Relationships Between Shoreline Development and Nest Site Selection by Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass

Abstract

To evaluate potential effects of lakeshore development on nest site selection, we compared locations of black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides nests in three Minnesota lakes with available habitat in the littoral and riparian zones and the presence or absence of developed shoreline. We used binomial logistic regression to determine how the frequency of nest sites varied among lakes and with the presence or absence of five habitat variables. Black crappies in all three lakes were more likely to nest adjacent to undeveloped shoreline. Black crappies were also more likely to nest in stands of emergent vegetation, particularly hardstem bulrush Scirpus acutus. Largemouth bass were more likely to nest near undeveloped shoreline but were less dependent on hardstem bulrush. Shoreline development has the potential to alter nest site selection by largemouth bass and, particularly, by black crappies.