Analysis of Fish Age Structure and Growth in the Illinois River

摘要

Otoliths and other calcified structures have been used to age and determine growth rates of fish from a variety of habitats. Sagittal otoliths were removed from fishes representing five species from La Grange Pool of the Illinois River for age determination. Species collected included largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoldes), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), white bass (Morone chrysops), and freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens). Common univariate techniques were used to analyze the significance of spatial and temporal variation in growth and back-calculated mean length-at-age for all five species.