AUTHORS: Kaden Ball, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management; Maddy Siller, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management; David Coulter, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management; Mark Kaemingk, University of North Dakota Department of Biology; Taufique Mahmood, University of North Dakota, Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering; Matthew Maldonado, University of North Dakota Department of Biology; Michaela Neal, University of North Dakota, Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering; Ayon Saha, University of North Dakota, Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering; Alison Coulter, South Dakota State University Department of Natural Resource Management
ABSTRACT: Water temperature is an important factor that can impact fish growth, survival, and reproduction. Fish have an optimum temperature they prefer to inhabit to maximize their growth efficiency. Due to increasing climate temperatures, the southern range for both cool and warm water fishes is expected to shift north. Once moving to higher latitudes, fishes may experience a slower growth rate and mature much later than lower latitude fishes, but this change will vary by individual species. The growth of fishes can be assessed using the bioenergetic equation, which can provide insight into how long-term climate trends will impact fish growth. Using bioenergetic equations, we will quantify the scope of growth of Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), a cool water species, and compare it to Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), a warm water species, in lakes at different latitudes using historical temperature data spanning 40 years. Assessing how the potential scope for growth of fish has changed through time and across latitudes can help make informed management decisions about stocking and angler participation based on the body of water, fish species being considered, and their thermal optima. Due to existing climate trends, it can be hypothesized that Muskellunge will see a decrease in their scope of growth, while Largemouth Bass will have an increased scope of growth with changes in latitude.
