Movement of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) and White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) in a Nearshore Great Lakes Habitat Subject to a Thermal Discharge

1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. M. Kelso

The thermal discharge from the Nanticoke Generating Station caused both yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) to increase sharpness of turns, decrease distance between turns, and to orient into the current generated by the discharge. Conversely, fish released in thermally unaffected habitats referenced movement to the shoreline, turned less sharply, and swam greater distances between turns. The tendency for localization of movement was increased for both species when in the influence of the discharge. Swimming speeds were less for fish encountering the discharge; however, these fish had to contend with currents generated by the effluent thus making comparisons anomalous. Exposure of fish to elevated temperatures was brief and ranged from a few excursions into thermally elevated areas to approximately 9 h. Fish transplanted from unaffected areas to the discharge area showed behavior similar to fish caught and released at the discharge site. Two fish tracked when cooling water was discharged at ambient temperature suggested that current had a role in causing the observed changes in behavior.

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd M. Koel ◽  
John J. Peterka

Laboratory-based bioassays were conducted to determine concentrations of sodium-sulfate type salinities that limit the hatching success of several fish species. Survival to hatching (SH) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in sodium-sulfate type waters from Devils Lake, North Dakota, of ≥ 2400 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS) than in fresh water of 200 mg/L. In waters of 200, 1150, 2400, 4250, and 6350 mg/L TDS, walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) SH was 41, 38, 7, 1, and 0%; northern pike (Esox lucius) SH was 92, 68, 33, 2, and 0%; yellow perch (Perca flavescens) SH was 88, 70, 73, 0, and 0%; white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) SH was 87, 95, 66, 0, and 0%; common carp (Cyprinus carpio) SH was 71, 69, 49, 63, and 25%.


1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 1815-1822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Schwalme ◽  
William C. Mackay ◽  
Dieter Lindner

A vertical slot fishway and two Denil fishways (of 10 and 20% slope) built into a weir on the Lesser Slave River (55°18′N, 115°45′W) were studied from May 12 to June 25, 1984, to determine how effectively these designs pass north-temperate, nonsalmonid fishes. Thousands of spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius), substantial numbers (> 100) of northern pike (Esox lucius), longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), immature yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and lesser numbers of burbot (Lota lota), adult yellow perch, lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), and trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) ascended the fishways. Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and goldeye (Hiodon alosoides), although probably moving extensively through the river, did not use the fishways. Although high water levels allowed most fish to surmount the weir, of those that chose the fishway, pike strongly preferred to ascend the Denil fishways and the two sucker species preferred to ascend the vertical slot. Therefore, a combination of several different fishways may be required for the most efficient passage of a wide variety of species. Plasma glucose and lactate measurements on pike revealed that ascending the Denil fishways was only moderately stressful for these fish.


2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 2706-2715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bertolo ◽  
Pierre Magnan

We used data from a survey of 36 headwater lakes of the Canadian Shield to investigate the relationship between piscivory and growth, abundance, and longevity of white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens). The occurrence of northern pike (Esox lucius) and walleye (Sander vitreus) explained variations in the abundance of both white sucker and yellow perch, suggesting strong predation-induced mortality. The longevity of both species tended to be negatively related to increased piscivory. White sucker grew better and had a better condition in lakes with piscivores. Yellow perch showed only small among-lake differences in growth and condition. The superior competitive ability of white sucker over yellow perch could explain why yellow perch did not show improved growth or longevity where population densities were low in lakes with piscivores and white sucker. Furthermore, yellow perch growth was inversely related to the biomass of piscivorous fish in their first year of life. Stomach content data suggest that small yellow perch, which rely on zooplankton, might restrict their use of pelagic resources to reduce their predation risk by piscivores, thus reducing their growth. Our results show that the effects of piscivores can be species-specific and dependent on community structure.


1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (S1) ◽  
pp. 122-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. K. McNicol ◽  
M. Wayland

We studied habitat selection by insectivorous waterfowl in 65 small lakes near Sudbury, Ontario. Data on environmental variables (pH, alkalinity, conductivity, calcium, total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and area), fish, and littoral macroinvertebrates indicated that the distribution of broods was influenced by differences in invertebrate prey assemblages in lakes with differing degrees of acid stress and types offish predation. Lakes ranged in pH from 4.2 to 7.7 (mean = 5.8); 40% were fishless, 43% were dominated by yellow perch (Perca flavescens) or white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) (YP/WS), and the remainder contained only small cyprinids, sticklebacks, or darters (C/S). Fishless lakes were more acid than lakes with fish. Compared with fishless lakes, C/S lakes had higher levels of DOC and YP/WS lakes were larger. Macroinvertebrate composition was strongly related to fish composition and suggested increasing predation along a gradient: fishless < C/S < YP/WS. pH-related variables distinguished lakes with a taxonomically rich benthos from those with a taxonomically poorer fauna. Insectivorous waterfowl selected fishless lakes over lakes with fish and C/S over YP/WS lakes. Lakes with species-rich, acid-sensitive invertebrate assemblages were not selected over those typified by species-poor, acid-tolerant ones.


1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1633-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fritz H. Johnson

In a northeastern Minnesota lake subject only to sportfishing, removal of 85% of the estimated standing crop (34 kg/ha) of adult white suckers, Catostomus commersoni in 1966 was followed by marked changes in community structure and interrelations. During 7 yr alter the removal: catch indices for adult suckers remained far below those before the sucker removal but juvenile suckers increased about 17-fold; yellow perch, Perca flavescens, increased about 15-fold; walleye Stizostedion vitreum vitreum, standing crop increased about one-third; mayflies increased in diet of adult perch and smaller invertebrates decreased; micro-crustaceans increased in diet of young-of-the-year and juvenile perch; young-of-the-year perch increased in diet of adult walleye; walleye angling yield increased from an average of 3.0 kg/ha before the removal to an average of 4.9 kg/ha in 1970–73; the rate of exploitation of adult walleye did not change with increase in angling effort; and the increased walleye harvest consisted mostly of fish recruited to the catch during the fishing season. The average annual harvest of walleye in 1970–73 exceeded estimated potential production for all fish by 81.5% and probably cannot be sustained. Removal of white suckers from lakes with limited fish species diversity appears to benefit percid populations. Key words: Percidae, species interactions, (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum), Perca flavescens, Catostomus commersoni, harvests, community response, community ecology, food, competition


2016 ◽  
Vol 181 ◽  
pp. 214-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew E. Honsey ◽  
David B. Bunnell ◽  
Cary D. Troy ◽  
David G. Fielder ◽  
Michael V. Thomas ◽  
...  

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1703-1709 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. D. Anthony ◽  
C. R. Jorgensen

Analysis of the 1960–76 creel survey data for Lake Nipissing and relevant data collected by the Lake Nipissing Fisheries Assessment Unit from 1969 to 1976 showed a generally declining walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) contribution to the Lake Nipissing fishery. Variable year-class strengths alone did not adequately account for the changes. Overexploitation of the resource was strongly suggested by decreased catches per unit of effort, recruitment of younger walleye (many of which probably never spawned) into the fishery at least after 1968, and increased growth rate. The population is probably affected as well by climatic factors, interactions with white suckers (Catostomus commersoni), northern pike (Esox lucius), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and by technology and watershed influences. Key words: walleye, Lake Nipissing Ontario, Lake Nipissing fishery, Percidae, Stizostedion


2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 2059-2072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary S. Feiner ◽  
Stephen C. Chong ◽  
David G. Fielder ◽  
James A. Hoyle ◽  
Carey Knight ◽  
...  

Trade-offs among growth, mortality, and reproduction form the basis of life history theory but may vary among populations owing to local ecological conditions. We examined life history trade-offs driving variation in maturation among 13 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) stocks in the Great Lakes using sex-specific age and length at 50% maturity (A50 and L50, respectively) and probabilistic maturation reaction norm midpoints (Lp50,a). Both sexes exhibited positive correlations between growth and mortality, and faster-growing stocks were mature at younger ages but larger sizes. Male and female A50 and L50 were positively correlated among stocks, but Lp50,a estimates were negatively correlated among stocks, indicating stocks that matured at large sizes for a given age in females matured at smaller age-specific sizes in males. Female Lp50,a estimates were negatively related to growth and mortality, while male Lp50,a estimates were positively related to growth. These results suggest that (i) sex-based life history trade-offs sometimes act to differentially structure maturation schedules in males and females and (ii) males may be less responsive to changes in mortality than females.


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