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Note: Session titles beginning with an asterisk (*) have student presenters.
AUTHORS: Geoffrey E. Mitchell, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens; Cecil A. Jennings, U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens
ABSTRACT: Blue Catfish are native to the Coosa river drainage in northwest Georgia, but recently (1997) have been discovered outside of this range, in Lake Oconee. In Lake Oconee, their abundance and growth rates have increased dramatically, but their food habits are unknown. Therefore, food habits of Blue Catfish were determined by examining the stomachs of 808 specimens from Lake Oconee’s upper and lower regions during all seasons from summer 2012 to summer 2013. Stomach contents were analyzed using the Index of Relative Importance. The dominant prey items during the summer season in the upper region were Asian Clams (Corbicula fluminea; 98%), Asian Clams (67%) in the fall, Mayflies (Ephemeroptera; 64%) in the winter, and Mayflies (84%) dominated the spring prey diet. The dominant prey items during the fall season in the lower region were Asian Clams (Corbicula fluminea; 41%), Threadfin Shad (Dorsoma petenense; 49%) in the winter and Mayflies (79%) dominated the spring prey diet. Blue Catfish fed opportunistically on whatever was seasonally abundant in both the upper riverine and lower lacustrine portions of the lake. Further, their colonization of Lake Oconee, GA seems to have positive and negative consequences for that ecosystem. Fishery managers attempting to control the rapid expansion of Blue Catfish in Lake Oconee and elsewhere would benefit from considering the potential useful and detrimental effects of this apex predator and the role it plays in the tropic ecology of newly colonized waters.
Tuesday October 31, 2017 8:00am - 8:20am EDT
French