Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas — John Shaqi
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
The orange-spotted sunfish occurred at all stations; it was most
abundant in the Neosho River, especially at the uppermost station. This
fish was taken in a variety of habitats, but was most common in areas
where the current was slack, often over mud or silt bottom.
#Lepomis macrochirus# Rafinesque
Bluegill
Bluegill were taken at all stations but were rare. This species occurred
exclusively in pools, usually near cover (brush or trees in the water).
Bluegill are predominately pond-fish in Kansas, and populations in
rivers may consist partly of individuals that escaped from ponds in time
of overflow. I know of no stream in Kansas that has a population large
enough to contribute significantly to the sport fishery.
#Pomoxis nigromaculatus# (LeSueur)
Black Crappie
This species was represented by only one specimen, taken at the lower
Neosho station in 1957.
#Pomoxis annularis# Rafinesque
White Crappie
White crappie were taken at all stations, but were common only at the
upper and middle stations on the Marais des Cygnes and the upper Neosho
station. At the last station, this fish was abundant in a single large
pool that contained much more water during drought than any other area
at this station. There was little dispersal into several smaller pools,
below the large pool, which were sampled in 1957, 1958 and 1959. White
crappie were not taken in the lower pools until 1959, and then were
rare. Most crappie were taken in quiet water near cover or near shore.
Young-of-the-year were found in 1957, 1958 and 1959, but never
abundantly. At the lower Neosho station in 1959, ripe individuals were
collected on 19 June, a spent female on 24 June, and young-of-the-year
on 1 July. The young were present in quiet, shallow water over mud
bottom at the lower end of a gravel bar. Large white crappie (10-14
inches T. L.) were common at the middle and lower Neosho stations in
1957 and in April, 1958. Large fish were almost entirely absent from
later collections. Average size, maximum size and abundance declined
during the period of study.
#Percina phoxocephala# (Nelson)
Slender-headed Darter
The slender-headed darter was taken at all stations but was more
abundant in the Neosho than in the Marais des Cygnes. The lower Marais
des Cygnes, however, was the only station with a relatively large
population in 1957. Slender-headed darters were rare in the Neosho River
in 1957 and did not become common until 1959.
The largest population was found at the upper Neosho station in 1959.
This darter occurs most frequently in swift water over gravel bottom,
but was taken in various habitats, including an intermittent pool at the
upper Neosho station on 7 September, 1957.
At the middle and lower Neosho stations, considerably greater numbers
were taken in June, July, and early August than in May or late August.
The abundance in my collections diminished from a peak in early July, to
scarcity in late August.
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