Changes in the fish community of Lake Carl Blackwell, Oklahoma (1967-77) and a test of the reproductive guild concept.

Numerical density, biomass density, and diversity of fishes in coves of Lake Carl Blackwell were estimated in 7 years during the period 1967-77. Among fishes within the same reproductive guild, some exhibited similar trends in abundance but others did not. Some species in different reproductive guilds showed similar trends in abundance. Densities of fishes within the following groups were positively correlated with each other: (a) green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis); (b) gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), orangespotted sunfish (Lepomis humilis), black bullhead (Ictalurus melas), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides); and (c) freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), river carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio), and white bass (Morone chrysops).