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Does Depth Affect Zebra Mussel Length in Scalp Lake?
No full textSince its first sighting in 1996, zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha have been confirmed in hundreds of Minnesota lakes. Not only were they found in lakes, but they are also found in rivers too. With lack of effective treatments to impede their spread, zebra mussels continue to colonize new areas causing ecological as well as economic harm. The objective of this study was to see if there was a relationship between a zebra mussel length and the depth, they are found using shell length (mm) and depth (cm). The comparison of zebra mussel length and depth was done by performing a regression analysis. On 18 October 2024, 150 zebra mussels were sampled at 10 different depths from the north, east, south, and west parts of Scalp Lake. Scalp Lake was chosen for the lake to sample because of the high-water clarity and the high number of zebra mussels present. Average zebra mussel length was 12.00 mm (SD = 1.20) on the north shore; 12.64 mm (SD = 1.64) on the east shore; 16.58 mm (SD = 1.57) on the south shore; and 12.65 mm (SD = 1.06) on the west shore. There was no significant relationship between zebra mussel length and depth in any quadrant around the lake (north shore P = 0.85; east shore P = 0.42; south shore P = 0.35; west shore P = 0.29). The results show that zebra mussel size is more related to lake location and less depth. This could be due to the fact that vegetation densities are different around each quadrant of the lake
The Northern Student, Spring 2025
No full texthttps://pines.bemidjistate.edu/northern-student/1000/thumbnail.jp
Size Of Age-0 Sander vitreus Pre and Post Dreissena polymorpha Infestation on Brainerd and Bemidji Area Lakes
No full textWalleye Sander vitreus is the Minnesota state fish and a vital predator fish in lake ecology. Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha were first found in Minnesota inland lakes in the 1980’s. These mussels have had huge impacts on water clarity as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton population levels which affect how age-0 fish feed, especially a low light feeding predator fish like walleye. A study took place on age-0 walleye size and it supported the conclusion that age-0 walleye were negatively impacted by zebra mussels in Minnesota’s large lakes. The goals of this study were to determine how the size of age-0 walleye are impacted by changing water clarity in two Minnesota lake regions (northwest and central). Fall electrofishing data was collected on age-0 walleye, zebra mussel invasion dates and water clarity measurements were collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The factors of lake (P = 0.00008), year (P = 0.00273), and zebra mussel status (P = 0.00069) all had statistically significant relationships with age-0 walleye size. The effect of average June Secchi (P = 0.13310) did not have a statistically significant difference on age-0 size. Age-0 walleye size increased post-invasion (11 mm) as well as water clarity depths (1.16 m). Water clarity measurements varied from lake to lake, but all lakes consistently increased in the first five years post invasion
The Effectiveness of the Minnesota Buffer Law And Its Impacts On People
No full textIn January 2015, the then-governor of Minnesota Mark Dayton announced new legislation that would require 50-foot vegetation buffers along all waterways in Minnesota; this legislation would come to be known as the Minnesota buffer law, exact requirements being “perennial vegetative buffers of up to 50 feet along lakes, rivers, and streams and buffers of 16.5 feet along ditches” (Albert, 2017; MN Board of Water and Soil Resources [MN BWSR] 4 ). A buffer in the context of vegetation and natural resource management is a strip of vegetation around a body of water “designed to intercept stormwater runoff and minimize soil erosion” (DNR Waters, 2007). The Minnesota buffer law specifically targets nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. The deadline for compliance for public waters was November 1st, 2017, and the deadline for public ditches was November 1st, 2018 (MN BWSR 4). Landowners could apply for an eight-month extension to install buffers or an approved alternative (Albert, 2017)
The buffer law came about due to reports published by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that stated that the water quality in Minnesota watersheds was below standard. One report specifically stated that “In watersheds dominated by agricultural and urban land, half or fewer of the lakes fully support the standard for swimming because of phosphorus” and that watersheds in areas dominated by agriculture “ tend to have high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids” all of which are known to be harmful to aquatic life (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [MPCA] 3, 2015). Aquatic life was not the only victim of low water quality. Interviews with Minnesota residents conducted by The Pioneer Press in 2015 found that many Minnesotan residents felt unsafe drinking their tap water due to high levels of nitrates (Magan, 2015). Magan further draws attention to the fact that many Minnesota cities such as Hastings and Cold Spring had to invest several million dollars into systems to reduce nitrate levels, such as drilling new wells and upgrading water treatment facilities (Magan, 2015). Minnesota\u27s low water quality was harming wildlife, people, and costing cities and private owners money.
Something needed to be done about the state of Minnesota\u27s water quality; the buffer law was one response. Today, 98% of land next to Minnesota waters is in compliance with this law (MN BWSR 4), but just how effective has it been? This paper will discuss the impact and how effective the buffer law has been on improving water quality in Minnesota, as well as how the law has impacted Minnesota residents
A Sample of Fish Communities in Beaver Ponds of Northern Minnesota
No full textThe North American beaver Castor canadensis is an ecosystem engineer and a keystone species to the environment. Beaver inhabit ponds and construct dams to build ponds that provide habitat for certain fish. Little information is provided on the species of fish that live in beaver ponds. The objective of this study is to sample the fish communities in beaver ponds while comparing the effectiveness of two styles of minnow traps. Twelve beaver ponds were selected in the Bemidji area to be sampled. The quantity and species caught in each style of trap were recorded to compare effectiveness of each trap and a sample of the fish community. A total of 15,453 fish were caught, seven different species and possible hybrids. Between the two trap types used, there appeared to be a significantly higher catch in the clover leaf trap type
Movement and Activity of Burbot, (Mizay; Lota lota) in a Spring-fed Minnesota Lake
No full textBurbot (Mizay; Lota lota) are a relatively unmanaged freshwater fish, important in many local Indigenous cultures, but often overlooked or maltreated in research, conservation, and fishing practices. As such, relatively little research has been conducted on Burbot, despite ecological significance as an indicator species. A recent resurgence in popularity as a target species, however, has prompted new research to inform management policies. The objectives of this study were to summarize Burbot movement by identifying patterns in swimming activity and identify possible predictors of the movement observed. This study investigated the movements of 39 individuals implanted with acoustic transmitters in Bad Medicine Lake, Minnesota, over a period of 18 months. Movement rate and turning angle were calculated for each transmission interval and analyzed using mixed-effects modeling. Seasonally, changes in movement patterns occur around ice-on, ice-off, and spawning events, varying in magnitude across sex and diel period. Nightly increases in movement persist regardless of season. Overall, movement activity was best predicted by the interaction between sex, diel period, and season. However, it is likely that movement patterns observed are influenced by the interaction of additional biological, behavioral, and environmental factors
Comparison of Hoop Nets to Trap Nets in Sampling Panfish
No full textPanfish including bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus are gamefish species of significance found in Minnesota. Hoop nets and trap nets are two types of gear that can be used to sample these fish. Fisheries managers and anglers alike are interested in the best tactics to capture panfish. The behavior of fish, including bluegill and black crappie, change throughout the sampling season and make it difficult to assume accurate representations. Trap nets have historically been adequate in sampling near shore populations, but questions surrounding the gear have allowed other options to be pursued. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of hoop nets to trap nets by analyzing the difference in catch per unit effort (CPUE), length, and proportional size distribution (PSD) of panfish. Nets were set within two weeks of each sample period. Captured panfish accounted for 96.5% of the total catch between the two nets. Black crappie CPUE significantly increased (P \u3c 0.01) with hoop nets while bluegill CPUE was not significantly (P = 0.30) different by net type. The average lengths for bluegill captured in hoop net were longer than those captured in trap nets. Bias in gear selectivity may have produced different catch rates and size structures for each net and species. Further studies will be needed to accurately estimate the differences in each nets ability to sample panfish
They Answered the Call
No full textProfessor Emeritus Michael Herbert, PhD, talks about his new book They Answered the Call: Minnesota\u27s Beltrami County Women Who Served in the Military During WWII. This book contains the histories of the women who served from Beltrami County in northern Minnesota.
Dr. Herbert\u27s last book paid tribute to the 20 Bemidji State Teachers College men who left college to serve in WWII, Leaving Campus: a World War II Epitaph.
A copy of Dr. Herbert\u27s book is available in the A.C. Clark Library collection. Click here for more information.https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/bsufac-pubcast/1002/thumbnail.jp
Student Achievement Conference 2025 Program Booklet
No full textStudent Achievement Conference 2025 Program Booklet. Keynote speaker was Gary Johnson. Conference migrated to online format due to a snowstorm that impacted the region.https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/sac-programs/1000/thumbnail.jp
