TPWD 1955 F-5-R-2 #159: Inventory of Species Present in Lake Brownwood, Brownwood, Texas: Segment Completion Report

STATE Texas PROJECT N0. Fw5-R-22 Jab 3—5 PERIOD June 222 195A - May 12 1955 Segment Completion Report Lawrence S. Campbell Project Leader William G. McClelland Assistant Project Leader Inventory of Species Present in Lake Brownwood, Brownwood, Texas. QBEEGTIVES To determine the species present and their relative abundance and to deter” mine the ecological factors influencing their distribution. PRQCEDURE Forty—one gill nets were set at twelve different locations in the lake. Experimental nylon gill nets. measuring 125 ft. long X 8 ft. in depth, and made up in five. 25 ft. sections were used. Mesh size for these nets increased progressively in each following section at 1/2 inch intervals beginning with one-inch mesh and terminaw ting with a threeminch mesh section. Twenty seining collections were made at eight seining stations in the racers weir. in nearly all collections both 26 ft. %" mesh bag seines and 15 ft. a” common sense seines were used. To estimate relative abundance a count was made of all indivim duels taken in two hauls with a 26 ft. %” mesh bag seine. In addition to that work; other seining collections were made to determine seasonal distribution of species, and to secure samples of fry after the spring spawning of some species. For this work h .4311 it. common sense seines with %” mesh and 1/16” mesh were used. Water analysis to determine dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen content was semen at eight different locations on the lake; and pH, surface water temperature. and ciimatic conditions were recorded for each netting and seining collection. in netting collections samples from each collection for each species were 'weighed. measured and sexed in the field. A scale sample was taken and stomachs conm taining food were preserved for laboratory study. Similar work for seining collections included identifying and counting all fish taken. Individuals needed for laboratory study were preserved in 10% formalin. FENDENQ During the segment the reservoir receded to an estimated h9,000 acre feet storage. and was refilled to spillway capacity of 137,000 acre feet by rainfall during April and May, 1955. Maximum surface temperature recorded during the period was 810 F.. and the minimum record was 580 F. Minimum dissolved oxygen recorded during the segment was 3 ppm. Maximum carbon dioxide was 15 ppm. Maximum turbidity taken was 12. fidetting Results: As shown in Table No. 1., seven hundred and seventy individuals of eleven species were taken in fortymone net sets. As compared with first segment netting :oilections, this sample catch indicates significant changes in the numerical ratio of several fish pepulations. River carp suckers (Carpiodes car io), long nose gar {§§pisosteus osseufij, freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens . and largemouth black bass iMicropterus salmoides) are apparently increasing. Data for white bass (Morons EE§V§2E§.9 and southern channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) indicate population cecr.ases. Twenty seining collections captured 2.609 individuals of twentymtwo species. 0f this sample principal population increases are indicated for mosquito fish (Gambusia aifiigig). red shiner (Notropis lutrensis), blacktail Shiner (Notropis venustus). and iergemouth black bass (Micro terns salmoides). Population decreases are indicated for giccar shad (Eggosoma cepedianumj and white bass (Morons chr'sops). Log perch {Forcing capgggeg} and spotted largemouth bass (MicrOpterus punctulatusi were captured for the " first time in the lake. Because recession in the lake exposed dense woody vegetation in a 1 areas where seining had been previously done, and because suitable new locations i this work were not located, adequate seining was impossible during the last three as of work. For that reason data from these collections is not included in Table .1, .. _ Tip-2.12:? meat on. .. .4.- .; I? r , 'I' uh. C! A continuation of this job has been requested and approved for next segment. flaring this period; fiftymfour man days were spent working at the lake, and an estimated nice man days were spent working on this job at the laboratory. SHMMQRE 1. Lake Brownwood receded approximately 495000 acre feet during the year and was refilled during April and Mayy 1955. 2. Matting collections indicate river carp suckersj long nose gar. freshw water drum. and largemouth bass are increasing. and that white bass an; southern channel catfish populations are decreasing. . Seining collections indicate mosquito fish. red shiners. blacktail shiners and largemouth black bass are increasing} and that giasard shad and white bass are decreasing. Log perch and spotted bass were taken for the first time. h. 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