Abundance of fishes of the main channels of the upper Mississippi River system and of other large North American rivers is largely unknown because historic sampling methods have been inadequate. We used a bottom trawl to estimate spatial...
moreAbundance of fishes of the main channels of the upper Mississippi River system and of other large North American rivers is largely unknown because historic sampling methods have been inadequate. We used a bottom trawl to estimate spatial and temporal patterns in abundance in the navigation channels of Pool 26 of the Mississippi River and the lower Illinois River. Total biomass density averaged 21 and 29 kg·ha1in the navigation channels of Pool 26 and the lower Illinois River, respectively. We identified spatial and temporal patterns in catches of key species using a generalized linear model based on the negative binomial distribution. Some species, including shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus), are persistent residents of the main channel. Multiple-season residents, including freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), rely heavily on the main channel during most of the year but leave it briefly, for example to seek thermal refugia in backwaters during winters. We suggest revision of the prevailing notion that main channels of large temperate rivers serve mainly as corridors for movement among other habitat types.
... John M. Dettmers a, e , David H. Wahl b , Daniel A. Soluk c , and Steve Gutreuter d ... For instance, production of benthic invertebrates in the main channel, although comparatively low on a per-square-meter basis (Benke et al. ...
Zooplankton availability is strongly linked with the growth, survival, and ultimately recruitment of fish during their early life history. We examined how different types of zooplankton affected the growth, survival, and prey selection of...
moreZooplankton availability is strongly linked with the growth, survival, and ultimately recruitment of fish during their early life history. We examined how different types of zooplankton affected the growth, survival, and prey selection of larval yellow perch Perca flavescens in a series of laboratory experiments. The growth and survival of newly hatched (5–7‐mm) to 12‐mm yellow perch larvae was greatest when feeding on adult copepods and copepod nauplii. The growth and survival of yellow perch larvae longer than 12 mm was greatest when feeding on adult copepods and small cladocerans. Prey selection patterns closely followed trends in growth and survival; smaller larvae positively selected adult and naupliar copepods, whereas larger larvae selected adult copepods and small cladocerans. Foraging behavior experiments conducted with larvae longer than 12 mm revealed that these fish derived similar energetic gains when feeding solely on adult copepods and small cladocerans. The pathway to this energetic benefit differed substantially between prey types. Adult copepods yielded substantial energy to larval yellow perch because of the minimal handling time involved, despite the lower capture efficiency than with cladocerans. Conversely, yellow perch larvae realized high energetic gain from small cladocerans because of high capture efficiency, despite the higher handling times than with adult copepods. These results illustrate the importance of experimentally quantifying the feeding behavior of fish larvae to gain insight into how larval fish behavior and food type interact to shape larval fish growth patterns.
Abstract Asian carp were collected for a preliminary toxicological screen of some priority pollutants. One sample site was in the Illinois River near Havana, while the other two sites were in the Mississippi River, one in Pool 25 and one...
moreAbstract Asian carp were collected for a preliminary toxicological screen of some priority pollutants. One sample site was in the Illinois River near Havana, while the other two sites were in the Mississippi River, one in Pool 25 and one site in Pool 26 below the confluence of the Illinois River. Five bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and 5 silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) from each site were collected for muscle tissue analysis. Contaminants differed between species and among sites. Selenium and arsenic levels ...
Abstract The Great Lakes are influenced by established aquatic invasive species (AIS) and the threat of new invaders persists. Grass carp, one of four species commonly referred to as Asian carp, are considered invasive because of their...
moreAbstract The Great Lakes are influenced by established aquatic invasive species (AIS) and the threat of new invaders persists. Grass carp, one of four species commonly referred to as Asian carp, are considered invasive because of their ability to adversely modify aquatic habitat through consumption of aquatic macrophytes. Grass carp have been infrequently detected in the Great Lakes since the mid-1980s. More frequent reports of grass carp captures from commercial fishermen in the early 2010’s elevated the concern of the potential risk of colonization in Lake Erie. This paper provides a case study detailing the development and implementation of a multi-jurisdictional response strategy for grass carp in Lake Erie. To respond to threats of grass carp in Lake Erie, Michigan and Ohio Departments of Natural Resources led targeted responses using a collaborative multi-jurisdictional approach, while simultaneously investing in reducing critical life-history uncertainties to refine strategies in an adaptive and science-based manner. Efforts to address uncertainties about grass carp life history documented spawning in two Lake Erie tributaries. Building on these early responses, the binational Lake Erie Committee developed a five-year adaptive response framework to guide response actions. The collaborative response efforts resulted in the capture and removal of 184 fertile grass carp since 2014, and efforts are ongoing to increase effectiveness of strategies to achieve desired population reduction. Coordinated grass carp response actions under the five-year strategy will continue using adaptive management principles with outcomes providing useful insights for adapting existing response frameworks and more broadly for AIS responses implemented elsewhere.
ABSTRACT ID: 8528; Annual Report to Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; F-123-R-11 INHS Technical Report prepared for Division of Fisheries, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
In November 1999, an artificial reef composed of granite rubble was built in southwestern Lake Michigan to attract smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu. Adult fish communities were sampled at the artificial reef site and a nearby...
moreIn November 1999, an artificial reef composed of granite rubble was built in southwestern Lake Michigan to attract smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu. Adult fish communities were sampled at the artificial reef site and a nearby reference site before (1999) and after reef construction (2000–2003) to determine whether the artificial reef attracted sport fishes. The total number of fish observed along scuba transects was higher at the artificial reef than at the reference site during 2000–2003. Smallmouth bass, rock bass Ambloplites rupestris, round goby Neogobius melanostomus, and yellow perch Perca flavescens were most commonly observed by divers at the artificial reef site, whereas the round goby was the most prevalent species observed at the reference site. Mean annual total gill‐net catch per unit effort (CPUE) did not differ at the two sites after reef construction. Freshwater drum Aplodinotus grunniens, gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum, yellow perch, and salmonines were commonly caught at both locations. The presence of several of these taxa was related to water temperature but not location. Smallmouth bass presence was related to location; CPUE was greater at the artificial reef than at the reference site during 2000–2002. Rock bass CPUE also was greater at the artificial reef than at the reference site during 2002. Smallmouth bass association with the reef was seasonal and correlated with temperature. Although anglers were aware of the artificial reef, fishing effort and success were low, in part because few anglers targeted black bass Micropterus spp. Because water temperature strongly influences the use of structure by centrarchids in deep, cold lakes like Lake Michigan, care must be taken to site artificial reefs in zones of the most suitable water temperature for these species.
Similar to many freshwater ecosystems, the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America have undergone numerous anthropogenic stressors resulting in considerable loss of biodiversity and habitat. Among Great Lakes fishes, the coregonine...
moreSimilar to many freshwater ecosystems, the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America have undergone numerous anthropogenic stressors resulting in considerable loss of biodiversity and habitat. Among Great Lakes fishes, the coregonine sub-family has endured the most extensive declines, including extinction of several species ( Coregonus johannae, C. alpenae, and C. kiyi orientalis) and at least 10 instances of local extirpations of other species ( C. nigripinnis, C. reighardi, C. zenithicus, C. hoyi, and C. artedi) across all 5 lakes, much of which occurred prior to the 1960s owing to overfishing, interactions with non-indigenous species, and habitat loss. Despite these declines, no federal-, provincial-, or state-mandated actions were ever implemented to conserve coregonine diversity, potentially because so much of the coregonine declines occurred prior to the enactment of federal conservation legislation. Possible explanations for inaction since enactment of that legislation include ...
Metapopulation models may be applied to inform natural resource management to guide actions targeted at location‐specific subpopulations. Model insights frequently help to understand which subpopulations to target and highlight the...
moreMetapopulation models may be applied to inform natural resource management to guide actions targeted at location‐specific subpopulations. Model insights frequently help to understand which subpopulations to target and highlight the importance of connections among subpopulations. For example, managers often treat aquatic invasive species populations as discrete populations due to hydrological (e.g., lakes, pools formed by dams) or jurisdictional boundaries (e.g., river segments by country or jurisdictional units such as states or provinces). However, aquatic invasive species often have high rates of dispersion and migration among heterogenous locations, which complicates traditional metapopulation models and may not conform to management boundaries. Controlling invasive species requires consideration of spatial dynamics because local management activities (e.g., harvest, movement deterrents) may have important impacts on connected subpopulations. We expand upon previous work to creat...
Connecting individual datasets from different projects to each other and to decisions can help manager-researcher-administrator teams link existing information and adapt their environmental decision-making process as new information...
moreConnecting individual datasets from different projects to each other and to decisions can help manager-researcher-administrator teams link existing information and adapt their environmental decision-making process as new information becomes available. Throughout their careers, environmental professionals often collect data on many individual projects that address similar sets of natural resource conservation problems. Consequently, the institutions, agencies, and organizations that employ these environmental professionals accumulate a large reservoir of project-specific information. However, opportunities to advance broader natural resource conservation goals are lost if individual projects and datasets are not integrated. Here we illustrate how adaptive problem mapping (APM) provides a framing and internal structure that charts relationships among pertinent information types, germane data sets, applicable concepts, and relevant decisions. In the APM process, appropriately defined problem statements and coordinated bridging questions connect data and concepts to build a network of increasingly informed and defensible decisions. Although APM can be applied to many environmental problems, we focus on examples from aquatic systems in which fish are conservation priorities. Prioritizing an initial evaluation and regular modification of the relationships among datasets and decisions using the APM process helps manager-researcher-administrator teams envision, track, and update what is known, unknown, learned, and needed. The resulting broader point of view advances strategic planning, evaluations of progress, assessments of opportunity costs, identification of options, and justifications of decision-related actions.
Electronic tags have become a common tool in fish research, enhancing our understanding of how fish interact with their environment and move among different habitats, for estimating mortality and recording internal physiological states....
moreElectronic tags have become a common tool in fish research, enhancing our understanding of how fish interact with their environment and move among different habitats, for estimating mortality and recording internal physiological states. An often‐untested assumption of electronic tagging studies is that tagged fish are representative of untagged conspecifics and thus show ‘normal’ behaviour (e.g. movement rates, swimming activity, feeding). Here, we use a unique data set for potamadromous walleye (Sander vitreus) in Lake Huron and Lake Erie tributaries to assess whether the lack of appropriate controls in electronic tagging could seriously affect behavioural data. We used fish tagged in previous years and compared their migratory behaviour during the spawning season to fish tagged in a current year at the same location. The objective of the study was to determine whether intracoelomic acoustic tag implantation altered downstream movement of walleye after spawning. Fish tagged in a gi...
Bioenergetics modeling was used to assess the relative importance of food availability and water temperature in determining walleye (Sander vitreus) growth. Temperature regimes experienced by both female and male adult walleye in three...
moreBioenergetics modeling was used to assess the relative importance of food availability and water temperature in determining walleye (Sander vitreus) growth. Temperature regimes experienced by both female and male adult walleye in three basins of Lake Huron and in Lake Erie were determined by use of surgically implanted temperature loggers and acoustic telemetry. Temperatures experienced by walleye were higher in Lake Erie than in Lake Huron. Walleye from Lake Erie grew at nearly double the rate of walleye from Lake Huron, and mass at age for adult females averaged about 50% greater than that for adult males in both lakes. Food consumption rate for an average adult walleye in Lake Erie was nearly twice as high as that in Lake Huron. Interbasin and interlake variability in temperature regimes accounted for a moderate degree of variability in walleye growth. We concluded that the driver for faster growth in Lake Erie compared with Lake Huron was higher food availability in Lake Erie co...
Additional file 1. Supplement 1: R script for simulating acoustic transmitter detection probability of fish moving through a line of acoustic receivers.