The Food Habits and Age and Growth of Goldeye, Hiodon Alosoides (Rafinesque), in Beaver Creek, Lake Oahe, North Dakota, 1971-72

• Main Author: Schadewald, Paul T.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: UND Scholarly Commons 1973
• Subjects: Creek Lake; Beaver Creek
• Online Access: https://commons.und.edu/theses/3618; https://commons.und.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4619&context=theses

Goldeye from Lake Oahe were studied during 1971-72 to determine their food habits and age and growth. Stomachs were collected from 833 goldeye during twelve 24-hour periods, Contents were analyzed to determine bihourly and spring and summer food habits, Cladocera, principally Daphnia sp,f comprised 75% of the average stomach volume, Frequency of occurrence was 98.4?5 for Cladocera and 87.2% for Insecta. Young~of-the-year goldeye fed entirely on microcrustaceans. The diet of older age classes was predominantly microcrustaceans, but always included insects. Feeding occurred during all hours of the day, but increased significantly at night. Goldeye were concentrated in surface waters when food was abundant, usually at night. At other times the population seemed to be distributed at all depths. Availability determined degree of use of insects by goldeye; microcrustaceans, alv/ays abundant, were heavily utilized. The equation for the length weight curve was Log W = -5.3320 + 3.1211 Log TL. K-TL was .9297? this value increased with length and was greater for older females than for males of the same age. Growth was good when compared to nearby areas and many goldeye were of commercial size.