Large-Lake Responses to Declines in the Abundance of a Major Fish Planktivore—the Lake Michigan Example

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 1738-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlene S. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Fish Predation ◽  
Water Clarity ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Adult Copepod ◽  
Limnocalanus Macrurus ◽  
Offshore Region

Alewife abundances declined dramatically in southeastern Lake Michigan over 1973–77, several years before the lakewide decline occurred. The regional effects of this decline on adult copepod abundances, zooplankton biomass, and water clarity are examined. In the offshore region, the two largest copepods, Limnocalanus macrurus and Diaptomus sicilis, increased in abundance during the mid-1970's, reflecting the decrease in alewife predation. Limnocalanus macrurus abundances declined in later years, reflecting increased prédation pressures from the increasing bloater population. The small-bodied D. minutus and the medium-bodied D. ashlandi exhibited no apparent response to the decline in alewife abundance. Large-bodied D. oregonensis and small-bodied C. bicuspidatus thomasi declined in abundance. Size-selective fish prédation pressures continued to remain high in the inshore region: increased abundances of yellow perch and rainbow smelt apparently compensated for the alewife decline. Zooplankton biomass, zooplankton mean dry weight, and water clarity apparently were not affected by the decline in alewife abundance in either the inshore or offshore region. The results of this study are evaluated in terms of the lakewide decline in alewife abundance, the summer 1983 dominance of Daphnia pulicaria in offshore waters, the 1983 marked improvement in offshore water clarity, and later changes in summer offshore D. pulicaria populations.

scholarly journals Maternal effects as a recruitment mechanism in Lake Michigan yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 1477-1487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J Heyer ◽  
Thomas J Miller ◽  
Fred P Binkowski ◽  
Elaine M Caldarone ◽  
James A Rice
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Effects ◽  
Null Hypothesis ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Gonadosomatic Index ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Larval Traits

Changes that occurred in the distribution of adult Lake Michigan yellow perch (Perca flavescens) phenotypic traits suggest that maternal effects on larval traits may be substantially influencing the recruitment of this heavily exploited species. We investigated maternal effects on yellow perch larvae at hatching in 10 maternal lines to test the null hypothesis of no effect of maternal phenotype on offspring phenotype and condition. Analyses lead to a rejection of the null hypothesis and indicated that the observed maternal effects likely resulted from differences among females in size, age, gonadosomatic index, and egg production. The observed maternal effects were expressed in the offspring by differences in larval total length, yolk volume, dry weight, and DNA quantity. Older, larger females were found to have high fecundity, yet low gonadosomatic index. Furthermore, older, larger females produced offspring that were, on average, short with large yolk sacs and high quantities of body reserves, as measured by dry weight and total DNA content. We conclude that the distribution of Lake Michigan yellow perch larval traits at hatching is linked to maternal influences and that this linkage may provide a mechanism through which managers can help rebuild the population.

Cyclopoid Predation on Lake Michigan Fish Larvae

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1563-1568 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Hartig ◽  
David J. Jude ◽  
Marlene S. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Common Carp Cyprinus Carpio ◽  
Diacyclops Thomasi ◽  
Temporal And Spatial

Cyclopoid predation on fish larvae, as evidenced by copepods attached to larvae in field collections, was quantitatively investigated during 1975–76 in southeastern Lake Michigan. Although six species of fish larvae were collected, predation occurred primarily (98%) on alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus); 2% of the predators were attached to spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) larvae. No cyclopoids were observed on rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), or sculpin (Cottus spp.) larvae. Most alewife larvae attacked were 3–8 mm long; older larvae and larvae of more robust species, such as yellow perch and spottail shiner, are apparently immune to such predation. Most predation (99%) occurred in July when alewife larvae were numerous and cyclopoids abundant. Fish larvae with attached copepods were found only in night collections. Most cyclopoid predators (99%) were adult female Diacyclops thomasi and Acanthocyclops vernalis. Other predaceous species of zooplankton, that occurred in close temporal and spatial proximity to fish larvae, apparently were not predaceous on these organisms.Key words: Alosa pseudoharengus larvae, Notropis hudsonius larvae, Diacyclops thomasi, Acanthocyclops vernalis, cyclopoid predation, Lake Michigan

Effectiveness of Fine Mesh Cylindrical Wedge-Wire Screens in Reducing Entrainment of Lake Michigan Ichthyoplankton

1981 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim H. Zeitoun ◽  
John A. Gulvas ◽  
Doyle B. Roarabaugh
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Fine Mesh ◽  
June July ◽  
Open Pipe

Samples of ichthyoplankton entrained through 2.0-mm and 9.5-mm-slot opening cylindrical wedge-wire screens and through an open pipe (control) were collected in June, July, and August 1979, 1067 m off the southeast shore of Lake Michigan at a depth of 10.7 m. Screens were designed for a flow rate of 1.9 m3 min−1 at 15.2 cm s−1 through slot velocity. Ambient composition and density of ichthyoplankton were determined by net tows. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) larvae were common in both entrainment and tow collections. Eggs were found almost exclusively in entrainment collections. Ambient larval fish densities were about 11 times greater than those found in entrainment collections. Total entrainments through either screen and the open pipe were not statistically significant. Larval avoidance and, to a lesser extent, screen exclusion were responsible for the low entrainment. We estimated that about 90% of native fish larvae at the site avoided pumping.Key words: Lake Michigan, fish larvae, fish eggs, ichthyoplankton, entrainment, power plants, avoidance

Recent Major Declines in Zooplankton Populations in the Inshore Region of Lake Michigan: Probable Causes and Implications

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlene S. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Food Limitation ◽  
Fish Predation ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Population Decrease ◽  
Probable Consequence ◽  
Major Increase ◽  
Standing Stocks ◽  
Zooplankton Communities

Summer Zooplankton communities in the inshore region of southeastern Lake Michigan were dominated by small species during the 1970s, suggesting that size-selective fish predation pressures were intense. Abundances of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), the dominant planktivore in the 1970s, declined in recent years, especially over 1982–84. Despite decreased alewife predation, small zooplankton taxa continued to predominate. Moreover, zooplankton standing stocks declined 10-fold during 1982–84, suggesting that predatory pressures had intensified. Concurrent with the alewife population decrease was a major increase in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) abundances. As a probable consequence of intense predation pressures exerted by abundant yellow perch, zooplankton standing stocks were severely reduced. Yellow perch populations may have been adversely affected by food limitation, especially in summer 1984 when zooplankton standing stocks were only 3% of their average level over 1975–81.

scholarly journals Testing for synchrony in recruitment among four Lake Michigan fish species

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Bunnell ◽  
Tomas O. Höök ◽  
Cary D. Troy ◽  
Wentao Liu ◽  
Charles P. Madenjian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Spatial Synchrony ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
The North

In the Great Lakes region, multiple fish species display intraspecific spatial synchrony in recruitment success, with interannual climate variation hypothesized as the most likely driver. In Lake Michigan, we evaluated whether climatic or other physical variables could also induce spatial synchrony across multiple species, including bloater (Coregonus hoyi), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). The residuals from stock–recruitment relationships revealed yellow perch recruitment to be correlated with recruitment of both rainbow smelt (r = 0.37) and alewife (r = 0.36). Across all four species, higher than expected recruitment occurred in 5 years between 1978 and 1987 and then switched to lower than expected recruitment in 5 years between 1996 and 2004. Generalized additive models revealed warmer spring and summer water temperatures and lower wind speeds corresponded to higher than expected recruitment for the nearshore-spawning species, and overall variance explained ranged from 14% (yellow perch) to 61% (alewife). For all species but rainbow smelt, higher recruitment also occurred in extremely high or low years of the North Atlantic Oscillation index. Future development of indices that describe the physical Great Lakes environment could improve understanding of how climate can synchronize fish populations within and across species.

Complementarity in the Use of Food and Thermal Habitat by Lake Michigan Fishes

1981 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 662-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry B. Crowder ◽  
John J. Magnuson ◽  
Stephen B. Brandt
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Thermal Habitat ◽  
Young Of The Year

The potential for ecological segregation of Lake Michigan fishes was examined by comparing diets and thermal habitat use of common species. Samples were collected by bottom trawling (N = 68) off Grand Haven, Michigan, September 7–13, 1977. Five common species exhibited complementarity in the use of food and thermal habitat resources. During the day, adult alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) had similar diets but occupied somewhat different thermal habitats. Young-of-the-year (YOY) alewives segregated from adult alewife and rainbow smelt on both habitat and food. Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius), YOY alewives, and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) used similar thermal habitats but fed on different prey. Trout-perch (Percopsis osmiscomaycus) tended to segregate from the others based on both food and thermal habitat but may experience diffuse competition. Adults of the three native species consume entirely different prey than exotic alewife and rainbow smelt. The native species which declined during the invasion of alewife and rainbow smelt were those with apparently similar habitat and food requirements to the exotics. These data suggest that competition is important in maintaining the structure of the Lake Michigan fish community.Key words: competition, fishes, food, habitat, Lake Michigan, predation, temperature

Spatial variation in trophic structure of nearshore fishes in Lake Michigan as it relates to water clarity

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A. Turschak ◽  
Sergiusz Czesny ◽  
Jason C. Doll ◽  
Brice K. Grunert ◽  
Tomas O. Höök ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Water Clarity ◽  
Michigan Basin ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
N Isotopes ◽  
C And N ◽  
Nearshore Fishes

Nearshore water clarity, as measured by remotely sensed Kd(490), and stable C and N isotopes of several nearshore fishes differed across the Lake Michigan basin. Values of δ13C of round goby (Neogobius melanstomus), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonis) were depleted in the southeast where water clarity was low relative to the southwest where water clarity was greater. Bayesian analyses were used to evaluate spatial variation in diet composition and quantify the relationship between water clarity and the proportional importance of pelagic energy in fish diets. Water clarity in nearshore areas is likely related to variable riverine inputs, resuspension, and upwelling processes. While these processes may not directly impact δ13C or δ15N of nearshore fishes, we hypothesize that water clarity differentially affects benthic and pelagic algal production. Lower water clarity in the benthos and subsequently lower benthic productivity may be related to regional diet differences and increased reliance on pelagic energy sources. Mobile fishes such as alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) may not be in isotopic equilibrium with regional prey sources and depart from spatial patterns observed in other nearshore fishes.

Thermal Habitat Partitioning by Fishes in Lake Michigan

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1557-1564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen B. Brandt ◽  
John J. Magnuson ◽  
Larry B. Crowder
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Habitat Partitioning ◽  
Thermal Ecology ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Thermal Habitat ◽  
Thermal Distribution ◽  
Niche Shifts

Thermal distribution of Lake Michigan fishes were determined by aimed bottom trawling (n = 68) along temperature isotherms (3–20 °C) in a region where the thermocline intersected the bottom off Grand Haven, Michigan, during September. Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius), and trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) comprised 94% of the catch by numbers. Species segregated along temperature gradients. Patterns of thermal habitat partitioning were maintained despite rapid oscillations in thermocline location. Alewife, rainbow trout, and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) showed intraspecific differences in thermal distribution of size-classes. Thermal niche shifts of some fishes on the bottom apparently occur at dawn and dusk. Patterns of thermal resource use are considered in relation to competition, predation, and thermal ecology of the more common species.Key words: competition, fishes, habitat partitioning, Lake Michigan, predation, temperature

Prey consumption by the burbot (Lota lota) population in Green Bay, Lake Michigan, based on a bioenergetics model

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 1074-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars G. Rudstam ◽  
Paul E. Peppard ◽  
Thomas W. Fratt ◽  
Richard E. Bruesewitz ◽  
Daniel W. Coble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Prey Consumption ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Green Bay ◽  
Lota Lota ◽  
Bioenergetics Model

We estimated prey consumption by burbot (Lota lota) based on diet, mortality, growth, maturity, thermal history, population density and a bioenergetics model derived for a similar, cold-water gadoid, the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). In Green Bay, Lake Michigan, burbot >400 mm fed primarily on fish; smaller burbot probably fed mostly on invertebrates and sculpins (Cottus sp.). Our calculations indicate that burbot of age ≥1 consumed 16 kg/ha of prey (12.2 kg/ha of fish) in 1988 in the Wisconsin waters of Green Bay including 3.3, 2.1, 1.9, 1.2, and 0.8 kg/ha of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), sculpins, alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and bloater (Coregnus hoyi), respectively. On an areal basis, piscivory by burbot in Green Bay was higher than the reported lake-wide average for consumption by all salmonids in Lake Michigan. Burbot consumed about 25% of the lake-wide salmonid consumption of alewife per unit area and close to the estimated combined commercial and sport harvest of yellow perch in the Bay the same year (271 vs. 325 tons). Thus, burbot should be included when considering the balance between predatory demand and forage fish production in Green Bay and probably also in other areas of Lake Michigan.

Diel Vertical Migrations and Horizontal Distributions of Limnocalanus macrurus and Senecella calanoides (Copepoda, Calanoida) in Lakes of Southern Ontario in Relation to Planktivorous Fish

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 2508-2514 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. H. Carter ◽  
K. A. Goudie
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Planktivorous Fish ◽  
Salmo Gairdneri ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Diel Vertical Migrations ◽  
Limnocalanus Macrurus

Patterns of diel vertical migration of two copepods, Limnocalanus macrurus and Senecella calanoides, showed marked differences among four lakes in southern Ontario. We hypothesize that diurnal and nocturnal vertical distributions of these two species reflect their vulnerability to planktivorous fish, which may include alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), lake herring (Coregonus artedii), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus), and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Horizontal distributions of the two copepods also differed among four lakes: during early summer both species occurred in much shallower waters in lakes with low transparency than in clearer lakes.

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