Food Consumption of Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) and Sauger (S. canadense) in Relation to Food Availability and Physical Conditions in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, Shagawa Lake, and Western Lake Superior

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1643-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Swenson

Measurement of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) daily food consumption rates and prey density in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, Shagawa Lake, and western Lake Superior showed a general relationship exists between the two variables. Daily food consumption increased from 1 to 3% of body weight at prey densities up to 400 mg∙m−3. Abundance of age 0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, and Shagawa Lake resulted in much higher prey densities and daily food consumption to 4% of body weight. In Lake Superior where walleye fed exclusively on rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), prey density did not exceed 300 mg ∙m−3 and daily food consumption averaged less than 2.5% of body weight.Hourly food consumption by walleye changed in response to variation in prey availability and light intensity. Night feeding predominated during July and August when walleye fed on pelagic age 0 yellow perch. Feeding appeared to be continuous or crepuscular during June and September when larger demersal prey fish or invertebrates were eaten. Food consumption declined when prey concentrated near aquatic macrophytes and under conditions of high light intensity. Walleye daily food consumption was not influenced by a change in temperature from 20 to 15 °C.Daily food consumption of Lake of the Woods, Minnesota sauger (Stizostedion canadense) averaged less than walleye and was influenced by wave activity and prey density. Demersal prey was utilized by sauger throughout the 24 h-day. Key words: Percidae, food consumption, behavior, feeding, walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum, sauger, S. canadense, light


1976 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1946-1954 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Swenson ◽  
Lloyd L. Smith Jr.

Feeding relationships between walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum, and sauger, Stizostedion canadense, in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, were investigated. Effectiveness of food consumption estimates in measuring feeding interactions was defined. Differences in walleye and sauger distribution, food habits, and feeding strata reduced interactions. Walleye feeding rate varied from 0.5 to 4.1% of body weight per day and was limited by prey abundance during June and July. Higher August and September prey densities did not influence walleye food consumption. Daily food consumption of sauger varied from 0.5 to 3.5% of body weight independent of changes in food availability. Relationships between the number of prey consumed daily by walleye and sauger and the decline in abundance of prey species suggested that predation was important in controlling food availability, and was the major cause of food competition and its limiting effect on walleye growth.Analysis of commercial catch statistics suggested that factors other than predation influenced walleye survival. However, the relationship between the number of young-of-the-year walleye consumed and their abundance in the lake demonstrated predation by sauger may be important to walleye survival.



2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1668-1681 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Deslauriers ◽  
Alex J. Rosburg ◽  
Steven R. Chipps

We developed a foraging model for young fishes that incorporates handling and digestion rate to estimate daily food consumption. Feeding trials were used to quantify functional feeding response, satiation, and gut evacuation rate. Once parameterized, the foraging model was then applied to evaluate effects of prey type, prey density, water temperature, and fish size on daily feeding rate by age-0 (19–70 mm) pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). Prey consumption was positively related to prey density (for fish >30 mm) and water temperature, but negatively related to prey size and the presence of sand substrate. Model evaluation results revealed good agreement between observed estimates of daily consumption and those predicted by the model (r2 = 0.95). Model simulations showed that fish feeding on Chironomidae or Ephemeroptera larvae were able to gain mass, whereas fish feeding solely on zooplankton lost mass under most conditions. By accounting for satiation and digestive processes in addition to handling time and prey density, the model provides realistic estimates of daily food consumption that can prove useful for evaluating rearing conditions for age-0 fishes.





1972 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Monakov

The main results obtained at the Borok Institute during the last decade are reviewed. Food and methods of feeding by various aquatic invertebrates (Rotatoria, Oligochaeta, Mollusca, Cladocera, Copepoda, Chironomidae larvae), daily food consumption, and assimilation of food have been investigated. Most invertebrates are omnivores although some species live on only one type of food. Daily food consumption changes with food concentration, temperature, and size of consumer. At 15–22 C and a concentration of food close to optimum, mean daily rations of most invertebrates studied usually range from 25 to 100% of body weight. Only in pulmonary Gastropoda and silt-eating Tubificidae does it greatly exceed body weight. In rare cases, at very high concentration of food unusual in nature, the so-called "extra feeding" may take place under experimental conditions. For most invertebrates feeding on natural food at optimum concentrations, index of assimilation varies widely, but rarely exceeds 50%. The assimilability of plant food was 45–55% in the majority of investigated species and appears to be considerably higher when animal food is used.



1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1878-1889 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Schneider ◽  
J. H. Leach

Changes in walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) stocks in the Great Lakes from 1800 to 1975 were linked to proliferation of foreign species of fish and culturally induced sources of stress — exploitation, nutrient loading, alteration of spawning habitat, and toxic materials. During the 1800s, three small spawning stocks (and probably many others) were damaged or destroyed because of either overfishing or elimination of spawning habitat through logging, pollution, or damming.During 1900–40, stocks in the Michigan waters of Lake Superior, southern Green Bay, the Thunder Bay River of Lake Huron, the North Channel of Lake Huron, and the New York waters of Lake Ontario declined gradually. Pollution, in general, and degradation of spawning habitat, in particular, probably caused three of the declines and overexploitation was suspected in two instances. In addition, the decline of three of these stocks occurred when rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) were increasing.During 1940–75, stocks in seven areas declined abruptly: Saginaw Bay (1944), northern Green Bay (1953), Muskegon River (mid-1950s), western Lake Erie (1955), Nipigon Bay (late 1950s), Bay of Quinte (1960), and Black Bay (mid-1960s). The decline of each stock was associated with a series of weak year-classes. The stocks were exposed to various sources of stress, including overexploitation, pollution, and interaction with foreign species, which, if not important in the decline, may be suppressing recovery. Only the western Lake Erie stock recovered, in part due to a reduction in exploitation and, possibly, because of the relatively low density of smelt and alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) in the nursery areas.Relatively stable stocks persisted in five areas: Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior, Lake St. Clair — southern Lake Huron, eastern Lake Erie, northern Lake Huron, and parts of Georgian Bay. Pollution problems were relatively minor in these areas and exploitation was light during recent decades. Apparently these stocks were more capable of withstanding the additional stresses exerted by alien species. Key words: population fluctuations, Percidae, Stizostedion, Great Lakes walleye, history of fisheries, summary of stresses, harvests, management implications





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