cooperative fishery - uwsp

WISCONSIN

COOPERATIVE FISHERY

RESEARCH UNIT

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES JULY 2015 - JUNE 2016

The Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit has been

an integral part of fisheries and aquatic science research and

education in the College of Natural Resources at the

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point since 1971. The

cooperators in this partnership include the U.S. Geological

Survey, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and

the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The three-fold mission of the Unit is to: 1) conduct

scientifically-valid research addressing the research needs of

our cooperators, 2) train graduate students to become future

professionals and 3) provide extension services and

continuing education opportunities to resource professionals.

Our research endeavors encompass a wide range of topics

including population dynamics and demographics,

conservation of genetic resources, propagation and stocking

success, fish movement and passage strategies, and fish

habitat assessment.

Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit studies have

met and continue to meet the needs of the U.S. Geological

Survey, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, other agencies, and the public.

Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery

Research Unit

Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit

www.coopunits.org

MISSION STATEMENT

PERSONNEL AND COOPERATORS

COORDINATING COMMITTEE

MICHAEL TOME

Eastern Units Supervisor

Cooperative Research Units

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the Interior

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 303

Reston, VA 20192

(703) 648-4860

GREG PILS

Acting Director

Bureau of Integrated Science Services

WI Department of Natural Resources

125 South Webster

PO Box 7921

Madison, WI 53707

(608) 267-9753

CHRISTINE THOMAS

Dean

College of Natural Resources

University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point

800 Reserve Street

Stevens Point, WI 54481

(715) 346-4617

ANDREA MUSCH

Program Assistant

WI Cooperative Fishery Research Unit


University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

(715) 346-2178

KEITH TURNQUIST

Molecular Conservation Genetics Lab




(715) 346-3873

DAN DEMBKOWSKI

Research Scientist

Fish Propagation Science Center




(715) 346-4350

USGS STAFF

DAN ISERMANN

Unit Leader





(715) 346-3221

UNIVERSITY STAFF

JEFF DIMICK

Research Scientist

Aquatic Biomonitoring Lab




(715) 346-3868

JANICE KERNS

Research Scientist

Fisheries Analysis Center




(715) 346-2502

WES LARSON

Assistant Unit Leader





(715) 346-3150

CURRENT M.S. STUDENTS GRADUATED M.S. STUDENTS

Nick Rydell Zach Snobl

Josh Schulze Hadley Boehm

Jason Gostiaux

Eric Wegleitner

Jenna Ruzich

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AND TECHNICIANS

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TECHNICIANS

Justin Howard

Brad Erdman

Matt Krause

Logan Sikora

Brandon Maahs

Zach Witzel

Jacob Steckmesser

Zach Mohr

Shae Flood

Andrew Zabel

Taylor Beaman

Drew Wallace

Sam Schaick

Alex Catalano

Kaitlyn Duhm

Ben Breaker

Tim Gander

Autumn Neilson

Kate Carpenter

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Jennifer Bergman, Fisheries Biologist

Wisconsin Rapids Field Unit

Dave Boyarski, NR Region Team Supervisor

Sturgeon Bay Service Center

Tom Cichosz, Treaty Data Coordinator

DNR Central Office-Madison

Mike Donofrio, NR Region Team Supervisor

Peshtigo Service Center

Brad Eggold, NR Region Team Supervisor

Great Lakes Water Institute-Milwaukee

Lawrence Eslinger, Fisheries Biologist

Woodruff Treaty Fisheries Assessment Team

Steve Fajfer, NR Operations Supervisor

Wild Rose Hatchery-Wild Rose

Kevin Gauthier, Water Resources Management Specialist

Woodruff Service Center-Woodruff

David Giehtbrock, Section Chief

Fish Culture Section, Madison

Steve Gilbert, Fisheries Biologist

Woodruff Service Center

Scott Hansen, Fisheries Biologist

Sturgeon Bay Service Center

Joe Hennessy, Fisheries Biologist

DNR Science Operations Center-Madison

Ben Heussner, Fisheries Biologist

Kettle Moraine Southern Unit State Forest-Eagle

Steve Hewett, Section Chief


Pradeep Hirethota, Fisheries Biologist

Great Lakes Water Institute-Milwaukee

Steve Hogler, Fisheries Biologist

Green Bay Service Center-Green Bay

Jeff Kampa, NR Region Team Supervisor

Spooner Service Center-Spooner

Ryan Koenigs, Fisheries Biologist

Oshkosh Service Center-Oshkosh

John Kubisiak, Fisheries Biologist

Rhinelander Service Center-Rhinelander

Nick Legler, Fisheries Biologist

Sturgeon Bay Service Center-Sturgeon Bay

John Lyons, NR Program Supervisor


Ryan Marty, Program and Policy Analyst


Tom Meronek, Fisheries Biologist

Wisconsin Rapids Field Unit

Matt Mitro, NR Research Scientist


Adam Nickel, Fisheries Biologist

Oshkosh Service Center-Oshkosh

Al Niebur, Fisheries Biologist

Shawano-Shawano

Nathan Nye, Fisheries Biologist

Lake Wissota State Park-Chippewa Falls

Timothy Parks, Research Scientist

Spooner Service Center

Luke Roffler, Fisheries Biologist

Richard Bong State Rec Area-Kansasville

David Rowe, NR Region Team Supervisor

Fitchburg Service Center-Fitchburg

Andrew Rypel, NR Research Scientist


Greg Sass, NR Program Supervisor

WI Limnology Boulder Junction

Dave Seibel, Fisheries Biologist

Antigo Service Center-Antigo

Tim Simonson, NR Staff Specialist


Lori Tate, Fisheries Biologist


Scott Van Egeren, Water Resources Management Specialist


Max Wolter, Fisheries Biologist

Hayward Service Center-Hayward

PERSONNEL AND COOPERATORS (CONTINUED)

FEDERAL AGENCY

Chuck Bronte, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Fisheries Biologist-Green Bay, Wisconsin

Rob Elliott, US Fish and Wildlife Service


Mark Luehring, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife

Commission Inland Fisheries Biologist

Darrin Simpkins, US Fish and Wildlife Service


Ted Treska, Sea Lamprey Information Systems Manager

Great Lakes Fishery Commission-Ann Arbor, Michigan

Mike Quist, Assistant Unit Leader

ID Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

PERSONNEL AND COOPERATORS (CONTINUED)

UW-STEVENS POINT COOPERATORS

Ron Crunkilton

Professor Water Resources

Bill DeVita

Wisconsin Environmental Analysis Laboratory

Bill Fisher

Assistant Professor Water Resources

Kyle Herrman


George Kraft

Professor Water Resources

Paul McGinley


Joshua Raabe


Jason Riddle

Assistant Professor Wildlife Ecology

Kevin Russell

Associate Professor Wildlife Ecology

Brian Sloss

Associate Dean of Outreach, Extension and Extramural

Grants

Justin VanDeHey

Assistant Professor Fisheries and Water Resources

OTHER UNIVERSITY COOPERATORS

Steve Carpenter

UW-Madison, Center for Limnology

Rob Colombo

Eastern Illinois University

Derek Crane

Coastal Carolina University

Patrick Forsythe

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

John Janssen

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Kevin Kapuscinski

Lake Superior State University

Loren Miller

University of Minnesota

Derek Ogle

Northland College

Kim Scribner

Michigan State University

Trent Sutton

University of Alaska - Fairbanks

Chris Wilson

Trent University, Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural

Resources, Peterborough, Ontario

Amy Welsh

West Virginia University

Jake Vander Zanden

UW-Madison, Center for Limnology

OTHER COOPERATORS

John Ackerson

Missouri Department of Conservation

Eric Altena

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Ed Baker

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Brian Blackwell

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

Randall Claramunt


Dave Carrofino


Patrick Hanchin


Jon Hansen

MN Department of Natural Resources

Gretchen Hansen

MN Department of Natural Resources

Andrew Jansen

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Ken Kansas

Fisheries Branch, Manitoba Water Stewardship

Darren Kramer


Dale Logsdon


Joshua Pyatskowit

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin

Jeremy Pyatskowit

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin

Jeff Reed


Troy Zorn


Rich Zweifel

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

WISCONSIN COOPERATIVE FISHERY RESEARCH UNIT—

COMPLETED GRADUATE THESES

HABITAT USE OF SUB-ADULT LAKE

STURGEON IN THE LOWER WOLF RIVER,

WISCONSIN

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: ZACH SNOBL, M.S

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: DAN ISERMANN

FUNDING SOURCE: WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF

NATURAL RESOURCES

Habitat use and movement of sub-adult Lake Sturgeon

is largely unknown for most systems. Establishing patterns of

habitat use and movement at this life stage could assist

managers in capturing sub-adult fish, which would provide a

better understanding of recruitment. Sampling sub-adult

sturgeon can provide a more immediate and accurate method

for assessing the effectiveness of management actions on Lake

Sturgeon recruitment. This monitoring is especially important

for exploited populations, where changes to harvest

management could be implemented if recruitment declines and

increases can be detected before cohorts reach adulthood.

The Lake Winnebago System Lake Sturgeon

population supports an annual spear fishery with average annual

harvests of approximately 1,400 fish from a population of

adults that is estimated at approximately 42,000 fish. Little

information on sub-adult Lake Sturgeon in the Lake Winnebago

System is available and standardized sampling has not targeted

these fish in the past. Fishery managers are interested in

determining habitat use of sub-adult Lake Sturgeon to aid in

developing recruitment surveys to better understand the

population at this life stage.

While sub-adult Lake Sturgeon likely occupy multiple

habitats in the Lake Winnebago System, the first phase of this

research focused on sub-adult Lake Sturgeon in the lower Wolf

River. The objectives of my study were to determine if: 1)

numbers of sub-adult Lake Sturgeon in the lower Wolf River

are sufficient to justify sampling this portion of the Lake

Winnebago system as part of a basin-wide recruitment survey;

2) linear home range or movements of sub-adult Lake Sturgeon

in the lower Wolf River varies in relation to season, sex, or total

length (TL) category (small < 96.0 cm TL; large ≥ 96.0 cm TL)

and 3) sub-adult Lake Sturgeon selectively occupy certain

habitats in the lower Wolf River in terms of substrate and

channel morphology.

A total of eighteen sub-adult Lake Sturgeon were

captured on the lower Wolf River during fall 2013 and 2014

using various sampling techniques. A total of 618.5 hours were

invested in attempting to capture these fish. Sub-adult Lake

Sturgeon were surgically implanted with radio-transmitters and

released back into the river near capture locations. Relocation

of fish was attempted every two weeks over the two years of the

study, except for winter, when relocation attempts occurred

once per month. Latitude, longitude, and substrate type were

recorded at each relocation. Data collected were used to

determine overall, annual, and seasonal linear home range sizes

for each fish.

Side-scan sonar was used to collect images of the

lower Wolf River that were uploaded into ArcGIS™.

Substrates were identified with color-coded polygons that

corresponded to different substrate types to create a substrate

map of the entire study area. This map was used in conjunction

with fish relocations to determine substrate use.

Linear home ranges did not differ in relation to sex or

TL category, but did vary among seasons. The majority of

movement for sub-adult Lake Sturgeon occurred in spring,

which is similar to trends observed in previous studies of adult

fish. Additionally, fish usually exhibited limited movement

during winter (linear home range < 0.5 rkm). Selection ratios

indicated that sub-adult Lake Sturgeon were not selecting for

any substrate or channel morphology type.

Although some sub-adult Lake Sturgeon do occupy the

lower Wolf River, I conclude that sufficient numbers of sub-

adult Lake Sturgeon do not reside in the river to justify

extensive sampling as part of a recruitment index survey. This

information is important because sampling effort is typically

limited by cost and logistics and my study suggests this effort

may be better expended in other locations within the system.

However, additional work is needed to determine where the

largest concentration of sub-adult Lake Sturgeon reside within

the Winnebago System, as there is still interest in developing a

method for sampling sub-adult Lake Sturgeon to monitor

recruitment trends before fish reach adulthood.

COMPLETED GRADUATE THESES (CONTINUED)

IDENTIFYING RECRUITMENT BOTTLENECKS IN

NORTHERN WISCONSIN WALLEYE

POPULATIONS

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: HADLEY BOEHM, M.S



NATURAL RESOURCES

Walleye Sander vitreus recruitment (measured as age-

0 catch-per-effort in fall electrofishing) has declined in many

northern Wisconsin lakes and the reasons for these declines are

not known. Recruitment declines are a significant management

concern for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as

many of these walleye populations did support popular

fisheries. Understanding mechanisms and timing associated

with walleye recruitment bottlenecks during the first year of life

is important in developing management solutions, as changes to

harvest regulations or stocking strategies may be warranted

depending on when and where bottlenecks occur. Therefore, the

objectives of my research were to: 1) develop sampling

protocols for collecting larval and post-larval walleyes before

electrofishing for age-0 walleye occurs in fall; 2) identify

timing of recruitment bottlenecks for age-0 walleyes in two

northern Wisconsin walleye lakes with a declining recruitment

history (D-NR) relative to trends observed in two lakes with

sustained recruitment histories (S-NR); and 3) evaluate

differences in abiotic and biotic variables between lakes with

the two different recruitment histories. In 2014 and 2015, I

sampled Kawaguesaga and Sawyer lakes (D-NR) and Escanaba

and Big Arbor Vitae lakes (S-NR). Adult walleye were

captured in spring using nighttime electrofishing, egg mats

were used to verify spawning, towed ichthyoplankton nets,

quatrefoil light traps, beach seines, micro-mesh gillnets, and

electrofishing were used to capture age-0 walleye throughout

their first year of life. Water quality data, zooplankton samples,

and panfish diet information were also collected. Age-0

walleyes were not captured in D-NR lakes after the early larval

stage, while age-0 walleyes were captured at multiple life

stages during both years on S-NR lakes. These results suggests

a recruitment bottleneck for age-0 walleye occurs at or before

the larval stage in D-NR lakes. Panfish were not major

predators of larval walleyes on any lake in either year. I

compared biotic and abiotic metrics between recruitment

histories using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

Temperature and dissolved oxygen were similar for all lakes,

although D-NR lakes were slightly clearer. Mean total length

(TL) of adult walleyes was significantly greater on D-NR lakes

than S-NR lakes. Larval yellow perch TL, mean coefficient of

variation in May daily water temperature, average density and

TL of calanoid and cycolopoid copepods, nauplii, and Daphnia

spp., walleye egg density, and Secchi depth did not differ

significantly between S-NR and D-NR lakes. Continued

research should focus on further collection of some abiotic and

biotic metrics on these and other lakes to determine if the

trends observed in age-0 walleye abundance occur in other D-

NR and S-NR lakes. This expanded sampling might also

provide more information on the factors for responsible for

potential recruitment bottlenecks. My results suggest that

temporal trends in relative abundance of walleyes during their

first year of life can be monitored using a combination of

ichthyoplankton nets towed at night during mid to late May

(i.e., 1-3 weeks after peak walleye spawning), 0.64-cm mesh

gill nets set in mid to late July, and fall electrofishing. Future

studies might also include experimental stocking of walleye fry

to determine if this strategy can be used to circumvent

recruitment bottlenecks that occur at or before the larval stage.


CONTINUING GRADUATE RESEARCH

MOVEMENTS OF LAKE STURGEON AFTER

UPSTREAM PASSAGE ABOVE TWO DAMS ON

THE MENOMINEE RIVER

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: JOSH SCHULZE, M.S.

CANDIDATE


FUNDING SOURCE: GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE

RESTORATION ACT, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

JULY 2014 - DECEMBER 2016

Currently, hydroelectric dams prevent lake sturgeon entering

the lower Menominee River from Green Bay from reaching

high-quality spawning locations and juvenile fish habitat

available upstream. Fish passage through the lower two dams

on the Menominee River began in 2014 and fishery managers

with the Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural

Resources (DNR) need to determine the numbers and

characteristics of lake sturgeon that should be allowed to pass

in order to maximize recruitment potential and the return of

fish back downstream. Our proposed research will use acoustic

telemetry to describe movement of lake sturgeon passed

upstream in the Menominee River and will provide fishery

managers around the Great Lakes with information that can be

used to formulate passage strategies and possibly help design

passage facilities for lake sturgeon. Our research objectives are

to determine: 1) if adult lake sturgeon passed upstream return

downstream to the lower Menominee River or Green Bay

within 1 or 2 years of passage; 2) if adult lake sturgeon have

the opportunity to spawn at least once above Park Mill Dam

within 1-2 years after passage; 3) if spawning opportunity,

downstream return rates, and use of the downstream fishway at

Park Mill Dam are related to timing of passage, time elapsed

since passage occurred, month of year, flow or temperature

conditions, or in relation to fish attributes such as sex, length,

and maturation status and 4) if the number, length, and sex of

fish passed upstream and timing of passage can be

manipulated to maximize the number of eggs deposited above

Park Mill dam by fish that were passed upstream.

EFFECTS OF 2, 4-D HERBICIDE TREATMENTS

USED TO CONTROL EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL

ON FISH AND ZOOPLANKTON IN NORTHERN

WISCONSIN LAKES

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: NICK RYDELL, M.S CANDIDATE



NATURAL RESOURCES

JULY 1, 2014 - JUNE 30, 2018

Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum (EWM) is one of

the most problematic aquatic invasive species in North America

because it can outcompete native macrophytes (Madsen et al.

1991), negatively affect fish and wildlife, and interferes with

recreational activities (Smith and Barko 1990). Application of

herbicides is commonly used as a means to control or eradicate

EWM (Sorsa et al. 1988; Parsons et al. 2001). Specifically, 2, 4-

Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) based herbicides are

widely used for controlling EWM in Wisconsin and other

states, but little is known regarding the effects of these

herbicide treatments on fish and zooplankton communities

outside of a laboratory setting. One previous study indicated

that application of 2, 4-D herbicides did not affect fish diversity

or biomass in two Minnesota lakes (Kovalenko et al. 2010), but

application of these herbicides remains an important concern

for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR),

which issues the permits required for herbicide application in

Wisconsin lakes. Consequently, the objectives of our study are

to determine if: 1) 2, 4-D herbicide treatments used to control

EWM affect the abundance, diversity, and size structure of fish

at different life history stages; 2) herbicide treatments affect

feeding, survival, growth, and reproductive investment of

selected fish species, and 2) if herbicide treatments affect

diversity, abundance, and size of zooplankton. Our working

hypotheses are that 2, 4-D herbicide treatments will not reduce

fish diversity, but will reduce abundance and survival which

will eventually influence the size structure of fish populations in



IDENTIFYING RECRUITMENT BOTTLENECKS IN

NORTHERN WISCONSIN WALLEYE

POPULATIONS

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: JASON GOSTIAUX, M.S.

CANDIDATE



NATURAL RESOURCES

JANUARY 2016 - DECEMBER 2018

treated lakes through reduced recruitment. Furthermore, we

hypothesize that herbicide treatments will not affect gonadal

investment and fecundity, but will reduce survival, foraging

success, and growth of larval fish. Lastly, we hypothesize that

herbicide treatments will not affect zooplankton diversity, but

will result in increased abundance and size structure of

zooplankton because of reductions in larval fish predation.

Walleye recruitment has declined in several northern Wisconsin

lakes for unknown reasons and our goal is to identify the timing

and potential causes of recruitment bottlenecks for age-0

walleyes in northern Wisconsin lakes. In the first phase of this

project, we identified a recruitment bottleneck for age-0 walleye

occurring at or before the larval stage in two lakes where

walleye recruitment has declined dramatically over the last

decade. We also determined that abundance of age-0 walleyes

can be monitored during the first year of life using a

combination of towing ichthyoplankton nets at night during mid

to late May, micromesh gill nets set in July, and electrofishing

in fall. Our plans for the next phase of this project, has

expanded to include 12 lakes in northern Wisconsin. Our

objectives will be to determine if: 1) larval walleyes are not

present in declining NR lakes; 2) differences in limnological

conditions and zooplankton communities observed between

sustained and declining NR lakes during Phase I are consistent

at a broader spatial scale; and 3) stocked walleye fry persist in

lakes with declining NR. To achieve these objectives, we will

expand our sampling to additional lakes in the northwest

portion of the state, while continuing to sample the 4 lakes that

were included in Phase I. Our plan would be to add 1-2

sustained NR lakes and 3 declining NR lakes in the northwest

portion of the state. Our revised sampling regime on each lake

will include: two night larval towing events on each lake in the

last two weeks of May, 1-2 nights of small mesh gillnet

sampling in mid to late July, and fall electrofishing for age-0

walleyes. We will also collect limnological data and

zooplankton during late May-June. Sampling would occur in

2016 and 2017. Because we have collected no larval walleye in

the two declining NR lakes, we propose to stock OTC marked

walleye declining NR lakes to see if fry survive to fall; stocking

would occur in spring 2017. Otoliths from any age-0 walleye

collected from these lakes would be examined for OTC marks.

SALMONID ABUNDANCE AND OUTMIGRATION

IN WISCONSIN TRIBUTARIES TO LAKE

MICHIGAN

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: ERIC WEGLEITNER, M.S.

CANDIDATE



NATURAL RESOURCES

JANUARY 2016 - DECEMBER 2018

Introduced salmonids (i.e., chinook and Coho salmon, rainbow

and brown trout) support important recreational fisheries within

the Lake Michigan ecosystem. These fisheries are primarily

supported by stocking. However, some natural reproduction is

known to occur within some tributary systems. Specifically,

anadromous rainbow trout (i.e., steelhead) stocked into Lake



GENETIC ASSESSMENT OF SEVEN FISH

SPECIES ABOVE AND BELOW THE WISCONSIN

RIVER DAM AT PRAIRIE DU SAC

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: JENNA RUZICH, M.S.

CANDIDATE

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: WES LARSON

FUNDING SOURCE: ALLIANT ENERGY

JULY 2016 - JUNE 2018

Downstream fish movement at Prairie du Sac is possible, and

therefore some downstream transfer of genetic material from

Lake Wisconsin to the lower Wisconsin River likely occurs.

However, by blocking upstream migration of fish from the

lower Wisconsin River into Lake Wisconsin, the dam prevents

the transfer of genetic material from fish populations that reside

below the dam to populations of the same species that reside

above the dam. Therefore, conservation of genetic diversity is of

great concern to species that remain present above and below

Prairie du Sac Dam because a reduction in genetic diversity can

Michigan are known to exhibit an adfluvial life history,

migrating up tributaries for spawning. Wild offspring have been

encountered in some of these tributaries, but it is not known

whether these fish successfully outmigrate from these streams

into larger tributaries or Lake Michigan. The primary objectives

of our research are to determine if: 1) abundance of wild age-0

salmonids (primarily steelhead) varies among selected streams

in relation to available habitat; 2) wild age-0 salmonids

successfully outmigrate from Wisconsin tributaries into Lake

Michigan or into larger tributaries and 3) potential bottlenecks

related to stream temperature or annual flow regimes prevent

successful outmigration from some streams. We will also

compare mark-recapture methods used to estimate wild age-0

salmonid abundance to determine if a single sampling event

following stocking of marked fish yields similar estimates to

estimates derived from multiple sampling events.

lead to a reduction in the ability to adapt to selective pressures.

Previous studies have examined genetic differences in various

fish species across fragmented river systems. Typically,

evidence of genetic differentiation in artificially fragmented

populations with one-way gene flow has been detected in short

lived species with short generation times. Fish with long

generation times, on the other hand, often show few genetic

differences across large areas (e.g. lake sturgeon). These results

illustrate the importance of investigating genetic differentiation

in multiple species with variable life histories and generation

times to assess fragmentation and inform management.

Fish passage has been established as an acceptable form of

management to maintain connectivity between populations of

fish and ensure that the genetic structure and diversity present

before dam construction is preserved. The goal of this project is

to obtain baseline genetic data on multiple species sampled

above and below the Prairie du Sac Dam and use these data to

inform passage strategies that will help to protect the genetic

integrity of fish populations in this region. The specific

objective of this project is to determine if the genetic diversity

and structure of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), quillback

carpsucker (Carpiodes cyprinus), smallmouth bass

(Micropterus dolomieu), shorthead redhorse (Moxostoma

macrolepidotum), flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), sauger

(Sander canadensis), and walleye (Sander vitreus) populations

are different above and below the Prairie du Sac Dam. The

intended outcome of this project will be to provide data that will

allow managers to make more informed decisions regarding

passage of different species on the Wisconsin River.

Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit—

Fisheries Analysis Center

CO-DIRECTORS: DANIEL ISERMANN AND JANICE KERNS

WDNR LIAISONS: JOE HENNESY, MATT MITRO, AND STEVE HEWETT

MISSION

The Fisheries Analysis Center (FAC) is a research collaboration involving the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the

Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit. The FAC is funded by the WDNR Bureau of Fisheries Management and was created

to serve three primary functions 1) analysis of fish population dynamics and demographics as they relate to fisheries management

and environmental variability 2) development, implementation, and evaluation of methods for estimating the age and growth of fish

and 3) provide technical training for fisheries professionals and students.

WDNR FUNDED PROJECTS

Dynamics and demographics of Cisco populations

in Wisconsin lakes

Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann, John Lyons, Jeff

Kampa, Connie Isermann

Project Summary: Cisco Coregonus artedi are native to many

water bodies in Wisconsin. Cisco are important to food web

dynamics because they serve as primary prey for large,

economically-important piscivores such as walleyes and

muskellunge and because they influence lower trophic levels

through planktivory. Despite their importance, a comprehensive

evaluation of the dynamics and demographics of cisco

populations in Wisconsin has not been conducted. Describing

cisco population characteristics across a broad spatial scale will

provide a better understanding of how abiotic and biotic

variables affect cisco in Wisconsin. Our objective is to

determine if abiotic and biotic variables affect growth rates,

recruitment patterns, and the age and size structure of cisco

populations in Wisconsin. This is a collaborative project with

Wisconsin DNR and we are currently processing cisco that

were collected during the 2013 and 2014 sampling season.

Assessment of walleye population characteristics

in Stevens Point Flowage using passive integrated

transponders

Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann, Janice Kerns, Jacob

Thompson, and Tom Meronek

Project Summary: The Wisconsin River supports some of

Wisconsin’s most prominent walleye fisheries, but information

on these populations is often lacking because of other sampling

responsibilities. Our objectives are to use mark-recapture of

walleyes implanted with passive integrated transponders (PITs)

to develop population models that will allow us to estimate

abundance, growth, and mortality metrics for walleyes in

Stevens Point Flowage. Our larger goal is to determine whether

this approach will be useful for other populations where annual

sampling does not occur and sacrifice of fish for otoliths is not

desirable.

FISHERIES ANALYSIS CENTER (CONTINUED)

Assessment of Walleye stocks in Green Bay

Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann, Steve Hogler, Troy

Zorn, and Connie Isermann

Project Summary: Green Bay currently supports one of the

most economically-important recreational fisheries for walleyes

Sander vitreus in North America, attracting anglers from across

the continent. Walleyes spawn in many locations within Green

Bay and its tributaries, but the contributions of these different

locations or regions to the overall fishery have not been

determined. The first phase of the research focused on

determining if otolith microchemistry can be used to identify

larval walleye originating from different locations within Green

Bay. We have submitted a full proposal to Wisconsin Sea Grant

to secure funding for this portion of the project. Our additional

objectives are to use biological data and mark-recapture

information to determine if growth, fecundity, and condition of

spawning walleyes vary among tributaries and if fish repeatedly

return to the same river during spawning. We are currently

processing ovary and otolith samples collected by WICFRU

and WDNR staff during spring of 2015.

Electrofishing catchability of juvenile

muskellunge in northern Wisconsin lakes

Principal Investigator: Janice Kerns, Daniel Isermann, and

Tim Simonson

Funding Source: Hugh C. Becker Committee of Twin Cities

Chapter of Muskies, Inc. and donations from Musky Clubs

Alliance of Wisconsin

Project Summary: To assess the effectiveness of muskellunge

stocking, biologists conduct electrofishing surveys in fall to

estimate catch per effort (CPE) and relative contribution of

stocked fish. Inherent assumptions of this sampling are that

wild and stocked fish have equal probability of capture and that

changes in CPE reflect changes in actual abundance. However,

capture rates of age-0 muskellunge tend to be low for both wild

and stocked fish, making it difficult to determine if

electrofishing catch is a meaningful predictor of actual

abundance. The goal of our study was to determine the

effectiveness of electrofishing for capturing individual age-0

muskellunge by determining locations of stocked fish released

into two lakes in northern Wisconsin. All stocked fish received

a fin clip and at least 40 fish per lake were inserted with radio

transmitters. All fish were released at a single boat ramp on

each lake, which followed standard Wisconsin Department of

Natural Resources (DNR) protocols. Stocked muskellunge with

transmitters were tracked weekly for one month after release.

Fish were also sampled weekly using standard Wisconsin DNR

electrofishing methods that included a single boat following

single line transect around the shoreline of each lake.

Comparing known locations of radio-tagged fish to the area

sampled by the electrofishing boat revealed that most of the

sampling effort was expended outside the area where stocked

fish were located. Our initial results suggest that the majority

of hatchery fish remained in the vicinity of the release location,

with fish moving a max distance of 0.4 – 0.7 km on average

away from the release location within four weeks of being

stocked. Based on these results, biologists will be able to

improve sampling protocols to evaluate muskellunge stocking

success by stratifying sampling effort so that more time is spent

sampling where the fish are located.

Statewide evaluation of calcified structures used

to estimate ages of largemouth bass and northern

pike

Principal Investigator: Daniel Isermann, Eric Wegleitner,

Connie Isermann, and Tom Meronek

Project Summary: This project is a continuation of the

Wisconsin DNR Fish Age Task Group’s efforts to develop

statewide protocols for estimating the age of species of

management interest and is similar to the efforts we have

completed for bluegills and walleyes. Our objective is to

provide guidance to biologists regarding selection and

preparation of calcified structures. At this point we have

processed and aged scales from more than 200 largemouth bass

collected from 7 lakes statewide. We are currently processing

northern pike collected during spring 2015. Our initial results

suggest that dorsal spines are more effective for replicating

otolith ages than scales, if a correction factor is employed.


Evaluation of car counters and trail cameras for

estimating angler effort on Wisconsin lakes

Principal Investigators: Janice Kerns, Daniel Isermann,

Jonathan Hansen, and Joseph Hennessy

Project Summary: Angler effort can affect the quality and

long-term sustainability of fished. Angler effort is typically

estimated using creel surveys, although surveys are rarely

conducted on most lakes due to costs and logistics. When creel

surveys are possible, small sample sizes (few interviews) may

lead to large variance and poor confidence intervals associated

with estimates of effort. The objective of this study was to

determine if use of low-cost remote vehicle counters can be

used to estimating trends in angler effort. During the spring of

2015, vehicle counters (n = 40) were buried at boat ramps

throughout the state of Wisconsin. We compared vehicle

counter results to boat ramp use determined from trail cameras

deployed at 14 study lakes. Linear regression was used to

evaluate relationships among estimates of boat ramp use (i.e.,

effort). Vehicle counters explained on average 77% of the

variation in the number of boats using each lake. This suggests

vehicle counters can be used to remotely monitor trends in

angler effort on some water bodies. Vehicle counters could

provide more accurate estimates of temporal trends in angler

effort through continuous monitoring at many lakes compared

to sporadic counts conducted during traditional creel surveys.

Predicting abundance of adult muskellunge in

northern Wisconsin Principal Investigators: Janice Kerns, Daniel Isermann, Tim

Simonson, Joseph Hennessy, and Tom Cichosz

Project Summary: Most Wisconsin muskellunge Esox

masquinongy populations occur within the Ceded Territory of

northern Wisconsin, where mixed fisheries consisting of a

recreational hook-and-line fishery and a tribal spearing fishery

occur. Safe harvest levels for each population are based on

estimates of adult muskellunge abundance. Estimates of adult

muskellunge abundance used to establish safe harvest levels are

obtained from mark-recapture surveys that are conducted on a

few lakes over a two year interval. These estimates are

considered valid estimates of abundance for up to two years

after the initial marking of fish. If a recent population estimate

is not available for an individual lake, a linear regression model

is used to predict adult abundance from lake surface area using

existing population estimates from all lakes. A similar approach

is used to predict abundance of walleyes, but the amount of

variation in adult abundance that is explained by lake surface

area is much higher for walleyes than for muskellunge.

Therefore, the objective of our study is to determine if

alternative models can be used to explain greater variation in

the abundance of adult muskellunge within northern Wisconsin

lakes than the current linear model that relies solely on lake

surface area as a predictor variable.


Comparison of lake sturgeon growth rates

estimated from fin rays and mark-recapture

Principal Investigators: Janice Kerns, Daniel Dembkowski,

Dan Isermann, Michael Donofrio, and Edward Baker

Project Summary: Pectoral fin rays are commonly used as a

non-lethal method for estimating age of lake sturgeon

Acipenser fulvescens. While fin rays generally underestimate

age of older lake sturgeon, fin rays could provide useful

estimates of growth rate for younger fish within a population.

Our objective was to determine if lake sturgeon growth rates

estimated from fin rays were similar to growth rates observed

from recaptures of lake sturgeon tagged with passive integrated

transponders (PITs). Lake sturgeon were sampled in 2012-2013

via electrofishing on the Menominee River, where the

Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources

maintain a long-term PIT tagging program. Parameters from a

von Bertalanffy growth model were used to describe growth

rates estimated from fin rays (range of fin ray ages = 4 to 34).

For recaptured fish, growth rates were quantified as change in

length during time at large. Preliminary results suggest growth

rates estimated from fin rays (mean = 1.18 in/yr) are

substantially higher than rates observed from PIT tag recoveries

(mean = 0.47 in/yr). This difference is consistent with

underestimating lake sturgeon age from fin rays. Differences in

growth rates between the two methods were inversely related to

lake sturgeon total length, suggesting that fin ray growth

estimates were more reliable for larger (≥ 50 in), older lake

sturgeon, only because these fish were growing very slowly.

Fin rays are probably not useful for estimating growth rates of

lake sturgeon and we suggest that continued use of mark-

recapture with PITs offers the best method for describing

growth and survival in most lake sturgeon populations.

Largemouth bass population dynamics and

management

Principal Investigators:

Daniel Isermann, Jonathan

Hansen, and Kaitlin Schnell

Project Summary: We are

continuing to address the

potential effects of harvest

regulations on largemouth

bass populations by adding

simulations for three

additional lakes to the work

that was completed by Kaitlin Schnell. We did this to ensure

that some relatively high-density lakes were included in this

analysis, as densities of bass in the original four lakes were not

as high as expected. We are currently processing otoliths from

these samples. We also continue to collect age-0 largemouth

bass in August seine hauls on 12-14 lakes across the state. This

sampling represents an effort to better understand annual

variations in bass recruitment and hatch timing. Otoliths are

removed from these fish and daily rings are used to estimate

hatch dates. This represents a continuation of the work that was

initiated by Craig Kelling. We are also implanting passive

integrated transponders into largemouth bass in Big Arbor

Vitae Lake in northern Wisconsin. This tagging program has

been implemented to gain a better understanding of the long-

term population dynamics in northern Wisconsin lakes without

removing otoliths on a regular basis. Additionally, we are

working on a comparison of calcified structures to determine

whether scales or dorsal spines can be used to replicate otolith

ages of largemouth bass.


OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED

Dr. Isermann presented a research seminar at the annual

summer gathering of Illinois Natural History Survey personnel

affiliated with Kaskaskia and Sam Parr Biological Stations.

Dr. Isermann and Dr. Mike Quist (Idaho CFWRU) team taught

a population dynamics workshop for Idaho Fish and Game

personnel.

Dr. Isermann and Dr. Quist continue to work on a book focused

on age and growth methods and analyses for freshwater

fisheries biologists that will eventually be published through

the American Fisheries Society. First round of revisions for all

chapters has been largely completed. Janice Kerns is a co-

author for one of the chapters.

Dr. Isermann and Dr. Gretchen Hansen (WDNR) conducted a

webinar sponsored by the USGS National Climate Change and

Wildlife Science Center entitled “What’s the deal with

Wisconsin’s Walleye? What we know, what we don’t know,

and what we can do about it”.

FAC students and staff provided extensive assistance on an

evaluation of muskellunge stocking being conducted by

WDNR and the Fisheries Propagation Science Center at UW-

Stevens Point. These efforts included fin-clipping and tagging

muskellunge at Wild Rose Fish Hatchery as well as conducting

electrofishing surveys on several Wisconsin lakes to capture

stocked fish.

FAC students and staff removed otoliths and assigned ages to

more than 400 panfish collected from northern Wisconsin lakes

as part of an ongoing WDNR evaluation of changes to panfish

harvest regulations occurring within the state.

Assisted WDNR personnel with collection and transfer of adult

lake sturgeon on the Wolf River as part of a continued effort to

validate the use of ultrasound for determining sex and

maturation stage.

Dr. Isermann assisted Scott Hansen (WDNR) and Ted Treska

(USFWS) in implementing an age-correction protocol for lake

whitefish in Lake Michigan.

FAC students and staff implanted 30 acoustic transmitters into

lake whitefish in Green Bay and the Menominee River as a

NON-WDNR PROJECTS

Population characteristics and movements of

smallmouth bass in the Menominee River Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann, Michael Donofrio,

and Joshua Raabe

Funding Source: WE Energies Mitigation and Enhancement

Fund

Project Summary: Our primary goal is to use mark-recapture

population assessments to describe population characteristics

and movements of smallmouth bass in multiple segments of the

Menominee River to determine if current harvest regulations are

sufficient to maintain the quality of these fisheries. Our

secondary goal is to use acoustic telemetry to determine if

seasonal movements could result in increased vulnerability to

angling or suggest that future fish passage is warranted.

Specifically, our objectives are to determine if: 1) smallmouth

bass population characteristics (i.e., abundance, size and age

structure, growth, mortality) vary among impoundments; 2)

current harvest regulations are sufficient to maintain or

maximize opportunities to catch trophy smallmouth bass (≥ 18

inches total length); 3) the majority of smallmouth bass make

fall movements to deeper, slower habitats more prevalent in the

lower portions of an impoundment and 4) the majority of

smallmouth bass make spring movements to the tailwater

sections of specific impoundments. Additionally, our work will

allow us to determine if smallmouth bass exhibit site fidelity for

specific spawning areas within the Menominee River.

Safe operating space for walleye: adapting inland

recreational fisheries Principal Investigators: Steve Carpenter, Jake Vander Zanden,

Daniel Isermann, and multiple WDNR personnel

Funding Source: National Climate Change and Wildlife

Science Center—USGS

Project Summary: Climate change affects inland recreational

fisheries by influencing lake thermal structure, water clarity,

habitat, and other factors that influence economically valuable

sport fishes. The Safe Operating Space (SOS) for a given

fishery is the range of biophysical and social conditions that

allows for self-sustaining populations of target species.

Walleye, a socially and economically important sportfish across

much of North America, is undergoing declines due to

recruitment failures in many lakes throughout their range.

Studies of the SOS for Walleye suggest that many factors are

involved, including warming and changes in thermal structure,

loss of habitat, increasing clarity (perhaps due to drought), and

biotic interactions with other fish species. We propose research

to identify mechanisms behind recruitment failures that will

help inform rehabilitation of Walleye recruitment and

populations. In a whole-lake experiment we will remove

centrarchid fish species. In parallel, we will conduct a structured

comparison of lakes with contrasting habitat and centrarchid

densities to evaluate the effects of water clarity, growing degree

days, and predation mortality on young-of-year growth and

survivorship of Walleye. Results of these studies, in

combination with simulation modeling and additional analyses

of long-term data from lakes in Northern Wisconsin, will

sharpen our understanding of the SOS for Walleye and inform a

new vision for recreational fisheries management in a changing

climate. Members of the research team work closely with

fisheries managers, which will foster a regular exchange of

information. Results will also be communicated to managers

through regular management workshops, as well as technical

papers in the scientific literature.


SUBMITTED GRANTS TO SUPPORT WDNR RESEARCH

Evaluation of muskellunge habitat use and suitability in

Green Bay and tributaries

Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann

Funding Source: Fox River/Green Bay NRDA Trustee

Council

Status: Proposal submitted

Brook trout movements in the west branch of the Wolf

River, Wisconsin

Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann

Funding Source: Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin-

Joshua Pyatskowit

Status: Selected for funding

Contribution and movements of lake whitefish in

northwestern Lake Michigan

Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann, Scott Hansen,

David Caroffino, Randall Claramunt, Thomas Binder, Wesley

Larson, Justin VanDeHey, Christopher Vandergoot, Ted

Treska, Charles Krueger

Funding Source: Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Great Lakes

Fish and wildlife Restoration Act

Status: In Review

Mixed stock assessment and movements of Green Bay

walleyes

Principal Investigators: Daniel Isermann, Steve Hogler, Troy

Zorn, Todd Hayden, Christopher Vandergoot, Janice Kerns,

Charles Kruger

Funding Source: Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Great Lakes

Fish and wildlife Restoration Act

Status: In Review

AWARDS

Josh Schulze

2016 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of

Natural Resources Outstanding Research Assistant.

Josh Schulze

2016 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point-Graduate

Council Award for exceptional contributions to the profes-

sion, research and instruction

Josh Schulze

Best Student Poster Oregon Chapter of the American Fish-

eries Society Meeting

Hadley Boehm

Best Student Paper Wisconsin Chapter of the American

Fisheries Society Meeting

pilot project. Subsequent locations of these fish provided

interesting information on the movements of lake whitefish and

this information is being used to secure additional funding to

study whitefish movements.

FAC staff provided technical assistance with age and growth

estimation to numerous WDNR staff and provided OTC mark

detection for walleye stocking evaluations occurring in several

Wisconsin lakes. Staff also provided OTC mark detection for

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa

Department of Natural Resources.

Dr. Isermann continues to serve as an associate editor for the

North American Journal of Fisheries Management.


ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Publications Haglund, J.M, D.A. Isermann, and G. Sass. In Review.

Evaluation of trophy harvest regulations for Walleyes in

Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin. North American Journal of

Fisheries Management.

Andvik, R.T., B.L. Sloss, J.A. VanDeHey, R.M. Claramunt,

S.P. Hansen, and D.A. Isermann. In Press. Mixed stock

analysis of Lake Michigan's lake whitefish commercial

fishery. Journal of Great Lakes Research.

Richter, J.T., B.L. Sloss, and D.A. Isermann. In Press.

Validation of side-scan sonar for quantifying Walleye

spawning habitat availability in the littoral zone of northern

Wisconsin lakes. North American Journal of Fisheries

Management.

Faust, M.D., M.J. Hansen, D.A. Isermann, and M.A. Luehring.

2015. Muskellunge growth potential in northern

Wisconsin: implications for trophy management. North

American Journal of Fisheries Management 35:765-774.

Kelling, C.J., D.A. Isermann, B.L. Sloss, and K.N. Turnquist.

2016. Diet overlap and predation between largemouth bass

and walleye in Wisconsin lakes using DNA barcoding to

improve taxonomic resolution. North American Journal of

Fisheries Management 36:3, 621-629.

Hansen, J.F., G.G. Sass, J.W. Gaeta, G.H. Hansen, D.A.

Isermann, J. Lyons, and M.J. Vander Zanden. 2015.

Largemouth bass management in Wisconsin: intra- and

inter-specific implications of abundance increases. Pages

193-206 in M.D. Tringali, J. M. Long, T.W. Birdsong, and

M.S. Allen, editors. Black bass diversity: multidisciplinary

science for conservation. American Fisheries Society,

Symposium 82, Bethesda, Maryland.

Wilson-Rothering, A.E., S.V. Marquenski, D. Isermann, A.

Thruman, K.L. Toohey-Kurth, and T.L. Goldberg. 2015.

Seroprevalence and inter-epidemic persistence of viral

hemorrhagic septicemia virus in freshwater drum

(Aplodinotus grunniens) from Lake Winnebago,

Wisconsin, USA. Journal of Clinical Microbiology

53:2889-2894.

2015 Top 5 Most Read Article in North American Journal of

Fisheries Management: Mosel, K. J., D. A. Isermann,

and J. F. Hansen. 2015. Evaluation of daily creel and

minimum length limits for black crappies and yellow

perch in Wisconsin. North American Journal of

Fisheries Management 35:1-13.

Presentations

Kerns, J., D. Isermann, and T. Simonson. 2016. Electrofishing

catchability of juvenile muskellunge in northern Wisconsin

lakes. Hugh C. Becker Symposium - Muskies, Inc.,

Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Kerns, J., D. Isermann, T. Simonson, J. Hennessy, and T.

Cichosz. March 2016. Predicting abundance of adult

muskellunge in northern Wisconsin lakes. Hugh C. Becker

Symposium, Muskies, Inc. Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Schulze, J.C., D.A. Isermann, M. Donofrio, S. Cooke, R.

Elliott, E. Baker, and B. Sloss. March 2016. Lake sturgeon

movements after passage upstream of two hydroelectric

dams on the Menominee River, Wisconsin-Michigan.

Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society

Meeting. Seaside, Oregon.

Boehm, H., D. Isermann, and G. Hansen. February 2016.

Identifying recruitment bottlenecks for age-0 walleye in

northern Wisconsin lakes. Wisconsin Chapter of the

American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. LaCrosse,

Wisconsin.

Isermann, D.A., and S. Hogler. February 2016. Walleye stock

characteristics in Green Bay. Wisconsin Chapter of the

American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. LaCrosse,

Wisconsin.

Kerns, J., D. Isermann, and T. Simonson. February 2016.

Electrofishing catchability of juvenile muskellunge in

northern Wisconsin lakes. Annual Meeting of the

Wisconsin Chapter of American Fisheries Society.

LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Ogle, D.H. and D.A. Isermann. February 2016. Modified von

Bertalanffy growth function to estimate the age to reach a

critical length. Wisconsin Chapter of the American

Fisheries Society Meeting. LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Rydell, N., D. Isermann, and J. VanDeHey. February 2016.

Effects of 2, 4-D herbicide treatments used to control

Eurasian Watermilfoil on fish and zooplankton in Northern

Wisconsin Lakes. Wisconsin Chapter of the American

Fisheries Society Meeting. LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Schulze, J.C., D.A. Isermann, M. Donofrio, S. Cooke, R.

Elliott, E. Baker, and B. Sloss. February 2016. Lake

sturgeon movements after passage upstream of two

hydroelectric dams on the Menominee River, Wisconsin-

Michigan. Wisconsin Chapter of the American Fisheries

Society Annual Meeting. LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Schulze, J. C., D. A. Isermann, and M. Donofrio. February

2016. Smallmouth bass population characteristics and

movements in the Menominee River, Wisconsin. American

Fisheries Society Annual Meeting – Minnesota Chapter.

Duluth, Minnesota.

Boehm, H., D. Isermann, and G. Hansen. January 2016.

Identifying recruitment bottlenecks for age-0 walleye in

northern Wisconsin lakes. Midwest Fish and Wildlife

Conference. Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Kerns, J., D. Dembkowski, D. Isermann, M. Donofrio, and E.

Baker. October 2015. Comparison of lake sturgeon growth

rates estimated from fin rays and mark-recapture. North

American Sturgeon and Paddlefish Society. Oshkosh,

Wisconsin.

Schulze, J. C., D.A. Isermann, M. Donofrio, S. Cooke, R.

Elliott, E. Baker, B. Sloss. October 2015. Lake sturgeon

movements after passage upstream of two hydroelectric

dams on the Menominee River, Wisconsin-Michigan.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Snobl, Z., R. Koenigs, D. Isermann, B. Sloss, and J. Raabe.

Habitat use and movement of sub-adult lake sturgeon in the

Lower Wolf River, Wisconsin. North American Sturgeon

and Paddlefish Society. Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Boehm, H., D. Isermann, and G. Hansen. July 2015. Identifying

recruitment bottlenecks for age-0 walleye in northern

Wisconsin lakes. North Central Division of the American

Fisheries Society – Walleye Technical Committee Meeting,

Brookings, South Dakota.

Kerns, J., D. Isermann, T. Simonson, J. Hennessy, and T.

Cichosz. July 2015. Evaluation of methods used to estimate

population metrics for adult muskellunge in northern

Wisconsin lakes. North Central Division of the American

Fisheries Society – Walleye Technical Committee Meeting,

Brookings, South Dakota.

Posters Boehm, H., and D. Isermann. February 2016. Evaluation of

sampling techniques for capturing age-0 walleyes in

northern Wisconsin lakes. Wisconsin AFS Annual Meeting.


Kerns, J., D. Isermann, and J. Hansen. February 2016.

Evaluation of vehicle counters for monitoring angler effort

on small freshwater lakes. Annual Meeting of the


Wisconsin Chapter of American Fisheries Society.


Rydell, N., D. Isermann, and J. VanDeHey. February 2016.

Comparison of two larval fish sampling gears on northern

Wisconsin lakes. Wisconsin Chapter of the American

Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Schulze, J.C., D.A. Isermann, M. Donofrio, and A. Schiller.

February 2016. Smallmouth bass movements in the

Menominee River, Wisconsin-Michigan. Wisconsin

Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting.


Wegleitner, E. and D. Isermann. February 2016. On the screen

or through the scope: is there a difference when estimating

ages of largemouth bass and walleyes from sectioned

otoliths and dorsal spines? Wisconsin Chapter of the

American Fisheries Society Meeting. LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Witzel, Z. J., and D. A. Isermann. 2016. Relative precision of

northern pike ages estimated from multiple calcified

structures: preliminary results from an ongoing statewide

evaluation. Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Chapter of

American Fisheries Society. LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Schulze, J. C., D. A. Isermann, M. Donofrio, S. Cooke, R.

Elliot, E. Baker, and B. Sloss. February 2015. Lake

sturgeon movements after passage upstream of two

hydroelectric dams on the Menominee River, Wisconsin-

Michigan. American Fisheries Society – Minnesota

Chapter. Duluth, Minnesota.

Boehm, H., and D. Isermann. January 2016. Evaluation of

sampling techniques for capturing age-0 walleyes in

northern Wisconsin lakes. Midwest Fish and Wildlife

Conference. Grand Rapids, Michigan.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS (CONTINUED)


Molecular Conservation Genetics Lab

DIRECTORS: WES LARSON AND BRIAN SLOSS

LAB MANAGER: KEITH TURNQUIST

MISSION

The mission of the Molecular Conservation Genetics Lab (MCGL) is to employ genetic techniques and conservation principles to

assist the management of our natural resources. The MCGL specializes in the application of molecular genetic techniques to address

key issues in conservation biology, resource management, and ecological studies.

CONTINUING PROJECTS

Effectiveness of shoreline Walleye propagation

Principal Investigator: Keith Turnquist, Doug Welch, Luke

Roffler, and Brian Sloss

Funding: Walleyes for Tomorrow

Objective: To identify the origin of young of year walleye

collected from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin originated from

shoreside larval hatcheries (aka walleye wagons), WDNR

hatchery facilities, or naturally reproduction.

American Hazelnuts genetic structure assessment Principal Investigator: Keith Turnquist and Mike Demchik

Objective: Determine the genetic structure of American

hazelnuts in populations throughout the upper Midwest. Investigating the relationship between gill lice

prevalence and genetic diversity in brook trout across

Wisconsin Principal Investigator: Wes Larson

Funding: WDNR

Objective: Determine whether gill lice prevalence is correlated

with genetic diversity at neutral markers and at a gene involved

in immune response in populations of brook trout across

Wisconsin.

Assessing neutral and adaptive differentiation in cisco

populations across Wisconsin using RAD-sequencing Principal Investigator: Wes Larson

Funding: WDNR

Objectives: (1) Determine the spatial structure of cisco

populations across Wisconsin; (2) investigate adaptive

differentiation between cisco population in Wisconsin with

particular emphasis on differences between dwarf and normal

morphotypes; (3) investigate whether metrics of genetic

diversity and differentiation are correlated with stock

characteristics and/or environmental variables.

Developing species-diagnostic assays for salmon using

mitochondrial sequencing Principal Investigator: Chris Habicht

Funding: Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Objective: Sequence seven loci from the mitochondrial genome

in seven species of salmon to construct species specific assays.

Species identification of egg samples to investigate

Asian carp reproduction

Principal Investigator: Mike Weber

Funding: Iowa State University

Objective: Use DNA barcoding to conduct species

identification on egg samples taken from the Mississippi River

to investigate Asian carp reproduction.

Genetic heritage of naturally produced lake trout in

Lake Michigan Principal Investigator: Brian Sloss

Funding: Great Lakes Fishery Trust

Objective: Determine if a subset of microsatellite markers

designed for salmonids can reliably delineate strain of origin

for the seven primary lake trout strains stocked into Lake

Michigan, and to determine if the same subset of genetic

makers and reference data are capable of diagnosing the genetic

heritage of interstrain crosses.

MOLECULAR CONSERVATION GENETICS LAB (CONTINUED)

Development of eDNA Techniques for Detection of

Endangered Purple Cat’s Paw Pearlymussel and

Snuffbox

Principal Investigator: Keith Turnquist, Brian Sloss, Tim

Strakosh, and Darrin Simpkins

Funding: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Objective: The goal of this study is to initiate the development

of eDNA techniques for detection of presence/absence of the

endangered unionid mussels: purple cat’s paw pearlymussel

Epioblasma obliquata obliquata and snuffbox Epioblasma

triquetra. Our specific objectives are to: 1) develop a set of

species-specific PCR and qPCR markers for the two species

and other extant species in Epioblasma (n = 11 total extant

species per Musselp Database; http://mussel-project.

uwsp.edu); 2) determine the critical threshold detection limit of

qPCR for the developed markers using known amounts of

DNA; and 3) determine the realized detection probabilities by

testing water samples collected from known areas where the

two target species occur and areas where they are not thought to

occur using the developed qPCR molecular markers.

Wisconsin walleye state and private hatchery

assessment Principal Investigator: Brian Sloss, Keith Turnquist, and

David Giehtbrock

Funding: WDNR

Objectives: (1) Develop a set of easily quantified and

measurable genetic metrics and brood source identification

practices all hatcheries (State, Private, and Tribal) must meet to

be compliant with stock-based management; (2) Determine if

hatcheries (State, Private, and Tribal) met the developed

genetic metrics necessary for stock-based management in 2014

production year.

Growth potential and genetic diversity of yellow perch

in South Dakota

Principal Investigator: Justin VanDeHey

Objective: (1) Determine if differences exist in protein coding

regions of yellow perch DNA among populations in South

Dakota waters by 30 June 2017; (2) To relate yellow perch

genetic structure to perch growth and mortality rates by 30 June

2017; (3) To compare relative survival and growth of age-0

yellow perch from two distinct population types by 30 June

2017.

Using parentage analysis to investigate the spawning

and recruitment dynamics of walleye in a small

northern lake Principal Investigator: Wes Larson

Funding: WDNR

Objective: Build a pedigree for walleye in a small lake in

northern Wisconsin to investigate spawning and recruitment

dynamics.

Evaluating the potential of DNA mixture models to

infer individual counts from fish and wildlife genetic

samples Principal Investigator: Suresh Sethi, Wes Larson, and Mark

Henderson

Funding: USGS

Objective: Pilot study to determine the utility of a novel statis-

tical model to infer the number of individuals contributing to a

mixed-DNA sample such as those collected from eDNA, stom-

achs, or wildlife traps.

MOLECULAR CONSERVATION GENETICS LAB (CONTINUED)

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Genetic diversity of Wisconsin Spring Pond Brook Trout

Principal Investigator: Bob Tabbert and Brian Sloss

Funding: International Fly Fishing Federation

Objective: To determine if genetic differences exist between

spring pond brook trout and other northern Wisconsin brook

trout populations

Chippewa River Lake Sturgeon genetic analysis

Principal Investigator: Brian Sloss, Heath Benike, and

Joseph Gerbyshak

Objective: Determine the genetic diversity and genetic

structure of lake sturgeon in the Chippewa and Flambeau River

systems.

Origin assessment of Menominee River lake sturgeon

Principal Investigator: Dan Isermann and Mike Donofrio

Funding: WDNR

Objective: Determine the genetic stock origin of Lake

Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) collected from the mouth of

the Menominee River.

Delineation of natural boundaries of muskellunge in

the Great Lakes and the effects of supplementation on

genetic integrity of remnant stocks

Principal Investigator: Brian Sloss

Funding: Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Objective: Our objectives are to: (1) build on existing genetic

data to determine if significant genetic structure exists among

muskellunge spawning aggregates across the Great Lakes and

their tributaries; (2) determine if significant admixture is present

in Great Lakes muskellunge populations consistent with

introgression between stocked and resident Great Lakes

muskellunge; (3) determine if levels of admixture vary in

relation to several measures of direct and relative stocking

intensity (as measured by various life-history weighted stocking

indices); and (4) determine if the genetic structure of non-

admixed Great Lakes muskellunge populations is consistent with

a genetic stock model that can be described in terms of genetic

stock identification and degree of stock isolation.

Use of real-time polymerase chain reaction for the

identification of larval walleye and yellow perch

Principal Investigator: Keith Turnquist, Hadley Boehm, Dan

Isermann, and Brian Sloss

Objectives: (1) Determine efficacy of a qPCR assay for

diagnostic identification of walleye (Sander vitreus) and yellow

perch (Perca flavescens); (2) Determine if the qPCR assay is

effective for identifying larval walleye and yellow perch in

panfish diets and from the water column.


Fisheries Propagation Science Center

RESEARCH SCIENTIST: DAN DEMBKOWSKI

FPSC MISSION

Coordinate propagation system technical and scientific support to ensure the Wisconsin State Fish Hatchery system operates on

best available scientific and technical principles and standards.

GRADUATE RESEARCH

Conservation of genetic resources is a challenging issue and

represents a vital component of fisheries management in

Wisconsin. Walleye Sander vitreus are an ecologically

important top predator and one of the most sought after sport

fishes in Wisconsin. Maintaining the genetic diversity of

walleye populations is important for sustainability and is an

explicit goal of Wisconsin’s walleye management plan. This

maintenance of genetic diversity is especially important within

the propagation program. Long-term sustainability of managed

fish species requires an understanding of potential genetic

hazards associated with the use of propagated fish. Propagation

programs commonly face four genetic hazards when using

propagated fish that may threaten the genetic integrity of native

populations: extinction, loss of within-population genetic

variation, loss of between population genetic variation, and

artificial selection. With an increase in production of extended

growth walleye fingerlings (6-8” in length) from state and

private hatcheries, the Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources (WDNR) has requested assistance to better

understand the genetic implications of their current propagation

methods. A critical evaluation of current practices within

Wisconsin’s Walleye propagation program is necessary to

understand how these practices relate to the overall goal of

ensuring long-term sustainability of Walleye populations in

Wisconsin. Therefore, the objectives of our research are to (1)

compare the genetic diversity within Wisconsin’s feral walleye

broodstock with genetic diversity levels in other wild, naturally

recruiting, Wisconsin walleye populations and, (2) determine if

levels of inbreeding, effective population size, and the

probability of spawning related individuals differ between fish

collected with different gears (electrofishing and fyke netting)

and varying levels of sampling effort. Upon completion of these

objectives, we propose to develop a walleye genetic broodstock

management plan based on best management practices, sound

genetic principles, and logistical considerations.

DEVELOPMENT OF A GENETIC BROODSTOCK

MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WISCONSIN’S

WALLEYE PROPAGATION PROGRAM

RESEARCH ASSISTANT: MICHAEL VASKE, M.S

CANDIDATE

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: JUSTIN VANDEHEY AND

BRIAN SLOSS

FUNDING SOURCE: WI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL

RESOURCES

JULY 1 2014 - JUNE 30, 2016

FISHERIES PROPAGATION SCIENCE CENTER (CONTINUED)

RESEARCH

Growth, condition and short-term survival of age-0

muskellunge reared using two different techniques

Principal Investigator: Justin VanDeHey and Tim Simonson

Funding: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Objective: Determine if growth, and condition differed

between pre-stocking age-0 Muskellunge reared solely on

natural prey (minnow only; MO) with those reared intensively

on pellets and finished extensively on minnows (minnow

finished; MF) and determine relative survival of stocked

Muskellunge reared using the two techniques in 23 Wisconsin

lakes during 2013 and 2014.

Influence of habitat additions on growth, condition,

and survival of extensively-reared juvenile

muskellunge Principal Investigator: Dan Dembkowski

Funding Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Objectives: Determine if growth, condition, and relative

survival of juvenile muskellunge differ between rearing ponds

with and without structural habitat additions.

Influence of rearing tank substrate on performance of

lake sturgeon in Wisconsin’s streamside rearing

facilities Principal Investigator: Dan Dembkowski


Objectives: Determine if size-at-stocking, condition, relative

survival, and fish health metrics of lake sturgeon differ between

raceways with and without natural substrate additions.

Walleye production in outdoor rearing ponds Principal Investigator: Dan Dembkowski


Objectives: Determine the influence of biotic (e.g., density,

prey resources) and abiotic (e.g., water temperature, pH,

dissolved oxygen) on growth, survival, and yield of walleye fry

in earthen outdoor rearing ponds.

External Funding Sought

Worked hand-in-hand with Dan Isermann and cooperators from

WDNR management and propagation sections to develop the

following proposals:

Return-to-creel, movement, and predation of stocked brown

trout in Green Bay Project leaders: Dan Dembkowski, Dan Isermann, Tammie

Paoli (WDNR), Janice Kerns, and Keith Turnquist

Objectives:

To determine if differences in return-to-creel exist between

brown trout stocked offshore versus inshore,

To determine if brown trout stocked at offshore locations

move into tributary streams within 3-6 months after

stocking,

To determine if brown trout stocked inshore remain in

tributary streams for 3-6 months after stocking, and

To determine the impact of walleye predation on stocked

brown trout at inshore stocking locations.

Funding agencies considered: Great Lakes Fisheries

Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Trust

Movement of muskellunge in Green Bay related to stocking

strategy

Project leaders: Dan Dembkowski, Dan Isermann, Steve

Hogler (WDNR), Steve Fajfer (WDNR), Janice Kerns

Objectives:

To estimate post-stocking mortality and dispersal rates of

juvenile muskellunge stocked into the Fox and

Menominee rivers within 3-6 months after stocking,

To determine if juvenile muskellunge move out of

tributaries and into lower Green Bay within 3-6 months

after stocking, and

To determine if adult muskellunge in lower Green Bay

return to spawn in the tributary where they were

stocked.

Funding agencies considered: Great Lakes Fisheries

Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Trust, Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act


Aquatic Biomonitoring Lab

RESEARCH SCIENTIST: JEFF DIMICK

MISSION

The Aquatic Biomonitoring Lab (ABL) provides aquatic macroinvertebrate sample processing to the Wisconsin Department of

Natural Resources and other regional resource management agencies, partnering in their assessments of water quality and

environmental condition at sampled locations. The ABL also provides expertise and technical support to the College of Natural

Resources and offers opportunities for undergraduate students to develop professional skills in a real-world laboratory setting.

WDNR SUPPORT

Aquatic macroinvertebrate biomonitoring sample processing

450 total WDNR samples

26 Hester-Dendy samples from non-wadeable

rivers, assessing ecological condition

424 qualitative kicknet samples from wadeable

streams

Expert advice and review of protocols and practices

Provide taxonomy validation to SWIMS

Work with SWIMS to improve data reporting

WDNR Streams and Rivers Technical Team Meeting

WDNR Endangered Resources Insect Species Team

WDNR Endangered Resources Odonate Species Team

PARTICIPATION

NON-WDNR PROJECT COOPERATORS

Aquatic macroinvertebrate biomonitoring sample processing

USGS Wisconsin District, Milwaukee

Metropolitan Sewerage District

Ho-Chunk Nation

Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

Discovery Farms

Mayfly collaboration with Dr. Tom Klubertanz, UW-Rock

County

Manuscript review Mayflies of Wisconsin, UW-Extension

publishing

Manuscript review, New records of mayflies from Kenora

District and Northwestern Ontario, Canada, Dr. Tom L.

Klubertanz

Manuscript review, Key to Plecoptera larvae from Wisconsin,

Dr. Tom Klubertanz

Chironomidae collaboration with Dr. Will Bouchard, Minnesota

Pollution Control Agency

Caddisfly collaboration with Dr. Kurt L. Schmude, UW-

Superior and Jim Snitgen, Oneida Nation

Provided insight to USEPA Region 5 development of Regional

Monitoring Network-Biological Sampling Methods for

Wadeable Streams

Provided insight to UWFWS development of Lake Michigan

harbor monitoring project

Provided insight to Fort McCoy development of bioassessment

project

Hosted laboratory tour for Wisconsin Public Health Lab

Network

UNIVERSITY SUPPORT PROVIDED

Employ 10 undergraduate students:

Haley Bodoh Macayla Greider

Mekayla Gronholm Rebecca Grover

Madison Hodge Andrew Kohlmann

Alison Kuhne Ryan Masek

Cadie Olson Hunter Slaght

Provided materials for CNR Advising and Recruitment pro-

grams

Provided materials for Golden Sands RC&D outreach program

Mentored two undergraduate student research projects

Development of Jr taxonomist, Kaira Kamke

DISCOVERIES

Allocladius (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)

Gymnometriocnemus (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae)

Polypedilum (s.s.) nubeculosum (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae)

cooperative fishery - uwsp

Documents