Influence of Temperature and Precipitation on Age-0 White Bass Abundance in Two South Dakota Natural Lakes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Age-0 white bass (Morone chrysops) were sampled during late summer-early fall from 1984 to 1993 in Enemy Swim and Pickerel lakes, South Dakota, with a bottom trawl. Age-0 white bass catch per unit effort (CPUE) among years was correlated (r=0.69; P=0.027) between these two natural lakes, indicating that environmental factors were likely affecting white bass recruitment similarly in the two water bodies. Therefore, we assessed climatological variables to help explain variability in abundance of age-0 white bass among years. Age-0 white bass abundance was positively correlated with mean daily air temperature during June in both Enemy Swim (r=0.63; P=0.051) and Pickerel (r=0.62; P=0.056) lakes. In addition, multiple regression analysis indicated that precipitation and temperature jointly and positively influenced age-0 white bass abundance in both lakes. Although these are not necessarily cause-and-effect relations, they do provide insight into the importance of environmental conditions for successful recruitment of white bass in South Dakota natural lakes.