Correlation of Hook-and-Line Vulnerability of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) with Selected Physicochemical Parameters at Ridge Lake

Author

Dale P. Burkett, Eastern Illinois University

Graduate Program

Environmental Biology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1981

Thesis Director

Leonard Durham

Abstract

Fluctuation in kilograms of largemouth bass caught per man-hour of fishing pressure (catch rate) in Ridge Lake (a 6.8ha impoundment located in Fox Ridge State Park, Coles County, Illinois) was positively correlated with dissolved oxygen concentration (r=0.7490), conductivity (r=0.7439), pH (r=0.5965), and alkalinity (r=0.7531). Negative correlations were found between largemouth bass catch rate and turbidity (r=-0.5145), as well as ammonia (r=-0.4694). No significant (p<0.05) correlations were found between catch rate and column water temperature, air temperature, barometric pressure, water level, maximum water temperature, minimum water temperature, maximum air temperature, or minimum air temperature.

Models describing the relationships of the most significant physicochemical parameters to catch rate of largemouth bass were chosen to represent the effects of environment on catch rate. These models were generated utilizing two variations on stepwise multiple regression available through the Statistical Analysis System (R-square and Maximum R-square Improvement). Selection of the "best" models from the many produced involved the following criteria: any model containing component independent variables with p>0.05 was deleted, any model not agreeing with both the R-square procedure and the Maximum R-square Improvement procedure was deleted, and any model not accounting for a minimum of 50% of catch rate fluctuation was deleted. The best two independent variable model generated was as follows: Kg/man-hour = -0.4377Amm + 0.0020Alk - 0.0301 (Amm = total ionized ammonia, ppm; Alk = total carbonate alkalinity, ppm) with r²=0.7028.

Examination of Pearson product moment correlation results, R-square procedure results, and Maximum R-square Improvement results revealed that the single most significant factor responsible for catch rate fluctuation was alkalinity; in addition, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, column water temperature, ammonia, and maximum air temperature were significant.

Recommended Citation

Burkett, Dale P., "Correlation of Hook-and-Line Vulnerability of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) with Selected Physicochemical Parameters at Ridge Lake" (1981). Masters Theses. 3035.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/3035