Evidence for Cogradient Growth and Survival Between Two Geographically Distinct Stocks of Muskellunge

Andree, Sara R.; Parkos, Joseph J.; Diana, Matthew J.; Wagner, Curtis P.; Wahl, David H.

doi:10.1002/nafm.10190

Cited by 3 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(71 reference statements)

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“…An important objective of hatchery production is to provide improved survival through different life stages and potential recruitment bottlenecks. The survival exhibited in this case study exceeded the 77% overwinter hatchery pond survival estimates observed for two Muskellunge stocks in Illinois (Andree et al 2018). The cause of the mortality that was observed in these trials was likely either cannibalism or perhaps bird predation as was suggested in other overwinter extensive pond culture trials (Koupal 1999).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Examination of Muskellunge overwinter survival and growth in an earthen extensive culture pond

2023

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The demand to produce larger Muskellunge to meet stocking purposes and objectives has required hatchery facilities to hold these fish through multiple life stages. Rearing of advanced Muskellunge fingerlings at the North Platte Hatchery required insertion of a passive integrated transponder tag (PIT), which also created an opportunity to track the growth and survival of these fish that were held overwinter in an extensive culture pond. This study PIT tagged 806 fingerling Muskellunge in October 2021 that were placed in a 0.1‐ha earthen pond. In March 2022 the pond was drained, and individual survival and growth were recorded. The observed overwinter survival (91.9%) was satisfactory to meet most production goals, but observed growth was minimal (21.7 ± 0.2 mm). The fall mean length of surviving Muskellunge (267.8 ± 0.9 mm) was significantly greater (t = 5.12; p ≤ 0.001) than the fall mean length of overwinter mortalities (251.4 ± 3.1 mm). Differential growth was observed with smaller individuals exhibiting greater growth during the winter, which dampens length variability within the stocked cohort. Future use of extensive culture ponds for advanced age‐1 Muskellunge production should consider the lengths desired by managers along with the associated costs of alternative production methods. This study provides expectations of overwinter survival and growth for these hatchery products.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Examination of Muskellunge overwinter survival and growth in an earthen extensive culture pond

2023

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“…Two strains were stocked: a strain of Minnesota (MN) origin and another of Wisconsin (WI) origin. Strain differences affect traits in Muskellunge, such as growth (Miller et al 2009; Andree et al 2018) and physiology (Clapp and Wahl 1996), and could also affect movement and habitat use.…”

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confidence: 99%

Muskellunge Spatial Ecology in the St. Louis River Estuary and Southwestern Lake Superior

Schaeffer

Pinkerton

Venturelli³

et al. 2020

Trans Am Fish Soc

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The St. Louis River estuary is a designated area of concern by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to severe environmental degradation. The spatial ecology of Muskellunge Esox masquinongy, an indicator species, is uncertain within the estuary and the large, connected water body, Lake Superior. We collected genetic samples and used passive acoustic telemetry to track 60 adult Muskellunge in the St. Louis River estuary and southwestern Lake Superior for 15 months. Genetic analysis revealed that the river is utilized by two genetic strains-Wisconsin (WI) and Minnesota (MN)-and their hybrids. These genetic strains were previously stocked to restore a nearly extirpated population. Muskellunge tended to move upstream in the spring, downstream and into Lake Superior throughout summer, and to the middle river during fall and winter. Males and females spent significantly more time in the upper and lower portions of the river, respectively. Movements were influenced by strain in that hybrids and the WI strain spent more time in the upper and middle river, and the MN strain spent more time in Lake Superior. A random forest model indicated that Lake Superior use was related to strain (the MN strain made up 80% of individuals using Lake Superior) but not sex or body length, highlighting the importance of understanding strain behavior when stocking different strains. Future research should include investigating Muskellunge habitat use (before, during, and after restoration), tracking juvenile Muskellunge, and connecting telemetry data with mark-recapture and stable isotope data. Our results provide new insight into Muskellunge spatial ecology and genetics that can inform management and restoration efforts within and beyond the Great Lakes.

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“…To decouple the effects of local habitat from genetic differences in strains, it is necessary to conduct a common garden experiment where fish from multiple strains are exposed to the same habitat conditions. Data such as this are generally lacking for the Leech Lake strain (but see Younk and Strand 1992;Diana et al 2017;Wagner et al 2017;Andree et al 2018), and unfortunately we did not TABLE 4. Year-class-specific comparisons of stocking data for Wisconsin and Leech Lake strains to recoveries for each strain based on genetic assignments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…To decouple the effects of local habitat from genetic differences in strains, it is necessary to conduct a common garden experiment where fish from multiple strains are exposed to the same habitat conditions. Data such as this are generally lacking for the Leech Lake strain (but see Younk and Strand 1992; Diana et al 2017; Wagner et al 2017; Andree et al 2018), and unfortunately we did not obtain a sufficient sample size to investigate whether the Leech Lake strain grows differently than the Wisconsin strain. Data continue to be collected on fish from the Leech Lake strain that are stocked in lakes Monona and Wissota as well as other Wisconsin lakes; these data will facilitate an evaluation of strain‐specific growth rates in the coming years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Differences in survival as a consequence of genetic strain have also been relatively well documented in Muskellunge. Andree et al (2018) conducted pond experiments and found that strain survival differed between two strains that potentially were adapted to different temperatures. Additionally, Miller et al (2012) used genetics to investigate the ancestry of multiple stocked populations of Muskellunge in Minnesota lakes and found high variation in strain contributions but no significant relationship between ancestry and stocking rates.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Using Genetic Data to Estimate Capture Rate of Wisconsin and Leech Lake Strains of Muskellunge Stocked in Four Wisconsin Lakes

Larson

Hill

Rowe

et al. 2020

N American J Fish Manag

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Many inland fisheries are supported by stocking hatchery-produced fish, and fisheries managers often face difficult decisions regarding strain selection. Stocking evaluations that are designed to quantify differences in strain performance provide valuable data for designing stocking programs. Here, we used genetic tools to investigate the capture rate of two strains of Muskellunge that were stocked in Wisconsin lakes. We genotyped a total of 1,011 Muskellunge at 13 microsatellites and used the data from five reference populations to assign fish that were stocked in four Wisconsin lakes to their strain of origin. The strains that were stocked in these lakes were derived from Wisconsin populations in the upper Chippewa River and Wisconsin River drainages and from Leech Lake, Minnesota. The Muskellunge from Leech Lake demonstrated much lower capture rates than the Wisconsin strain, but the results were variable, with a 10% capture rate of fish from the Leech Lake strain in Lake Monona and a 2% capture rate in Lake Wissota, despite similar stocking rates (~25%) in both lakes. We hypothesized that the higher capture rates of Muskellunge from the Wisconsin strain could be due the adaptative advantages of the Wisconsin strain in these waters and suggest that managers continue to stock the nearest native (i.e., Wisconsin) strain to achieve the highest return on investment. Stocking hatchery-produced fish is one of the most common tools employed by fisheries managers to rebuild and sustain inland fisheries (Halverson 2008). One important consideration when building a propagation program is that of choosing appropriate strains that display high survival and growth to maximize the return on stocking investment while also preserving the genetic integrity of

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Evidence for Cogradient Growth and Survival Between Two Geographically Distinct Stocks of Muskellunge

Cited by 3 publications

References 49 publications

Examination of Muskellunge overwinter survival and growth in an earthen extensive culture pond

Examination of Muskellunge overwinter survival and growth in an earthen extensive culture pond

Muskellunge Spatial Ecology in the St. Louis River Estuary and Southwestern Lake Superior

Using Genetic Data to Estimate Capture Rate of Wisconsin and Leech Lake Strains of Muskellunge Stocked in Four Wisconsin Lakes

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