I have an Ecology class this semester and we have to write a research paper about an environmental issue.  I was wanting to do something involving fishing.  Any ideas.  This is a 3-5 page paper and it is for a Sophomore college class.

Thanks

Zebra Mussels, the Largemouth Virus down in lake Fork years ago

I did similair papers one was on the 4 stroke outboards vrs 2 stroke outboards, fortunately nobody else fished and I could make stuff up and get away with it. Another one I did was about the use of lead, might be easier if you focused on hunting and fishing, just fishing may be hard to make a 3 page paper.

You could write it about cormorants.

This shouldn't be too hard.  There are many environmental factors when it comes to fish.  You have oil spills, lead, mercury, waste dumping, dry spells causing water level to fall which causes less oxygen in the water.....the list go on.  If you would like more information just email me your email address.  I have done a few papers on this subject.

The effects of invasive species on native wildlife, I did a paper on something like this not  to long ago, you could do it on things like zebra mussels, gobies, snakeheads.

what about those weeds that choke the pond until everythign dies? ughhh i forgot the name!!

The efficacy of catch and release?

lol i should have said that its right there in my avatar ;D

what about those weeds that choke the pond until everythign dies? ughhh i forgot the name!!

Milfoil?

what about those weeds that choke the pond until everythign dies? ughhh i forgot the name!!

Milfoil?

Golden Algae?

AHHH! milfoil thats it!

The disaster to the Louisiana coast from Hurricane Katrina.

The introduction of Snakeheads into the Potomac River.

Any topics in any fishing magazine, especially Bassin' and B.A.S.S.

Write about something the prof has no idea about and you'll get an A.

Good luck.

if i had to go back and redo a paper for a similar class, i would do the effect of non native species.  that facinates me and more than just anglers might get something out of it.

Man, where the heck were you guys when I was in school. Lots of great ideas gang.

The effect that slot limits have had on trophy bass populations.

Thanks guys this was a great help.  I think i will use the effect of non native species.

However, my ecology teahcer said she was an avid hunter and angler.  She has mentioned bass fishing a few times in class already.

If you want to broaden the audience a little more beyond just anglers, you could do a paper on the effects of increased phosphorus and nitrogen in lakes & rivers.  Translated in English: the effects of development and increased population = increased yard fertilizers, car washing, erosion, pollution, etc.  It all flows into into lakes and rivers which, in turn, increases the levels of phosphorus and nitrates.  This makes a lake turn eutrophic far faster than nature ever could.

Definition of "eutrophic":  Having waters rich in mineral and organic nutrients that promote a proliferation of plant life, especially algae, which reduces the dissolved oxygen content and often causes the extinction of other organisms. Used of a lake or pond.

Good subject material for a paper!

Personally, I would go with the effects of non native species.  However for something new, you could look at the effects bass have on native species.  Bass aren't native to many parts of the country.  Bass have become the most sought after game fish in the US, while carp, drum, etc. have now become trash fish (and rightfully so IMHO   ).  Just a suggestion, and theirs a ton of research out there on those pesky zebra mussels.

SNAKEHEADS!!!

Write about their origin, how they were introduced into US waters, and their negative effect on all fish populations.

This issue is not talked about very much but it was in a BASS Times article and its local to me. SLUDGE in the upper COLUMBIA RIVER, Trophy smallmouth fishery and major river in US. Sludge is Debree from the air from metal plants, and plants that do all the stuff that is illegal in the US so these plants are close to the US on the Canadian Border. all this air debree drops in the water and creates a thick black sludge in the water. Fish that are cought are covered in black sludge, and the ottomfish population really has declined and is killing off many of the Fish. If you could cover this MAJOR issue, that is not very Publicaly spoke about. That would be cool

Aaron,

    To some fishermen bass fishing is ecology, successful bass fishing starts with understanding the bass' ecosystem. The effects his particular ecosystem has on that fish and his role in that ecosystem. Once a fisherman comes to understand this and other elements such as bass behavior then that angler gains an edge over the average weekend warrior fisherman. Fishing is one of the finest examples of ecological impacts on species and the enviroment they inhabit. You could fill 3-5 pages simply explaining their effect on their ecosystem, even an ecosystem as small as a one acre farm pond.

Peter

Gaspergoo or commonly named "fresh water Drum" are not trash fish, and are very good clean fish to eat.