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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | Established | Stable | Introduced | Regular Resident | North America | North America | Fisheries(Fisheries Intentional) |
History of Spread
Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie) is native on the Atlantic Slope from VA or NCsouth to FL, and on the Gulf slope west to TX, and in the interior Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and Mississippi River basins from Quebec to Manitoba south (Page and Burr 1991). The original range on the Atlantic coastal plain is uncertain because of extensive introductions and uncertain early records. Pomoxis nigromaculatus was widely introduced by the United States Fish Commission (USFC) starting in 1894 and by state fish commissions. In early stockings, it was usually mixed with P. annularis, and usually recorded as 'crappie' (Smith and Bean 1898). Shipments and stocking by the USFC continued to 1930's, and has been continued by many state agencies to the present. Pomoxis nigromaculatus have been introduced to river systems in 27 states ( Fuller et al. 1999), and to Europe, where they failed to become established (Lever 1996). They are established on the Atlantic Coast from Chesapeake Bay to Maine, including the Hudson River estuary (Mills et al. 1997), and on the West Coast from San Francisco Bay to the Fraser River (Cohen and Carlton 1995; Fuller et al. 1999).
Jenkins and Burkhead consider P. nigromaculatus to be probably native to the James River, based on Cope's (1869) record, but it also could have been introduced much earlier (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). It was probably introduced elswhere in the Chesapeake drainage, based on lack of early records and spotty present distribution. Uhler and Lugger (1876) reported it from Maryland, 'Its precise location in the state is unknown, but, probably in some of the streams emptying into the lower Potomac...Said to occur near the mouth of the Chester River and sold in the Baltimore markets as 'Strawberry Perch'.' Jenkins and Burkhead (1993) suggest that these market fish could have come from the Ohio drainage. However P. nigromaculatus had colonized the Delaware by 1873 (Abbott 1877), and perhaps could have reached the upper Bay via the Chesapeake & Delaware canal.
James River- Pomoxis nigromaculatus was collected in Tuckahoe Creek, Richmond VA, in the James River drainage (Cope 1869) and from Jericho Canal (Dismal Swamp), Suffolk VA (Jordan 1890), and now widespread (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).
York River- Pomoxis nigromaculatus was abundant in the tidal Pamunkey by 1949; first verified record (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Raney and Massmann 1953).
Rappahannock River - The first verified record of P. nigromaculatus was in 1959 (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). It occurs in the tidal river (Maurakis et al. 1987).
Potomac River- Pomoxis nigromaculatus was stocked by the USFC 1889-1919 (Worth 1895; Leach 1921), and 'have become very common in places; notably Little River, Four-mile Run and in the river near Seven Locks' (Smith and Bean 1898). It is rare in mainstem of the river; but is found in tributaries (primarily nontidal) to the Wicomico River and St. Clements Bay (Ernst et al. 1995; Lippson et al. 1979).
Patuxent River - 200 'crappie' were planted in 1899 (Ravenel 1900). Pomoxis nigromaculatus was mostly in impoundments, but also in streams (Mansueti 1950). It is now present at Jug Bay, in tidal fresh waters (Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 1995).
Susquehanna River- Pomoxis nigromaculatus was present in the Susquehanna before 1879 (Cope 1879) and perhaps was stocked unofficially. It was stocked by Pennsylvania Fish Commission before 1893 and two fish were caught at Port Deposit MD in the tidal river (Bean 1893).
Upper Bay and tributaries- Pomoxis nigromaculatus was 'said to occur' at the mouth of the Chester River, according to fish merchants (Uhler and Lugger 1876). However, it was not found in early upper Bay surveys (Fowler 1917; Fowler 1933; Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928; Radcliffe and Welsh 1917). It was introduced to tributaries by the USFC (e.g. Oyster Creek, Annapolis MD, 1903, Bowers 1905) and probably by the MD Department of Natural Resourrces. The first published catch records for the Upper Bay are for a creel survey in the Northeast River (Elser 1960). This species was caught in the Chesapeake and Delaware canal (Wang 1971) and at the mouth of the Sassafras River (Kauffman et al. 1980). It has also been caught in the Rhode River, but is very rare (Hines et al. unpublished data).
Eastern Shore Tributaries - Pomoxis nigromaculatus was present by 1976, and was probably introduced much earlier (Lee et al. 1976). In recent MD Department of Natural Resources surveys, it was found in the Chester and Nanticoke-Wicomico River systems (Boward et al. 1997; Kazyak et al. 1997).
Delaware River - Abbott reported them as apparently newly arrived in the Delaware Estuary in 1873; 'so it is quite certain that a supply of them has been received from some locality; but how or when I have no knowledge It may be possible that they could reach the Delaware River through the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal...' (Abbott 1877). The source of this introduction is not known, but was presumably either an undocumented stocking, or movement through canals from the Great Lakes, possibly via the Hudson.
History References - Abbott 1877; Bean 1893; Boward et al. 1997; Bowers 1907; Cohen and Carlton 1995; Cope 1869; Cope 1879; Elser 1960; Ernst et al. 1995; Fowler 1917; Fuller et al. 1999; Hardy 1978; Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Jordan 1890; Kaufman et al. 1980; Kazyak et al. 1997; Leach 1921; Lee et al. 1976; Lever 1996; Lippson et al. 1979; Maurakis et al. 1987; Page and Burr 1991; Radcliffe and Welsh 1917; Raney and Massmann 1953; Ravenel 1900; Smith and Bean 1898; Uhler and Lugger 1876; Worth 1895.
Invasion Comments
Alternate Vector into Chesapeake Bay - Colonization of the upper Chesapeake Bay from the Delaware estuary by Chesapeake & Delaware Canal is remotely possible. Abbott (1877) suggested the reverse movement. See 'Invasion history; Upper Bay; Delaware River'.
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | 4.0 | 32.5 | 14.4 | 20.0 |
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 5.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Oxygen | hypoxic | |||
| pH | 5.1000000000 | |||
| Salinity Range | fresh-meso |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 150.0 | 150.0 |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 203.0 | 203.0 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 488.0 | 488.0 |
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Typical Longevity (yrs | 6.0 | 6.0 |
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
Fisheries - Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie) is 'One of the most popular sport fishes in Virginia' (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993). It is large and more desirable as a sports fish than the native Lepomis gibbosus [Pumpkinseed and L. auritus (Redbreast Sunfish)]. They were the 4th most common catch in the tidal fresh Northeast River (Upper Bay) in a 1958 creel survey (Elser 1960), but have a limited distribution in brackish waters.
References - Elser 1960; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie) is a very popular sport fish throughout its native and introduced range. Predation on juveniles of Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass) and Ameiurus catus (White Catfish) and other fishes has been observed, but they are also frequent prey of Micropterus salmoides and other large predatory fishes (Carlander 1977). Pomoxis nigromaculatus has been introduced to drainages in 32 states (Fuller et al. 1999).
References - Carlander 1977
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Effects of the introduction of Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie) on abundance of native centrarchid and other perciform populations in Chesapeake Bay have not been reported, but some interactions have been reported elsewhere.
Competition - Competition with native fishes is not well-documented. Pomoxis nigromaculatus is more piscivorous than native centrarchids (Carlander 1977). Schiavone (1985) suggested that sharp year-to-year fluctuations in Perca flavescens (Yellow Perch) in Northwest NY lakes might have resulted from interactions with newly introduced P. nigromaculatus, but overall abundance and growth rates of this fish remained stable. Competition between larvae and juveniles of P. nigromaculatus and other zooplanktivorous fishes is likely, but not documented.
Predation - Adult Pomoxis nigromaculatus are fairly piscivorous (Carlander 1977; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993), and are likely to eat a wide range of native fishes. Predation on juveniles of Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass), Ameiurus catus (White Catfish) and other fishes has been observed. Larvae and juveniles are zooplanktivorous (Carlander 1977).
References - Carlander 1977; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Schiavone 1985
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Effects of the introduction of Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Black Crappie) on abundance of exotic biota in Chesapeake Bay have not been reported, but some interactions have been reported elsewhere.
Hybridization - Hybrids between P. nigromaculatus ) and P. annularis (White Crappie) are occasionally collected (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).
Competition - Some food and habitat overlap with other introduced centrarchids, especially P. annularis, is likely. In northwest N.Y. lakes; sharp declines in Stizostedion vitreum (Walleye) recruitment were seen after stocking of P. nigromaculatus; especially in shallow lakes or those with low dissolved O2 in the hypolimnion; due to competition with larval and juvenile S. vitreum (Schiavone 1985).
Food/Prey - Pomoxis nigromaculatus is a frequent prey of Micropterus salmoides (Largemouth Bass) (Carlander 1977) and other large predatory fishes.
Predation - Pomoxis nigromaculatus in an NC reservoir were strongly dependent on abundance of Dorosoma petenense (Threadfin Shad) for growth and recruitment. A winterkill of D. petenense resulted in reduced growth and condition of P. nigromaculatus, but restocking of D. petenense restored the growth rate of the crappie population (Jackson and Bryant 1993). Pomoxis nigromaculatus is likely to feed on a variety of introduced centrarchids and other introduced fishes (Carlander 1977).
References - Carlander 1977; Jackson and Bryant 1993; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Schiavone 1985
References
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