Predicting the Occurrence and Success of Walleye Populations from Physical and Biological Features of Northern Wisconsin Lakes

Nate, Nancy A.; Bozek, Michael A.; Hansen, Michael J.; Ramm, Carl W.; Bremigan, Mary T.; Hewett, Steven W.

doi:10.1577/m02-097

Cited by 32 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…For example, physical features of lakes stocked with walleyes (e.g., amount of vegetation, maximum depth) may lead anglers to believe that the population density is higher or lower than it actually is. However, Nate, Bozek, Hansen, Ramm, Bremigan, and Hewett (2003) showed that habitat parameters could be used to predict the presence or absence of walleye in general, but could not be used to differentiate between lakes with self-sustaining and stocked walleye populations in northern Wisconsin. This suggests that lakes with walleye, regardless of their origin, are roughly similar in their habitats and therefore are unlikely to affect angler's perception of fish density.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Walleye Stocking on Angler Effort in Wisconsin

Fayram

Hansen

Ehlinger

2006

Human Dimensions of Wildlife

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We compared relationships between angler effort and population densities of four species of fish in lakes with stocked and self-sustaining walleye populations in Wisconsin to determine the effect of walleye stocking on angler effort. The origin of walleye populations affected angler effort directed at walleyes in lakes with a daily bag limit of two, but not with daily bag limits of three or five. For lakes with a bag limit of two, angler effort was related to walleye density in lakes with self-sustaining walleye populations but not in stocked lakes. For lakes with a bag limit of three, angler effort did not differ between lakes with stocked and self-sustaining populations. For lakes with a bag limit of five, angler effort was not related to walleye density. Walleye stocking reduced the amount of effort directed at largemouth bass, but had no effect on effort directed at smallmouth bass or muskellunge.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Walleye Stocking on Angler Effort in Wisconsin

Fayram

Hansen

Ehlinger

2006

Human Dimensions of Wildlife

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“…Given the close proximity and similar morphometry of the walleye lakes in northern Wisconsin (Nate et al 2003) and the fact that weather conditions are usually consistent throughout the region, we assumed that conditions were similar across the ceded territory. This assumption allowed for estimation of the equations used for this simulation model with data from lakes throughout the region.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulated Equilibrium Walleye Population Density under Static and Dynamic Recreational Angling Effort

Schueller

Fayram

Hansen

2012

N American J Fish Manag

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Understanding the dynamics of angling effort and how fish populations are affected by angler effort is an important and often unappreciated component of fisheries management. Our objective was to determine the extent to which angling‐induced mortality limits walleye Sander vitreus population density in northern Wisconsin lakes. We developed a simulation model to evaluate the effects on long‐term equilibrium walleye population density caused by effort limitations, density‐dependent angling effort, and angling regulations. Equilibrium density was limited by angling effort when effort was held constant but was generally lower when effort was density dependent. Equilibrium density ranged from 3.46 to 21.79 adults/ha when effort was density dependent, similar to the observed median density in lakes sustained by natural reproduction (8.7 adults/ha). Median equilibrium density was 23.3 adults/ha when effort was zero. Equilibrium density was higher when harvest was regulated by a minimum length limit as opposed to no length limit and with no postrelease mortality than with postrelease mortality. Population collapse was more likely and equilibrium density was lower when the population density and effort/ha relationship was strongest. Because the observed relationship between adult walleye population density and effort/ha was weaker, we conclude that open‐access walleye fisheries in northern Wisconsin are generally self‐regulating. However, populations likely persist at lower population densities than would be expected if angling effort were limited to lower levels than those currently observed. Our results are intuitive; however, they suggest that density increases may be on the order of 100% when effort is severely restricted compared with open‐access fisheries with unlimited effort. Other fish species may experience different expected density increases with restricted angler effort depending on a number of factors, but our results suggest that population density changes can be dramatic and that similar modeling exercises may be useful to managers of other fish species if increasing density is of interest. Received December 19, 2011; accepted June 13, 2012

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“…Substrate classification and validation.-For both side-scan sonar and transect-quadrat surveys, substrates were categorized based on the particle size-classes (mm) used by Raabe and Bozek (2012). We modified the Raabe and Bozek (2012) classification scheme by combining fine and coarse organic matter into one organic matter class (Table 2) because both types of organic matter have been shown to negatively affect Walleye recruitment (Johnson 1961;Nate et al 2001;Nate et al 2003) and discrimination of these substrate types via side-scan sonar and direct observation was difficult in initial surveys. Although Walleyes can deposit eggs over many substrates, we considered gravel, cobble, and rubble to represent the preferred Walleye spawning substrates based on the findings of Raabe and Bozek (2012).…”

Section: Management Briefmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of a Side‐Scan Sonar Method for Quantifying Walleye Spawning Habitat Availability in the Littoral Zone of Northern Wisconsin Lakes

Richter

Sloss

Isermann

2016

N American J Fish Manag

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Previous research has generally ignored the potential effects of spawning habitat availability and quality on recruitment of Walleye Sander vitreus, largely because information on spawning habitat is lacking for many lakes. Furthermore, traditional transect‐based methods used to describe habitat are time and labor intensive. Our objectives were to determine if side‐scan sonar could be used to accurately classify Walleye spawning habitat in the nearshore littoral zone and provide lakewide estimates of spawning habitat availability similar to estimates obtained from a transect–quadrat‐based method. Based on assessments completed on 16 northern Wisconsin lakes, interpretation of side‐scan sonar images resulted in correct identification of substrate size‐class for 93% (177 of 191) of selected locations and all incorrect classifications were within ± 1 class of the correct substrate size‐class. Gravel, cobble, and rubble substrates were incorrectly identified from side‐scan images in only two instances (1% misclassification), suggesting that side‐scan sonar can be used to accurately identify preferred Walleye spawning substrates. Additionally, we detected no significant differences in estimates of lakewide littoral zone substrate compositions estimated using side‐scan sonar and a traditional transect–quadrat‐based method. Our results indicate that side‐scan sonar offers a practical, accurate, and efficient technique for assessing substrate composition and quantifying potential Walleye spawning habitat in the nearshore littoral zone of north temperate lakes. Received December 1, 2015; accepted March 24, 2016 Published online July 20, 2016

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Predicting the Occurrence and Success of Walleye Populations from Physical and Biological Features of Northern Wisconsin Lakes

Cited by 32 publications

References 26 publications

Influence of Walleye Stocking on Angler Effort in Wisconsin

Influence of Walleye Stocking on Angler Effort in Wisconsin

Simulated Equilibrium Walleye Population Density under Static and Dynamic Recreational Angling Effort

Validation of a Side‐Scan Sonar Method for Quantifying Walleye Spawning Habitat Availability in the Littoral Zone of Northern Wisconsin Lakes

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