Matt A. Kulp

Multiple Electrofishing Removals for Eliminating Rainbow Trout in a Small Southern Appalachian Stream

Abstract We evaluated multiple electrofishing removals of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss as a management tool for the restoration of native brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in a small southern Appalachian stream. Six, three-pass depletion removal efforts were conducted between Jun 1996 and Oct 1997. Four removals successfully eliminated rainbow trout reproduction. Five removals were required to successfully eliminate rainbow trout from Mannis Branch. During the study, 428 rainbow trout were removed from the treatment area. The initial removal collected 296 (70%) of the total rainbow trout removed and was dominated by adults. Subsequent removals were dominated by age-0 rainbow trout (57–83%). The initial two removals successfully eliminated 96% of the reproductively mature adults as well as 86% of the age-0 fish. In Oct 1996, 105 native southern Appalachian brook trout of various age-classes were reintroduced into Mannis Branch. Surveys conducted in May 1997 indicated adult brook trout successfully spa...

Three-Pass Depletion Sampling Accuracy of Two Electric Fields for Estimating Trout Abundance in a Low-Conductivity Stream with Limited Habitat Complexity

Abstract We evaluated three-pass depletion sampling for both AC and pulsed-DC electrofishing for estimating the population size of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in a representative low-conductivity (20-μS/cm) southern Appalachian stream with limited habitat complexity. Trout capture efficiencies in such streams could be expected to exceed those observed in streams in which habitat is more complex; thus, depletion estimates could be much more accurate in the former. We also compared the results for two trout length-groups to investigate size-related differences. Measured capture efficiency was 0.88 ± 0.04 (95% confidence interval) for trout greater than 100 mm (typically adults) and 0.65 ± 0.09 for trout less than 100 mm (age 0). Population size was underestimated in each depletion sample. The errors for trout over 100 mm were generally small (mean, 12%; range, 3–23%), and the upper 95% confidence limits were usually within 10% of the true population size (N). Underestimates of N were larger for trout ...

A Case History in Fishing Regulations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 1934–2004

Abstract Since the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) in 1934, fisheries managers have utilized about every angling regulation in the toolbox to manage salmonids. Our objectives here were to summarize the regulation history of GRSM and determine whether regulations affected the age or size structure, growth, and population dynamics of wild populations of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss within GRSM. Data inconsistencies made data comparisons among regulation periods difficult; however, where feasible, comparisons revealed similar population dynamics among periods. The number of legal rainbow trout per kilometer of stream ranged from 215 to 885 throughout the 70-year study period, regardless of regulation. There were no statistical differences in rainbow trout relative stock densities (RSDs) on Little River among the 1930s, 1950s, 1980s, and 1990s, despite liberal regulations prior to 1960. Rainbow trout mean length at age data indicate no differences among populations for age-1 t...

Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of PnET-BGC to inform the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of acidity in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Abstract The biogeochemical model, PnET-BGC, has been used to evaluate the long-term acid-base response of surface waters to changes in atmospheric acid deposition. We propose a methodology to identify the input factors of greatest model sensitivity and propagate uncertainty of input factors to model outputs. The quantified model uncertainty enabled application of an “exceedance probability” approach to determine allowable atmospheric deposition in the form of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for twelve acid-impaired streams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Results indicate that acidification of surface water resulting from acidic deposition has been substantial. Even if current atmospheric deposition is reduced to pre-industrial levels, only one of the twelve impaired streams might be recovered to its site-specific standard by 2050. Our sensitivity analysis indicates that the model is most sensitive to precipitation quantity, air temperature and calcium weathering rate, and suggests further research to improve characterization of these inputs.

Recovery of Native Brook Trout Populations Following the Eradication of Nonnative Rainbow Trout in Southern Appalachian Mountains Streams

AbstractNonnative Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss have displaced native Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis in many southern Appalachian Mountains streams. We monitored the population recovery of Brook Trout following Rainbow Trout eradication at 10 sites in seven allopatric Rainbow Trout streams located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Rainbow Trout were successfully eradicated by electrofishing or Fintrol (also known as antimycin-A), and Brook Trout were reintroduced at low densities (39–156 fish/km) from streams located within the park. Within 2 years after reintroduction, the density and biomass of adult Brook Trout recovered to levels comparable to the prerestoration density and biomass of Rainbow Trout. Spawning in the first autumn after reintroduction was assumed by the presence of young-of-the-year fish in seven out of nine sites surveyed during the following summer. Brook Trout density and biomass 3–5 years after restoration did not significantly differ from those in natural allopatri...

Effects of Antimycin and its Neutralizing Agent, Potassium Permanganate, on Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Watershed

AbstractWe assessed the effects of antimycin (Fintrol) on benthic macroinvertebrates during a large Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis restoration project in the southeastern United States. Control and treatment sites were established in first- through fourth-order streams throughout the watershed and below the fish passage barrier where a neutralizing agent (potassium permanganate [KMnO4]) was administered. Hess samples were collected before and after chemical application (short term: 1 and 2 months after; long term: 9 and 12 months after). Analysis of similarity, nonmetric multidimensional scaling, and repeated-measures ANOVA were used to determine differences in assemblage metrics among control, treatment, and neutralization sites over time. Macroinvertebrate communities and their responses to antimycin were different at downstream (third- and fourth-order) sites relative to headwater (first- and second-order) sites. Overall, abundances (especially stonefly and caddisfly abundances) increased after anti...

Understanding water quality responses to long-term acidic deposition in a high-elevation southern appalachian watershed: A focus on soil watershed processes

Noland Divide Watershed (NDW), locating in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is characterized as one of the watersheds to receive some of the highest acidic deposition in the US. It has been continuously monitored for deposition, soil water and stream water chemistry weekly and biweekly, since 1991. The long-term trend analysis over past 17 years (1991–2007) found that decreasing sulfate and proton in the precipitation, however stream sulfate concentration, pH and ANC did not show the same significant trends. In contrast, atmospheric deposition of nitrogen was found to be increasing over time, but stream nitrate concentration was observed to be declining, apparently due to increasing overstory vegetation uptake. This long-term study has found mean annual detention of sulfate, nitrate and ammonium of 60%, 3% and 95% respectively in the watershed. Sulfate is accumulated in soil matrix by soil adsorption. Ammonium was mainly converted to nitrate by soil mineralization and nitrification at surface soil layer, and combined with deposited nitrate to be uptaken by plant. Despite the decreasing nitrate concentration and stable sulfate concentration, stream recovery from acidification is not observed in the NDW, due to the depletion of base cations with decreasing stream base cation concentrations.