Long-term polychlorinated biphenyl elimination by three size classes of yellow perch (Perca flavescens)

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1222-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gord Paterson ◽  
Ken G Drouillard ◽  
Todd A Leadley ◽  
G Doug Haffner

Three size classes of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were dosed with a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture and allowed to depurate the chemicals over 1 year while reared in 5000 L experimental tanks maintained under ambient environmental conditions. During the summer, PCB elimination rate constants for small perch (mean  =  10.1 g) averaged approximately three times those calculated for medium-sized individuals (mean  =  45.9 g) and four times those determined for the largest fish (mean  =  86.7 g). Significant differences in PCB congener depuration were observed among the three size classes with negligible elimination of congeners of the octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow) > 6.5 occurring for the two larger size classes. Over the winter months, medium and large perch eliminated PCB 19 only, the least hydrophobic congener, with no elimination of PCBs of log Kow > 5.8 observed for the smallest individuals. An increase in lipid-normalized PCB concentrations was observed during the overwinter period because of the depletion of lipids as an energetic reserve. For medium and large perch, this increase was sufficient to overwhelm any elimination achieved during the spring and summer seasons. These results demonstrate that the allometry of species bioenergetics and seasonal temperature fluctuations are responsible for the degree of chemical biomagnification observed in aquatic food webs.

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1774-1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd L. Smith Jr.

In an investigation of the commercial fishery of Red Lakes, Minnesota, for the 46-yr period 1930–75, catch statistics were analyzed, and the dynamics of the perch and walleye populations were examined. Mean annual yields of walleye for two statistical periods, 1930–53 and 1954–75, were 309,900 and 245,100 kg, respectively for walleyes, and 96,400 and 109,500 kg for perch. Annual abundance (CPE based on average catches per day per 5-net units of gill nets) varied from 3.8 to 64.6 kg for walleye, and from 2.5 to 34.4 kg for perch. Causes of fluctuations in harvestable stock were directly related to strength of year-classes and to growth rate during the season of capture. Year-class strength was not related to the abundance of parent stock or of potential predators. The respective strengths of year-classes of perch and walleye in the same year were positively correlated (r = 0.859, P < 0.01), and are directly related to climatic factors. Growth rate of walleye in different calendar years varied from +30.7 to −42.2% of mean growth, and that of perch from +13.4 to −8.6% (1941–56). Growing season began in mid-June and was almost over by September 1. Walleye yield could be enhanced by starting harvest July 1 instead of early June. Perch yield could be improved by harvesting small perch. Key words: Percidae, Perca, population dynamics, Stizostedion, long-term yield


Author(s):  
Jonathan Martin

Mercury (Hg) contamination of the St. Lawrence River along the Cornwall waterfront is the result of over a century of industrial inputs. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are contaminated above the consumption guidelines deemed safe by Health Canada in one of three contaminated depositional zones. Amphipods are crustaceans that play an important role in aquatic food webs, and a recent study of the diet of yellow perch showed that amphipods were the primary food source of yellow perch in these zones and that amphipods showed similar patterns of Hg contamination. However, not all Hg taken up by amphipods is bioavailable. That is, not all Hg is incorporated into the tissues and available for uptake by yellow perch. To determine if Hg analyses of amphipods are biased by Hg present in their gut contents, the rate of Hg loss was measured from the gut and tissues. Amphipods were collected in the field using artificial substrates. A sample was frozen immediately upon retrieval, and the remaining amphipods were kept in a sieve in a basin of filtered river water. Amphipods were then sampled over 16 days to compare Hg concentrations in gut contents and tissues before and after they were removed from the Hg source in the field. The data were used to estimate the portion of Hg bioavailable to yellow perch. This enables us to more accurately estimate the extent of Hg contamination that is moving through the Cornwall food web, leading to elevated concentrations in top trophic fish species.


1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 1745-1752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark B. Sandheinrich ◽  
Wayne A. Hubert

Summer habitat use and relative abundances of different size classes of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were determined using gill nets set in the main basin, deep bays, and shallow bays of a lake. Niche overlap indices were used to quantify resource use patterns. Size classes spatially segregated into different habitats, but not different depths within a habitat type. Segregation of sexes at different depths was observed with females occupying warm, shallow areas, whereas males were more common in cool, deep water. Formation of an anoxic hypolimnion restricted perch to the epilimnion in late summer, but patterns of habitat segregation observed prior to thermocline formation were maintained. Food partitioning was relatively unimportant in reducing niche overlap. Spatial segregation of perch size classes and sexes may compensate for high diet overlap between conspecifics and reinforces the importance of habitat partitioning in structuring fish communities.


1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1534-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth L Sanderson ◽  
Thomas R Hrabik ◽  
John J Magnuson ◽  
David M Post

Understanding the extent to which repeated oscillations in fish populations are driven by external factors or internal processes within the population is an important challenge. We document cyclic dynamics in a population of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in oligotrophic Crystal Lake. Since 1981, we have observed three cases of cohort dominance in which two age-classes dominated the population for roughly 5 years. Young-of-the-year (YOY) perch were caught in 1981-1982, 1986-1987, and 1990-1991, whereas few to no YOY were caught during the midyears. The presence of YOY was negatively related to juvenile perch abundance and positively related to adult perch abundance. Mechanisms that may be responsible for these patterns include cannibalism of YOY by either juveniles or adults, potential for reproduction by adults, and competition between YOY and juveniles. YOY were abundant primarily in years when reproductively mature fish were in the lake, suggesting that the repeated oscillations are driven predominantly by pulses of abundant, reproductive, adult perch. As these young perch grow to juveniles, they exclude the possibility of survival by successive cohorts through cannibalistic and competitive interactions. This exclusion occurs until they themselves become reproductively mature and the cycle then repeats. Ultimately, long-term patterns in Crystal Lake suggest that cyclic dynamics are generated by intraspecific interactions.


2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 365-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. LIVINGS ◽  
C. W. SCHOENEBECK ◽  
M. L. BROWN

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1861-1868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Nepszy

Changes in the percid community of Lake Erie from 1915 to 1975 are delineated mainly from recently published material. Sauger (Stizostedion canadense), blue pike (S. vitreum glaucum), walleye (S. vitreum vitreum), and yellow perch (Perca ftavescens) are the percids which have been affected by exploitation, eutrophication and the presence and proliferation of colonizing fish species. Changes in habitat, fishing techniques and gear have also affected percid and nonpercid interactions.Yellow perch, presently the most abundant percid, have experienced irregularity in recruitment, lack of strong year-classes, and increased exploitation. The concern over the status of yellow perch and walleye has led to some important management initiatives. Improved regulation of exploitation and present efforts by United States and Canadian government agencies to improve Great Lakes water quality, are expected to improve the success for long-term maintenance of percids in Lake Erie. Key words: Percidae, populations, Lake Erie, habitat change, exploitation, management, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum, S. canadense, S. vitreum glaucum, Perca flavescens


1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd M. Koel ◽  
John J. Peterka

Laboratory-based bioassays were conducted to determine concentrations of sodium-sulfate type salinities that limit the hatching success of several fish species. Survival to hatching (SH) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in sodium-sulfate type waters from Devils Lake, North Dakota, of ≥ 2400 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS) than in fresh water of 200 mg/L. In waters of 200, 1150, 2400, 4250, and 6350 mg/L TDS, walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) SH was 41, 38, 7, 1, and 0%; northern pike (Esox lucius) SH was 92, 68, 33, 2, and 0%; yellow perch (Perca flavescens) SH was 88, 70, 73, 0, and 0%; white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) SH was 87, 95, 66, 0, and 0%; common carp (Cyprinus carpio) SH was 71, 69, 49, 63, and 25%.


1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 2474-2482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay A. Nelson ◽  
John J. Magnuson

Little is known about the animals that occupy naturally acidic habitats. To better understand the physiological state of animals from temperate, naturally acidic systems, we compared metabolite stores and meristics of two yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations in northern Wisconsin. One population originated from a naturally acidic, dystrophic lake (Acid-Lake-Perch, ALP) and had previously been shown to have enhanced tolerance to low pH. The second population came from two nearby interconnected circumneutral, mesotrophic lakes (Neutral-Lake-Perch, NLP). Perch were collected throughout the year to account for seasonal effects and to discern whether patterns of metabolite utilization differed between populations. ALP had smaller livers containing less glycogen and greater muscle glycogen content than NLP. The ALP also had significantly greater liver and visceral lipid contents, and females from this population committed a greater fraction of their body mass to egg production. We interpret these results as indicative of physiological divergence at the population level in yellow perch. These results are discussed as possible products of H+ -driven changes in metabolism and as possible products of different life history strategies between populations. Our results also show that perch living in acidic, dystrophic Wharton Lake are not acid stressed.


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