EARLY-LIFE HISTORY AND RECRUITMENT OF BLACK CRAPPIE (POMOXIS-NIGROMACULATUS) IN 2 SOUTH-DAKOTA WATERS

We compared the early life history of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromacu latus) in Richmond (an impoundment) and Brant (a natural lake) lakes d uring 1994-1996. We expected variable recruitment (i.e., missing year classes) in the natural lake and more consistent recruitment in the im poundment. Larval black crappie abundance was always higher in Richmon d Lake than Brant Lake. Peak abundance of larval black crappie was hig hest during 1994 in both waters. However, peak larval abundance did no t correspond with fall trap-net catch per unit effort (CPUE) of age-0 black crappie, which was highest during 1995. Thus, recruitment of bla ck crappie was not simply a function of the number of larvae hatched. Similar trends in catches of age-0 black crappie with the ichthyoplank ton trawl and trap nets for both water bodies during 1994-1996 suggest that broad environmental factors similarly affected reproduction and recruitment in Richmond and Brant lakes.