scholarly journals Assessing feeding competition between lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis and round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Macpherson ◽  
John A. Holmes ◽  
Andrew M. Muir ◽  
David L. G. Noakes

Abstract We collected lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis and round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum from the main basin of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America to investigate details of diet and feeding tactics of these species in different seasons. Lake whitefish supports important commercial fisheries in Lake Huron and both species make use of habitats near the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron. Most fish of both species showed generalist feeding behavior, but some lake whitefish appeared to show specialist prey selection. The invasive spiny water flea Bythotrephes longimanus was an important component of the diet of both species. There was considerable dietary overlap between the whitefish species, but the ecological implications of these dietary overlaps are mitigated by the fact that dominant prey species differed in most seasons. We conclude that the potential for ecologically significant interactions between lake whitefish and round whitefish resulting from competition for similar benthic food resources in the main basin of Lake Huron is probably low.

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 241-260
Author(s):  
W. Stott ◽  
M.P. Ebener ◽  
L. Mohr ◽  
J. Schaeffer ◽  
E.F. Roseman ◽  
...  

1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Loch

Adult lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) from Clearwater Lake and second generation adults of offspring from Clearwater whitefish transplanted to Lyons Lake were compared with respect to morphometric and meristic characters and isozymes of L-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH). Feeding habits and abundance of pelagic and benthic foods were compared in the two lakes.Gill raker number, lateral line scale count, and interorbital width remained constant between parental and offspring populations. Gill raker length was the main character found to differ between the populations. This was found to be related to the percentage and type of benthic food eaten. Abrasion of the gill rakers is offered as an explanation for the differences in gill raker length. Differences were found in various other meristic and morphological characters, as well as in electrophoretic phenotype frequencies of isozymes of GPDH.


DNA Barcodes ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Overdyk ◽  
Heather E. Braid ◽  
Stephen S. Crawford ◽  
Robert H. Hanner

AbstractDNA barcoding is a useful tool for both species identification and discovery, but the latter requires denser sampling than typically used in barcode studies. Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) is a valuable species, fished traditionally, commercially, and recreationally in Lake Huron. Based on the natural geographic and bathymetric separation of the three major basins in Lake Huron, the potential separation of Lake Whitefish within these basins, and the variation among life history (early and late spawning), we predicted that Lake Huron might harbour cryptic lineages of Lake Whitefish at the basin level. To test this prediction, DNA barcodes of the mitochondrial 5’ cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences were recovered from spawning phase Lake Whitefish (n = 5 per site), which were collected from sites (n = 28) around Lake Huron during Fall 2012. These sequences, combined with other publically available DNA barcodes from the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), revealed twelve unique haplotypes across North America, with seven unique to Lake Huron. The dominant haplotype was found throughout Lake Huron and east to the St. Lawrence River. No deep divergences were revealed. This comprehensive lake-wide sampling effort offers a new perspective on C. clupeaformis, and can provide insight for environmental assessments and fisheries management.


1984 ◽  
Vol 116 (12) ◽  
pp. 1591-1603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian D. Martin ◽  
Michael A. Gates

AbstractSignificant variation in the morphology of late-instar nymphs of Stenonema tripunctatum (Banks) in Lake Huron could not be ascribed to their proximity to warm-water plumes originating from the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, by either multivariate or univariate analyses of size and shape. Major sources of variation in S. tripunctatum were developmental state and sex. Nymphs collected just prior to emergence had low values of transverse measurements in anterior regions (inter-orbital width, prothoracic width), whereas males and females were separated by these measurements and other components of head geometry.No significant effects of thermal exposure were found in the reproductive development of S. tripunctatum, but this species is most commonly found below depths at which thermal-plume effects are expected. Based on a small but representative sample, ultimate-instar nymphs of Stenonema vicarium (Walker) from a depth of 3 m contained significantly fewer eggs and allocated a significantly lower proportion of biomass (dry weight) to reproduction in locations with higher temperatures.


1981 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1772-1789 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Casselman ◽  
J. J. Collins ◽  
E. J. Grossman ◽  
P. E. Ihssen ◽  
G. R. Spangler

Historical and contemporary data on lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) from the Ontario waters of Lake Huron were examined for evidence of stocks with the objective of defining population boundaries. We delineated the spatial distribution of five stocks from tag–recapture data and the general location of six additional stocks on the basis of population parameters such as growth rate, age structure, and abundance trends.Samples of fish collected (summer and fall) from 5 of the 11 potential stocks were evaluated on the basis of 11 morphometric and 7 meristic characters. We also examined osseometric features such as shape of scales and otoliths, and electrophoretic characteristics at 32 loci associated with 12 enzyme systems.The summer and fall samples for each group were generally not significantly different. For the phenotypes examined electrophoretically, each stock was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium; 12 of the 32 loci considered were polymorphic and 4 of the 10 possible genetic distances differed significantly from zero.The Inner Basin stock was distinctly different from all other stocks. The Blind River stock was also found to be different by osseometrics, but not by morphometrics or electrophoresis. Osseometrics separated the stocks by basin of origin. Two stocks, Outer Basin and Burnt Island, appeared to be the most similar and could be separated from each other only on the basis of growth rate and tagging data. These two stocks are adjacent to each other in the main basin of Lake Huron, along the south shore of Manitoulin Island.Whitefish stocks of Lake Huron represent groups of fish that differ phenotypically and genotypically in varying degrees, are spatially separated, and behave as cohesive units. We conclude that they should be regarded as functional units for management purposes.Key words: lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, Lake Huron, stocks, tag–recapture data, population structure, morphometrics, meristics, osseometrics, scale and otolith shape, starch gel electrophoresis, biochemical genetic variation


1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 747-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Jensen

The logistic surplus production model is applied to lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) yield and effort data from Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron. The fitted models indicate that the whitefish populations in most areas of the lakes have been overexploited, and that in these areas yield was below the maximum sustainable yield before sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) predation took its toll. In some areas of Lake Superior the whitefish populations are not overexploited. The sea lamprey is the apparent cause of the drastic decrease in the whitefish population that occurred in northern Lake Michigan during the 1950’s.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 669-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
DIANNE FAHSELT ◽  
M. ANWAR MAUN

In July 1978, twelve shoreline marsh areas were surveyed along the east coast of Lake Huron. The mean dry weight of each species was determined per unit area in every marsh, and the diversity and dominance indices were calculated. Sums of squares agglomeration technique showed that the two northernmost sites were the most distinctive floristically. Of the remainder, three of the more southern marshes located near the Bruce Nuclear Power Development clustered together into a separate group.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 205-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendylee Stott ◽  
Mark P. Ebener ◽  
Lloyd Mohr ◽  
Travis Hartman ◽  
Jim Johnson ◽  
...  

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1180-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Collins

In the early 1970s Lake Huron fishermen converted their gill nets from multifilament to monofilament nylon web in the lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) fishery. Catch comparisons in the two gears showed that monofilament nets were 1.8 times more efficient (but varied seasonally), resulting in biased commercial catch statistics. The use of monofilament web has probably increased exploitation pressure on whitefish. Both gears selected whitefish of the same size despite stock differences in individual size and shape. Catches in both gears declined during the full moon phase, possibly due to increased net visibility. Key words: mono-multifilament gillnet efficiency, selectivity, lunar illuminance, Coregonus clupeaformis, Lake Huron


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