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Knowledge of zooplankton size structure and measure of lake productivity can facilitate interpretation of data from fishery surveys. Our findings demonstrate that, for small warm-water lakes containing predominantly centrarchids and percids, the size composition of the zooplankton community and growth and size structure of the fish community are closely correlated. Spatial-temporal differences between lakes suggest the fishery manager can obtain a useful measure of zooplankton size by sampling at deeper, offshore sites in August. Measurement of zooplankton size as an index of predator-prey balance in the fish community offers a simple, yet economical, approach for assessing the status of a fish population and determining management options. Comparisons of Fee's productivity index, zooplankton biomass, and catches of fish in variable-mesh gill nets indicate that lakes with a high productivity index generally support a larger biomass of planktivorous fish. Finally, evaluation of fish communities through assessment of zooplankton populations and measures of lake productivity has sound potential for future investigations and provides a rational basis for developing fish-management strategies.
Mills et al. (Fri,) studied this question.