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- Title
Bluegill Population Demographics as Related to Abiotic and Biotic Factors in Florida Lakes.
- Authors
Carlson, Andrew K.; Hoyer, Mark V.
- Abstract
Research on Bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus R., is abundant but typically focuses on water bodies with similar environmental conditions. We assessed Bluegill density, relative abundance (catch per unit effort [CPUE] by electrofishing), growth, and size structure in 60 lakes with wide-ranging surface areas (2–12,412 ha), trophic states (oligotrophic–hypereutrophic), and macrophyte abundances (0.3–100 percent of lake volume inhabited [PVI]) across Florida, USA. Bluegill density and CPUE increased with lake productivity and decreased with macrophyte abundance. Bluegill growth increased with lake productivity and CPUE of stock-length Florida Bass, Micropterus floridanus L., a Bluegill predator. Bluegill size structure increased with lake productivity and decreased with Bluegill density. Results indicate that Bluegill fisheries with abundant individuals of quality size (≥150 mm) require productive (>25 μg/L chlorophyll-a concentration) lakes with moderate to high macrophyte coverage (PVI 50–100), abundant stock-length Florida Bass (>40 fish/h of electrofishing), and Bluegill densities <300 fish/ha. This study provides an approach to predict Bluegill population demographics based on abiotic and biotic factors, establish fisheries management expectations, and develop regional and lake-specific management tools.
- Subjects
FLORIDA; BLUEGILL; LAKE management; LAKES; BODIES of water; FISHERY management; FISH populations; FISHERIES
- Publication
Fishes (MDPI AG), 2023, Vol 8, Issue 2, p100
- ISSN
2410-3888
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/fishes8020100