Changes in the Distribution of Native Lampreys in Lake Superior Tributaries in Response to Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Control, 1953–77

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1872-1885 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Schuldt ◽  
R. Goold
Keyword(s):  
Endemic Species ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Brook Lamprey ◽  
Habitat Temperature ◽  
Sea Lampreys

Populations of three species of lampreys, American brook lamprey (Lampetra lamottei), northern brook lamprey (Ichthyomyzon fossor), and silver lamprey (I. unicuspis), endemic to the Lake Superior drainage basin have declined since chemical control of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) was begun; 64% (103 of 162) of the streams inhabited by endemic species have required treatment. The parasitic silver lamprey was most adversely affected by lampricide applications. Though 4278 were captured at 35 of 55 Lake Superior barriers in 1959, a total of 91 were reported in only nine tributaries and the St. Marys River from 1973 to 1977. American brook lampreys were least affected by chemical control and have disappeared from 6 of 42 treated streams which they inhabited. Ichthyomyzon larvae are no longer found in 41 of 81 treated streams they once inhabited, though few larvae were found in many of these streams. Several factors affected the vulnerability of native lampreys to chemicals. Nonparasitic lampreys, especially American brook lampreys, inhabited headwater areas which were often not invaded by sea lampreys, but silver lampreys spawned in lower reaches and their entire stream distribution was exposed to the effects of the lampricide. Differences in fecundity of lampreys also affected their recovery after chemical treatments.Key words: Ichthyomyzon fossor, ichthyomyzon unicuspis, Lampetra lamottei, streams, distribution, habitat, temperature, fecundity, survival, TFM

Changes in Spawning Runs of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Selected Streams of Lake Superior after Chemical Control

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1851-1860 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. H. Moore ◽  
L. P. Schleen
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Chemical Treatment ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Spawning Migration ◽  
Habitat Alteration ◽  
Sea Lampreys ◽  
Spawning Run

During lampricide treatment of a stream, sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, that will constitute the spawning run the following spring inhabit the Great Lakes and are not affected by the treatment. However, the number of adults captured at electrical barriers declined as much as 99% in some streams 1 year after chemical treatment. Large declines of adults were noted in streams which were treated late in the year. Streams in which significant populations of larval lampreys survived the chemical treatment, or contained lentic populations, continued to attract adults. Adult sea lampreys could be attracted to sea lamprey ammocoetes in streams or in offshore areas and hence use this as one of a number of clues to determine rivers suitable for spawning.Key words: sea lamprey, olfaction, orientation/homing, spawning migration, habitat alteration (chemical), Petromyzon marinus, lampricides

Changes in Biological Characteristics of the Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) as Related to Lamprey Abundance, Prey Abundance, and Sea Lamprey Control

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1861-1871 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Heinrich ◽  
Jerry G. Weise ◽  
Bernard R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Biological Characteristics ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Sea Lampreys

Biological characteristics of adult sea lampreys, Petromyzon marinus, in the Great Lakes changed in response to lamprey and prey abundance and the chemical control program. Sea lampreys collected as early as 1947, through 1978, from southern Lake Superior, northwestern Lake Michigan, the Ocqueoc River and Canadian shore of Lake Huron, and the Humber River of Lake Ontario were analyzed. Generally, abundance of sea lampreys peaked in each lake before the chemical control program began. The annual mean lengths and weights were relatively low when lampreys were abundant and increased as the numbers were reduced by the control efforts. As an indication of the change in sea lamprey weight per unit change in length, annual log10 weight on log10 length equations were solved at the arbitrary length of 410 mm. The values were plotted against years for each lake and interpreted with respect to chemical treatment periods. All slopes were negative before the control period and positive thereafter. Sea lamprey lengths and weights were low when fish stocks in the Great Lakes were near depletion. As salmonids again became abundant through stocking, lampreys grew larger. In Lake Superior, where detailed records on lake trout abundance have been available since 1959, a significant relation exists between the changes in the sea lamprey estimated weight values at 410 mm and in lake trout abundance (P < 0.01). Male sea lampreys were the dominant sex when populations of the parasite were high. A shift to a preponderance of females occurred as lamprey abundance declined.Key words: Petromyzon marinus, Salvelinus namaycush, abundance, sex ratio, weight–length relationship, chemical control

Effects of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Control in the Great Lakes on Aquatic Plants, Invertebrates, and Amphibians

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1895-1905 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Gllderhus ◽  
B. G. H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Aquatic Plants ◽  
Chemical Control ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Aquatic Communities ◽  
Sea Lampreys

The chemicals 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) or a combination of TFM and 2′,5-dichloro-4′-nitrosalicylanilide (Bayer 73) have been used to control the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes for about 20 yr. These chemicals cause some mortalities of Oligochaeta and Hirudinea, immature forms of Ephemeroptera (Hexagenia sp.), and certain Trichoptera, Simuliidae, and Amphibia (Necturus sp.). The combination of TFM and Bayer 73 may affect some Pelecypoda and Gastropoda, but its overall effects on invertebrates are probably less than those of TFM alone. Granular Bayer 73 is likely to induce mortalities among oligochaetes, microcrustaceans, chironomids, and pelecypods. No evidence exists that the lampricides have caused the catastrophic decline or disappearance of any species. The overall impact of chemical control of sea lampreys on aquatic communities has been minor compared with the benefits derived.Key words: sea lamprey control, Great Lakes, TFM, Bayer 73, aquatic plants, invertebrates, amphibians

Growth potential and host mortality of the parasitic phase of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Lake Superior

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 2343-2353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey C Jorgensen ◽  
James F Kitchell
Keyword(s):  
Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Pacific Salmon ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Sea Lampreys ◽  
Host Mortality

Landlocked Lake Superior sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) cause a significant but uncertain amount of mortality on host species. We used a sea lamprey bioenergetics model to examine the scope of host sizes vulnerable to death as a consequence of sea lamprey feeding and incorporated the bimodal lake-ward migration of parasitic sea lampreys. At their peak feeding rate and maximum size (P = 1.0, proportion of maximum consumption), spring migrants were capable of killing lean lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) hosts ≤ 2.0 kg, which was larger than fall migrants (1.8 kg). Spring migrants feeding on Pacific salmon (coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss)) killed hosts ≤ 2.0 kg, but fall migrants killed hosts as large as 2.8 kg. Although there is no direct empirical evidence, bioenergetics modeling suggests that it is plausible that some of the largest sea lampreys in Lake Superior spent more than one summer as parasites. Two-summer parasites readily attained sizes of sea-run adult anadromous sea lampreys and killed hosts from 3 to >5.5 kg in size. The maximum upper limit number of 2-kg hosts killed by two-summer parasites was nearly twice that of one-summer parasites.

Effects of Temperature on Metamorphosis and the Age and Length at Metamorphosis in Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in the Great Lakes

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1827-1834 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Purvis
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Sea Lampreys ◽  
Effects Of Temperature ◽  
Slow Growing ◽  
Intermediate Rate

Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) ammocoetes of known age were confined in three locations to determine the effects of temperature on the incidence of metamorphosis. Sixty ammocoetes were held in each of Lake Superior, the Big Garlic River, and in an aquarium at room temperature for each of 4 yr. The highest incidence of metamorphosis (75–100%) occurred at 20–21 °C (aquarium), an intermediate rate (46–76%) at 14–16 °C (Big Garlic River), and the lowest (5–10%) at 7–11 °C (Lake Superior). Density appeared to be the dominant factor in regulating the length of larval and transformed sea lampreys. Mean lengths of larval and transformed sea lampreys increased markedly after stream treatments with selective lampricides. Prediction of lengths at which metamorphosis occurs in re-established populations of sea lampreys is uncertain because of variability in growth rates. Initial metamorphosis in a year-class is dependent on growth rates of ammocoetes. Because of wide variation in growth rates, metamorphosis may begin at age III among fast-growing populations and not until age VII among slow-growing populations.Key words: Petromyzon marinus, sea lamprey; metamorphosis, age, length, Great Lakes

Fecundity of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Lake Superior

1972 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 718-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Manion
Keyword(s):  
Lake Superior ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Sea Lamprey

Classification of Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Attack Marks on Great Lakes Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1989-2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Everett Louis King Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Attachment Site ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
Oral Disc ◽  
Field Assessment ◽  
Sea Lampreys

Criteria for the classification of marks inflicted by sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) into nine categories were developed from laboratory studies in an attempt to refine the classification system used in field assessment work. These criteria were based on characteristics of the attachment site that could be identified under field conditions by unaided visual means and by touching the attachment site. Healing of these marks was somewhat variable and was influenced by the size of lamprey, duration of attachment, severity of the wound at lamprey detachment, season and water temperature, and by other less obvious factors. Even under laboratory conditions staging of some wounds was difficult, especially at low water temperatures. If these criteria are to be used effectively and with precision in the field, close examination of individual fish may be required. If the feeding and density of specific year-classes of sea lampreys are to be accurately assessed on an annual basis, close attention to the wound size (as it reflects the size of the lamprey's oral disc) and character of wounds on fish will be required as well as consideration of the season of the year in which they are observed.Key words: sea lamprey, attack marks, lake trout, Great Lakes

Seasonal growth and duration of the parasitic life stage of the landlocked sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1257-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger A. Bergstedt ◽  
William D. Swink
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Gonadal Development ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Sea Lampreys ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Host Mortality

We used lengths and weights of 2367 live parasitic-phase sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) collected from Lake Huron, 1984–1990, to calculate their mean size at half-month intervals. Growth in weight was linear during June through September; increments averaged 11.1 g per half month. Growth increased sharply in October to several times the summer rate. We speculate that the increase in growth in October is explained partly by water temperature and partly by an increase in appetite related to the onset of gonadal development. The greater compression of biomass accumulation in autumn than has been previously demonstrated better explains the autumn pulse of sea lamprey induced host mortality. Based on the seasonal pattern of growth and on recaptures of marked sea lampreys, we conclude that landlocked individuals grow to adult size and mature in one parasitic growth year. Regressions of weight (grams) on total length (millimetres) differed significantly among months, and the season of collection must be considered in predicting weight from length.

Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) size trends in a salmonid stocking context in Lake Superior

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 2354-2361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey C Jorgensen ◽  
James F Kitchell
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Model ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Bayesian Model Averaging ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Pacific Salmon ◽  
Lake Superior ◽  
Petromyzon Marinus ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Model Averaging ◽  
Sea Lamprey

Fish community objectives for Lake Superior call for restoration such that it resembles its historical species composition, to the extent possible, yet allow for supplementation of naturalized Pacific salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.). To achieve these goals, managers strive to control the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) to levels that cause insignificant (<5%) mortality to host species. While control efforts have been successful, sea lamprey size has increased during the control period. We analyzed long-term sea lamprey size trends and found a significant increase from 1961 to 2003 (F = 36.76, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.473). A local regression revealed two significant size increase periods. We used Bayesian model averaging to find the relationship between sea lamprey size and the stocking of salmonids (lean lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and Pacific salmon). Bayesian model averaging identified 91 models, and several regressors were common features in many of the models. Sea lamprey weight was related to stocked lake trout lagged 3, 9, 11, and 13 years, and stocked Pacific salmon lagged 4 years. If sea lampreys can achieve larger sizes attached to Pacific salmonid hosts, and thus inflict more damage, there may be a trade-off for managers in achieving the fish community objectives for Lake Superior.

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