- Characteristics, preferences, and motivations of young
adult recreational fishing license holders in Arkansas
Annette D. Williams and John R. Jackson
We conducted a mail survey to determine the characteristics,
preferences, and motivations of young adult fishing license
holders in Arkansas as well as factors that contributed to
their participation in recreational fishing. During the summer
of 2002, we sent questionnaires to 1,500 randomly selected
license holders ages 16 to 18. An adjusted response rate of 44%
was achieved. Twenty-four percent of respondents were 16-years
old, 40% were 17-years old, and 36% were 18-years old. Eighty
percent of anglers were male and 20% were female. Caucasians
composed 95% of all respondents followed by African-Americans.
Preferred species were largemouth bass (Micropterus
salmoides), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus),
and crappie (Pomoxis spp.). Ninety-seven percent of
respondents had their first fishing experience before they were
11-years old and 94% purchased their first fishing license at
16. First fishing experiences were often associated with family
members, which was in contrast to current fishing participation
that is mainly associated with friends. Almost all of the
respondents were interested in fishing more often. However,
work, school, and interests in other activities are
constraining fishing participation. Results from this research
will assist management agencies in setting priorities to
provide improved and more diverse recreational fishing
experiences.
- Effects of increased minimum flow and stream temperature
on the fishes on the Ouchaita River
Shawn Sanders, Thomas Hungerford, John Jackson, and Ed
Buckner
Hydropower facilities in the U.S. are currently monitored by
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC considers
fish and wildlife issues as a part of the relicensing process.
Through relicensing of Remmel Dam, located on the Ouachita
River in Arkansas, an increase in instantaneous minimum flow
from 40 to 200-cfs and a shallower water-release from the
upstream reservoir were implemented. The goal of our project
was to assess changes in the fish populations before (2000) and
after (2001-2002) water release protocol modifications.
We sampled fish populations directly below Remmel dam
downstream to the confluence of the Caddo River and at
reference sites on the Saline River in fall 2000, 2001, and
2002. The river was divided into three sampling sections
(upper, middle, and lower) to allow evaluation of downstream
influence from the dam. We collected fish during periods of
250-cfs discharge to standardize sampling efficiency. Within
each of the three sections, we sampled four pool habitat sites
using boat electrofishing (2000 and 2001). All fish collected
were identified and measured (total length and weight). A total
of 49 species were collected. Age and growth analysis was
conducted for spotted bass (Micropterus punctatus),
largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), smallmouth bass
(Micropterus dolomieu), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus),
spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus), longear sunfish (Lepomis
megalotis), and shadow bass (Ambloplites ariommus).
Preliminary analysis revealed that CPUE, mean length, and mean
weight were similar among river sections and between years and
rivers for most Centrarchids listed above. Incremental growth
tended to be greater in 2001 for bluegill, longear sunfish,
largemouth bass, and spotted sunfish. A downstream decrease in
incremental growth was observed for longear sunfish. In
contrast, shadow bass and spotted bass revealed a downstream
trend of increased incremental growth. We sampled Riffle
habitat at four permanent sites on the Ouachita River using
push-barge electrofishing (2000, 2001, and 2002). Fish were
preserved and returned to the laboratory where they were
identified to species, measured for length, and inspected for
external parasites and diseases. A total 56 species were
collected. Riffle habitat was dominated by species in the
Percidae and Centrarchidae families. The families Percidae,
Catostomidae, and Atherinidae increased in relative proportion
from 2000 to 2001. Preliminary analysis using Shannon-Weaver
and Simpson’s D diversity indices indicated shifts in community
structure in riffle habitats. Overall diversity increased from
2000 to 2001 and tended to increase downstream. Site-specific
diversity decreased from 2000 to 2001 in the site just
downstream from the dam. In contrast, downstream sites revealed
increased diversity between years. Data for 2002 are currently
being analyzed and final results are pending.
- Characterization of floodplain lake fish assemblages in
the lower White River, Arkansas
Ben J. Lubinski and John R. Jackson
The lower White River in Arkansas represents one of the least
altered river-floodplain ecosystems (RFE) in the United States.
This RFE contains approximately 75,880 ha of bottomland
hardwood habitat in which over 300 floodplain lakes are
scattered throughout public and private land. River regulation
including irrigation and navigation channel projects threaten
to alter the natural hydrology of the White River RFE. The
objectives of this research were to measure fish species
diversity and relative abundance in 16 floodplain lakes, and
environmental variables (i.e. hydrology, thermal regime,
connectivity, size, depth, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved
solids, and conductivity) expected to affect fish diversity and
abundance. Experimental gill nets, mini-fyke nets, and night
electrofishing were used for fish collection during the summer
and fall of 2002. Environmental variables were also measured at
this time. Fish community similarity among lakes will be
assessed by multivariate ordination and cluster analyses that
will identify statistically significant environmental gradients
within floodplain lake fish assemblages and provide a basis for
classifying lakes into groups with similar characteristics and
fish assemblages. This project provides the opportunity to
define baseline conditions for temperate RFEs and to determine
relationships between fish communities and RFE functions before
river alterations.
- A fish index of biotic integrity for assessing south
central plains streams: development by integrating uni-, bi-,
and multivariate techniques
Daniel C. Dauwalter and John R. Jackson
Multimetric indices, such as the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI),
are often used to assess aquatic resource conditions and meet
Clean Water Act requirements. We used fish-collection data from
the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to
develop an IBI for South Central Plains streams in Arkansas. We
used multivariate ordination and classification techniques to
identify least- and most-disturbed stream sites, and used uni-
and bivariate statistics to select nonredundant metrics that
best differentiated stream conditions while also accounting for
stream size (i.e., watershed size). Selected IBI metrics were:
percent (of individuals) as algivorous/herbivorous,
invertivorous, and piscivorous; percent as centrarchids;
percent as cyprinids; percent as green sunfish Lepomis
cyanellus, bluegill L. macrochirus, yellow bullhead Ameiurus
natalis, and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus; percent as
ADEQ Gulf Coastal Plains indicator species; percent as
ictalurids; percent as invertivorous; percent as percids; and
total number of catostomid species. All metrics were
standardized to score from 0 to 10, and the IBI was
standardized to score from 0 to 100. Metric contribution
analyses indicated that percent as ictalurids contributed most
overall to IBI scores, while percent as green sunfish,
bluegill, yellow bullhead, and channel catfish contributed
least. In reference conditions, percent as percids contributed
most; percent as green sunfish, bluegill, yellow bullhead, and
channel catfish contributed least. In poor stream conditions,
percent as centrarchids contributed most, and percent as ADEQ
Gulf Coastal Plains indicator species contributed least. We
used correlation analyses to identify significant relations
between raw metric values, and IBI scores, and water-quality
and land-use variables. Since all relations were concordant
with our expectations, we think that the IBI can readily detect
anthropogenic disturbances to South Central Plains streams.
- A fish index of biotic integrity for Ouachita Mountains
Streams in Arkansas
Daniel C. Dauwalter and John R. Jackson
Multimetric indices are being used to monitor aquatic-resource
conditions in the U.S.A. We used existing fish-collection data
to develop a fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), which is a
multimetric index, for the Ouachita Mountains ecoregion in
Arkansas, U.S.A. We categorized each fish-collection site as
reference or non-reference. We examined 62 candidate IBI
metrics, and selected 12 non-redundant metrics that
differentiated best between reference and non-reference sites.
The selected metrics were: Percent (of individuals) as Black
Bass; Percent as Benthic Feeders; Percent as Centrarchids;
Percent as Cyprinids; Percent as Ictalurids; Percent as
Mineral, Site-Prep Spawners; Percent as Mineral, Site-Prep,
Parental-Care Spawners; Percent as Simple, Lithophilic Spawners;
Percent as Miscellaneous, Site-Prep, Parental-Care Spawners;
Total Number of Centrarchid Species; Total Number of Arkansas
Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Ouachita Mountains
Indicator Species; and Total Number of ADEQ Ouachita Mountains
Key Species. We standardized each metric to score between 0 and
10 by using linear equations and threshold limits. Some
selected IBI metrics had their scoring criteria adjusted to
account for watershed size (i.e., stream size). We standardized
the IBI to score from 0 to 100. In addition, we determined that
our Percent as Black Bass and Percent as Benthic Feeders
metrics contributed most to IBI scores in reference conditions,
but their contributions decreased with decreasing stream
conditions. Reproductive metrics contributed most in degraded
stream conditions. Furthermore, we identified some relations
between IBI metrics and water-quality and land-use variables;
some relations were counterintuitive. Unexpected relations may
be random observations explained by limited ranges of land-use
and water-quality variables. When select water-quality and
land-use variables were included in a principal component
analysis, a composite Land Use Intensity variable explained
most of the model variance. Although the IBI has not been
validated, the PCA, as well as other superficial analyses,
indicated that the IBI should be able to differentiate stream
conditions.
- An evaluation of the hooked on fishing not on drugs
program in Arkansas
John R. Jackson
The Hooked on Fishing – Not on Drugs Program (HOFNOD) was
introduced in Arkansas schools in 1997 by Governor Mike
Huckabee, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the
Arkansas Department of Education. HOFNOD is designed to provide
positive and fun alternative educational experiences for youth.
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the program using
a survey in the following areas: a) race and gender of
participating students b) student learning motivation, c)
student academic performance, d) student absenteeism, e)
student behavior, and f) student interest in recreational
fishing. Twenty-one public schools were enrolled in the program
during the 1999-2000 school year and 28 during the 2000-2001
school year. The evaluation was based on responses to questions
asked in teacher and student surveys sent to schools at the end
of each of the past two school years. In addition, surveys were
sent to seven schools prior to entering the program to provide
a contrast between participating and nonparticipating students.
Teachers’ responses showed that participation in HOFNOD
increased students’ academic performance, learning motivation,
school attendance, homework completion rate, and participation
in fishing activities. Similarly, students’ responses revealed
that the program helped them become involved in productive
activities such as fishing that were positively associated with
increased learning motivation and academic performance. HOFNOD
students also demonstrated an increased interest in fishing as
well as their studies in school. This evaluation establishes
the scientific and empirical basis for HOFNOD’s continuation
and expansion as well as provides information that can be used
for program improvements.
- Toxicity of isoprophyl methylphosphonic acid to eggs of
golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and channel
catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
C. Green and S.E. Lochmann
The Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA) is the second largest U.S. storage
site for chemical weapons. The PBA has been ordered to
incinerate a number of the chemical weapons currently stored at
the facility in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention
Treaty of 1997. Sarin is a nerve agent that acts as an
acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. In the event of an
accident during incineration, sarin or its decomposition
products have the potential to be expelled into the
environment. Isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA) is the main
decomposition product from the hydrolysis of Sarin. Golden
shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and channel catfish (Ictalurus
punctatus) eggs were exposed to IMPA. Fifteen fertilized eggs
were placed in 250 ml test tubes containing 200 ml of water
with five different concentrations of IMPA ranging from 35 to
75 mg/L for golden shiner and 115 to 175 mg/L for channel
catfish. There were four replicates per treatment level and
control. Each test tube was aerated with air stones and
maintained at a temperature of 25 ºC. The LC50 for eggs was
determined by estimating the concentration of IMPA in which
half of the individuals failed to hatch. The LC50 for golden
shiner egg hatchability was 60 mg/L (upper 95% C.I. 68 mg/L,
lower 95% C.I. 53 mg/L), and was 157 mg/L (upper 95% C.I. 179
mg/L, lower 95% C.I. 144 mg/L) for channel catfish. These
results are critical in understanding the toxicological
properties of this potential environmental contaminant. They
are also important in conducting risk assessments relative to
activities at the PBA.
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