Partial Analysis of Growth in a Population of Mudminnows, Umbra limi (Kirtland)

Abstract

THIS growth analysis was made on a collection of 4,005 mudminnows taken from the southeast basin of Kimes Lake, Manistee National Forest, Newaygo County, Michigan, on September 5-7, 1941. Kimes Lake is composed of three distinct depressions connected in serial order by shallow narrows. The southeast basin has an area of 6.75 acres, a maximum depth of about 19 feet, and is entirely marl-bottomed. The dominant vegetation is Chara. A spring, flowing at a rate of approximately 35 gallons per minute, is located in the southeast corner. This basin was isolated and the fish were killed with powdered Derris root on September 5. Twenty-seven species of fish were in the association. The stickle-back, Eucalia inconstans, was the most abundant species; second was the mudminnow, Umbra limi. Other species, in decreasing order of abundance, were bluegills, Lepomis m. macrochirus, large-mouth bass, Huro salmoides, and yellow perch, Perca flavescens. Specimens and habitat data were provided by members of the staff of the Institute for Fisheries Research of the Michigan Department of Conservation. Their cooperation and the assistance of Dr. Karl F. Lagler of the Department of Zoology, University of Michigan, and Dr. Ralph Hile of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ann Arbor, Michigan, are gratefully acknowledged. GROWTH ANALYSIS