Thermal Habitat Shifts by Fishes at the Thermocline in Lake Michigan

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 1046-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry B. Crowder ◽  
John J. Magnuson
Keyword(s):  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Fish Distribution ◽  
Niche Shift ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Thermal Habitat ◽  
Thermal Distribution ◽  
Lake Bottom ◽  
Competition For Food ◽  
Coregonus Hoyi

We documented thermal habitats of Lake Michigan fishes by bottom trawling at the intersection of the thermocline and the lake bottom near Grand Haven, Michigan. Fish distribution by temperature strata was surveyed during day and night on September 7–13, 1977, and repeated on August 27–September 1, 1979. In the interim, bloaters (Coregonus hoyi) had increased substantially. By comparing these two periods, we suggest that bloaters dramatically altered the thermal distribution of adult alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). While comprising less than 1% of the trawl catch in 1977, bloaters comprised 42% in 1979. Bloaters were the most-abundant species from 5 to 16 °C in 1979. Adult alewife shifted their thermal distribution from 11 to 16 °C in 1977 to 4 to 8 °C in 1979. This shift is interpreted in terms of competition for food and thermal habitat, or predation by salmonids. The idea that the altered thermal distribution of alewife results from competitive interactions with bloaters is favored by existing data.Key words: competition, fishes, habitat partitioning, Lake Michigan, niche shift, predation, salmonids, temperature, thermocline

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

Fish Abundance and Distribution Near Three Heated Effluents to Lake Michigan

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Spigarelli ◽  
R. M. Goldstein ◽  
W. Prepejchal ◽  
M. M. Thommes
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Fish Distribution ◽  
General Distribution ◽  
Mapping Technique ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Increasing Temperature ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Distribution Of Fish ◽  
Reference Areas

A combined echo location–temperature mapping technique was used to determine the abundance and distribution of fish with depth and temperature in locally heated and unheated areas of Lake Michigan. Surveys were conducted between April and October at two adjacent power plants in the southern basin and at one plant in the northern basin of the lake. Fish densities in plume and reference areas differed seasonally. Densities typically differed by a factor of 2–4 although on one occasion plume area density was 90 times greater. Highest plume densities occurred during late spring when alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) were spawning inshore. Consistently dense congregations of fish were found downstream of the interfaces between ambient shore-parallel currents and discharge flows. The general distribution of fish with depth was similar in all areas. Differences between plume and reference areas were related to the discharge type: at canal discharges fish tended to congregate inshore while at the offshore discharge they congregated in deeper zones. Fish also tended to occupy shallower depth strata in all plume areas. Positive correlation between fish density and increasing temperature was common at both plume and reference areas during all three seasons, but more frequent at plume areas. Temperatures selected by fish in plume areas were 1–3 °C higher than maximum ambient temperatures.Key words: fish distribution, thermal outfall, temperature, depth, discharge type, Lake Michigan

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

Feeding-Behavior Repertoire of the Alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, and the Ciscoes Coregonus hoyi and C. artedii

1978 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Janssen
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Calanoid Copepods ◽  
Mysis Relicta ◽  
Particulate Feeding ◽  
Coregonus Hoyi

Particulate feeding, where fish orient to and take prey one at a time, is shown by the alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, and the ciscoes Coregonus hoyi and C. artedii. Specialized particulate feeding is found in ciscoes and alewives for capturing strongly swimming prey such as Mysis relicta and calanoid copepods. This involves simultaneous darting and sucking. Alewives filter feed by swimming with the mouth fully agape for 0.5–2 s while driving hard with the tail. Ciscoes do not filter feed, but they and alewives display gulping behavior where fish open and close the mouth 2–3 times/s, do not drive hard with the tail, and may take more than one prey per gulp. The alewife has difficulty feeding near or on the bottom. The ciscoes feed easily on or near the bottom and will also take buried prey. Key words: Alosa pseudoharengus, Coregonus hoyi, C. artedii, feeding behavior, Great Lakes, Lake Michigan

Recent Changes in the Inshore Forage Fish of Lake Michigan

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1154-1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Jude ◽  
Frank J. Tesar
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Forage Fish ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Pelagic Larvae ◽  
Coregonus Hoyi ◽  
Predatory Pressure

Concerns have been expressed that increasing predatory pressure by salmonids may change the forage fish community of Lake Michigan. A decline in alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), the major forage fish, would be a forewarning of such a change. Our 1973–82 surveys showed that alewife declined 86% in 1980–82; concurrently, rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) increased threefold and fivefold, respectively. Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) and trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus) showed no long-term changes. Bloater (Coregonus hoyi) increased 24-fold since commercial fishing was prohibited in 1976. These trends imply that (1) alewife declined from predatory pressure, (2) alewife suppressed rainbow smelt and yellow perch, presumably by preying on their pelagic larvae, (3) alewife did not substantially affect spottail shiner and trout-perch, presumably because their demersal larvae escaped alewife predation, and (4) overfishing, more than the alewife, suppressed bloater.

Early life history of alewife Alosa pseudoharengus in southwestern Lake Michigan

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 436-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Weber ◽  
Blake C. Ruebush ◽  
Sara M. Creque ◽  
Rebecca A. Redman ◽  
Sergiusz J. Czesny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
History Of

Distribution of biogenic silica in the surficial sediments of Lake Michigan

1986 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1442-1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Conley ◽  
Claire L. Schelske ◽  
Brian G. Dempsey ◽  
Charles D. Campbell ◽  
Teresa L. Newberry
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Biogenic Silica ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Sediment Accumulation ◽  
Sedimentation Rates ◽  
Surficial Sediments ◽  
Sediment Samples ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Lake Bottom ◽  
High Concentrations

The spatial distribution of biogenic silica (BSi) in the surficial sediments of Lake Michigan is described from Shipek grab samples collected in 1975 and gravity cores obtained in 1983. Significantly smaller surficial BSi concentrations in the 1975 samples were attributed primarily to the inability of a Shipek grab to collect intact surficial sediment samples. Lower concentrations o.f BSi were found in nondepositional and transitional areas of sediment accumulation than in depositional basins. Therefore, BSi accumulation is restricted primarily to the 40% of the lake bottom where sediments are presently accumulating. High concentrations found in Green Bay surficial sediments are related to high productivity in the bay coupled with inputs of new silica from the Fox River. In the open lake, BSi concentrations of surficial sediments in depositional basins appeared to vary inversely with sedimentation rate in that lower BSi concentrations were found in areas with higher sedimentation rates.

An Energetics Model for Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush: Application to the Lake Michigan Population

1983 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 681-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald J. Stewart ◽  
David Weininger ◽  
Donald V. Rottiers ◽  
Thomas A. Edsall
Keyword(s):  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

An energetics model is implemented for lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, and applied to the Lake Michigan population. It includes an egestion function allowing any proportional mix of fish and invertebrates in the diet, a growth model accounting for both ontogenetic and seasonal changes in energy-density of predator and prey, a model for typical in situ swimming speed, and reproductive energy losses due to gametes shed. Gross conversion efficiency of energy by lake trout over their life (21.8%) is about twice the efficiency of converting biomass to growth because they store large amounts of high-energy fats. Highest conversion efficiencies are obtained by relatively fast-growing individuals, and over half the annual energy assimilated by older age-classes may be shed as gametes. Sensitivity analysis indicates a general robustness of the model, especially for estimating consumption by fitting a known growth curve. Largest sensitivities were for the intercept and weight dependence coefficients of metabolism. Population biomass and associated predatory impact of a given cohort increase steadily for about 3.5 yr then decline steadily after fishing mortality becomes important in the fourth year in the lake. This slow response time precludes manipulation of lake trout stocking densities as a means to control short-term prey fluctuations. Predation by lake trout on alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, has been increasing steadily since 1965 to about 8 400 t∙yr−1, and is projected to rise to almost 12 000 t∙yr−1 by 1990.

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