Description
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Chordata | Osteichthyes | Perciformes | Centrarchidae | Pomoxis |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 | Established | Contracting | Introduced | Regular Resident | North America | North America | Fisheries(Fisheries Intentional) |
History of Spread
Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) is native to the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River) and Missisippi River basins from NY and south Ontario west to MN and SD, and south to the Gulf of Mexico, where it is found in Gulf drainages from Mobile Bay, GA and AL to Nueces River TX (Page and Burr 1991). This species was widely introduced by United States Fish Commission (USFC) and state fish commissions starting in 1894. In records up to the early 20th century, this species was often mixed with Pomoxis nigromaculatus and recorded as 'Crappie' (Smith and Bean 1898). Shipments and stocking by United States Fish Commission continued into the 1930's. Stocking was continued by many state agencies to present. Pomxis annularis has been introduced on the Atlantic Coast from GA to the Connecticut River (CT) (Fuller et al. 1999), including the Hudson estuary (Mills et al. 1997) and on the West coast, including San Francisco Bay (Cohen and Carlton 1995). It has been introduced to river systems in 30 states (Florida Caribbean Science Center 2001).
James, York, Rappahannock Rivers- Pomoxis annularis is present only in reservoirs in these drainages (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). It was probably introduced with stocks of 'crappie' in the 1890's and early 1900's but apparently never became established in rivers, and was not in found in river surveys (Massman et al. 1952; Raney 1950; Raney and Massmann 1953).
Potomac River- Pomoxis annularis was stocked by the USFC in 1894-1919 (Worth 1895; Leach 1921). In the late 19th and early 20th century, P. annularis apparently outnumbered P. nigromaculatus: P. annularis 'have become very common in places, notably Little River, Four-Mile Run and in the river near Seven Locks' (Smith and Bean 1898). Early in the 20th century, P. annularis was more abundant than P. nigromaculatus, just above Fall-Line (Bean and Weed 1911). The only species found in the Chesapeake & Ohio canal at Seneca Creek, Montgomery County MD was P. annularis (Radcliffe and Welsh 1916). However, P. nigromaculatus is now the dominant crappie in the Potomac, and there apparently have been no records in the tidal river or nearby nontidal waters since the 1970's (Lippson et al. 1979; Ernst et al. 1995).
Patuxent River- Two hundred 'Crappie' were planted, 1899 (Ravenel 1900). P. annularis was stocked in Tridelphia Reservoir but absent in river or estuary (Mansueti 1950). Pomoxis annularis is now present at Jug Bay in the estuary (Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 1995).
Susquehanna River - Two hundred P. annularis was released into a reservoir at Hollidaysburg PA, Juniata River by the PA Fish Commision. Other PA Fish Commission plantings were probably made, based on the apparent interest in this fish (Creveling 1881). It was not reported from Susquehanna in 1893 (Bean 1893), but present by 1919 (Fowler 1919), and is present throughout the River basin now (Denoncourt and Cooper 1975; McKeown 1984)
Upper Bay- Pomoxis annularis was recorded from the mouth of Susquehanna at Havre de Grace (Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928). It was rare in a creel survey in the Northeast River (Elser 1960), and was taken in freshwater spillpools along C&D canal (Wang 1971).
Eastern Shore Tributaries- Pomoxis annularis was present by 1976, but was probably introduced much earlier (Lee et al 1976).
Delaware River- Pomoxis annularis was not listed for the Delaware River by by Bean (1893), but was present by 1919 (Fowler 1919), and was considered an estuarine resident by Horwitz (1986).
History references - Bean 1893; Bean and Weed 1911; Creveling 1881; Denoncourt and Cooper 1975; Elser 1860; Ernst et al. 1995; Florida Caribbean Science Center 2001; Fowler 1919; Fuller et al. 1999; Hardy 1978; Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928; Horwitz 1986; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Leach 1921; Lee et al. 1976; Lippson and Moran 1974; Lippson et al. 1979; Mansueti 1950; Massman et al. 1952; McKeown 1984; Mills et al. 1997; Page and Burr 1991; Radcliffe and Welsh 1916; Raney 1950; Raney and Massmann 1953; Ravenel 1900; Smith and Bean 1898; Wang 1971; Worth 1895.
Invasion Comments
Source Region - The fish first planted in the Susquehanna basin came from OH (Creveling 1881).
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | 29.0 | 14.0 | 23.0 | |
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Oxygen | hypoxic | |||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-meso |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 140.0 | 150.0 |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 215.0 | 215.0 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 344.0 | 344.0 |
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Typical Longevity (yrs | 7.0 | 7.0 |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
|||
| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
|||
| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
|||
| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
The economic impacts of Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) in the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay are probably small, given its low abundance, but it is a locally abundant sports fish in the watershed.
Fisheries - Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) is apparently a popular sport fish in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but it is lumped in VA with P. nigromaculatus (Black Crappie) in angling records, and is less widespread. It is larger and more desirable as a sports fish than the native Lepomis gibbosus (Pumpkinseed) and Lepomis auritus (Redbreast Sunfish) (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). Pomoxis annularis was dubbed 'the fish for the million' by the PA fish commissioner (Creveling 1881). They were a rare catch in the tidal fresh Northeast River in a 1958 creel survey (Elser 1960), and are probably rarely caught in brackish waters.
References - Creveling 1881; Elser 1960; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) is popular as a sport fish in its native and introduced range (Carlander 1977; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). It is a frequent predator on juveniles of some sport fishes [Ameirus catus (White Catfish), Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass)], but is also prey for adults of larger species [e.g. Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass), Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish)], (Carlander 1977; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). This fish has been introduced to drainages in 38 states (Fuller et al. 1999), Mexico, and Panama (Lever 1996).
References - Carlander 1977; Fuller et al. 1999; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lever 1996
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
The effects of Pomoxis annularis' (White Crappie's) introduction on abundance of native centrarchid and other fish populations in Chesapeake Bay are not known. Impacts in the tidal waters of the Bay are probably small, given its low abundance.
Competition - Competition with native fishes is not documented in the Bay. It is more piscivorous than native centrarchids (Carlander 1977). Available data on competition mostly show adverse effects of other planktivorous fishes on growth of juveniles of P. annularis. High densities of Dorosoma cepedianum (Gizzard Shad - native to Chesapeake Bay),and Menidia beryllina audens (Inland Silverside, M. b. beryllina is native to Chesapeake Bay) appear to adversely affect P. annularis' early growth and recruitment in TX and OK reservoirs and ponds (Crowl and Boxrucker 1985; Guest et al. 1990). Planktivorous fishes such as D. cepedianum spp. and M. beryllina may reduce the abundance of large zooplankton such as Daphnia which are preferred by juvenile Crappies and sport fish.
Predation- Some predation on juveniles of Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass), Ameiurus catus (White Catfish), and other fishes has been observed (Carlander 1977). In CA, P. annularis was found to prey on juveniles of introduced M. saxatilis and native Onchorhynchus tschawytscha (Chinook Salmown) (Dill and Cordone 1997).
References- Carlander 1977; Crowl and Boxrucker 1985; Dill and Cordone 1997; Guest et al. 1990
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
The effects of Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) introduction on abundance of introduced biota in Chesapeake Bay are not known. Impacts in the tidal waters of the Bay are probably small, given its low abundance.
Hybridization - Hybrids of Pomoxis annularis (White Crappie) with P. nigromaculatus (Black Crappie) are occasionally collected (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).
Competition - Some food overlap with other introduced centrarchids, especially with P. nigromaculatus and with other planktivorous fishes is likely. Competition between juvenile P. annularis and juvenile Dorosoma petenense (Threadfin Shad), resulting in reduced juvenile growth of P. annularis, has been documented in experimental ponds in TX (Guest et al. 1990).
In TX reservoirs corrrelations between numbers of P. annularis and Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegills) of different size classes indicated competition among juveniles of the two species, but predation on small L. macrochirus by adult P. annularis. Pomoxis annularis also compete with later juveniles of Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) for food and spawning sites, as well as preying on smaller juveniles. Lakes with dense populations of M. salmoides and intermediate-sized L. macrochirus tended to have stunted P. annularis populations (Cichra et al. 1981).
Food - Pomoxis annularis is a frequent prey of Micropterus salmoides, Ictalurus punctatus (Channel catfish), Pylodictis olivaris (Flathead Catfish) (Carlander 1977), and other large predatory fishes.
Predation - Pomoxis annularis frequently preys on juvenile L. macrochirus and M. salmoides (Cichra et al. 1981).
References - Cichra et al. 1981; Carlander 1977; Guest et al. 1990; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993
References
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