Effect of Aquathol K Treatments on Activity Patterns of Largemouth Bass in Two Coves of Lake Seminole, Georgia

Thirty largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lacepde)were implanted with radio tags in late October 2003 in twocoves of Lake Seminole, Georgia, and tracked over a 24-hourperiod about every 10 days to determine their response toherbicide application. After five weeks of tracking, hydrilla(Hydrilla verticillataRoyle) in each cove was treated in earlyDecember 2003 with dipotassium salt of endothall (AquatholK; 7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) at arate of 3.5 ppm. Largemouth bass were tracked during applicationand tracking continued for three months post treatmentto assess effects of herbicide treatment on activitypatterns. The treatment in Desser Cove successfully reducedhydrilla in approximately half the cove. However, the treatmentin Peacock Lake completely eliminated all submersedaquatic vegetation (SAV) by April 2004. Movement and activitycenters remained similar between treatment periods inDesser Cove, but increased after treatment in Peacock Lake.Depth occupied by telemetered fish decreased afterAquathol K treatment in both coves. In general, behavior oflargemouth bass did not change appreciably during treatment,and only minor changes were observed in the posttreatmentperiod in Peacock Lake, where all SAV was eliminated.Fish showed little attraction to or movement awayfrom treatment areas, and fish migration from either covewas nil after treatment. Application of Aquathol K and subsequentreduction of SAV had little effect on largemouth bassbehavior or movement. (PDF has 8 pages.)

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Sammons, Steve M., Maceina, Michael J.
Format:	article biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	2005
Subjects:	Management, Biology, Limnology, Environment, telemetry, herbicide, endothall, activity patterns, Lake Seminole, Georgia, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/1834/19464
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