ABSTRACT
MOVEMENT, HOME-RANGE, AND HABITAT SELECTION OF MUSKELLUNGE (Esox masquinongy Mitchell) IN THORNAPPLE LAKE, MICHIGAN
by Christopher David Eilers
Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) are an important sport fish in the Great Lakes region. As a result of large growth potential, a “fearsome” appearance, and a powerful fighting ability once hooked, muskellunge have become popular with anglers, who contribute to the economy through equipment purchases and license sales. Muskellunge are top predators in many systems and influence the lake ecosystem through interactions with other fish species.
Thornapple Lake is a unique system in Michigan in that it is formed by a natural flooding of the Thornapple River and is connected to multiple stream systems. Muskellunge in the lake are managed with a 127 cm minimum length limit in an attempt to provide a large spawning population. Determining if fish move between lentic and lotic habitats is important, as fish that move into the river are no longer protected by the 127 cm regulation.
Using ultrasonic telemetry techniques and GIS analysis, I examined muskellunge movement patterns, home-ranges, and habitat selection. Annual home-range estimates were compared and available habitat was classified and measured using GIS techniques. Water quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and Secchi disk transparency) was measured and analyzed to determine if muskellunge selected for or against certain water quality characteristics within the lake. Fish communities and biomass in the lake were also assessed to determine available muskellunge prey.
Fish movement out of the lake was not observed. Muskellunge primarily used vegetated habitats in the spring, early summer, and late fall. As water temperatures increased, muskellunge moved to deeper offshore habitats or near stream inlets. Mean MCP and Kernel home-range estimates were 39 ha and 18.8 ha respectively. Female fish primarily used the western end of the lake while male fish occupied home-ranges within the central lake basin. Prey species in the lake were found to be numerous and adequate for muskellunge survival. As fish can potentially move between lake and river habitats, knowledge of movement patterns is necessary to properly manage the system to ensure a viable adult spawning population in the system for the future.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Tracy Galarowicz, Kregg Smith, Dr. Mic Hamas, and Dr. Tom Gehring for the support and advice offered during this project. Special thanks go to Dr. Galarowicz who offered endless advice, support, and assistance. I also need to thank all the volunteers who assisted in data collection in the field. A special thanks to my wife, Laura, whom I could always count on as a field assistant if no one else was available to help out. This project could not have been completed without your help. All of the members of the Michigan Muskie Alliance were very supportive of this project and offered excellent advice and suggestions. William Schultz, DVM, helped by training me in surgical techniques, and Will Schultz offered his great understanding of muskellunge behavior and biology. Chris Barton allowed me the use of his dock during my second field season. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings, MI, provided housing. The Central Michigan University Biology Department, The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Central Michigan University, and The Michigan Muskie Alliance also provided funding for this project. Telemetry equipment was supplied by Walleyes for Tomorrow.
The primary reason I let Chris Eilers use the telemetry equipment was to have the documentation that the muskie and walleye fishers could work together on projects. All that we asked for was to be documented the same as with the previous work done by Dan Daugherty on the St. Joeseph River flathead catfish.
Seasonal Movement Patterns, Habitat Use, and Home Range of Flathead Catfish in the Lower St. Joseph River, Michigan <url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
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Snippet from acknowledgement: T. Hamilton, Hamilton Reef Fishery Services, and the Muskegon Chapter of Walleyes for Tomorrow
The Muskegon Chapter WFT obtained $6000 telemetry equipment at the request of the DNR and I helped write a $61,000+ grant at the request of the DEQ to track walleye in Muskegon Lake. That grant study was for proper sampling of Muskegon Lake resident walleye for contaminant testing. When Rich O'Neal found out that O'Neal personally wasn't getting the money O'Neal deliberately sabotage the whole grant and screwed the Muskegon WFT walleye study leaving them holding the $6000 telemetry equipment. When Jim Dexter found out how O'Neal screwed Muskegon WFT he asked if the equipment could be available for other studies. Absolutely yes! They then used the equipment on the St Joe River and when that study was done the timing was right to pass the equipment on to Chris Eilers for the Thornapple Lake muskie study. The WFT loss $6000, but they are supporting the MMA muskie program and are supporting MMA-CPR to make Muskegon Lake a future muskie trophy destination. That is one of many reasons why West Michigan fishing clubs and sport shops have been trying to get rid of Rich O'Neal and have a more qualified biologist assigned to the area.
I talked to Chris and we're going to host the file on the MMA website this will allow any member interested to view/download the file.
Please do not e-mail the link below, a copy of the pdf, or distribute a paper version of this study to anyone without permission from MMA and Chris Eilers.
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Be advised before you download then print this file you will be printing 120 pages.
Has anyone taken the time to read this? I would be intersted in some discussion about this study. I've read it a couple times and there is some good information in there. Some of the things I discussed with Chris initially and it's cool to see the data supports what was really just theory on my part.
I'm still waiting for our hard copy to read. Under the agreement Chris Eilers made with the Muskegon Chapter Walleyes For Tomorrow, we were to receive (1) hard copy, the acknowledgements were to be exactly as done with the earlier Purdue flathead catfish study, Hamilton Reef Fishery Services & Muskegon Chapter Walleys For Tomorrow, and the equipment was to be returned in good condition for the next researcher to use. Chris did none of those things. We're still waiting.
"Hamilton Reef" said:
I'm still waiting for our hard copy to read.
I can only assume that a hard copy won't be available until after the review process is complete. I will follow up with Chris on your complaints. I don't remember having to pass the information along to Chris about the printed study, proper wording and I only assumed the equipment had been returned. If you passed this information along with the equipment I'm guessing it wasn't provided to Chris.
I started reading it today. Takes me back to those days of statistical analysis. [smilie=bs.gif]
First question I have is how do you tell if its a male or female muskie?
I tried looking beween the fins…. [smilie=hahaha.gif]
Does anyone know what the total population of muskie would be for a lake that size say over 25''? 35"? 45"?
. Female fish primarily used the western end of the lake while male fish occupied home-ranges within the central lake basin. Prey species in the lake were found to be numerous and adequate for muskellunge survival. As fish can potentially move between lake and river habitats, knowledge of movement patterns is necessary to properly manage the system to ensure a viable adult spawning population in the system for the future.
okay im a little confused and it might be because i havent read the entire thing, but on page 28 is says, "male and female fish occupied home-ranges in different areas of the lake, with male home-ranges occurring most frequently in the central lake basin and female fish most oftern in the eastern lake basin near the thornapple river and mud creek inlets." Also in the maps of the individual fish movements it seemed like the majority of the females stayed around the eastern part.
"jasonvkop" said:
okay im a little confused and it might be because i havent read the entire thing, but on page 28 is says, "male and female fish occupied home-ranges in different areas of the lake, with male home-ranges occurring most frequently in the central lake basin and female fish most oftern in the eastern lake basin near the thornapple river and mud creek inlets." Also in the maps of the individual fish movements it seemed like the majority of the females stayed around the eastern part.
You are correct.
"Kingfisher" said:
. Female fish primarily used the western end of the lake while male fish occupied home-ranges within the central lake basin. Prey species in the lake were found to be numerous and adequate for muskellunge survival. As fish can potentially move between lake and river habitats, knowledge of movement patterns is necessary to properly manage the system to ensure a viable adult spawning population in the system for the future.
That is not correct information and must be a typo. I've sent an e-mail to Chris.
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