What is the sex of harvested fish?

Graduate Student, Peter Spirk is answering this question at Sherman and Calamus Reservoirs

Differences in harvest between male and female fish can alter sex-specific rates of recruitment, growth, and mortality, and hence, the overall health of a fish population. Detailed information (species, length, total weight, age, sex, liver weight, and gonad weight) on harvested walleye, white bass, and white crappie was collected from Sherman and Calamus Reservoirs during spring 2009 and 2010. Sex-selective harvest (female-biased) was evident for white bass and white crappie, but not for walleye.

How difficult is it to ID fish? What media is most effective for educating anglers about fish identification?

Graduate Student, Carla Bobier is working on determining which method is most effective.

A fish-identification quiz was first given in August 2010 to participants of a Family Fishing event hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Since then, this quiz has been given at the UNL NaturePalooza, Fremont Rural Living Expo, Triumph of Agriculture Expo, and Missouri River Outdoor Expo. Participants are asked to examine fish models and identify the species. Information gained will allow us to quantify anglers’ current abilities to correctly identify fish species, and evaluate several different products designed to educate anglers about fish identification. Understanding anglers’ ability to correctly identify fish is important for predicting the success of complex fishing regulations.

What is the relationship between angling pressure and rate of parasite infestation?

Graduate Student, Lexi Maple is researching this relationship.

Fish that are captured and released by anglers are often subjected to stressors that alter physiology, potentially altering fish behavior and ultimately fish fitness. Additionally, increases in angling pressure should correlate positively with catch-and-release events. Finally, fish can become more susceptible to infestation by parasites when stress compromises the fish’s immune system. Thus, we predict that a positive relationship exists between angling pressure and rate of parasite infestation. To test this prediction, we will examine angling pressure and larval trematode (i.e., Neascus spp. and Clinostmum spp.) abundance in juvenile bluegill for 16 Salt Valley reservoirs.

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