Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond Shape vs. Fish yield

Yes shape will affect fish yield at least as I understand these things. But I'm not sure I have seen published reports that researched this concept.

You are correct the shallow zone along the shoreline results in more food production for the fish. This zone grows anoher form of algae/microinvertebrate community rarely discussed on this board. This community is called periphyton. Periphyton is composed of attached algae growth and the associated animals. This community can contribute a large percentage to the total pond or lake productivity. This zone where periphyton grows is called the littoral zone and is a very producive zone of lakes. Lake dynamics will determine weather the lake is plankton or periphyton dominated. This zone almost always corresponds to the depth of sunlight penetration to where rooted plants can grow. All this is especially true the clearer the water becomes in ponds (those not artifically fertilized).

Clearer water results in less planktonic growth and more periphyton growth.

The littoral zone of the pond or lake usually contains the highest concentration of fish due to it being a food producer. Weed beds and weed edges concentrate fish. Periphyton grows on structure in the littoral zone. The more shoreline you have, generally, the more fish or fish biomass will be produced (again in clear water situations). However at the same time you will also have to contend with more weed growth due to the increased amount of pond bottom area that can grow rooted vegetation and filamentous algae.

FYI - As far as I know most if not all the historical fish productivity studies and fertilization production studies were done in shallow water ponds. They also used smaller fish that fed lower on the food chain (planktonic organisms)and smallish predators. I'm not aware of scientific studies that used artificial fertilization and looked at producion /productivity of a fish commmunity that contained large predators (over 4-5 lbs)and compared this same water body to one with just "smallish" fish. Numerous fertilization studies have been done on moderate sized lakes in various parts of North America but I not familiar with how big the fish were in these lakes. The studies have probably been published.

Producivity as far as pounds of fish produced per acre may change as the size structure of the fish become larger. We are getting into theory here and many areas still need research.

Maybe some of the people that are familair with additional published reports can comment on this topic.