Production of Fish Populations in Lakes

Biological production estimates of 100 fish populations from 38 lakes worldwide were gathered from the literature. The relationship between the annual production of fish populations (P, kilograms per hectare per year), annual mean standing biomass (B, kilograms per hectare), and maximum individual body mass (W, grams) was approximately log10P = 0.32 + 0.94 log10B − 0.17 log10W (R2 = 0.84). This relationship is similar to one observed for lotic invertebrate populations and shows that P declines with W. Major axis regression indicated that the P/B:W relationship had an exponent similar to that predicted by allometric theory. The residuals from this multivariate equation suggest that fish production is positively correlated with temperature, lake phosphorus concentration, chlorophyll a concentration, primary production, and with pH. The results suggest a general bottom-up control of lake ecosystem components. The morphoedaphic index is not a good predictor of the production of fish populations. Assuming that sustainable yield is about 10% of production, sustainable yield would be less than 15% of the standing biomass for the majority of fish populations analyzed. Exploited populations were found to be about 70% more productive, on average, than unexploited populations of the same standing biomass and body-mass.