,900-ha Lake Wylie, North Carolina and South Carolina. Compared with a creel survey, cove sampling with rotenone, and spring electrofishing, trap nets were the most efficient and cost-effective gear used for capturing black crappie at Lake Wylie. Age and size structure of black crappie captured in trap nets were similar to that harvested by anglers during the same season. Trap net catch rates (number per net set) also appeared to reflect densities of black crappie in Lake Wylie. Biases were related to sampling season and to mesh sizes of the trap nets used. Catch rates of large (2:250 mm total length) black crappie in spring were significantly higher than those observed in fall, and catch rates of small (<250 mm total length) black crappie in fall were significantly higher than those observed in spring.

Growth rates for the 1980 year class of black crappie were determined from samples collected in the St. Johns River, Florida, 1981 through 1987. Actual mean lengths of groups of black crappie aged by otolith evaluation were compared to back calculated lengths from otoliths of black crappie collected each year. Differences in actual and back calculated lengths for black crappie collected were not significant (P > 0.05). Coefficient of determination values (r2) dropped rapidly as differential growth rates increased. Overall, back calculated lengths for age I and II black crappie increased as fish aged, exhibiting a reverse of Rosa Lee's phenomenon. The phenomenon was probably the result of size selective mortality. Black crappie collected between 1981 and 1986 indicated that the 1980 year class was larger than any other year class sampled. At actual age 6, the 1980 year class still comprised almost 8% of all black crappie collected.

Food habits, prey-size, and the occurrence of food in the stomachs were examined at various water temperatures among 1,152 Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoidesfloridanus), northern largemouth bass (M. s. salmoides), and intergrade hybrids between the 2 subspecies in Aquilla Lake, Texas. Dietary composition, prey-size consumed, and the frequency of food items in the stomach were similar among the largemouth bass subspecies and their intergrade hybrid at temperatures between 80 and 31 0 C. A higher proportion of insects occurred in the diet of smaller (151-253 mm TL) largemouth bass compared to larger (≥254 mm TL) fish. When forage fish were consumed by largemouth bass, positive prey-size selection was evident. These size-dependent feeding differences conferred a foraging disadvantage to age-1 and younger resident-hatched Florida largemouth bass.

Two bluegill subspecies (common bluegill Lepomis macrochirus macrochirus and coppernose bluegill L. m. purpurescens) were subjected to cold tolerance tests in the laboratory. Juvenile and adult bluegills were exposed to water temperature decreases of 1°C/hour from acclimation temperatures of 20° and 30° C until loss of equilibrium. Response temperatures of both subspecies were similar; temperatures at which 50% oftest fish lost equilibrium were usually <1.0° C lower for common bluegill and overlapping occurred in fiducial limits. Bluegill acclimated to 20° C lost equilibrium at 0.6°-4.2° C; those acclimated to 30° C lost equilibrium at 6.4°-10.4° C. Adults were more resistant than juveniles to low temperatures when acclimated to 20° C but juveniles were more resistant at 30° C.