University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Impacts of competitive angling on largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) populations

Hay, Allison

Content Files
HAY-THESIS-2024.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125642

Description

Title
Impacts of competitive angling on largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) populations
Author(s)
Hay, Allison
Issue Date
2024-07-16
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Suski, Cory D
Department of Study
Natural Res & Env Sci
Discipline
Natural Res & Env Sciences
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Keyword(s)
  • Fisheries
  • Tournaments
  • Spatial Ecology
  • Physiology
Abstract
Many aspects associated with traditional angling tournaments can potentially negatively impact fish. Traditional live-release tournament practices include several components that create concerns surrounding displacement, habitat selection, stockpiling, and mortality. The overall goals of my thesis were to 1) define the influence of angling tournaments, with an emphasis on post-release behavior, and 2) quantify water temperatures in live-release tournaments across multiple seasons and then use this information to quantify the impacts of livewell conditions on largemouth bass. The first goal of this study was to quantify dispersal, habitat selection, and mortality of largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) caught in live-release tournaments across multiple seasons. The results indicated the duration of short-term stockpiling at the release point was impacted by the season in which the tournament occurred. Observed mortality rates were also impacted by the season, with a nearly 12-fold increase in mortality for late-season tournaments. To determine common livewell conditions and the influence they have on individual largemouth bass, a series of complementary field and laboratory studies were conducted. The field study quantified the temperature of livewells in several live-release angling tournaments using small sensors that logged temperature every few seconds. The laboratory study used the temperature data from the field to simulate holding conditions and subsequently quantify the physiological changes in largemouth bass induced by the holding conditions. My results identify thermal variability across anglers and provide increased support for the negative consequences of excessive thermal variation in livewells. Given the intense tournament pressure in this system and throughout North America, my results identify key points where management actions would mitigate tournament impacts to preserve future angling opportunities and support ecosystem processes.
Graduation Semester
2024-08
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/125642
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2024 Allison Hay

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