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Project T-58-D1
Project Title: Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus) Reintroduction to Illinois Sites of Historical Distribution
Community and/or Species Focus:
Redspotted sunfish
Goals/Objectives:
- Collect 5 pairs per year of redspotted sunfish from Fish Creek and propagate in rearing ponds
- Stock propagated sunfish into the receiving ponds - Mansion and Emiquon
- Monitor sunfish populations in Fish Creek and receiving ponds
- Monitor genetic composition of the different redspotted sunfish populations
Achievements:
- Stocked over 60 sunfish into the rearing ponds over 4 years
- In the first year, 175 fish were stocked into Mansion Pond, and about 4,000 fish were stocked into Emiquon; over 4,500 fish were added to Emiquon over the next 2 years
- Surveys indicated a vulnerable and unstable population in Fish Creek; the populations established in Mansion and Emiquon Ponds were successful
- Translocation efforts were undertaken in year 3 to try and reestablish populations in 5 different Illinois water bodies
- Genetic differentiation was determined to be significant across the range of the species
Post-Project Survey (if applicable): n/a
Project Period: 2007 - 2012
Principle Investigator(s):
Trent Thomas (Division of Fisheries)
Final Report:
