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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146907
Title: IMPACTS AND SEASONAL DIETS OF DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS FROM AN OXBOW LAKE IN ARKANSAS.

Author
item Radomski, Andrew
item FENECH, AMY - UAPB
item LOCHAMNN, STEVE - UAPB

Submitted to: The Wildlife Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2003
Publication Date: 9/1/2003
Citation: RADOMSKI, A.A., FENECH, A.A., LOCHAMNN, S.E. IMPACTS AND SEASONAL DIETS OF DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS FROM AN OXBOW LAKE IN ARKANSAS.. THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY. 2003. p.222.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The ecologic, economic, and social significance of avian piscivores within any given aquatic ecosystem may be of concern because of interspecific competition with other predators and/or humans' use of the same resources. For this reason, the diets of 455 wintering Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) at an oxbow lake in southeast Arkansas were examined and analyzed for dietary overlap. The fish community was studied via rotenone and electrofishing samples to determine prey availability and relative abundance of fish. Sensitivity analyses were used to determine impacts. Overall, gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis) had the highest relative importance in cormorant diet (54 and 27, respectively). Other cormorant prey species included channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), cyprinids, and sunfish (Lepomis spp.), with relative importances of 6, 5, and 5, respectively. Cormorants consumed higher proportions of cyprinids and channel catfish in the fall than the remainder of the overwintering periods. There was significant difference between male and female cormorant diet selection between the fall and spring seasons, even though prey size did not differ between the sexes. Although fall diet overlap values were significant, it is unlikely actual competition between cormorants and largemouth bass occurred. The low relative importance of sportfish, such as largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and crappie (Pomoxis spp.) in the cormorant diet (<1 for both) suggests that wintering cormorants had little or no negative influence on sportfish within this oxbow lake during this time.