Pomoxis annularis
Rafinesque, 1818
Common Name:
White Crappie
Synonyms and Other Names:
Identification:
White crappie, Pomoxis annularis, have deep laterally compressed bodies which are iridescent olive green in color on the back and silvery white on the sides. The sides will also have 10 or fewer indistinct dark vertical bars. The head is small with a sharp depression in the profile above their eyes and the mouth appears to project because it is large and oblique. The dorsal and anal fins are large and round with 5-6 spines. Dorsal fins have 13-15 rays and anal fins have 17-18 rays. In the pelvic fins there is 1 spine and 5 rays and in rounded pectoral fins 15 rays. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are checkered with dark spots. The lateral line of White crappie is arched with 38-45 scales. Breeding males are very dark with the head and breast becoming nearly black (Moyle 1976).
Size:
53 cm.
Native Range:
Southern Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River), and Mississippi River basins from New York and southern Ontario west to Minnesota and South Dakota, and south to the Gulf; Gulf Slope drainages from Mobile Bay, Georgia and Alabama, to the Neuces River, Texas (Page and Burr 1991).
Great Lakes Nonindigenous Occurrences:
New York (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Schmidt 1986); Ohio (Trautman 1981); Pennsylvania (Cooper 1983; Hocutt et al. 1986; Schmidt 1986); Wisconsin (Lee et al. 1980 et seq.; Becker 1983).
Table 1. Great Lakes region nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state/province, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Pomoxis annularis are found here.
Full list of USGS occurrences
Table last updated 5/1/2024
† Populations may not be currently present.
Ecology:
White crappie are found in warm, turbid lakes, rivers, river backwaters and are most abundant in lakes and reservoirs greater than 5 acres in size. In rivers, Pomoxis annularis prefers low velocity areas (Edwards et al. 1982; Moyle 1976). Vegetation is not required in habitat (Becker 1983). Despite White Crappie’ tolerance of, and apparent preference for turbid waters, greater growth is observed in clearer water (Edwards et al. 1982). Optimum water temperature range is 27-29°C and the maximum observed temperature was 31.1°C (Becker 1983). Ideal dissolved oxygen concentrations are 5 mg/L and the lowest concentration White Crappie have been observed at was 2.2 mg/L. It is assumed that the safe pH range is 5-9 and for best production a pH of 6.5-8.5 is required. The highest salinity in which White crappie have been observed is 1.3 ppt (Edwards et al. 1982).
White crappie are schooling fish and schools are frequently localized in distribution (Becker 1983). During the winter they are reportedly inactive and remain close to the bottom in deep water (Moyle 1976). Spawning begins in April or May when temperatures reach 17-20°C, but spawning could possibly be delayed by continuously low water temperatures. Males will construct nests in colonies of shallow depressions in hard clay bottoms, near beds of plants, algae or submerged plant debris to which eggs typically adhere. Nests are typically near overhanging bushes or banks in water that is less than 1 meter deep but nests have also been observed in 7 meter deep water (Moyle 1976; Hansen 1951). White crappie have exhibited territorial behavior over nests and will chase away intruders until eggs have hatched, which typically takes 2-5 days. Growth rates of White crappie can vary greatly depending on conditions and it is common for stunting and overcrowding to occur (Etnier and Starnes 1993). Individuals become mature in their second or third spring. It is rare for individuals to survive more than five years with 50% of fish in a brood typically dead by the third year of life (Becker 1983). The maximum lifespan is estimated to be 10 years (Etnier and Starnes 1993).
White crappie congregate around submerged logs or boulders in 2-4 m deep water during the day and leave to feed in open water during the evening and early morning. They use long, fine gill rakers for straining zooplankton from the water and also have large protrusible mouths for consuming large prey . White crappie are an opportunistic feeders and will feed on fish and available aquatic insects (Moyle 1976). Individuals less than a year old only feed on zooplankton, but as they become mature fish become the most important source of food (Becker 1983). Fish identified in the stomach contents of White crappie include the Spotfin shiner, Lepomis spp., the Tessellated darter, among other unidentified fish (Mathur 1972). It is preyed upon by larger fishes which can include Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Northern pike and Muskellunge (Becker 1983).
Great Lakes Means of Introduction:
Intentional stocking for sportfishing and northward dispersal.
Great Lakes Status:
Native to the southern Great Lakes, P. annularis is expanding its range northward with multiple documented populations overwintering and reproducing up to 300 miles north of the documented historic range. Populations in the Finger Lakes region of New York are likely the descendants of stocking conducted in the late 1880s.
Great Lakes Impacts:
There is little or no evidence to support that Pomoxis annularis has significant environmental impact in the Great Lakes. There have been reported cases of Lymphocytis disease in Pomoxis annularis in Wisconsin. Lymphocystis is a highly infectious, benign viral disease (Amin 1979).
Although it is likely that Black crappie and White crappie compete with other planktivores when young, the majority of research indicates that intraspecific competition has a stronger effect than interspecific competition in many systems (McInerny and Cross 2008).
There is little or no evidence to support that Pomoxis annularis has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.
Pomoxis annularis has a high beneficial impact in the Great Lakes.
White crappie are a popular panfish and sport fish which attracts recreational anglers in the Great Lakes. Pomoxis spp. are the most harvested fish in reservoirs of the United States (Miranda 1999).
Management:
Regulations There are no known regulations for this species.
Note: Check federal, state, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.
Control
Biological
Predators including Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Northern pike and Muskellunge could potentially be stocked to control White crappie. The effectiveness of stocking piscivorous fish to control invasive species has been highly variable, expert analysis is required to understand the complex factors that will determine proper application of control methods (Meronek et al. 1996).
Physical
General methods of fish control include accelerated water velocity, physical barriers, pressurized hot water/steam, hot water thermal barriers , removal of catch limits, reservoir drawdowns, traps, nets, electrofishing, and combinations of treatments (GLMRIS 2011, Meronek et al. 1996). Patrick et al. (1985) observed that air bubble curtains have been successful in deterring various species of fish—especially when used in conjunction with strobe lights.
Success of physical control methods have not been studied on White crappie.
Chemical
Chemical piscicides antimycin A and rotenone are general piscicides, the use of which has not been studied on White crappie. These piscicides are toxic to other species and can cause non-target kills (GLMRIS 2012).
Careful consideration should be taken with chemical methods to reduce impact to non-target species.
Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.
Remarks:
It is probable that all the White crappie in California are descendents of the original 16 fish planted in the state in 1917 (Goodson 1966a).
References
(click for full reference list)
Author:
P.Fuller, M. Cannister, M. Neilson and K. Hopper
Contributing Agencies:
Revision Date:
1/18/2024
Peer Review Date:
5/29/2012
Citation for this information:
P.Fuller, M. Cannister, M. Neilson and K. Hopper, 2024, Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, 1818: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatLakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species_ID=408&Potential=N&Type=0&HUCNumber=DGreatLakes, Revision Date: 1/18/2024, Peer Review Date: 5/29/2012, Access Date: 5/1/2024
This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.