Author: Bret D. Nine

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 448

ISBN-13:

"The present study assessed the current stock status of fishes and identified factors that limited fish production in Sullivan Lake, Pend Oreille County, Washington. Research was conducted over an 8 month period (April- November 2003). Primary production was assessed through measurements of chlorophyll a and plankton photosynthesis. Secondary production was assessed through zooplankton and macroinvertebrate sampling. Fish status was assessed by making eledrofish, gill net, fyke net and minnow trap surveys. Data collected during these surveys was used to assess growth rates and food habits of each species. Sullivan Lake was classified as an oligotrophic lake due to its low nutrient levels (10 [micor]g/L of TP), high transparency (10.4 meters) and low chlorophyll a concentrations in the epilimnion (1.11 [micro]g/L). Low phosphorus limits primary production. Limited primary production resulted in low secondary production as indicated by low densities (626/m3) and biomass (509 [micro]g/m3) of zooplankton. A total of 3,280 fish, representing 12 species were collected during fish surveys. The lake was primarily composed of redside shiners (Richardwnius balteatus) (70.2%) and longnose suckers (Catostomus catostomus)(11.3%). The most abundant game species was kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) (8.3%) and burbot (Lata Iota) (7.3%). There was a limited number of cutthroat (Oncorhynchus clarki) (1.6%), rainbow (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (