CULTURE OF LOGPERCH Percina caprodes FOR MUSSEL CONSERVATION PROPAGATION

Interest in logperch culture has recently increased due to the fish's use as a host species for propagation of the endangered snuffbox mussel (Epioblasma triquetra ). Logperch are widely distributed throughout both the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins. Collection of wild-caught fish is an alternative to propagation but could negatively impact  logperch populations and introduce disease concerns to the propagation facility. Although a n abundance of information is available on the natural spawning habits and life cycle of logperch, little information is present on logperch propagation.

We conducted various experiments to propagate this species in both indoor laboratory and earthen pond environments. Experiments performed at the Columbia Environmental Research Center examined  pond culture, feed preferences, spawning techniques, out-of-season spawning manipulations, egg incubation, and larval grow-out trials.

Successful propagation of larvae  occurred in both indoor and pond settings. Indoor culture utilized induced spawning via temperature manipulations. This method allowed for multiple spawning events and greater control to produce abundant,  high quality, and  known-age embryos and larvae . However,  larval  transition to exogenous feed sources  indoors  proved to be a bottle-neck in producing large numbers of juveniles .

In contrast, p ond culture offered a successful method for raising larvae into adulthood ,  either through natural  parental  spawning or  by  stocking swim-up fry  that were first  propagated indoors. Besides the reduced  amount of labor, pond propagation promoted maturation  of embryos to reproductive adult in one year . Additionally, pond-raised adults could easily be brought into the labs and acclimated to prepared diets prior to being used for  mussel glochidia inoculations. A downside of pond culture is reduced ability to track fish quantity and the potential to transfer invasive species or pathogens into the hatchery environment from the pond .

In summary, the ability to propagate logperch in a controlled environment provides a high-quality source of healthy host fish that are  essential for successful mussel propagation.