Changes in the Georgian Bay fish community, with special reference to lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) rehabilitation

Hydrobiologia ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 163 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan A. Henderson ◽  
N. Robert Payne

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 440-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Keller ◽  
Lewis A. Molot ◽  
Ronald W. Griffiths ◽  
N. D. Yan

The zoobenthos of Bowland Lake is described prior to, and for 2 yr after, neutralization of the lake from pH 4.9 to > 6.0 and reintroduction of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Observed changes in the total abundance, biomass, and size structure of shallow and profundal zoobenthos assemblages were attributable to changes in the fish community, not to improvements in water quality. A shift toward increased importance of oligochaetes, more representative of nonacidic conditions, occurred. However, many common, acid-sensitive taxa of zoobenthos which were absent prior to neutralization had not appeared within 2 yr after treatment, indicating insufficient time for recolonization.



1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 844-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Power ◽  
Jean Gregoire

The presence of freshwater harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in Lower Seal Lake, Quebec, has drastically modified the lake's fish community. Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are the most affected; they are small (rarely exceed 55 cm fork length), their growth rate is faster than in neighboring lakes, their longevity is greatly reduced, the age at sexual maturity has been halved, and individual fecundity per unit weight has increased at the expense of egg diameter. Brook trout (S. fontinalis), the dominant fish species in the lake, show evidence of high mortality rates in the lake, but are protected during the vulnerable spawning period because their spawning sites are dispersed in tributary streams. Rough calculation suggests the seal population is small and that it consumes the lake's potential yield of fish annually. Key words: predation, freshwater seals, Phoca vitulina, Salvelinus namaycush, Salvelinus fontinalis



1972 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Fraser

Recoveries of hatchery-reared brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), splake (Salvelinus namaycush × S. fontinalis), and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), planted in lakes having different resident fishes, were highest (9–30%) in a lake in which minnows and the brook stickleback were the only other fishes. Recoveries, by angling and gillnetting, were considerably lower (2–15%) in two lakes containing the white sucker and minnows, and still lower (0.5–5%,) in two lakes containing spiny-rayed species as well. Recoveries were lowest (< 0.5%) in a lake having a complex fish community that included native brook and lake trout. Planted splake and rainbow trout generally yielded higher returns, in weight, than brook trout in comparable situations.The low survival of planted fish was apparently due to the low fertility of the waters and to competition with, or predation by, resident fish species. Predation by fish-eating birds and mammals may also have had an effect.The weight of the catch of salmonids exceeded the weight planted in only one lake. Here, the mean yield of planted salmonids was 8.4 kg/ha per year in comparison with 2.6 to < 0.5 kg/ha per year in the five other study lakes.



1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (S2) ◽  
pp. s239-s248 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. I. Goddard ◽  
D. H. Loftus ◽  
J. A. MacLean ◽  
C. H. Olver ◽  
B. J. Shuter

Creel and lake survey data from 87 Ontario lakes with self-sustaining lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations were analysed to determine the effect of intrinsic factors, such as fish community structure, and extrinsic factors, such as angling-effort, on the observed yields of lake trout. Multiple regression analyses showed that angling-effort and lake area, in order of importance, explained almost 82% of the variation in annual catches. Analyses of covariance were used to test a variety of hypotheses about how community structure — the presence of forage, competitors, or alternate sports species — affected the catch of lake trout. No significant differences among groups were detected, which suggests that fish community structure has little or no effect on actual yield of lake trout. The difficulties inherent in using catch and effort data alone to evaluate the importance of factors affecting productivity (or potential yield) are discussed.



2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 1171-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Northrup ◽  
Mark Connor ◽  
Eric B. Taylor

Understanding the structure of intraspecific genetic and morphological diversity within and across habitats is a fundamental aspect of biodiversity research with conservation value. Atlin Lake is the largest lake in British Columbia, Canada, and contains relatively pristine populations of lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) that are key components of the lake’s fish community and local fisheries. Lake trout from Atlin Lake were examined for genetic and phenotypic variation using eight microsatellite DNA loci, body form, and colouration. Genetic assays were also conducted on lake trout from the adjoining Tagish Lake and from 17 other localities to provide spatial context for the variation within Atlin Lake. The genetic data suggested that there were three genetic subpopulations within the Atlin–Tagish lake system. Morphological analysis identified two morphological groups of lake trout within Atlin Lake. Genetic and morphological groupings in Atlin Lake were not associated with each other. A mixed-stock analysis of samples collected from Atlin Lake commercial and recreational fisheries suggested that all genetic subpopulations contributed to the fishery and that there was some contribution from fish originating from within Tagish Lake.



1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (S1) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Conlon ◽  
John M. Gunn ◽  
J. Robert Morris

Surveys of 30 low-alkalinity lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) lakes near Sudbury, Ontario, were conducted to assess factors that affect lake trout presence under acidification stress. At the time of the surveys the lakes varied widely in pH (4.5–6.9), concentrations of toxic metals (Al 12–300 μg∙L−1), and the status of lake trout populations (extinct–abundant). Fish community structure (species richness, species assemblages) reflected and was readily predicted from measured water quality variables. A PCA factor composed of pH, alkalinity, and conductivity was the variable that best predicted lake trout presence (correct discrimination (> 92%). The results of this study provide managers with easily obtainable predictors for monitoring lake trout status under changing levels of acidic deposition.



1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 2153-2156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. McDonald ◽  
Anne E. Hershey

The lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) population in Toolik Lake in arctic Alaska was assessed by gill net during 1977, prior to exploitation. In 1986 we replicated the gill net study to determine the effects of recent angling pressure on the fish community. Relative composition of the catch varied between samples. Round whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum), which are not susceptible to angling, made up 42% of the catch in 1986 and 28% in 1977. Significant reductions in the median length and weight of lake trout between the sampling periods were observed. The median size of lake trout in 1986 was below the minimum 1977 reproductive size. Differences in median length and weight of grayling (Thymallus arcticus) and of round whitefish during this period were not significantly different. The condition factor of lake trout was significantly higher in 1986. We suggest that large lake trout in Toolik Lake control salmonid recruitment and determine community structure. With continued fishing pressure further changes in the fish community and lake trophic dynamics may result.



1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 1273-1284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doran M Mason ◽  
Timothy B Johnson ◽  
James F Kitchell

We used a size-structured model, indexed by age, that combines bioenergetics and foraging theory to evaluate the effects of prey fish community structure (species dominance, size structure, and density) on the diet and net foraging efficiency of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Superior. Prey size structure was important for young lake trout but decreased in importance for older lake trout, especially with increasing prey density. The model predicted that rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) should dominate the diet of young lake trout due to the size-dependent capture limitations of larger prey. In contrast, lake herring (Coregonus artedi) should dominate the diet of oldest lake trout owing to a higher net energy return than rainbow smelt. Model results are consistent with age-specific diet and size-at-age of lake trout during the last 40 years. Diets of intermediate-sized lake trout do not reflect the recent resurgence of lake herring populations. Absence of a dietary switch is probably due to higher capture probability for rainbow smelt. Lake trout growth and production will likely be highest with a mixed prey species assemblage of young rainbow smelt and older lake herring.



Author(s):  
Alexander Gatch ◽  
Dimitry Gorsky ◽  
Zy Biesinger ◽  
Eric Bruestle ◽  
Kelley Lee ◽  
...  


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