Distribution, density, and growth of young-of-the-year fishes in Mitchell Bay, Lake St. Clair

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1153-1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Leslie ◽  
C. A. Timmins
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Density ◽  
Submerged Macrophytes ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Dorosoma Cepedianum ◽  
Beach Seine ◽  
Peak Density ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Emerald Shiner

Thirty-eight taxa of young-of-the-year fishes were collected with a beach seine and plankton nets in Mitchell Bay, a shallow, densely vegetated embayment on Lake St. Clair, from April to October, 1983, 1984, and 1990. The ecosystem of the bay and adjacent land has been altered by agricultural, industrial, and recreational development for more than a century. Although taxa were numerous, most species were rare or uncommon in collections. The assemblage of larval fish consisted primarily of brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius), emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum). Many species were distributed in or near submerged macrophytes at the shore. The species most abundant were pumpkinseed, which reached peak density (11 931 young of the year/100 m3) in late June 1990, and brook silverside (1363 young of the year/100 m3) in late June 1984.

Abundance and Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Young-of-the-Year Fishes in an Altered Embayment of Lake Huron

1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.K. Leslie ◽  
C.A. Timmins
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Lake Huron ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Beach Seine ◽  
Emergent Macrophytes ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Fish Habitats

Abstract The ecology of young-of-the-year fishes in a small (318 ha) perturbed embayment in Severn Sound (Lake Huron) was studied for the period May to October from 1990 to 1993. Fishes were collected with a beach seine (0.3-mm mesh) and ichthyoplankton nets (0.5-mm mesh). The taxocene (17,500 specimens collected) consisted of 17 families and 31 taxa, and represented 9 ecological guilds. Most (24) taxa were found at the shore, whereas 12 taxa were collected in limnetic areas. Fish habitats were diverse and disjunctive; most fishes were associated with mixed submersed and emergent macrophytes. Relatively few fishes inhabited severely altered shoreline areas that lacked cover from predators. The assemblage may be considered as percid-centrarchid-cyprinid, with Alosa pseudoharengus sporadically co-dominant. The most common and abundant species were Lepomis gibbosus (30% of total catch) and Perca flavescens (24%).

Ecology of young-of-the-year fishes in Severn Sound, Lake Huron

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
pp. 1887-1897 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. Leslie ◽  
Charles A. Timmins
Keyword(s):  
Open Water ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Lake Huron ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Exposed Rock ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitats ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Area Of Concern ◽  
Fish Species Diversity

Seasonal occurrence, distribution, density, and size were estimated for young-of-the-year fishes collected in altered and unaltered littoral areas of eastern Severn Sound, Lake Huron, a Great Lakes "Area of Concern." Fishes were sampled with nets and seines (0.3-mm mesh) in open water and at the shore from May to October, 1989, 1990, and 1991. The highly diverse young-of-the-year fish community reflects unfragmented heterogeneous habitats that range from exposed rock and sand shores to densely vegetated embayments and marshes. Fishes (89 000 specimens) were represented by 9 reproductive guilds, 16 families, and 38 taxa. Cyprinids, centrarchids, and percids dominated collections; common and abundant species included Perca flavescens (56% of total catch), Lepomis gibbosus (18%), and Alosa pseudoharengus (8%). Generally, fewer species at lower mean densities occurred in unaltered habitats than in altered areas. Large spatial and temporal differences were observed in peak density and mean total lengths of most species collected on the same date at several sites. Fish species diversity and abundance were consistently highest in mixed submersed plants and lowest in open water and on exposed shores.

Planktivory by alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) on microcrustacean zooplankton and dreissenid (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae) veligers in southern Lake Ontario

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 925-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward L. Mills ◽  
Connie Adams ◽  
Robert O'Gorman ◽  
Randall W. Owens ◽  
Edward F. Roseman
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
South Shore ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Veliger Larvae

The objective of this study was to describe the diet of young-of-the-year and adult alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) in nearshore waters coincident with the colonization of Lake Ontario by Dreissena. Laboratory experiments and field observations indicated that alewife and rainbow smelt consumed dreissenid veligers and that the veligers remained intact and identifiable in the digestive tract for several hours. Dreissenid larvae were found in field-caught alewife and rainbow smelt in August 1992, even though veliger densities were low (<0.1/L). Zooplankton dominated the diet of all fish and veliger larvae were <0.1% of the biomass of prey eaten by these fish. Density of veligers and the distribution of settled dreissenids declined from west to east along the south shore of Lake Ontario. Based on veliger consumption rates we measured and the abundance of veligers and planktivores, we conclude that planktivory by alewife and smelt in the nearshore waters of Lake Ontario did not substantially reduce the number of veligers during 1991–1993. However, our results indicate that if the density of veligers in Lake Ontario decreases, and if planktivores remain abundant, planktivory on veliger populations could be significant.

Effects of a native crayfish (Orconectes virilis) on the reproductive success and nesting behavior of sunfish (Lepomis spp.)

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 2135-2143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan J Dorn ◽  
Gary G Mittelbach
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
Orconectes Virilis ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Fish Prey ◽  
Natural Lakes ◽  
Successful Reproduction ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Native Crayfish

While crayfish are traditionally considered fish prey, they are capable of feeding on substrate-bound fish eggs and their introductions have been blamed for the decline in fish populations in Europe and North America. To investigate their potential effects on fish reproductive success we measured the effects of a native crayfish (Orconectes virilis) on the reproductive success of two substrate-nesting sunfish, pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), in replicated pond experiments. Crayfish were observed feeding on eggs in both experiments. Crayfish presence delayed successful reproduction by pumpkinseeds in densely vegetated ponds, resulting in lower young-of-the-year biomass in ponds with crayfish. In the second experiment, with bluegills in less-vegetated ponds, crayfish prevented successful reproduction entirely. However, when we added crayfish-proof exclosures to the crayfish ponds late in the summer, bluegills located the crayfish-free habitat and successfully reproduced inside the exclosures (1 month after first successful reproduction in control ponds). The results of these experiments demonstrate the potential strong negative effects of crayfish on sunfish reproduction and suggest that the spatial distribution of crayfish and other egg predators may influence fish nesting behaviors and habitat choices. Further studies are needed to determine the magnitude of crayfish effects in natural lakes and ponds where sunfish and crayfish co-occur.

scholarly journals Effects of urbanization of coastal watersheds on growth and condition of juvenile alewives in New England

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 594-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Monteiro Pierce ◽  
Karin E. Limburg ◽  
Daniella Hanacek ◽  
Ivan Valiela
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
New England ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Urban Land Cover ◽  
Coastal Watersheds ◽  
Weight Condition ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Dominant Influence

Alosa pseudoharengus (alewife) has declined throughout New England. A factor that may be responsible for such stock reductions is urbanization of watersheds discharging into alewife nursery ponds. We found that young-of-the-year (YOY) alewife length, weight, condition factor, and growth rate decreased in relation to increased urban land cover on watersheds of nine Massachusetts and Maine ponds. The watersheds ranged from 3% to 60% urbanized land cover. YOY δ15N increased significantly in proportion to urbanized land cover on watersheds, suggesting a concrete link between watershed land cover and YOY alewife metrics, which is in agreement with previous knowledge that N discharges from more urbanized watersheds bear higher δ15N. The New England results confirmed results across a wide latitudinal gradient that suggested that the size of YOY alewife decreased as urban land cover on watersheds increased. The dominant influence of urban land cover in the YOY is highlighted by the fact that YOY alewife from ponds with the highest percentage of urban cover reached δ15N as high as that of adult spawners migrating from the ocean, who feed at higher trophic levels.

scholarly journals First Record of Age 0+ Atlantic Whitefish, Coregonus huntsmani, from the Wild

2005 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan J. Hasselman ◽  
Phillip Longue ◽  
Rod G. Bradford
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Littoral Zone ◽  
First Record ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Small School ◽  
Beach Seine ◽  
Young Of The Year

A small school of juvenile Atlantic Whitefish (~20-30 individuals) were observed in the littoral zone of Hebb Lake (Petite Rivière watershed), Nova Scotia in June 2000. Of these, a single individual was captured with a beach seine, and confirmed to be a young-of-the-year specimen. This is the first documented report of the occurrence of wild Atlantic Whitefish juveniles. Occupation of the littoral zone into early summer by young-of-the-year Atlantic Whitefish may have implications for predation by invasive Smallmouth Bass.

Piscivority in a Land-Locked Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) Population

1980 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 1314-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Kohler ◽  
John J. Ney
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Zooplankton Density ◽  
Forage Species ◽  
Dietary Component ◽  
Fish Ingestion ◽  
Precipitous Decline

Larval fish were a frequent dietary component of alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) from Claytor Lake, Virginia, USA. Alewives consumed the young of four game and two forage species (maximum 26 mm total length (TL)). Alewife piscivority appeared to be at least partially nocturnal and was more prominent in littoral than in limnetic areas. Predator and prey lengths were positively correlated, although morphological limits on larval fish ingestion by alewives were not severe. Peak occurrence (40–70%, June 1978) of larval fish in alewife stomachs coincided with a precipitous decline in zooplankton density. Zooplankton abundance was higher in early summer 1979, when alewife piscivority was less common. Our findings support the hypothesis that alewife piscivority could have contributed to the collapse of Great Lakes resident fish populations following alewife establishment. Alewife piscivority should be considered in risk–benefit evaluations prior to introducing alewife as a pelagic forage species.Key words: alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus; feeding ecology, larval fish, Great Lakes fisheries, forage introductions

Entrainment of Larval Fish by the Douglas Point Generating Station, Lake Huron, in Relation to Seasonal Succession and Distribution

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. M. Kelso ◽  
John K. Leslie
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Seasonal Succession ◽  
Lake Huron ◽  
Plant Distribution ◽  
Entrainment Rate ◽  
Osmerus Mordax ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Rainbow Smelt ◽  
Early Fall

Larval fish were sampled by net in Lake Huron and the Douglas Point generating station throughout spring, summer, and early fall 1975. Dominance shifted from fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis) to rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) then to ale-wife (Alosa pseudoharengus) from late April to late September. Entrainment of the major species paralleled dominance and abundance observed in the lake, but yellow perch (Perca flavescens), brook stickleback (Eucalia inconstans), and slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) caught in the lake — each ranging from 5 to 25% of the total catch — were not entrained. Conversely, white sucker (Catostomus commersoni) was entrained but not captured in the lake. Size of individuals entrained, upper limit approx. 40 mm, paralleled size of individuals in the lake. Vertical distribution, and thus proximity to the submerged intake, greatly influenced entrainment rate. Key words: larval fish, entrainment, power plant, distribution, abundance.

Fin Degeneration of Young-of-the-Year Alosa pseudoharengus (Clupeidae) in Southern Lake Michigan

Copeia ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 1970 (4) ◽  
pp. 766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward H. Brown ◽  
Carroll R. Norden
Keyword(s):  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Young Of The Year

Recent Changes in Lake Michigan's Fish Community and Their Probable Causes, With Emphasis on the Role of the Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (S2) ◽  
pp. s53-s60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Eck ◽  
Larue Wells
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Pink Salmon ◽  
Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha ◽  
Alosa Pseudoharengus ◽  
Poor Recruitment ◽  
Emerald Shiner

Major changes in fish populations occurred in Lake Michigan between the early 1970s and 1984. The abundance of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and several nonnative species of salmonines increased greatly as a result of intensive stocking. The exotic alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), which had proliferated to extremely high levels of abundance in the mid-1960s, declined, particularly in the early 1980s. We believe that the sharp decline in alewives in the 1980s was caused primarily by poor recruitment during the colder than normal years of 1976–82. Several of Lake Michigan's endemic species of fish appeared to be adversely affected by alewives: bloater (Coregonus hoyi), lake herring (C. artedii), emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsoni), and possibly spoonhead sculpin (Cottus ricei). All declined when alewives were abundant, and those that did not become rare, i.e. the bloater, perch, and deepwater sculpin recovered when alewives declined. We present evidence suggesting that the mechanism by which alewives affect native species is not by competition for food, as has often been hypothesized, and discuss the possibility that it is predation on early life stages. Despite the decreased availability of alewives in the early 1980s, salmonines continued to eat mainly alewives. The highly abundant alternate prey species were eaten only sparingly, but alewives still may have been abundant enough to meet the forage requirements of salmonines. Two new exotics, the pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), increased in abundance in the 1980s, and could become detrimental (particularly the salmon) to other species.

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