Depth Distribution of the Bluegill, Lepomis Macrochirus Rafinesque, in Farm Ponds during Summer Stratification
- 1 January 1952
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
- Vol. 81 (1) , 162-170
- https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1951)81[162:ddotbl]2.0.co;2
Abstract
Depth distribution of the bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, in farm ponds was determined by the use of fish traps. Results indicated that during summer stratification bluegills were found in greatest numbers in shallow waters. They were unable to live for extended periods of 6 to 45 hours at water depths where the dissolved‐oxygen concentration was 0.3 p.p.m. or less accompanied by a carbon‐dioxide concentration of 4.4 p.p.m. or more. This condition was therefore considered to be the critical combined dissolved‐oxygen and carbon‐dioxide concentrations for bluegills and the depth that these concentrations usually occurred was designated as the critical depth. The critical depth was normally 5 feet in the 2‐acre pond and 7 feet in the 22‐acre pond during the period of summer stratification which was studied during the period from June 24 through September 12, 1949. With increases in surface areas of the ponds from 2 to 22 acres, the critical depths increased apparently as the result of deeper mixing of the waters due to increased wave action. The critical depth increased in all ponds following strong winds, heavy rainfalls, or cool periods. It decreased during periods of extended cloudiness or other conditions resulting in reduced photosynthetic activity in the deeper waters.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: