Poster Details
MINIMAL EFFECTS OF FATHEAD MINNOWS ON INSECT EMERGENCE FROM OUTDOOR MESOCOSMS
Fathead minnows are widely introduced in freshwater ecosystems throughout the world. They are omnivorous, but have been shown to reduce densities of benthic macroinvertebrates following introductions to wetlands. However, the effects of these fish on insect emergence is largely unknown. We created a gradient of fathead densities (0-5 fish per square meter) in outdoor artificial streams to measure their effects on insect emergence in late summer 2015. Based on preliminary results over the 30-day experiment, we found no consistent relationship between fathead minnow density and the abundance of emerging aquatic insects. Relationships ranged from neutral to positive, suggesting that fathead minnows did not affect, or slightly increased, emergence in our experiment. These results are surprising given the apparently strong control of benthic insects by fathead minnows from field studies. Whether the lack of relationship between fatheads and emergence in our experiment is also reflected in relationships with benthic insects, along with diet analyses, is currently being determined.
Charles Nearman (Primary Presenter/Author), University of South Dakota, c_nearman32@hotmail.com;
Lauren Henning ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of South Dakota, lauren.henning@usd.edu;
Brianna Henry ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of South Dakota, b.henry@eagle.clarion.edu;
Eric Sazama ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of South Dakota, ericjsazama@gmail.com;
Emily Rolfes ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Vermillion High School, archeryrocks5083@gmail.com;
Wyatt Waage ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Vermillion High School, wwaage_99@icloud.com;
Stian Olson ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Vermillion High School, stianolson@gmail.com;
Jeff Wesner ( Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of South Dakota, Jeff.Wesner@usd.edu;