Reproductive Responses of Five White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) Populations in Relation to Lake Acidity

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1018-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward A. Trippel ◽  
Harold H. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Life History Theory ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
White Sucker ◽  
Catostomus Commersoni ◽  
Acid Lakes ◽  
Testicular Weight ◽  
Reproductive Life ◽  
Lake Acidity ◽  
Somatic Index

White sucker (Catostomus commersoni) in three acid lakes (pH 4.90, 5.56, and 5.58) frequently matured at older ages and larger sizes and had shorter reproductive life spans than white sucker in two circumneutral lakes (pH 6.30 and 6.35). Reproductive life span was positively correlated in females (r = 0.97) and males (r = 0.85) with lake pH. In the acid lakes, elevated mortality rates coincided with the onset of sexual maturity whereas in circumneutral lakes, mortality rates did not change at maturity. Ovarian weight and ovarian somatic index values were not significantly different between females from two acid and two circumneutral lakes. Values of fecundity, ova dry weight, testicular weight, and testicular somatic index of fish in acid lakes were either significantly greater than or equal to values in white sucker from circumneutral lakes. Results are discussed within the context of life history theory.

Elemental Composition of Bone from White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) in Relation to Lake Acidification

1982 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1289-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant A. Fraser ◽  
Harold H. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Elemental Composition ◽  
Calcium Content ◽  
Lake Acidification ◽  
White Sucker ◽  
Catostomus Commersoni ◽  
Bone Demineralization ◽  
Acid Lakes ◽  
South Central ◽  
Caudal Vertebrae ◽  
The Mean

Bone was decalcified in fish from three acid lakes and manganese was increased greatly in bone of fish from the most acid lake. The mean centrum calcium content of white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) captured in George Lake (pH 4.65) was 16% lower than in white suckers from three lakes with near-neutral pH levels. In two other acid lakes, King (pH 5.08) and Crosson (pH 5.36), centrum calcium was reduced significantly in white suckers. Centrum manganese was elevated fivefold in white sucker from recently acidified George Lake, and tended to be elevated in this species from King Lake. White suckers from George Lake exhibited shorter caudal vertebrae and some of these fish had deformed caudal fins. These anomalies may be indicative of bone demineralization. All of the study lakes were located in south-central Ontario, including the La Cloche Mountains, North Bay, Algonquin, Haliburton, and Muskoka.Key words: lake acidification, bone composition, calcium, manganese, white sucker

Abundance, growth, and food supply of white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) in relation to lake morphometry and pH

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 558-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward A. Trippel ◽  
Harold H. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Food Supply ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Von Bertalanffy ◽  
White Sucker ◽  
Lake Depth ◽  
Lake Morphometry ◽  
Catostomus Commersoni ◽  
Chironomid Larvae ◽  
Acid Lakes ◽  
Morphoedaphic Index

Associations between the abundance, body growth, and food supply (chironomid and ephemeropteran larvae) of white suckers, and lake morphometry and water chemistry were determined for eight Ontario lakes. White sucker abundance was low in three deep–acid lakes, intermediate in two deep–circumneutral lakes, and high in three shallow–acid lakes. Abundance was negatively correlated with both maximum lake depth (r = −0.71) and mean lake depth (r = −0.67) and positively correlated with the morphoedaphic index (r = 0.67). Generally, 4-year-old white suckers were largest in deep–acid lakes, intermediate in size in deep–circumneutral lakes, and smallest in shallow–acid lakes. Fork length and somatic weight at age 4 were negatively correlated with white sucker abundance (r = −0.76 and −0.80, respectively), positively correlated with density of chironomid larvae (r = 0.62 and 0.68, respectively), and negatively correlated with pH (r = −0.67 and −0.70, respectively). The von Bertalanffy estimates of maximum attainable fork length (Lx) for both sexes were substantially larger in both deep–acid and deep–circumneutral than in shallow–acid lakes. Correlations indicated that oligotrophic lakes contain white suckers with a large Lx, the strongest correlation being with maximum lake depth (female Lx, r = 0.84; male Lx, r = 0.89).

Responses in a Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Lifecycle Test and in Wild White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) Exposed to a Canadian Bleached Kraft Mill Effluent

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne L. Parrott ◽  
L. Mark Hewitt ◽  
Tibor G. Kovacs ◽  
Deborah L. MacLatchy ◽  
Pierre H. Martel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Fathead Minnow ◽  
Pimephales Promelas ◽  
Fish Reproduction ◽  
White Sucker ◽  
Catostomus Commersoni ◽  
Liver Size ◽  
Paper Mill Effluent ◽  
Kraft Mill Effluent ◽  
Kraft Mill

Abstract To evaluate currently available bioassays for their use in investigating the causes of pulp and paper mill effluent effects on fish reproduction, the responses of wild white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) collected from the receiving environment at the bleached kraft mill at La Tuque, Quebec, were compared with responses of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) exposed to effluent in a laboratory lifecycle test. White sucker collected at effluent exposed sites had increased liver size but none of the reproductive effects that had been documented in earlier field studies at this site. Exposure to 1, 3, 10, 30, and 100% bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME) in the lab led to significantly decreased length, but increased weight and liver size in male fathead minnow. Female length was also decreased and liver size was increased at high effluent exposures. Most effluent concentrations (1 to 30%) significantly increased egg production compared with controls. The fathead minnow lifecycle assay mirrored the effects seen in wild fish captured downstream of the BKME discharge. These results will be used to select short-term fish tests for investigating the causes of and solutions to the effects of mill effluents on fish reproduction.

Survival to hatching of fishes in sulfate-saline waters, Devils Lake, North Dakota

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd M. Koel ◽  
John J. Peterka
Keyword(s):  
North Dakota ◽  
Sodium Sulfate ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
White Sucker ◽  
Catostomus Commersoni ◽  
Devils Lake ◽  
Common Carp Cyprinus Carpio ◽  
Species Survival

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%.

Diet Selection and the Contribution of Detritus to the Diet of the Juvenile White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni)

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly O. Ahlgren
Keyword(s):  
Field Data ◽  
Diet Selection ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Maximum Density ◽  
White Sucker ◽  
Quantitative Microscopy ◽  
Catostomus Commersoni ◽  
Invertebrate Prey ◽  
Invertebrate Abundance ◽  
Northern Michigan

The ash-free dry mass (AFDM) of detritus, invertebrates, and algae in the diet of juvenile white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) was determined by quantitative microscopy. Fish were collected from a northern Michigan pond from January through October 1986 and their seasonal diet was compared with benthc invertebrate abundance. The quantity of detritus in sucker foreguts was inversely related to benthic microcrustacean densities. In July, microcrustacean densities were high and they comprised 95% of the AFDM in foregut contents. By October, microcrustacean densities had declined to 13% of their maximum density and detritus comprised over 90% of the sucker's diet AFDM. In laboratory aquaria, sucker that were fed detritus mixed with four different densities of Artemia ingested significantly more detritus from diets that provided lower Artemia densities. In the presence of high Artemia densities, sucker completely rejected detritus and ingested only Artemia, The fact that juvenile sucker can separate detritus from invertebrates that they swallow demonstrates that detritus is not ingested incidentally. Both laboratory and field data support the hypothesis that detritus is ingested intentionally when preferred invertebrate prey are scarce.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document