Evaluation of four models for estimating the population size of largemouth bass in an experimental pond

摘要

The utility of four commonly used models for estimating population size in teleosts was tested. Sixty-five individually marked largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, were introduced into a concrete pond. Fishing surveys were conducted every 2 days for a period of 19 days. The collected data were then used to estimate the population size under a variety of conditions using the following models: mark/recapture (Petersen method), DeLury (first model), and two models of the software program Capture. Comparison of the actual population size with population estimates obtained using the mark/recapture method showed that the percentage of absolute error was 30% of the population. Using the DeLury method and Model 1 of Capture, the population estimates were biased toward underestimation, but the error was 70%. In contrast, in Model 2 of Capture, the error was relatively small when the percentage of fish caught in all surveys was <70%. These conditions for minimizing errors should be taken into account by fisheries managers when estimating the population size of largemouth bass.