Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of KansasDeacon, James E.
Science
Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas
Deacon, James E.
Fish populations; Freshwater fishes -- Kansas -- Population dynamics -- Stocks
Spotted bass normally form a small part of the game-fish fauna in the
lower Neosho River. The species attains greater abundance in smaller,
clear streams of the Arkansas River Basin in Kansas (Cross, 1954, and
unpublished data of State Biological Survey of Kansas). During the
drought, the lower Neosho probably assumed many characteristics of a
smaller stream in normal times. Flow was reduced or entirely interrupted
and turbidity was lessened. These conditions resulted in faunal changes
in which spotted bass were more prominent than in years of normal flow.
During this period of reduced flow, some fishermen turned from
catfishing to bass-fishing; I think this constitutes evidence for an
increase in numbers of bass, accompanied by a decrease in numbers of
channel catfish. With the return of continuous flow and a consequent
rise in turbidity, bass declined in abundance in the mainstream.
#Micropteras salmoides salmoides# (Lacépède)
Large-mouthed Bass
The large-mouth was rare at all stations. It prefers quiet water near
cover; to become abundant, the large-mouth probably requires clearer
water than is afforded by most Kansas streams. This species, like
spotted bass, declined in abundance during the period of study.
Nevertheless, young-of-the-year were taken in 1957 and 1958 (earliest
date of capture, 7 June in 1958).
#Lepomis cyanellus# Rafinesque
Green Sunfish
Green sunfish were taken at all stations, but most abundantly at the
upper Neosho station where the number captured increased slightly from
1957 to 1959. Young-of-the-year and adults were most common in shallow
backwater. At the upper Neosho station green sunfish inhabit quiet
pools, where recaptures of marked fish indicated that the species is
notably sedentary in habit. Hasler and Wisby (1958) have shown that
green sunfish exhibit a homing reaction.
This fish provides some sport for fishermen, especially in the smaller
streams, but I found few green sunfish that were larger than six inches
T. L. at any station.
#Lepomis megalotis# (Rafinesque)
Long-eared Sunfish
Long-eared sunfish were taken at all stations but were notably more
abundant in the Neosho River, where the largest population occurred at
the upper station. In all three years of the study, large samples were
obtained by means of rotenone in the same pool at the upper Neosho
station. There were fewer long-eared sunfish present each year, and
average size increased slightly. Collections in other pools at this
station indicated that long-eared sunfish maintained a high level of
abundance throughout my study.
Long-eared sunfish occurred in pools having bottoms of gravel or bedrock
at the upper Neosho station, or near shore over rubble or gravel in slow
to moderate current at the middle Neosho station.
#Lepomis humilis# (Girard)
Orange-spotted Sunfish
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