Golden Shiner Notemigonus Crysoleucas Research Articles

Biomanipulation: A Classic Example in a Shallow Eutrophic Pond

ABSTRACT Mod Pond, Otsego County, New York, is an artificial impoundment created by the damming of a natural wetland in 1939. It was dominated by blue-green algal blooms between at least 1970–1998. During that time a few scattered clones of sedges (Cyperaceae) along the shoreline were the only vascular plants present. The zooplankton community was dominated by small individuals, primarily rotifers, which were unable to effectively graze the algal community. During this interval, golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) made up the entire fish community. Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu and M. salmoides) were added between 1998 and spring 1999. Golden shiner recruitment functionally ended at that time, and by 2002 they had been virtually eliminated. Secchi transparencies increased and mean chlorophyll a decreased significantly (p<0.05), with algal blooms becoming practically nonexistent. Water weed (Elodea canadensis) nowcovers the bottom of most of the pond, reaching the surface in many areas up to 2 m in depth. Increased transparency, as well as potential changes in nutrient dynamics, both indirectly brought about by the addition of piscivorous fish, apparently has enabled Elodea to out-compete plank tonic algae for available nutrients. This documents a situation where top-down management of the fish community has affected the biota and water quality through trophic cascades. The introduction of piscivorous fish (top-down management) may be used to manage water quality through increased algal grazing by zooplankton. However, a substantial increase in macrophytes, as documented here, may be an outcome.

Characteristics of Effluents from Central Arkansas Baitfish Ponds

AbstractScientific information on baitfish effluents is important to provide a basis for the development of appropriate and cost‐effective management practices that minimize environmental impacts. Effluents from 10 commercial golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas ponds in central Arkansas were sampled December 2000 through June 2001. Grab samples of the first and last 10% of pond volume were collected during intentional draining events. Effluents were sampled as they exited pond drainpipes and at the ends of drainage ditches just prior to stream discharge. Concurrent receiving stream samples were collected upstream and downstream of the discharge point. Total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), 5‐d biochemical oxygen demand (BODS), and total suspended solids (TSS) of each sample were measured. Mean whole effluent concentrations for the first 10% were 36 mg TSS/L, 9 mg/L BOD5, 2 mg TN/L, and 0.5 mg TP/L. The water quality of the first and last 10% of pond effluent were not significantly different (P &lt; 0.05). Filtering effluents through a 5‐pm mesh screen did not significantly reduce nutrient concentrations. Serial fractionation of effluents resulted in small but significant decreases in TSS concentrations in samples filtered through the 10, 8, and 5‐μm meshes (P &lt; 0.05). Effluent discharge through farm ditches generally did not improve effluent water quality. Effluents collected at ditch ends were significantly less than drainpipe samples in BOD, concentrations only (P &lt; 0.05). Limited data on receiving stream water quality indicated that only TP concentrations were greater in pond effluents than in receiving streams. Overall, baitfish pond effluents are similar in composition to effluents of other phytoplankton‐based pond production systems.

Biomanipulation: A Classic Example in a Shallow Eutrophic Pond

ABSTRACT Moe Pond, Otsego County, New York, is an artificial impoundment created by the damming of a natural wetland in 1939. It was dominated by blue-green algal blooms between at least 1970–1998. During that time a few scattered clones of sedges (Cyperaceae) along the shoreline were the only vascular plants present. The zooplankton community was dominated by small individuals, primarily rotifers, which were unable to effectively graze the algal community. During this interval, golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) made up the entire fish community. Largemouth and smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu and M. salmoides) were added between 1998 and spring 1999. Golden shiner recruitment functionally ended at that time, and by 2002 they had been virtually eliminated. Secchi transparencies increased and mean chlorophyll a decreased significantly (p<0.05), with algal blooms becoming practically nonexistent. Water weed (Elodea canadensis) now covers the bottom of most of the pond, reaching the surface in many areas up to 2 m in depth. Increased transparency, as well as potential changes in nutrient dynamics, both indirectly brought about by the addition of piscivorous fish, apparently has enabled Elodea to out-compete plank tonic algae for available nutrients. This documents a situation where top-down management of the fish community has affected the biota and water quality through trophic cascades. The introduction of piscivorous fish (top-down management) may be used to manage water quality through increased algal grazing by zooplankton. However, a substantial increase in macrophytes, as documented here, may be an outcome.

Effects of Temperature and Size on Ammonia Excretion by Fasted Golden Shiners

AbstractThe golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas is the major species of baitfish raised and sold in the United States. They are shipped in trucks from large farms to distributors up to 2,500 km distant. The costs associated with shipping could be greatly reduced if truck loading were increased, but higher densities of fish elevate ammonia concentrations to detrimental levels. In our work, we have simulated live hauling conditions to measure the ammonia excretion rates of golden shiners at 15, 20, and 25°C. The experiments were conducted for 24 h in three recirculating systems after fingerling golden shiners were fasted and acclimated for 2 d. The experiment was repeated four times using different lots and sizes of golden shiners. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in the hourly ammonia excretion rates (HER) between two lots of same‐size golden shiners. The hourly ammonia excretion rates were inversely proportional to fish weight and increased with temperature. The average HER for all sizes of fish ranged from 2.9 to 7.4 g NH3‐N/kg fish/h at 15°C, 5.2–11.2 g NH3‐N/kg fish/h at 20°C, and 6.2–15.0 g NH3‐N/kg fish/h at 25°C. The results of this study will be used to design ammonia control systems to safely increase fish density on commercial fish hauling trucks.

Responses of Juvenile Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas Fed Semipurified or Practical Diets With or Without Supplemental Ascorbic Acid

A 12-wk feeding trial was conducted in a flow-through system to determine whether juvenile golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas have a dietary requirement for ascorbic acid. Triplicate groups of 30 fish each weighing 0.44 g initially were fed semi-purified (casein) diets supplemented with 0 or 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg, or practical (fish meal) diets supplemented with 0 or 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg. The form of ascorbic acid used was L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate. Survival was higher in fish fed the semi-purified diet with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg than in those fed the unsupplemented semi-purified diet, while weight gain did not differ between treatments. Weight gain was higher in fish fed the practical (fish meal) diet supplemented with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg than in those fed the unsupplemented practical diet, while survival did not differ between treatments. No other signs of ascorbic acid deficiency were observed, but fish fed the casein diets had skin and fin erosion indicative of a possible bacterial infection. Whole-body concentrations of ascorbic acid (total, reduced, and percent of reduced ascorbic acid) were higher in fish fed semi-purified or practical diets supplemented with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg than in fish fed unsupplemented diets. Golden shiners appear to require a dietary source of ascorbic acid for growth or survival, depending on experimental conditions. The two main differences in the study were in diet composition (semi-purified versus practical diets) and apparent health status of fish fed the different diet types. Additional studies are needed to define requirements further.

The Fish Community of a Small Impoundment in Upstate New York

ABSTRACT Moe Pond is a dimictic impoundment with surface area of 15.6 ha, a mean depth of 1.8 m, and an unexploited fish community of only two species: brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) and golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas). The age-1 and older brown bullhead population was estimated to be 4,057 individuals, based on the Schnabel capture-recapture method of population estimation. Density and biomass were respectively estimated at 260 individuals/ha and 13 kg/ha. Annual survival rate of age-2 through age-5 brown bullheads was estimated at 48%. The golden shiner length-frequency distribution was unimodal with modal length of 80 mm and maximum total length of 115 mm. The golden shiner population estimate was 7,154 individuals, based on seven beach seine haul replicate samples; the density and biomass were 686 shiners/ha and 5 kg/ha, respectively. This study provides an information baseline that may be useful in understanding food web interactions and whole-pond nutrient flux.

Food-anticipatory activity of groups of golden shiners during both day and night

For 12 days, captive groups each containing four golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) were fed by automatic feeders at two diametrically opposed daily times. These two times could be midday and midnight, late day and late night, or early day and early night. As measured by interruptions of an infrared beam underneath the feeder, golden shiners almost always expressed food-anticipatory activity. Beam interruptions started to increase a few hours before mealtime, reaching a peak within 1.5 h of food delivery. In at least half of the groups tested, food-anticipatory activity developed for both daily times simultaneously. This double anticipation was maintained for at least 5 days after food was withheld. These results show that golden shiner groups (though not necessarily individuals) can express two peaks of food anticipation at widely separated daily times, even if one occurs during the day and the other at night, providing further evidence for the great variability that fishes can display in their activity patterns.

The longevity of actinosporean spores from oligochaetes of Lake Sasajewun, Algonquin Park, Ontario, and their reaction to fish mucus.

The longevity of 7 forms of actinosporean spores and the reaction of 6 forms of actinosporeans to fish mucus were investigated. The maximum longevity of actinosporean spores kept at ambient laboratory temperatures was 14 days. Spore longevity ranged from 11 to 14 days among actinosporeans. The reaction of spores to fish mucus varied among the actinosporeans. Triactinomyxon F of Xiao and Desser, 1998 reacted only to the mucus of the common shiner Luxilus cornutus, and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, whereas the aurantiactinomyxon form of Xiao and Desser, 1998, and raabeia B of Xiao and Desser, 1998 reacted readily to mucus of all fish species tested. The differences in reaction to fish mucus among actinosporeans may indicate their different host range. These results indicate that actinosporean spores are short-lived and that actinosporeans respond to their hosts by chemodetection.

Food-anticipatory activity of groups of golden shiners during both day and night

For 12 days, captive groups each containing four golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) were fed by au- tomatic feeders at two diametrically opposed daily times. These two times could be midday and midnight, late day and late night, or early day and early night. As measured by interruptions of an infrared beam underneath the feeder, golden shiners almost always expressed food-anticipatory activity. Beam interruptions started to increase a few hours before mealtime, reaching a peak within 1.5 h of food delivery. In at least half of the groups tested, food-anticipatory activity developed for both daily times simultaneously. This double anticipation was maintained for at least 5 days after food was withheld. These results show that golden shiner groups (though not necessarily individuals) can express two peaks of food anticipation at widely separated daily times, even if one occurs during the day and the other at night, providing further evidence for the great variability that fishes can display in their activity patterns.

Relation between Bar Grader Spacing and Golden Shiner Size

Abstract The average lengths and weights of golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas that were retained between a series of successively smaller bar graders were determined. Regressions that expressed the relation of the average fish sizes to the mean distance between the bars of the retaining graders were determined and expressed as graphs. Tables, constructed from these relationships, are presented and explained for practical use by baitfish farmers.

The effects of planktivorous fish (golden shiners) on the ciliate community of a mesotrophic lake

A whole-lake food web manipulation suggested that planktivorous fish can play an impor- tant role in regulating the pelagic food web structure of mesotrophic lakes. In this study, we exam- ined the impact of golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) on zooplankton, ciliates, phytoplankton and nutrients. We conducted a mesocosm experiment using treatments with and without golden shiners with three replicates per treatment in summer. We monitored plankton and nutrient dynam- ics in these mesocosms for 6 weeks. Total macrozooplankton biomass and the proportion of large crus- taceans decreased dramatically in the golden shiner treatment, while rotifer biomass decreased only in the second half of the experiment. In the mesocosms with golden shiners, total ciliate biovolume increased. However, the impact of golden shiners on ciliates was species specific. Chlorophyll a con- centrations increased and dissolved nutrients (inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus) were statistically unaffected in the golden shiner treatment. This experiment showed that golden shiners had a strong negative impact on macrozooplankton, a variable impact on rotifers, weak positive impacts on cili- ates and phytoplankton, and no discernible impact on dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations. The results of this study help integrate aspects of previous research in mesotrophic lakes and provide evidence for cascading trophic interactions from fish to protozoans in a mesotrophic lake.

Back-Calculation of Fish Length from Scales: Empirical Comparison of Proportional Methods

We compared three proportional back-calculation methods for scales using data sets for pumpkinseeds Lepoinis gibbosus and golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas from 10 southern Quebec lakes, and we validated back-calculations by comparing them with observed lengths at time of annulus formation. Ordinary least-squares regression (OR) was compared with geometric mean regression (GMR) for describing body–scale relationships. Although minor differences were detected in body–scale regressions among lakes, pooling data across lakes yielded linear body–scale relationships with very high r2. Differences between OR and GMR body–scale relationships were negligible in both species. Likewise, all back-calculation methods produced equivalent results. Back-calculated lengths generally corresponded well with observed lengths in all pumpkinseeds age-classes and in golden shiners older than l year. Observed lengths were often greater than back-calculated lengths for age-1 golden shiners. Our results, indicating little or no difference among methods, contradict recent reviews claiming substantial disagreement among methods. Tighter body–scale relationships in our data sets than in previous studies appear to explain this contradiction. We suggest that tight body–scale relationships are attainable for many species, obviating concern over which proportional back-calculation method is chosen.

Size‐assortativeness in multi‐species fish shoals

Theory predicts that fish should assort in shoals on the basis of similar phenotypic traits to minimize predation risk and to maximize foraging efficiency. A single phenotypic character, body size, was considered and the hypothesis tested that free‐ranging fish shoals are sizeassorted. Furthermore, a second test investigated whether fish within multi‐species shoals are more strongly size‐assorted with conspecifics than with heterospecifics. Twelve fish shoals, each comprising two different species (golden shinerNotemigonus crysoleucas, and banded killifishFundulus diaphanus) were caught in the littoral zone of a north temperate lake using a beach seine. Shoal membership size ranged from 36 to 776 fish, and mean standard body length of members ranged from 18 to 34 mm. Fish were assorted by body size at two different levels, namely, between shoals and at the level of species within shoals. Body sizes of shiners and killifish within shoals were significantly different in seven out of 12 shoals, with killifish being the larger species in five cases and shiners being the larger one in two cases. Because there is considerable overlap in body size between the two species in the population, the observed species‐related size‐assortativeness within shoals was not just the by‐product of a directional size difference (between species) in the population. These findings provide strong quantitative evidence for size‐sorting in free‐ranging fish shoals and raise questions concerning the formation of multi‐species fish shoals.

Size-assortativeness in multi-species fish shoals

Theory predicts that fish should assort in shoals on the basis of similar phenotypic traits to minimize predation risk and to maximize foraging efficiency. A single phenotypic character, body size, was considered and the hypothesis tested that free-ranging fish shoals are sizeassorted. Furthermore, a second test investigated whether fish within multi-species shoals are more strongly size-assorted with conspecifics than with heterospecifics. Twelve fish shoals, each comprising two different species (golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, and banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus) were caught in the littoral zone of a north temperate lake using a beach seine. Shoal membership size ranged from 36 to 776 fish, and mean standard body length of members ranged from 18 to 34 mm. Fish were assorted by body size at two different levels, namely, between shoals and at the level of species within shoals. Body sizes of shiners and killifish within shoals were significantly different in seven out of 12 shoals, with killifish being the larger species in five cases and shiners being the larger one in two cases. Because there is considerable overlap in body size between the two species in the population, the observed species-related size-assortativeness within shoals was not just the by-product of a directional size difference (between species) in the population. These findings provide strong quantitative evidence for size-sorting in free-ranging fish shoals and raise questions concerning the formation of multi-species fish shoals.

Stable Isotopic Evaluation of the Relative Assimilation of Natural and Artificial Foods by Golden Shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas in Ponds

AbstractStable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) were used to estimate the relative contributions of natural and prepared feeds to the nutrition of golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas in ponds. Concurrent feeding trials were conducted in tanks (110 L) and ponds (0.04 ha) to determine the response of golden shiners to three isotopically distinct prepared diets both in the presence (pond) and absence (tank) of natural food. Seston was the primary indicator of the δ13C of natural foods available in the ponds, but δ13C's of free‐swimming, unfed golden shiners provided an additional index. Fish receiving experimental diets were maintained in floating nets within the same ponds. After 6 wk, fish in tanks fed all three diets had acquired the diet label to some degree, while fish in ponds also tracked their respective feeds except for those fed diet 3. This diet contained a large amount of corn meal, which appeared to be poorly assimilated by golden shiners. The use of natural foods by golden shiners fed all three prepared feeds ranged from 40–83% and was inversely correlated with the relative assimilation of the prepared feeds.

Off-Season Spawning of Golden Shiners

Abstract Age-0 (7–9-month-old) and age-1 (19–21-month-old) golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas were taken from ponds during the winter and held in tanks at 25 ± 2°C at a photoperiod of 15.5 h of light and 8.5 h of darkness for two trials (16 November–17 December and 24 January–10 March). Eggs and fry were produced by both age-0 and age-1 fish by the fourth week of the second trial. Spawning occurred 6–8 weeks before fish would normally spawn in the spring.

Technical Notes: Survival of Golden Shiner Fry Fed a Microparticulate Diet

Abstract Growth and survival were compared for fry of' golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) reared in indoor tanks and fed different sizes of a commercially available dry fry feed. The 3–4-d-old fry were stocked in 80-L tanks at 50 fry/L and were fed to excess 12 times daily for 7 d with Fry Feed Kyowa B-250 (particle size < 250 μm), B-400 (250–400 μm), or B-700 (400–700 um). For fry fed FFKB-250, FFKB-400, and FFKB-700, survival averaged 46.4%, 7.0%, and 1.4% and final total lengths averaged 5.4, 5.1, and 4.7 mm, respectively. Survival was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for fry fed the FFKB-250 diet. Unfed fry did not survive beyond 7 d posthatch.

Relative Weight (Wr) as a Field Assessment Tool: Relationships with Growth, Prey Biomass, and Environmental Conditions

We evaluated the relative weight (Wr) condition index as a field assessment tool with pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, focusing on sources of variability and potential of Wr as a predictor of growth, prey availability, and environmental conditions in 10 southern Quebec lakes over 2 years. To allow calculation of Wr, we developed standard weight (Ws) equations for both species, using the regression-line-percentile (RLP) technique. The proposed Ws equation in metric units (grams wet weight and millimeters total legnth, TL) for pumpkinseed is log10Ws = –5.179 + 3.237 log10TL; for golden shiner it is log10Ws = –5.593 + 3.302 log10TL. Spatial and temporal variation in Wr was highly significant and largely asynchronous in both species, although spring values were lowest in most lakes. The Wr index frequently varied with length, prompting us to examine relationships in stock and quality length fish separately. We found little evidence for a relationship between Wr and growth in either species. Pumpkinseed Ws were positively correlated with total benthic invertebrate biomass: stock length Wr was positively correlated with chironomid biomass, and quality length Wr was positively correlated with gastropod biomass. The relative weight of quality length golden shiners was positively correlated with chironomid biomass. Our results and those of other studies suggest that the common assumption of a relationship between Wr and growth in field populations should be reconsidered, but that Wr could be cautiously used as a working index of prey availability. We recommend empirical or experimental verification when Wr is used as an assessment tool in field populations.

Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes from the early Pleistocene Leisey Shell Pit local fauna, Hillsborough County, Florida

The early Pleistocene (early Irvingtonian) Leisey Shell Pit ichthyofauna was recovered from two large commercial shell pits located less than 1 kilometer inland from Tampa Bay in Hillsborough County, Florida. The combined fish fauna from the two Leisey sites is composed of 73 species, including 23 species of sharks and rays and 50 species of bony fish. This is the largest fish fauna ever reported from the Cenozoic of Florida, and includes 34 taxa that represent new additions to the fossil record of the state. There are four extinct taxa in the fauna, all ofwhich are Chondrichthyes: the mako shark Isurus hastalis, the nurse shark Ginglymostoma serra, the snaggletooth shark Hemipristis serra, and the guitarfish Rhynchobatus sp. The genera Hemipristis and Rhynchobatus are now restricted to the Indo-West Pacific region. The two sites comprising the Leisey Shell Pit Local Fauna, Leisey 1A and Leisey 3A, have somewhat different faunas. The most common fish from Leisey 1A in decreasing order of abundance are: alligator gar Atractosteus spatula; snook Centropomus sp.; mullet Mugil sp.; bull shark Carcharhinus leucas; and eagle ray Myliobatis sp. These species, as well as the majority of the remaining fauna, suggest a shallow marine or estuarine environment such as a coastal bay or mouth of a large river. In contrast, the Leisey 3A ichthyofauna is dominated by the freshwater sunfish family Centrarchidae, in particular, redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, and redbreast sunfish L. auritus. Other common fish from Leisey 3A are found in freshwater habitats as well, including: Mugil sp.; freshwater catfish of the family Ictaluridae; bowfin Amia calva; lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta; killifish Fundulus seminolis, golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, and pickerel Esox sp. The fish fauna from Leisey 3A is indicative of a low gradient freshwater habitat such as a large stream or river, probably well inland from its mouth. With only a few exceptions, the faunas from both Leisey sites are typical of modern Florida Gulf Coast fish communities. The Leisey ichthyofauna bears witness to the stability of Florida's aquatic environments on a paleontological time scale, and offers a baseline from which to view the rapidly changing community structure of to days coastal habitats.

Investing in aquacultural wastewater techniques for improved water quality: A coastal community case study

As the cost of constructing and maintaining wastewater treatment plants increases, small communities are beginning to look towards possible alternatives to the existing energy intensive and cost prohibitive conventional treatment methods. This case study examines the economic feasibility of using aquaculture as a polishing treatment stage in the municipal wastewater treatment stabilization ponds in the coastal community of Damariscotta, Maine. Damariscotta has turned to stabilization ponds to handle their wastewater treatment and an abundance of the Zooplankton Daphnia has developed in these ponds. The objective of this study is to examine the economic potential of using this Daphnia for aquacultural purposes while simultaneously improving the quality of the treatment facility's effluent. Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) is the fish species that is to be raised in these ponds. The costs of constructing the facility and the revenues generated through sale of the shiners are calculated in the economi...