Age and Growth of the Bluegill, Lepomis Macrochirus Rafinesque, in a Newly Impounded Kansas Farm Pond

Author

Jeffry L. Hart, Fort Hays Kansas State College

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

DOI

10.58809/SNPI2604

Date of Award

Fall 1975

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

Advisor

Thomas L. Wenke

Abstract

Rate of growth of 589 bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, collected in 1974 and 1975 in a pond in northwestern Kansas, was determined by the scale method. The body- scale relationship was linear with an intercept of 18.0519 mm total length. The length-weight relationship was described by the equation N = 6.19 x 10 [to the]-6 L [superscript] 3.2327. Annulus formation began in late April and was completed by early June. Males outnumbered females in the sample, but this appeared to result from sampling bias rather than from unequal sex ratios. Males averaged longer than females in all age groups, but the difference was significant only in the fourth year of growth. Spawning was 80 percent complete by late May. Results of opercular tagging indicated that loss of tags and stress resulting from the presence of tags limit the effectiveness of this technique in long-term studies.

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Hart, Jeffry L., "Age and Growth of the Bluegill, Lepomis Macrochirus Rafinesque, in a Newly Impounded Kansas Farm Pond" (1975). Master's Theses. 1569.
DOI: 10.58809/SNPI2604
Available at: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/1569

Rights

© 1975 Jeffry L. Hart