Abstract
AbstractProduction of walleyes Sander vitreus in extensive culture ponds may be variable depending on pond substrate. The goal of this research was to determine whether fish performance and physiochemical differences existed between ponds lined with ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and ponds with earthen substrate during extensive walleye culture at Blue Dog State Fish Hatchery, South Dakota. Walleye performance measures were compared between the two pond substrates across two culture seasons (2008 and 2009), and walleye food habits were compared between pond substrates for 2009 only. Physiochemical variables and zooplankton abundance were compared between pond types each year, and larval chironomid abundance was compared between pond types for 2009 only. Walleye survival was not affected by pond substrate; however, walleye yield was significantly greater in EPDM‐lined ponds than in earthen ponds during 2008 (lined: 75.0 kg/ha; earthen: 32.5 kg/ha) and 2009 (lined: 52.5 kg/ha; earthen: 21.3 kg/ha). Walleye total length estimates were significantly greater in EPDM‐lined ponds than in earthen ponds on eight of nine collection dates during the two study years. Over the approximately 40‐d culture interval, thermal accumulation in EPDM‐lined ponds was 22 daily temperature units (DTUs) greater (1 DTU = average daily temperature of 1.0°C above zero for 24 h) than that in earthen ponds during 2008 and was 19 DTUs greater than that in earthen ponds during 2009. Few differences were observed in weekly zooplankton or chironomid densities between pond types during either year. There was also no significant difference in the number of zooplankton and larval chironomids per walleye digestive tract between pond types in 2009. Future evaluations should include increased replication of the 2009 data and should also compare walleye fry stocking densities in EPDM‐lined ponds to determine whether walleye size at harvest is affected by stocking density.Received December 11, 2009; accepted July 3, 2010
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