Relationships between Gizzard Shad, Impoundment Characteristics, and Sympatric Fish Species

Abstract

Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum are a widely distributed species that can have detrimental effects on aquatic systems and associated fish populations. As a result, Gizzard Shad populations are often manipulated to improve water quality or benefit recreationally important fish populations. Unfortunately, Gizzard Shad manipulations are expensive and the results are variable. In an attempt to inform management of Gizzard Shad and associated species, we evaluated relationships between Gizzard Shad, impoundment characteristics, and sympatric species in 98 impoundments in Kansas using two‐dimension Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests and multiple regression techniques. Our results indicated that Gizzard Shad abundance had a positive influence on the relative abundance of Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides and did not influence other sympatric species. Impoundment characteristics (e.g., watershed : lake area ratio, mean depth, turbidity) were more strongly related to the relative abundance and condition of sympatric species than Gizzard Shad. Our results indicate that manipulation of Gizzard Shad likely has little effect on certain sympatric fish species in Kansas impoundments. Therefore, resources used to manipulate Gizzard Shad populations could be better allocated toward management actions that promote or maintain fisheries in impoundments with characteristics that benefit recreationally important species.

Influence of invasive bigheaded carps on abundance of Gizzard Shad in the Tennessee River

“…High Gizzard Shad densities help support the diversity of species in reservoirs throughout much of North America by serving as a key forage component for piscivorous fishes. Declines or collapse of Gizzard Shad populations could resonate throughout the entire system (Klein et al 2022).…”

“…Declines or collapse of Gizzard Shad populations could resonate throughout the entire system (Klein et al. 2022).…”