Progress 03/01/09 to 02/28/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Fisheries scientists and policy makers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Development of graduate and undergraduate students NEW PARTICIPANTS: Andrew Deines - Postdoctoral Student, Betsy Riley - Graduate Student, Amanda Guthrie - Graduate Student, Tomena Scholze - Graduate Student; and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Fisheries are a vitally important renewable resource if managed sustainably (i.e., with harvest at a rate that does not deplete population levels and allows for future use). Climate change is expected to impact fish, fisheries, and the communities dependent upon them by altering fish habitat which will shift the distribution and abundance of fish populations. Changes to fish distribution and abundance will challenge current fisheries management practices and highlight the need for new adaptive approaches to manage the ecological, social, and economic impacts of climate change on fisheries. Decision-support tools can assist fishermen and fisheries managers make more informed management choices related to climate change. Using the Laurentian Great Lakes as a case-study, and specifically the Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) fishery in the 1836 Treaty Waters of Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior, the objectives of this dissertation were to: 1) Review the physical and biological mechanisms by which cold-, cool-, and warm-water fish species will be affected by climate change in the Great Lakes; 2) Examine the feasibility of decision-support tools for fishery management in the context of climate change; 3) Survey Lake Whitefish fishermen, fishery researchers, and fishery managers to document need and willingness to implement a decision-support tool for harvest management of Lake Whitefish and climate change; and, 4) Develop a model of Lake Whitefish recruitment including climatic relationships and project recruitment with climate change. By the end of the 21st century, the Great Lakes will be warmer, wetter, windier, with less ice cover. Changes to the Great lakes climate will change habitat for Great Lakes fishes, including Lake Whitefish. Lake Whitefish recruitment has been linked to climate variables, specifically temperature, wind speed, and ice cover. A mechanistic model confirmed a positive relationship between Lake Whitefish recruitment and temperature and ice cover and a negative relationship between Lake Whitefish recruitment and wind speed using corrected Akaike's Information Criterion for model selection. Surveying Lake Whitefish fishermen, researchers, and managers showed that those affiliated with the fishery support the use of decision-support tools can assist this fishery integrate science into management. The survey recommendations were used to develop the decision-support tool for the Lake Whitefish climate-recruitment relationship with climate projections. Some management units will expect up to a 50% decline and others up to a 220% increase in Lake Whitefish recruitment because of spatial variability in the climate-recruitment relationships and climate projections. OTHER MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Major accomplishments of this project have been the development of future fisheries professionals that have entered the workforce in academia, state, and federal agencies related to sustainable and productive fishery resources, locally and globally. In addition, this project has led to the development of new knowledge transmitted to our partners via peer-reviewed publications as reported annually and through an active outreach and internship program with our partners. Lastly, this program has been able to leverage the support from partner agencies to support its activities and a robust graduate student based program. OUTPUTS: In addition to a large number of peer-reviewed publications throughout the duration of this program as listed yearly on the annual report, this project has resulted in the employment of 13 students (of these, three Ph.D. students) throughout the nation. In addition, three seminal books related to fisheries sustainability have been produced and are highly referenced. These includeSustainable Fisheries: Multi-Level Approaches to a Global Problem,Great Lakes Fisheries Policy and Management, andFuture of Fisheries: Perspectives for Emerging Professionals. Lastly, the overall efforts of this program have resulted in a global conference at FAO related to global inland fisheries sustainability and the program director of this project was selected as the chair of the overall program.
Publications
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Taylor, W.W., Lynch, A.J., and N.J. L�onard, editors. 2014. Future of fisheries: perspectives for emerging professionals. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Daniel, W. M., Infante, D.M., Hughes, R.M., Esselman, P.C., Tsang, Y.P., Wieferich, D., Herreman, K., Cooper, A.R., Wang, L., and W.W. Taylor. In Press. Coal and mineral mine alteration of stream fish assemblages: characterizing influences over multiple ecoregions. Ecological Applications.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Esselman, P.C., Infante, D.M., Wang, L., Cooper, A.R., Wieferich, D., Tsang, Y.P., Thornbrugh, D., and W.W. Taylor. 2013. Regional fish community indicators of ecological condition for rivers of the conterminous United States. Ecological Indicators 26:163-173.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Lynch, A. J., Taylor, W.W., Beard, T.D., and B.M. Lofgren. Submitted. Projected changes in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) recruitment with climate change in the 1836 Treaty Waters of Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Journal of Great Lakes Research.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
O'Brien, Taylor, Roseman, E., Madenjian, and Riley. Submitted. Ecological factors affecting rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) recruitment in the Main Basin of Lake Huron, 1976-2010. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.
|
Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Fisheries scientists and managers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? OUTPUTS: Within their native range in the United States (U.S.), brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis are valued for the recreational opportunities they provide and for their utility as an indicator of environmental health. For brook trout, stream temperatures within their viable thermal range (0°-25°C)are vital to ensuring growth, productivity, and survival. Climate change will influence stream temperatures via changing air temperatures, likely resulting in alterations in the distribution and quantity of thermal habitat available for brook trout, leading to changes in this fish’s range and productivity. We examined the effects of changing air temperature on brook trout thermal habitat availability for 17 streams spanning the latitudinal and longitudinal gradient of the brook trout’s native range in the United States. To determine the impact of air temperature changes driven by climate change for these streams, we converted air temperature projections from three coupled climate models into water temperatures using an air temperature to stream temperature conversion model then, we rated the quality of stream habitat for brook trout based on the resulting stream temperatures. All 17 streams were predicted to increase in temperature by between 2.5°C and 4.3°C from 2006 to 2056, resulting in reduced habitat quality for 15 streams. To mitigate the effects of climate change related increases in air temperature over the course of the next half-century, fisheries managers must focus their efforts on maintaining natural stream cooling mechanisms, such as riparian zone shading and groundwater inputs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Outcomes are pending PARTICIPANTS: Kelly Millenbah – Associate Dean of Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Katrina Mueller – Graduate Student, Abigail Lynch – Graduate Student, Kiira Siitari – Graduate Student, Marielle Peschiera – Graduate Student, Ayman Mabrouk – Graduate Student, Kelsey Schlee – Graduate Student, Joe Nohner – Graduate Student, Marissa Hammond – Graduate Student, Molly Good – Graduate Student, So-Jung Youn – Graduate Student, Ryan Fletcher – Graduate Student; NOAA Fisheries, United States Geological Survey, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization, United States Fisheries and Wildlife Service, Trout Unlimited, Pure Fishing, and Red Cedar Fly Fishers.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Lynch, A.J. and W.W. Taylor. 2013. The Four Fs of Fish: Communication of Public Value of Fish and Fisheries. 38(1): 43-33.
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Taylor, W. W., A. J. Lynch, and N. J. Leonard, eds. 2013. Great Lakes Fisheries Policy and Management: A Binational Perspective (Second Edition). MSU Press: East Lansing, MI. 865 pp.
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Rasmussen, J., H.A. Regier, R.E. Sparks and W.W. Taylor 2013. Aquatic Invasive Species Risks to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins: Asian Carp as a Case for Serious Consideration of Hydrologic Separation. In: Taylor, W.W., A.J. Lynch, N.J. Leonard, (eds.) Great Lakes Fisheries Policy and Management: A Binational Perspective (Second Edition). MSU Press: East Lansing, MI. pp 767-786.
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
W.W. Taylor, K.B. Mueller and J.T. Martin 2013. Epilogue: Fisheries sustainability and water policy: The need to think beyond the basin boundaries. In: Taylor, W.W., A.J. Lynch, N.J. Leonard, (eds.) Great Lakes Fisheries Policy and Management: A Binational Perspective (Second Edition). MSU Press: East Lansing, MI. pp. 787-792.
|
Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The lake trout refuges in the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior are analogous to the traditional concept of a marine protected area in the Great Lakes. These refuges closed to most forms of fishing have been implicated as one of several management actions leading to the successful rehabilitation of Lake Superior stocks of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). To further investigate the ecological significance of these two refuges on both target and non-target species, we analyzed fishery-independent survey data collected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources since 1982 and evaluated trends in mean catch of lake trout, lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), and cisco (Coregonus artedi) sampled inside versus outside of refuge boundaries. We found that lake trout relative abundance was higher inside the refuges and also increased at a greater rate inside the refuges than outside, as expected. Annual means in lake whitefish catch were surprisingly higher in areas outside of the refuges. However, the rate of increase in relative abundance was greater inside refuge boundaries, which was indicative of a refuge effect. Analysis of cisco catch did not demonstrate significant trends, despite assumptions that predation from lake trout would lead to an indirect refuge effect over time. This study highlights the potential significance of the refuges for enhancing populations of species that were not the original target of the refuges' implementation, such as lake whitefish. Improved understanding of these refuges' effects on populations of various species in the Great Lakes is therefore important to inform future fisheries management and research. PARTICIPANTS: Katrina Mueller-Graduate Student, Abigail Lynch-Graduate Student, Kiira Siitari-Graduate Student, Chiara Zuccarino-Crowe-Graduate Student, Marielle Peschiera-Graduate Student, Ayman Mabrouk-Graduate Student, Kelsey Schlee-Graduate Student, Joe Nohner-Graduate Student, Marissa Hammond-Graduate Student, Ryan Fletcher-Graduate Student, NOAA Fisheries, United States Geological Survey, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Food and Agriculture Organization, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. TARGET AUDIENCES: Fisheries scientists and managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Outcomes are pending.
Publications
- Lynch, A.J., E. Varela-Acevedo, W.W. Taylor. 2012. Decision-Support Tool for a Changing Climate: Application to Inland Fisheries Management. Journal of Fisheries Management and Ecology.
- O'Brien, T.P., W.W. Taylor, A.S. Briggs, and E.F. Roseman. 2012. Influence of water temperature on rainbow smelt spawning and early life history dynamics in St. Martin Bay, Lake Huron. Journal of Great Lakes Research 38, 776-785.
- O'Brien, T.P., and W.W. Taylor. 2012. Early life history dynamics and recruitment of rainbow smelt in Lake Huron, in: Wood, C.H., C. Enterline, K. Mills, B.C. Chase, G. Verreault, J. Fischer, and M.H. Ayer (Ed.), Fourth North American workshop on rainbow smelt: extended abstract proceedings. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Technical Report TR-51.
- Martin, J., W.W. Taylor, and K.M. Schlee. 2012. Leadership in the hurricane of change. Fisheries 37, 325-328.
|
Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: People, places, and fish have long been linked. Communities with access to fisheries resources have collective identities closely tied to those resources and associated places. As people modify landscapes, they shape fish communities, habitat and fisheries productivity. Increased access to fisheries resources from distant places has shifted human reliance away from those available locally on a seasonal basis, and weakened the fish-person-place connection. We explored the relative salience of native diadromous fish in contemporary senses of place in Maine with implications for the geographically widespread restoration of a largely absent and easily substituted species, endangered Atlantic salmon. We characterized residents' attachment to and satisfaction with home turf waterbodies and species communities, and assessed likely engagement in waterbody conservation within the historical range of Maine Atlantic salmon. Our findings suggest that while waterbodies are almost universally valued as escapes, a native community of fish is non-essential for this important need to be met. Sense of place literature suggests that motivation to act on behalf of a place (and its fish) hinges on high attachment, coupled with low satisfaction. As such, efforts to engage the public in recovering the native fish community can be made more relevant and therefore motivating by linking recovery to valued attributes like clean water and the health benefits of quality nature escapes. Additionally, society needs to redefine a new baseline against which waterbody health is measured by prioritizing connectivity from headwaters to the sea, natural hydrologic regimes, and robust native fish and wildlife communities. PARTICIPANTS: Katrina Mueller-Graduate Student Abigail Lynch-Graduate Student Kiira Siitari-Graduate Student Chiara Zuccarino-Crowe-Graduate Student Marielle Peschiera-Graduate Student Ayman Mabrouk-Graduate Student NOAA Fisheries United States Geological Survey Nichigan Department of Natural Resources TARGET AUDIENCES: Fisheries Scientists and Managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
2010/01 TO 2010/12 Outcomes are still pending.
Publications
- Mueller, K. B. and W. W. Taylor. 2011. Revisiting Leopolds Land Ethic for Global Fisheries Sustainability: Thinking Like a Fish. Pages 369 to 377 in W.W. Taylor, A. J. Lynch, M. G. Schechter, eds. Sustainable Fisheries: Multi-Level Approaches to a Global Problem. AFS Press: Bethesda, MD.
- Lynch, A.J., C. Zuccarino-Crowe, W.W. Taylor, E.A. Puchala. 2011. Sustainable Fisheries: An Overview Addressing a Global Problem. Pages XIII-XXIV in W.W. Taylor, A. J. Lynch, M. G. Schechter, eds. Sustainable Fisheries: Multilevel Approaches to a Global Problem. AFS Press: Bethesda, MD.
- Taylor, W. W., A. J. Lynch, M. G. Schechter, eds. 2011. Sustainable Fisheries: Multi-Level Approaches to a Global Problem. AFS Press: Bethesda, MD. 377 pp.
- Siitari, K.J., W.W. Taylor, S.A.C. Nelson, K.E. Weaver. 2011. The influence of land cover composition and groundwater on thermal habitat availability for brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations in the United States of America. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 20:431 to 437.
- Leonard, N. J., W. W. Taylor, C. I. Goddard, K. A. Frank, A. E. Krause, M. G. Schechter. 2011. Information Flow within the Social Network Structure of A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 31(4): 629 to 655.
- Wang, L., D. M. INFANTE, P. C. Esselman, A. Cooper, D. Wu., W. W. Taylor, D. Beard, G. Whelan, and A. Ostroff. 2011. A hierarchical spatial framework and database for the National river fish habitat condition assessment. Fisheries 36:446-449.
|
Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Rainbow smelt are an important prey species for native and introduced salmonines in the Great Lakes, as well as being a competitor and predator of native fish species. In Lake Huron rainbow smelt populations have been characterized by variable recruitment processes and year class strength. To understand growth and survival dynamics during early life history, larval rainbow smelt populations were sampled during 2008 and 2009 in St. Martin Bay, Lake Huron. Growth rates of larval rainbow smelt and relative survival of stream cohorts was higher during 2009 than in 2008, a consequence of warmer water temperatures during June and cooler, more optimal temperature during July of this year. Early hatching stream cohorts of this population experienced high mortality during 2008 and fish surviving experienced lower growth relative to cohorts produced during 2009. To investigate the dynamics of long term recruitment processes for these populations, stock-recruit models were developed for Lake Huron rainbow smelt populations sampled from 1976-2009 using fishery independent surveys data from the United States Geological Survey Great Lakes large vessel program. Standard Ricker stock-recruit models were fit to lakewide density estimates of age-0 smelt and corresponding spawning stock sizes. Models were then developed with the inclusion of four external environmental variables that have been reported to affect rainbow smelt production: Lake Huron over basin precipitation, water temperature 0-20 meters, Lake Huron water levels, and lake trout abundance as measured by catch per unit effort (CPE) for the main basin of Lake Huron. The best model for rainbow smelt recruitment during 1976-2009 included lake trout CPE, Lake Huron water levels, and over basin precipitation as additional variables. A separate model for the 1994-2009 time period identified lake trout CPE as an important regulator of rainbow smelt recruitment. These findings indicate that variability in growth and survival of rainbow smelt during early life history stages influences year class formation, but recruitment is strongly regulated by lake trout predation on adults or age-0 recruits. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Outcomes are still pending.
Publications
- Lynch, A. J., W. W. Taylor, and K. D. Smith. 2010. The Influence of Changing Climate on the Ecology and Management of Great Lakes Fisheries. Journal of Fish Biology. 77: 1964-1982.
- Taylor, W. W., A. J. Lynch, and M. G. Schechter. 2010. Unsustainable Global Fisheries Need a Unified Call for a UN Conference. Fisheries. 35: 84-85.
- Lynch, A. J. and W. W. Taylor. 2010. Evaluating a science-based decision support tool used to prioritize brook charr conservation project proposals in the eastern United States. Hydrobiologia. 650: 233-241.
- Waco, K.E. & Taylor, W.W. 2010. The influence of groundwater withdrawal and land use changes on brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalus) thermal habitat in two coldwater tributaries in Michigan, U.S.A. Hydrobiologia 650:
|
Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are sentinel species of fish which require clean, cold water habitats for their existence and productivity. As such many jurisdictions in the United States where brook trout are present use these species as indicators of ecosystem health. This is particularly true when dealing with groundwater withdrawal and land use policies as groundwater provides the thermal inputs needed to maintain coldwater systems and therefore, any changes in groundwater dynamics will be exhibited in changes in thermal habitat availability for these fish. In Michigan, groundwater-dominated streams are currently being impacted by increased groundwater withdrawal and land use/land cover changes which alters stream temperature and their flow, having the potential to significantly influence brook trout production and behavior. In order to quantify the influence of groundwater withdrawal and land use alteration on thermal habitat availability for brook trout information provided from a groundwater modeling tool (Interactive Groundwater) that estimated changes in baseflow to a stream segment based on changes to the groundwater system due to groundwater withdrawal and changes in rates of recharge based on landscape changes within a watershed was used. The changes in baseflow were evaluated for impact on stream temperatures using a Stream Segment TEMPerature (SSTEMP) modeling tool. Projected stream temperature changes were compared to optimal temperature preferences for brook trout to evaluate potential impact of policy decisions to these trout related to groundwater withdrawal and land use/land cover alterations within a watershed. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Trout Unlimited, water related industry, Michigan Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council (WRCAC) PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The results of the study showed that all pumping rates evaluated in the Twin and Chippewa Creek watershed resulted in decreased baseflow to every stream reach under study. While the magnitude of stream temperature change predicted by this methodology was less than 1 degree C, the net outcome was a loss of certain summer thermal habitat for brook charr as summer temperatures were near the maximum optimal thermal limits for brook charr in these streams. Loss of thermal habitat can equate to reductions in growth and survival of charr in these streams. Additionally, reductions in groundwater input may impact brook charr spawning potential as groundwater seeps present potential spawning habitat for brook charr. The small magnitude in stream temperature change due to pumping that was noted for Twin and Chippewa Creeks suggests that factors other than groundwater may be influencing stream temperatures in these reaches. Evaluating the midstream section of Twin Creek only, it was found that an increase in stream temperatures of 0.06 degree C due to a groundwater extraction rate of 700 gpm (0.044 m^3s^-1) could be mitigated by implementing a 15% (6.65 km^2) change in land cover from forest to shrub land, which provided for an increase in recharge and thus baseflow. In this case, the increase in temperature related to groundwater extraction would be ameliorated by the increased recharge rates to the aquifer due to the change in land cover from forest to shrub land. The upper section of Twin Creek in midsummer under a groundwater extraction rate of 400gpm (0.0252 m^3s^-1) pumping rate results in a 0.07 degree C (18.32 degree C) change in temperature while a change in land cover from forest to shrub land resulted in a less pronounced decrease in temperature in this reach (-0.01 degree C), a change in land use from grassland to urban results in a further increase in temperature of 0.1 degree C (18.42 degree C). In the upper reach of Chippewa Creek, it was found that land cover changes from agriculture to grassland and forest to shrub land reduced the increase in temperature incurred through pumping by 0.09 degree C and 0.06 degree C, respectively. Therefore, it is important to consider land use practices and their potential impact on stream temperatures as groundwater recharge is influenced by land use/cover and it is the groundwater that provides the needed cool temperatures in streams for coldwater biota such as brook charr. This research provides one of the first studies that directly link groundwater withdrawal and land use alterations to impacts on brook charr thermal habitat. The methodology used in this study proved to be an effective way to examine the impact of land cover alteration and groundwater withdrawal on thermal habitat for brook charr. The method uses readily available tools that are easy-to-use and understand, are visual in nature and based on verifiable scientific premises. These methods allow for a linkage of water policy and land use management directly to fish populations and their production dynamics.
Publications
- Esselman, P. C., D. M. Infante, L. Wang, D. Wu, A. Cooper, and W. W. Taylor. 2009. An initial assessment of integrated human disturbances on stream fish habitats in the conterminous United States. Report by the Assessment Team to the Science and Data Committee and Board of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (in press).
- Lynch, A. and W. Taylor. 2009. Evaluating a science-based decision support tool to prioritize regionally-driven, community-based projects for enhancing brook charr populations in the eastern United States. Hydrobiologia (accepted).
- Waco, K.E., W.W. Taylor. 2009. The influence of groundwater withdrawal and land use changes on brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) thermal habitat in two coldwater tributaries in Michigan, U.S.A. Hydrobiologia (accepted).
|
Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Temperatures occupied by 33 lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Huron were recorded with surgically implanted archival tags in 1999 and 2000. Objectives were to provide temperature data to refine bioenergetics models of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) predation on lake trout, and to compare temperatures occupied by strains of lake trout. The objectives of a second study with archival tags recording depth and temperature in 2002 2005 were to compare the observations with the 1999 2000 data, to examine whether GLO lake trout occupy both higher temperatures and lesser depths than FLO lake trout, and to examine changes in the temperatures occupied in light of concurrent changes in the prey community. Depth observations from tagged lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), recorded in 2003-2005, were used to examine whether seasonal depth differences could be exploited to reduce bycatch of lake trout in commercial gill net fisheries for lake whitefish. Fishing to seasonal depth limits of 25 to 35 m could target half or more of the lake whitefish, yet relatively low percentages of lake trout. Percentages of lake trout targeted were lowest in late July (GLO = 8% and FLO = 11%) and early August (GLO = 4% and FLO = 7%). Feasibility depends on lake whitefish being available to gill nets. Modal depths of commercial gill net effort exceeded the modal depth in the lake whitefish archival tag data and suggested some lake whitefish were pelagic enough to not be vulnerable to gill nets. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Lake whitefish and lake trout are both native residents of the Great Lakes, yet seasonally show clear differences in depth and temperature distributions. Depth distributions of lake trout and, most likely, lake whitefish have changed since 1999 and that the benefits of seasonal and depth restrictions should be reexamined. From early July through November, fishing at a depth between 25 to 35 m could target 50% of the lake whitefish population while exposing less than 25% of the lake trout populations to the fishery. Viability of the depth and season regulations suggested from this study could be determined through an experimental fishery to answer whether lake whitefish could be caught in economically viable numbers at those depths, while avoiding lake trout. These findings are important because measures of observed growth of individual fish combined with a record of the temperatures they occupied while at large in the Great Lakes have not previously been available. The data in this project could be exploited for this purpose.
Publications
- Schechter, M. G., N. J. Leonard, and W. W. Taylor, editors. 2008. International Governance of Fisheries Ecosystems: Learning from the Past, Finding Solutions for the Future. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.
- Taylor, W.W. and C. Dobson. 2008. Inter-Jurisdictional Fisheries Governance: The Next Steps to Sustainability. In International Governance of Fisheries Ecosystems: Learning from the Past, Finding Solutions for the Future, eds. M.G. Schechter, N, J. Leonard and W. W. Taylor American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD, pp. 431-440.
|
Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis Mitchill), an important commercial species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, have experienced decreased growth and condition in regions of the upper Great Lakes over the past 20 years. Increases in lake whitefish density and decreases in the density of Diporeia spp., an energy rich and historically important part of the lake whitefish diet, have been implicated in the recent declines in lake whitefish growth and condition. Therefore, it was important to determine whether lake whitefish density or the amount of food available to them is more important in determining the number and fat content of eggs in lake whitefish of the Great Lakes. The goal of the study was to describe lake whitefish fecundity, egg lipid content, and total ovary lipid content in selected regions of Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior in 1986-87 and 2003-05, two time periods with different lake whitefish and Diporeia densities. The seven locations studied were Big Bay
de Noc, Naubinway, and Grand Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan; Cheboygan, Alpena, and Bayport in Lake Huron; and Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior. Under conditions of high lake whitefish density and low Diporeia density, female lake whitefish in the upper Laurentian Great Lakes generally produced fewer eggs. Egg lipid content was higher in 2003-05 than in 1986-87 at all sites, regardless of changes in lake whitefish or Diporeia densities. Total ovary lipid content and lake whitefish abundance were inversely related, while there was no significant relationship between total ovary lipid content and Diporeia density. The amount of energy that lake whitefish invested in egg production was more closely associated with lake whitefish abundance than with Diporeia density. This study provides evidence that recent changes in production dynamics of Great Lakes lake whitefish have not been driven solely by declines in Diporeia but have been significantly influenced by lake whitefish abundance.
PARTICIPANTS: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Jim Johnson), Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (Tom Nalepa), Chippewa Ottawa Fisheries Management Team, US Geological Survey (Ann Arbor, MI), Ohio Department of Natural Resources
TARGET AUDIENCES: 1) Federal, State and Tribal Fisheries Management Agencies 2) Research Community, Students and Faculties and the General Public who have interests in Great Lakes Fisheries Ecology and Management 3) Great Lakes Fisheries Commission
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None to report.
Impacts
The decline of lake whitefish condition in the Great Lakes may be due to several factors including the food available and the number of lake whitefish present in a given area. This research found that the amount of energy that lake whitefish invested in egg production was more closely associated with lake whitefish abundance than with the type or amount of food available. These findings are important because many people have described the recent declines in the growth and condition of Great Lakes whitefish solely on changes in the food web, but this study shows that the number of lake whitefish present in a given area could actually be a more critical factor in determining lake whitefish condition in these bodies of water.
Publications
- Taylor, W.W., Schechter, M.G., and Wolfson, L.G. (eds). 2007. Globalization: Effects on Fisheries Resources. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 574. Frank, K.A., K.B. Mueller, A.E. Krause, W.W. Taylor and N.J. Leonard. 2007. The Intersection of Global Trade, Social Networks and Fisheries. In Globalization: Effects on Fisheries Resources, eds. W.W. Taylor, M.G. Schechter, and L.G. Wolfson. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 385-423.
- Kolb,T.L.andW.W.Taylor. 2007. Globalization and Fisheries: Recommendations for Policy and Management. In Globalization: Effects on Fisheries Resources, eds. W.W. Taylor, M.G. Schechter, and L.G. Wolfson. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 527-544.
- Kratzer, J. F.; W.W. Taylor and M. Turner 2007. Changes in Fecundity and Egg Lipid Content of Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in the Upper Laurentian Great Lakes between 1986-87 and 2003-05. Journal of Great Lakes Research 33(4): page numbers TBD.
- Taylor, W.W., and N.J. Leonard. 2007. The influence of globalization on the sustainability of North Pacific salmon Fisheries. In Globalization: Effects on Fisheries Resources, eds. W.W. Taylor, M.G. Schechter, and L.G. Wolfson. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 291-302.
- Taylor, W.W., N.J.Leonard, J.F. Kratzer,C.Goddard, and P.Stewart 2007. Globalization: implications for fish, fisheries, and their management. In Globalization: Effects on Fisheries Resources, eds. W.W. Taylor, M.G. Schechter, and L.G. Wolfson. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 21-46.
- Taylor, W.W., S. Oh N.J. Leonard, Z. Ouyang, J. Liu, T. Dobson, and R.M. Bratspies. 2007. The impact of water security on freshwater fisheries ecology and management: a multinational perspective. Fourth World Fisheries Congress Conference Proceedings, May 2-6, 2004, Vancouver, British Columbia. American Fisheries Society Symposium 49:587-595.
- Thayer, S.A, W.W. Taylor, D.B. Hayes, and R.C. Haas. 2007. Weight of Evidence for Underlying Dynamics of Yellow Perch in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. Ecological Modeling 206: 31-40.
|
Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Michigan's groundwater resources are plentiful not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of the number and types of sectors that depend on their use and the political and geophysical scales at which it is governed. This diversity will challenge effective policy making and decision making institutions to involve stakeholders in a way that increases the diversity of opinions and preferences and develops trust. Part of developing these characteristics in institutions involves including a diversity of stakeholders from outside of the policy making structures and utilizing participatory decision making processes. This has been a useful tool for efforts to improve the quality of groundwater governance in Michigan through the creation of the Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council. To examine the groundwater withdrawal policy process in Michigan in the context of participatory governance, we targeted Michigan's newly (2003) created Groundwater Conservation Advisory
Council. The goal of the project was to evaluate the differences and similarities among the Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council and their colleagues. To do this we conducted semi-structured interviews with ten of the thirteen Council members and twenty of their colleagues. The results of the interviews show that the majority of individuals thought that a state level permitting system is a desirable solution for Michigan. Individual backgrounds showed both similarities: The participants were most similar in their gender, ethnicity and age, and differences: Participants were mainly found in their political ideology, education, and profession, Political ideologies ranged from strongly conservative to strongly liberal, Professions ranged from highly scientific, research-based positions to specialized political lobbyists to little experience at all with groundwater issues. Policy preferences and perceptions exhibited by these individuals demonstrated that: There were four groups,
unequal in size, which preferred that decisions about groundwater withdrawals be made at different geo-political levels. Overall perceptions of the individuals interviewed indicated that: Michigan as a state does not (yet) face a crisis situation related to groundwater. Many participants were much more concerned with issues of groundwater quality than quantity, and some were also concerned with the long term sustainability of groundwater use. Most participants saw preparing for future situations and circumstances related to governance of groundwater withdrawals as a top priority, thus encouraging the state to gather more information about Michigan's groundwater resources, enact legal protections from out of basin transfers, and determine a sustainable level of use to meet the needs of various sectors without depleting the resource. Most thought that allowing the commercial sale of groundwater (i.e., bottled water) is a way for Michigan to capitalize on this valuable resource, if done
in an ecologically sensitive manner.
Impacts
The water-related policy making and enforcing institutions in Michigan, as in other water-rich areas, have not typically needed to address many of the stresses on water resources faced by water scarce areas. Thus there is a need to develop processes now that will help them to meet future challenges in ways that promote social, economic and ecological sustainability. The development of an advisory institution to help meet these goals, the Groundwater Conservation Advisory Council, is a valuable model of groundwater governance for Michigan as it continues to develop monitoring devices and further involve its stakeholders. However, in order for a governance system that allows for this type of deliberation to persist and maintain effectiveness it must be resilient to external forces upon its component social and ecological systems. By preparing both the public and our governance institutions now, and defining the critical thresholds that stakeholders are not willing to
cross, the resources of water-rich areas can be governed in a way that will allow for maximum adaptability. Ultimately, this will help Michigan succeed in preserving those attributes of our social and ecological systems that have been deemed important and desirable by providing the benefits of groundwater use to multiple stakeholders and sectors.
Publications
- Kratzer, J. F., Taylor, W. W., Ferreri, C. P., Ebener, M. P. 2006. Factors affecting growth of lake whitefish in the upper Laurentian Great Lakes. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie (in press).
- Roseman, E.F., Taylor, W.W., Hayes, D.B., Jones., A.L. 2006. Predation on Walleye Eggs by fish on reefs in Western Lake Erie. Journal of Great Lakes Research (in press).
- Taylor, W. W., Hughes, S.M., Mueller, K. 2006. Water Water Everywhere but Not a Place for Fish: Tackling water and fish habitat management for productive fisheries in North America. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference (in press).
|
Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Lake whitefish support the single largest and most valuable commercial fishery in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Recently, fishery managers have reported declining growth and productivity of lake whitefish in the upper Great Lakes. Several causes for the declines noted in individual growth rates have been proposed. These include changes in: 1) lake whitefish density, 2) food quality and abundance, 3) population genetics, and 4) climatic conditions. We evaluated the relationships between each of these factors and lake whitefish growth in selected regions of the upper Great Lakes. Specifically, we examined the timing of the changes in the environment with lake whitefish growth to determine causal relationships. Lake whitefish growth declines began with the development of a very strong 1991 year class due to favorable climatic conditions, leading to density dependent growth dynamics, which were exacerbated by a significant decline in the high-energy, benthic prey item
(Diporeia spp.) toward the latter part of the 1990s. It appears that declines in Diporeia density, which are related to the introduction of two invasive species (Dreissena spp.) have resulted in a lower carrying capacity for lake whitefish in the upper Great Lakes. As such, managers need to implement conservative harvest strategies that protect the viability of these stocks under lower productivity conditions.
Impacts
Impact Statement: It appears that climatic variables and density dependent growth dynamics were responsible for the recent decline in lake whitefish growth. This decline began with the development of a very strong 1991 year class and was exacerbated by a significant decline in the high energy prey item, diporeia, toward the latter part of the 1990s, which appears to have prevented the recovery of lake whitefish growth rates in spite of reduced lake whitefish abundance. As such, it appears that the carrying capacity for lake whitefish in the upper Great Lakes has been diminished due to a changing food web caused by invasive species, and managers must implement conservative harvest strategies that protect the viability of these stocks under lower productivity conditions.
Publications
- Finster, J., W. Taylor, E. McGarrel, and R. Mace. 2005. FLETC - MSU Collaboration to Develop Natural Resources/Law Enforcement Continuing Education Program, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Presented at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glen Co., GA.
- Pusateri, J.S., S.J. Riley, G.J. Hickling, W.W. Taylor. 2005. Preparedness and capacity of agencies to manage Chronic Wasting Disease. Second International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium. Madison, Wisconsin. July 13, 2005.
- Pusateri, J.S., S.J. Riley, G.J. Hickling, W.W. Taylor, S.M. Schmitt, L.J. King. 2004. Managing the risk of Chronic Wasting DiseaseA comparison of strategies among states. The Wildlife Society Annual Conference. Calgary, Alberta. September 19, 2004.
- Pusateri, J.S.; W.W. Taylor; L.J. King; S.J. Riley. 2003. Using a management matrix to confront the threats of emerging wildlife diseases. Poster presented at International Wildlife Management Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand.
|
Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Globalization, or the increased rate of exchange of resources and information across geographic regions and cultures, has dramatically altered aquatic ecosystems structure and function. For example, globalization is largely responsible for the introduction of non-native species in the Great Lakes and the unsustainable exploitation of commercial fish species. Alternatively, the tools of globalization, improved communication and transportation technology and systems has significantly altered the flow of resources between the user of our goods and services provided by our aquatic environments and the agencies that manage aquatic resources for the public good. Great Lakes charter captains targeting salmon and trout species operate under unpredictable and competitive environmental and socioeconomic conditions. Social interactions that generate social capital and assist in locating and catching salmonids may prove important in decreasing these fishery-related uncertainties
and thereby increase the success of the charter industry and individual charter operations. An evaluation of the fishing-related informational exchanges between charter captains and their relationship to fishing success was thus performed in the port of Grand Haven, Lake Michigan, during 2003. This evaluation detected the presence of distinct information-sharing subgroups within the Grand Haven fleet. The underlying structure of the social networks evident in many fishing communities affect how individuals in these systems react to external changes and disturbances, such as the increased demand for or depletion of aquatic resources that accompany globalization.
Impacts
This study has implications for both fisheries professionals and stakeholders by providing a mechanism to evaluate the flow of information within networks and how it can be utilized to enhance fishery resource management and stakeholder communication. For example, when there is adequate social capital between members of a fishing community, there is no need to resort to drastic, environmentally damaging behavior when faced with external pressures such as changing markets. The more information fishery managers have regarding stakeholder interactions, the more they will be able to understand the impact of these interactions on the fishery resource. Network analysis is thus highly valuable in understanding stakeholder groups and in the management of fisheries resources.
Publications
- Krause, Ann. 2004. The role of compartments in food-web structure and changes following biological invasions in southeast Lake Michigan. Doctoral Dissertation, Michigan State University. 217 pages.
- Taylor, W.W., S. Oh, N.J. Leonard, Z. Ouyang, J. Liu, t. Dobson. and R. M. Bratspies. 2004. The impact of water security on fisheries ecology and management: a multinational perspective. The Fourth World Fish Congress, Vancouver, British Columbia.
- Mueller, Katrina B. 2004. The role of a social network in the functioning of the Grand Haven charter boat fishery, Lake Michigan. Masters thesis, Michigan State University. 80 pages.
- N.J. Leonard, W.W. Taylor, and C. Goddard. 2004. Multijurisdictional management of lake sturgeon in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. In Sturgeons and Paddlefish of North America. Edited by G.T.O. LeBreton, F.W.H. Beamish and R.S. McKinley. Boston: Kluwer Acadmic Publishers.
|
Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Compartments in food webs are subgroups of taxa in which many strong interactions occur within the subgroups and few weak interactions occur between the subgroups. Theoretically, compartments increase the stability in networks, such as food webs. Compartments have been difficult to detect in empirical food webs because of incompatible approaches or insufficient methodological rigor. We showed that a method for detecting compartments from the social networking science identified significant compartments in three of five complex, empirical food webs. Detection of compartments was influenced by food web resolution, such as interactions with weights. Because the method identifies compartmental boundaries in which interactions are concentrated, it is compatible with the definition of compartments. The method is rigorous because it maximizes an explicit function, identifies the number of non-overlapping compartments, assigns membership to compartments, and tests the
statistical significance of the results. A graphical presentation reveals systemic relationships and taxa-specific positions as structured by compartments. From this graphic, we explore two scenarios of disturbance to develop a hypothesis for testing how compartmentalized interactions increase stability in food webs. Our results exhibited that social network methods, adapted to ecological use, are rigorous and effective ways to analyze food-web structure and provide for understanding the relationship between compartments structure and ecosystem stability.
Impacts
Ecosystem health is an illusive concept in environmental decision-making. Although there is by no means a consensus on the definition of ecosystem health, much of the primary literature refers to health as the degree to which the structure and function of the ecosystem is resistant or resilient (returns to its previous state) to a disturbance event. While my research only covered a component of the ecosystem, the food web, it did assess the structure of that food web using various measures such as compartmentalization that are related to ecosystem stability. When evaluating the use of social analytical tools to empirical food web data in the study outlined in the abstract above, we specifically addressed the potential resistance of the food web structure to disturbance events and found that compartments have the potential to be stabilizing features for food-web structure. When a disturbance affects species in one compartment, the sparse interactions between
compartments should dampen the effect of the disturbance on species in other compartments. By adding to the body of knowledge of compartments, we hope to extend the research in a way that will provide environmental managers a useful tool in which to measure ecosystem health and provide policy makers with options for restoring our Great Lakes environments.
Publications
- Krause, A. E., Frank, K. A., Mason, D. M., Ulanowicz, R. E., Taylor, W. W. 2003. Compartments revealed in food-web structure. Nature 426:282-285.
- Tanner, H., Taylor, W., Anderson, G., Bierbaum, R., King, L. 2003. Final report Michigan chronic wasting disease task force. The Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force.
|
Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Achieving sustainability of managed fisheries has often been elusive despite increasing social and political concern and heightened research efforts directed toward maintenance of sustainable fisheries. Contributing to this failure is the varied, and sometimes vague, definitions and goals of sustainability. An additional obstacle to sustainable management is that fisheries, their supporting physical, chemical, and biological environments, and the connected human components vary widely in their geographic scale, magnitude of impact, and complexity. Finally, sustainability is often viewed as a static property of a fishery, whereas in reality the degree of sustainability is an emergent property depending on the dynamics and feedback processes of interacting biological, chemical, physical and social systems. From a biological viewpoint, sustainability is achievable by harvesting no more than the regenerative processes of the stock and its environment allow. To achieve
this goal, managers also need to consider the human community and their interactions, values and beliefs regarding the fish population and the environment. Human behavior is shaped through these values and beliefs, thereby defining how fisheries as a whole respond to changes in fish abundance or to changes in the supporting environment. Sustainable natural resources management has proven to be a challenge partly because of the complexity of the production dynamics of fish populations, but perhaps more so because of the complexity of the dynamics between fish populations and human behavior. Thus, fishery managers face the daunting task of first understanding the emergent properties of the linked human and biological systems, but further need to develop approaches that provide a means for manipulating human behavior to achieve sustainability. Thus areas for future research that will enhance our ability to manage our fisheries resources sustainability include understanding: (1)how demand
changes in response to changes in supply and with regard to substitutability of employment or resource options, (2)how does harvesting change when productivity changes given open access versus defined proprietorship,(3) responsiveness of management systems to changes in supply or demand, and (4)understanding the degree of connections and responsiveness to change between (among) the various components of the management system.
Impacts
The findings of this research have fundamental implications for how fisheries are managed with the goal of achieving sustainable benefits. I have communicated the ideas embodied in this research through my ongoing work with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and other state and federal agencies. This has lead to changes in the decision making process as well as in the decisions made on a number of Great Lakes fisheries management issues.
Publications
- Liu, J., Pysarchick, D., and Tyalor, W. W. 2002. Peer review in the classroom. BioScience.
- Taylor, W. W. , Hayes, D. B., Ferreri, C. P., Lynch, K. D., Newman, K. R., and Roseman, E. F. 2002. Integrating landscape ecology into fisheries management: A rationale and practical considerations. Pp. 366-389. In: Integrating Landscape Ecology into Natural Resource Management (Eds., J. Liu and W. W. Taylor), Cambridge University Press.
- Turner, M. G., Crow, Thomas R.,Liu, Jianguo, Rabe, Dale, Rabeni, Charles F., Soranno, Patricia A., Taylor, W. W., Vogt, Kristina, and Weins, John A. 2002. Bridging the gap between landscape ecology and natural resource management. Pp. 433-460. In: Integrating Landscape Ecology into Natural Resource Management (Eds. J. Liu and W. W. Taylor), Cambridge University Press.
- Lynch, K.D., Jones, M.L.,Taylor, W.W. (eds.; 2002). Sustaining North American Salmon: Perspectives Across Regions and Disciplines. American Fisheries Society 395 pages.
- Roseman, E.F., Taylor, W.W., Hayes, D.B., Fofrich, J., Sr., and Knight, R.L. 2002. Evidence of Walleye Spawning in Maumee Bay, Lake Erie. Ohio Journal of Science.
- Taylor, W.W. 2002. Great Lakes fisheries ecology and management: A presentation to the Canada-U.S. Law Institute. In: Canada-United States Law Journal, 28:381-388.
- Dobson, T., Regier, H.A., Taylor, W.W. 2002. Governing human interactions with migratory animals, with a focus on humans interacting with fish in Lak Erie: Then, now, and in the future. In: Canada-United States Law Journal, 28:389-446.
|
Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
Fisheries and aquatic resource managers increasingly recognize the importance of stakeholder collaboration and watershed-based management approaches, but managers may not always know the most effective and efficient way to integrate watershed stakeholders. These managers need tools that will enable them to better understand the potential for communication and collaboration among stakeholder groups in a watershed. Organized groups represent the collective interests of many fisheries stakeholders, and managers need to know if, how, and why these stakeholder groups engage in management issues. To better understand these dynamics, we analyzed the communication and collaboration networks of 112 fisheries stakeholder organizations in and around Michigan's Pere Marquette (PM) River watershed. Using a mail survey, we collected data from each stakeholder group on their organizational attributes, organizational ties (or interactions) with other organizations, and attributes of
these interorganizational ties. Using multi-level social network analysis, we analyzed if and how an organization's attributes influence the types of ties it has with other organizations as well as their position in the overall communication and collaboration network. We found that ties are likely between two organizations in the same county, from the same organizational domain (e.g., education, economic development, etc.), and more than 51 years old. Interorganizational ties were most likely to be reported by organizations that are generalist in scope, satisfied with PM fisheries, unsatisfied with PM fisheries, located inside the watershed, and have a natural resource or environmental orientation. Within the greater fisheries network, sub-networks formed around counties and organizational domain areas, and organizations at the center of each sub-network tended to be concerned about habitat, have paid staff, more than 51 years old, generalists, satisfied with PM fisheries, and have a
planning function in their cluster (either natural resources or local government).
Impacts
These findings have implications for enhancing fisheries managers' communication strategies, and we recommend a network-based framework for utilizing and enhancing stakeholder interactions. With a better understanding of how and why stakeholder organizations interact, fisheries managers can more effectively create opportunities for stakeholder interactions and develop the potential for meaningful watershed-scale communication and collaboration resulting in better fisheries management plans.
Publications
- Roseman, E.F.,Taylor, W.W.,Hayes, D.B.,Knight, R.L., and Haas, R.C. 2001. Removal of walleye eggs from reefs in western Lake Erie by a catastrophic storm. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 130:341-346.
- Lui, J. and Taylor, W.W. 2002. Coupling landscape ecology and natural resources management:paradigm shifts and new approaches. In Liu, J. and W.W. Taylor (eds.). Integrating Landscape Ecology into Natural Resource Management. Cambridge University Press.
- Roseman, E.F., Taylor, W.W.,Hayes, D.B.,Groop, R.,Haas, R.C., Tyson, J.T., and Fuller, J.A. 2002. Spatial patterns emphasize the importance of coastal zones as nursery areas for larval walleye in western Lake Erie. North American Journal of Fisheries Management (in press).
- Roseman, E.F.,Taylor, W.W.,Hayes, D.B.,Fofrich Sr.,J., and Knight R.L. 2001. Evidence of walleye spawning in Maumee Bay, Lake Erie. Ohio Journal of Science.
|
Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) are the dominant piscivore in western Lake Erie and provide valuable sport and commercial fisheries in Canada and the United States. Historical records of their abundance reflect unstable levels of recruitment primarily due to highly variable year-class fon-nation. To investigate the mechanisms underlying variable year-class strength formation of reef-spawned walleye in western Lake Erie, we sampled walleye eggs on mid-lake reefs (Cone, Crib, Locust Pt., Niagara, Round and Toussaint) and larvae on and adjacent to the reefs from 1994 through 1999. Reefs varied in depth and size and egg sampling was stratified by depth. Larval sampling sites extended from Maumee Bay to the Bass Islands complex and were stratified by depth and distance from shore. The initiation of spawning was generally consistent, beginning in the first week of April, although spawning began noticeably earlier in mid-March 1998. Egg abundance varied among reefs and
between years. Shallow sites on reefs had higher egg relative abundance early in the incubation period but this trend reversed later in April and early May as eggs were removed from exposed shallow areas on reefs by currents and predators. Egg viability was generally lowest early in egg incubation periods and showed an increasing trend as incubation progressed. Abundance of egg predators increased after peak egg abundance occurred. Egg survival was generally highest in years when lake waters wanned quickly and few wind events occurred during incubation periods. Egg survival was also higher for cohorts of eggs spawned later in the spawning season due to quicker incubation rates. Analysis of recruitment indices from 1960 - 1997 indicate that a water warming of at least 0.2 'C/day during egg incubation periods is necessary for good year-classes to form. Abundance, growth, and survival of larval walleye varied between years and was positively related to egg abundance and survival, water
temperature, and prey abundance. Larvae became concentrated in shallow nearshore areas of western Lake Erie. These areas were warmer, darker, and had higher abundance of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton prey than offshore areas. Abundance of demersal age-0 walleye in October index bottom trawl surveys was highest in 1996 (30.8/h trawling), a year with moderately high egg abundance(7,230/tow), good egg survival (21%), moderately high larval abundance (8. 1 / 1,000 in 3), good larval growth (0.34 mm/day), and exceptional larval survival (72%). The weakest year class was formed in 1995 when the October bottom trawl index was only 0.2/hour of trawling. This year had low egg abundance (3,6 1 0/tow), low egg survival (0. 105), low larval abundance (3.5/ 1,000 in 3), slow larval growth (0.31 mm/day), and low larval survival (36.5%). This research emphasizes the importance of physical processes like wind and water warming rate in tempering the environmental setting that biological processes
take place. Further, this study exposed specific nearshore areas in western Lake Erie important as nursery zones for walleye.
Impacts
Public agencies responsible for managing fisheries face the challenge of understanding and manipulating complex systems that are influenced by unpredictable weather and other environmental effects. This research has helped to identify specific locations that are important in the reproductive success of walleyes in western Lake Erie and also has increased our understanding of the physical processes that are most important in determining year class success in this region. As a result of this work, managers are much better equipped to know when a change in management actions is needed (e.g. regulation changes) as a result of environmental fluctuations.
Publications
- Liu, J. and W.W. Taylor (eds.; in prep.). 2001. Integrating Landscape Ecology into Natural Resource Management. Cambridge University Press.
- Lynch, K.D.,Taylor, W.W.,Jones, M.L.,Kocik, J.F. (eds.; in prep.). 2001. Sustaining North American Salmon: Perspectives Across Regions and Disciplines. Special Publication of the American Fisheries Society.
- Taylor, W.W.,Ferreri, C.P.,Hayes, D.B.,Lynch, K.D.,Newman, K.R., and Roseman, E.F. (eds.; in prep.). 2001. Integrating Landscape Ecology into Fisheries Management: A Rationale and a Management Framework. In Liu, J. and W.W. Taylor. Integrating Landscape Ecology into Natural Resource Management. Cambridge University Press.
- Lynch, K.D. and Taylor, W.W.. 2000. Interjurisdictional Cooperation and the Management of Laurentian Great Lakes Ecosystems. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 27.
- Taylor, W.W.,Lynch, K.D., and Taylor, K.W.. 2000. Integrating Fisheries Management with Watershed Processes. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 27.
|
Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
Physical processes can play important roles in structuring the year-class strength of fish populations, especially during early life history stages. In this paper, we document the removal of walleye eggs from reefs in western Lake Erie by a single storm event during April of 1998. During the period April 7 through April 10, the western basin reefs experienced sustained gale force winds originating from the east-northeast and exceeding 80 km/h. This storm produced waves in excess of 4 m and caused extensive flooding along the Ohio and Michigan shorelines due to seiche activity. We sampled eggs on the reefs on April 6 before the storm and on April 10 after the storm. On shallow reefs (<5 m) we observed reductions in egg catch ranging from 81 to 89% compared to samples collected the day before the storm. A deep reef showed an egg loss of only 8% due to reduced wave energy at deep sites. The results of this study emphasize the importance of physical processes in
structuring walleye early life history dynamics on western Lake Erie reefs.
Impacts
This study emphasizes the importance of physical processes in structuring the year-class strength of fishes in the Great Lakes and provides fishery managers with a quantifiable estimate of the effects of such processes on fish populations.
Publications
- Roseman,E.F. Taylor,W.W. Hayes,D.B. Knight,R.L. and Haas,R.C. 1999. The Demise and Rehabilitation of Walleye in Lake Erie. Sustainable Lake Management: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on the Conservation and Management of Lakes, Volume 2:S15B-11.
- Mills,E.L. Chrisman,J.R. Baldwin,B. Owens,R.W. O'Gorman,R. Howell,T. Roseman,E.F. and Raths,M.K. 1999. Changes in the dreissenid community in the lower Great Lakes with emphasis on Lake Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 25:187-197.
|
Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
Physical processes create the environmental settings in which biological processes occur. Therefore, physical processes can have strong effects on fish populations, especially during vulnerable early life history stages. Much of the variability in recruitment of Lake Erie walleye is thought to be caused by variable survival during the egg and larval stages. Our research on Lake Erie walleye indicates that density-independent physical processes directly affect the vital rates of these early life history stages. In western Lake Erie, large scale storm events in spring were related to high mortality of walleye eggs and larvae on reefs and subsequently produced poor recruitment. Additionally, variability in environmental conditions (i.e. water warming rate) prolongs life history stage durations over which high mortality rates operate. Slower water warming rates in western Lake Erie prolonged walleye egg incubation and pelagic larval stages extending the period of
vulnerability to disease and predation for these early life history stages and negatively impact year- class strength. Physical processes rarely function independently but facilitate the underlying ecological mechanisms that drive fish population dynamics. Therefore, it is essential to examine physical processes in relation to biological processes in order to gain a more complete understanding of the linkages between them. By doing so, we gain a stronger basis for predicting the response of fish populations to environmental variability.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Roseman, E.F., D.J. Jude, T.G. Coon, M.K. Raths, and W.W. Taylor. 1998. Occurrence of deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsoni) in western Lake Erie. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 24(2):479-483.
- Lynch, K.D. and W.W. Taylor. 1998. Interjurisdictional Cooperation and the Management of Laurentian Great Lakes Ecosystems. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 27.
- Taylor, W.W., K.D. Lynch, and K.W. Taylor. 1998. Integrating Fisheries Management with Watershed Processes. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 27.
- Lynch, K.D., W.W. Taylor, J.M. Robertson, and K.D. Smith. 1998. Utilizing Ecosystem Concepts in Fisheries Management Strategies. Proceedings from the 16th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, Ecosystem Considerations in Fisheries Management. September 30-October 3, 1998, Anchorage, Alaska.
- Newman, K.R., W.W. Taylor, and D.B., Hayes. 1998. In Press. The effect of urbanization on fish community structure in a large Michigan watershed. Proceedings from the 16th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, Ecosystem Considerations in Fisheries Management. September 30-October 3, 1998, Anchorage, Alaska
- Roseman, E.F., W.W. Taylor, D.B. Hayes, R.C. Haas, D. Davies, and S. Mackie. 1998. Physical processes structuring the early life history dynamics of walleye in western Lake Erie. Proceedings from the 16th Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium, Ecosystem Considerations in Fisheries Management. September 30-October 3, 1998, Anchorage, Alaska
- Liu, J., Z. Ouyang, Z. Yang, W. Taylor, R. Groop, Y. Tan, and H. Zhang. 1998. Human factors and giant panda habitat change in Wolong Nature Reserve. Conservation Biology.
- Liu, J. and W.W.Taylor. 1998. Integrating Landscape Ecology into Natural Resource Management.
- Becerra-Munoz, S., D. B. Hayes, and W. W. Taylor. 1998. Stationarity and rate of dampening of modeled indices of fish abundance in relation to their exploitation status in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Ecological Modeling in press.
- Hayes, D. B., W. W. Taylor, M. T. Drake, S. M. Marod, and G. E. Whelan. 1998. The value of headwaters to brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Ford River, Michigan, USA. Pages 175-185 in Headwaters: water resources and soil conservation. M. J. Haigh, J. Krecek, G. S. Rajwar, and M. P. Kilmartin, editors. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi.
|
Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97
Outputs
The goal of this research is to characterize the early life history dynamics of fish in western Lake Erie. While field and laboratory research remain in progress, herein we report the collection of two specimens of deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsoni) from Ohio waters of western Lake Erie in 1995. Both specimens were collected while sampling for pelagic walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) larvae. A 15.0 mm TL deepwater sculpin larva was collected over Toussaint reef on 29 April 1995 and a 17.0 mm TL juvenile was collected west of South Bass Island State Park on 12 May 1995. We found no reference to collections of deepwater sculpins from western Lake Erie in the literature or from communications with local management agency personnel. While these young deepwater sculpin may have come from ballast water or from a reproducing population in Lake Erie, the collection of 21 deepwater sculpin (12 - 19 mm) in the St. Clair River in May 1990 provides evidence of downstream
transport from Lake Huron. This mechanism may also be responsible for the recolonization of downstream waters (i.e. Lake Ontario) by deepwater sculpin.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- TAYLOR, W.W., FERRERI, C.P. 1996. Great Lakes Fisheries Futures: Balancing the Demands of a Multi-Jurisdictional Resource. Environmental Professional. (In Press)
- ROSEMAN, E.F., RATHS, M.K. 1997. Occurrence of the deepwater sculpin Myoxocephalus thompsoni in western Lake Erie. J. Great Lakes Res. (In press).
- FERRERI, C.P., TAYLOR, W.W. 1997. Fishing and Lamprey Induced Mort. in Rehab. of Lake Trout in L. Superior. Proc. of the 2nd World Fish. Cong. 2:72-77.
- NIELSEN, L.A., KNUTH, B.A. 1997. The stakeholder satisfaction triangle: a model for successful management. Proc. of the 2nd World Fish. Cong. 2:183-189.
- TAYLOR, W.W., FERRERI, C.P. 1997. Great Lakes Fisheries Futures: Balancing the Demands of a Binational Resource. Proc. of the 2nd World Fish. Cong. 2:741-756.
- HANSEN, M.J., BENCE, J.R. 1997. The importance of stocked lake trout to population recoveries in Lake Superior. Proc. of the 2nd World Fish, Cong. 2:492-497
- DRAKE, M.T., TAYLOR, W.W. 1996. Influence of water temperature on brook char, growth and age structure in the Ford River. Envir. Biol. Fishes 45:41-51.
- FERRERI, C.P., TAYLOR, W.W. 1996. Compensation in individual growth rates and its influence on lake trout population dynamics in Lake Superior. J. Fish Biol. (In Press)
- SITAR, S.P., BENCE, J.R. 1996. Sea lamprey wounding rates on lake trout in Lake Huron, 1984-1994. Michigan Academician XXIX:21-38.
- FERRERI, C.P., TAYLOR, W.W. 1996. Comparison in individual growth rates and its influence on lake trout population dynamics. J. Fish Biol. 49:763-777.
- HAYES, D.B., FERRERI, C.P. 1996. Active Fish Capture Methods. Pages 193-220 In D. Willis and B. Murphy (eds.), Fish. Tech., American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD.
- HAYES, D.B., FERRERI, C.P. 1996. Linking fish habitat to their population dynamics. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 53 (Suppl 1):383-390.
- ROSEMAN, E.F., TAYLOR, W.W. 1996. Walleye egg deposition and survival on reefs in western Lake Erie. Acta Zoologica Fennici 33:341-351.
|
Progress 01/01/96 to 12/30/96
Outputs
The overall objective of this research was to examine the physical & biological processes influencing recruitment of walleye in western Lake Erie. To investigate the recruitment mechanisms influencing their year class strength, eggs were sampled on Toussaint and Niagara reefs & larvae on and adjacent to the reefs(1994-1996). Densities of eggs & larvae were higher in 1994 and 1996 than 1995. Egg survival for depths and reefs pooled averaged 37% in 1994, 13% in 1995, and 34% in 1996. White perch were observed to consume large numbers of walleye eggs on reefs in 1995 & 1996. Walleye larvae became concentrated in semi-protected bay areas & near river mouths south and southwest of the reef complex while few larvae were collected north of the reef complex in all years. The mean density of larvae from the date of first hatch through the end of May was 14 times higher in 1994 than 1995(28.4:2.0/1,000 m3)and 4 times higher in 1996 than 1995. Relatively slow water warming rates
& frequent intense winds contributed to the low density & survival of eggs on reefs in 1995 by prolonging incubation periods and increasing the vulnerability of eggs to predation & severe wind events. The effects of abiotic & biotic factors on walleye egg density & survival influenced larval abundundance.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- CAMPA III,H., WINTERSTEIN,S. R., et.al. 1992. Wildlife & vegetative response to diverted ag. land in Gratiot, Co. MI. Unpublished annual report to MI Dept. Nat.Res.
- CAMPA III,H., WINTERSTEIN,S. R., et.al. 1993. Wildlife & vegetative response to diverted ag. land in Gratiot, Co. MI. Unpublished annual report to MI Dept. Nat.Res.
- CAMPA III, H., WINTERSTEIN, S. R., et.al. 1994. Wildlife & vegetative response todiverted ag. land in Gratiot, Co. MI. Unpublished annual report to MI Dept. Nat.Res.
- CAMPA III, H., WINTERSTEIN, S. R., et.al. 1995. Wildlife & vegetative response todiverted ag. land in Gratiot, Co. MI. Unpublished annual report to MI Dept. Nat.Res.
- CAMPA III, H., WINTERSTEIN, S.R. et.al. 1992. Examining CRP. Pheasants Forever 10th Anniv. Issue. 10(4):10-11.
- FURROW, L.T. 1994. Influence of field age on mammalian abundance, diversity, & dist. on CRP lands in MI. M.S. Thesis. Dept. Fisheries & Wildlife, MI St. Univ.,E. Lansing.
- MILLENBAH, K.F. 1994. The effects of diff. age classes of fields enrolled in theCRP in MI on avian diversity, density & prod. M.S. Thesis. Dept. Fisheries & Wildlife, MI St. Univ., E. Lansing.
|
Progress 01/01/95 to 12/30/95
Outputs
The overall objective of this research was to examine the physical & biological processes influencing recruitment of walleye in western Lake Erie. To investigate the recruitment mechanisms influencing their year class strength, eggs were sampled on Toussaint and Niagara reefs and larvae on and adjacent to the reefs(1994-1995). Densities of eggs and larvae were higher in 1994 than 1995. Egg survival for depths and reefs pooled averaged 37% in 1994 and 13% in 1995. White perch were observed to consume large numbers of walleye eggs on reefs in 1995. Walleye larvae became concentrated in semi-protected bay areas and near river mouths south and southwest of the reef complex while few larvae were collected north of the reef complex in both years. The mean density of larvae from the date of first hatch through the end of May was 14 times higher in 1994 than 1995(28.4:2.0). Relatively slow water warming rates and frequent intense winds contributed to the low density and
survival of eggs on reefs in 1995 by prolonging incubation periods and increasing the vulnerability of eggs to predation and severe wind events. The effects of abiotic and biotic factors on walleye egg density and survival influenced larval abundance in 1994 and 1995.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- FERRERI,C.,TAYLOR,W.,ROBERTSON,J. 1996. Gr. Lks fish fut.: Bal. the dmnds. of a mlt-juris. res. The Env. Prof. (in-press).
- FERRERI,C.,TAYLOR,W.,KOONCE,J. 1995. Eff. of impr. wat. qual. & strm trtmnt rot. on sea lamp. abund.: Impl. for lk trout rehab. in Gr.Lks. J. Gr. Lks Res. 21(S1):176-184.
- KOCIK,J.,TAYLOR,W. 1996. Eff. of juv. steelhead on juv. br. trout hab. use in s low-grad. Gr. Lks tribut. Trans. of the Am. Fish. Soc. (in Pr.).
- KOCIK,J.,TAYLOR,W. 1996. Eff. of juv. stlhd. (Onc. myk.) on age-0 & age-1 br. trout (Salmo trutta) surv. & grth. in a symp. nurs. strm. Can. J. of Fish. & Aqua. Sci. 52:105-114.
- KOCIK,J.,TAYLOR,W. 1994. Summ. surv. & grth. of br. trout w/& w/out stlhd. und. eq. tot. sal. dens. in an artif. strm. Trans. of the Am. Fish. Soc. 123:931-938.
- BROWN,R.,TAYLOR,W. 1994. Imp. of recr. dip net fish. on rnbw smelt egg depos. N. Am. J. Fish. Man. 15(1):165-169.
- BROWN,R.,M.EBENER,T.SLEDGE,W.TAYLOR. 1995. For. fish assem. struc. in lit. & nrshr areas of St. Mart. Bay, Lk Huron. In Munawar, Edsal, & Leach (ed). The Lk Hur. Eco.: Ec., Fish. & Mgt. (In Pr.).
- DOBSON,T.,FERRERI,C.,POSTON,F.,TAYLOR, W. 1995. Trans. wldlf ed: Fac. sust... Pgs 143-146 in J.Bissonette,P.Krausman. Integr. People & Wldlf for a Sust. Fut. The Wldlf Soc., Beth., MD.
|
Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94
Outputs
The overall objective of this research was to examine the physical & biological processes influencing recruitment of rainbow smelt in the upper Great Lakes. To investigate the recruitment mechanisms influencing their year class strength, early life stages were sampled in St. Martin Bay, Lake Huron (1991-1993). Total larval production varied between years & was attributed to variable levels of egg deposition & survival between years. In 1991, high tributary larval production & high degree of spatial overlap between larvae & zooplankton prey resources resulted in the production of a strong year class comprised mainly of tributary spawned progeny. In 1992, low tributary production of larvae, low densities of zooplankton prey resources,& poor spatial overlap between larval populations & prey resources resulted in a relatively poor year class which was comprised mainly of lake spawned larvae. In 1993, intermediate levels of tributary larval production with moderate
densities of zooplankton prey resources & a high degree of spatial overlap with prey resulted in a moderate year class. Differences in the relative contributions of stream&lake spawned fish between years appeared to be the result of markedly different weather conditions during larval emergence & growth. Warm water conditions in 1991 & 1993 allowed for higher growth & survival rates of early emerging stream spawned fish. A cold spring in 1992 resulted in reduced egg deposition&subsequent poor growth&survival of stream spawned rainbow smelt.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- HAYES, D.B., TAYLOR, W.W. 1994. Changes in the composition of somatic & gonadal tissue of the yellow perch following white sucker removal. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 123:204-216.
- KOCIK, J.F., TAYLOR, W.W. 1994. Summer survival & growth of brown trout with and without steelhead under equal total salmonine densities in & artificial stream. Trans. Amer. Fish Soc. 123:931-938.
- KOCIK, J.F., TAYLOR, W.W. 1994. Habitat use of juvenile brown trout in a Great Lakes tributary & the impact of juvenile steelhead. Can. J. Fish. Aq. Sci. (In Press).
- DOBSON, T.A., FERRERI, C.P., POSTON, F.R., AND TAYLOR, W.W. 1994. Transuniversity wildlife education: achieving sustainability through a holistic approach. J. Wildl. Man. (in-press).
- FERRERI, C.P., TAYLOR, W.W., ROBERTSON, J.M. 1995. Grt Lks fisheries futures: Balancing the demands of a multi-jurisdictional resource. The Environ. Professional. (in-press).
- FERRERI, C.P., TAYLOR, W.W., KOONCE J.F. 1995. Effects of improved water quality & stream treatment rotation on sea lamprey abundance: Implications for lake trout rehab. in the Grt Lks. J. Great Lakes Res. (in-press).
- FERRERI, C.P., TAYLOR, W.W., HAYES D.B. 1995. Eval. of age-0 survival & its effect on lk trout rehab. in the MI waters of Lk Superior. J. Grt Lakes Res. (I.
|
Progress 01/01/93 to 12/30/93
Outputs
Field sampling was conducted in 1991-93 to evaluate the relative contribution ofstream vs. lake spawned larvae to overall recruitment of rainbow smelt in St. Martin Bay, Lake Huron. Drift net sampling of four tributaries and larval trawling in St. Martin Bay were used to measure larval emergence and abundance. Stream spawned larvae emerged 10-22 days prior to lake spawned fish due to higher egg incubation temperatures. Analysis of otolith growth increments from age 0+ rainbow smelt collected during bottom trawl surveys in September were used to determine hatch date distributions for successfully recruited juveniles, which were compared to hatch date distributions of stream spawned fish. The relatively strong 1991 year class (approximately 7 times larger than the 1992 year class) was dominated by stream spawned fish, while the relatively weak 1992 year class was dominated by lake spawned fish. The 1993 year class was moderately strong with approximately equal
contributions of stream and lake spawned larvae. Differences in the relative contributions of stream and lake spawned fish between the three years appear to be the result of markedly different weather conditions during larval emergence and growth. Warm water conditions in 1991 and 1993 allowed for higher growth and survival rates of early emerging stream spawned fish, while a cold spring with in 1992 resulted in poor growth and survival of stream spawned rainbow smelt.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- HAYES,D.B., TAYLOR,W.W. 1993. Changes in the composition of somatic & gonadal tissue of the yellow perch following white sucker removal. Trans.Amer.Fish.Soc. (in-press).
- BROWN,R.W., TAYLOR,W.W. 1992. Effects of egg compos. & prey density on the larval growth & survival of lake whitefish... J. Fish Biol. 40:381-394.
- PROUT,M.W., WALKER,S.H., TAYLOR,W.W. 1992. Population dynamics & manage. of lake whitefish stocks in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Mich. N.Amer.J.Fish.Man. (In Review).
- WALKER,S.H. 1992. Population dynamics & movement of lake whitefish in outer Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. MS Thesis. M.S.U. 78p.
- BROWN,R.W., TAYLOR,W.W., ASSEL,R.A. 1993. Climate-based recruitment models of lake whitefish in two areas of northern Lake Mich. J.Great Lakes Res. 19(2):418-428.
- DOBSON,T.A., ET AL. 1993. Transuniversity wildlife education: achieving sustainability through a holistic approach. J.Wildl.Man.(in-review).
- HAYES,D.B., TAYLOR,W.W., MILLS,E.L. 1993. Natural lakes & large impoundments. In Inland Fish. Manage. in N.Amer.C.Kohler & W. Hubert eds. Amer.Fish.Soc., Bethesda, MD.
- HAYES,D.B., TAYLOR,W.W., SCHRAMM,H.L. JR. 1993. Predicting biological importance of competitive fishing. N.Amer.J. of Fish. Man. (In Press).
|
Progress 01/01/92 to 12/30/92
Outputs
Egg samples were collected from twelve populations of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior to compare egg composition parameters between females and stocks, and to evaluate the effect of egg composition on resulting larval growth and survival. Egg composition parameters including egg mass, egg caloric density, and egg lipid content were measured for each sampled female. Offspring of females from two stocks were utilized in a laboratory experiment to measure the effects of egg composition on larval growth and survival under laboratory conditions. Larger, older females produced larger eggs with higher lipid content. Progeny of larger, older females had a higher mean length at hatch and higher rates of endogenous growth. Mean length at hatch of larvae varied by as much as 8% between progeny hatching from parental females within stocks, and was positively related to egg caloric content of parental females. Mean endogenous growth of
larval lake whitefish varied by as much as 22% between progeny hatching from parental female lake whitefish, and was positively related to egg caloric density and egg lipid content of parental females. These factors may influence the larval survival and year class formation, especially in years when conditions for growth and survival are marginal.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- TAYLOR, W.W., SMALE, M.A. and BROWN, R.W. 1992. An evaluation of age versus size dependent life history characteristics of lake whitefish stocks in the upper Great Lakes. Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Biology and Manage.
- BROWN, R.W. and TAYLOR, W.W. 1992. Effects of egg composition and prey density on the larval growth and survival of lake whitefish, (Coregonus clupeaformis Mitchell). Journal of Fish Biology 40:381-394.
- PROUT, M.W., WALKER, S.H., TAYLOR, W.W. and WINTERSTEIN, S.R. 1992. Population dynamics and management of lake whitefish stocks in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan. North American Journal of Fisheries Management (In Press).
|
Progress 01/01/91 to 12/30/91
Outputs
Eggs were collected from two stocks of lake whitefish in Lakes Michigan and Huron to assess the effect of egg composition and prey density on larval growth and survival. Length at hatch of larvae was positively related to egg caloric content (R(superscript 2) = 0.780). Engogenous growth of lake whitefish larvae was positively related to percent lipid content (R(superscript 2) = 0.896) and total egg lipid content (R(superscript 2) = 0.876) of parental females. These results indicate that egg composition has the potential to significantly influence the growth and survival dynamics of larval lake whitefish. Spawning stock and climate-based recruitment models were developed for lake whitefish in northern Green Bay and the North Shore areas of Lake Michigan. The climate-based recruitment model (R(superscript 2) = 0.65) demonstrated improved hindcasting ability when compared to the Beverton-Holt stock-recruitment model (R(superscript 2) = 0.37) for the northern Green Bay
stocks. For the North Shore stocks, the climate-based recruitment model (R(superscript 2) = 0.57) demonstrated improved hindcasting ability when compared to the Ricker stock-recruitment model (R(superscript 2) = 0.13). Results of this study indicate that climate-based recruitment models have the potential to more accurately forecast lake whitefish cohort strength.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- KOCK, J.F. and TAYLOR, W.W. 1991. Abundance, size, and recruitment of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in selected Michigan tributaries of the upper Great Lakes, 1984-1988. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 17(2):203-213.
- HAYES, D.B., TAYLOR, W.W. and MILLS, E.L. 1991. Natural lakes and large impoundments. in Inland Fisheries Management in North America. C. Kohler and W. Hubert editors. American Fisheries Society. in-press.
- TAYLOR, W.W., SMALE, M.A. and BROWN, R.W. 1991. An evaluation of age versus size dependent life history characteristics of lake whitefish stocks in the upper Great Lakes. Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Biology and Manage.
- HAYES, D.B. and TAYLOR, W.W. 1991. A multiple regression technique to analyze stomach contents in fish. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. In Press.
- BROWN, R.W. 1991. Factors influencing the larval survival and recruitment of lake whitefish in the upper Great Lakes. M.S. Thesis, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, Michigan.
- SLUKA, R.D. 1991. The effects of spring climate, spawner abundance, and cannibalism on the abundance of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) at two sites in the upper Great Lakes. MS. Thesis, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, Michigan. 60 p.
|
Progress 01/01/90 to 12/30/90
Outputs
Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations in the upper Midwest are often dominated by slow-growing or stunted individuals, resulting in a fishery of low value. One hypothesis for the poor growth observed is competition with white suckers (Catostomus commersoni) for food. In order to evaluate the effect that competition with suckers has on yellow perch growth, we examined yellow perch populations and their prey resources in two lakes: Douglas Lake, MI where we removed white suckers and Little Bear, MI which was not manipulated. These lakes were chosen based on their similar limnological, morphological and fishery characteristics. Each lake initially contained populations of white suckers and stunted yellow perch. After a two-year pretreatment period, we removed 75% of the adult suckers from Douglas Lake during the spring spawning period using trapnets. Initially, no response was observed in Douglas Lake yellow perch. After one year, we noticed an increase in their
growth rate; however this increase was not significantly greater than that observed in Little Bear Lake which did not have suckers removed. After two years, significant differences were observed between the growth of yellow perch from Douglas Lake as compared to those in Little Bear Lake. The increase in growth rate was due to an increased benthic invertebrate abundance and utilization by yellow perch.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- FREEBERG, M.H., W.W. TAYLOR and R.W. BROWN. 1990. Effect of egg and larval survival on year-class strength of Lake Whitefish in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 119:92-100.
- GIGLIOTTI, L.M. and W.W. TAYLOR, 1990. The effect of illegal harvest on recreational fisheries. N. Am. J. Fish. Mgmt. 10:106-110.
- HAYES, D.B. and W.W. TAYLOR. 1990. Reproductive strategy in yellow perch (Perca flavescens): effect of diet ontogeny, mortality, and survival costs. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 47:921-927.
- HAYES, D.B. 1990. Competition between white sucker (Catostomus commerson:) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens): results of a whole-lake manipulation. Ph.D. dissertation, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 147 pp.
- DUFOUR, J.A. 1990. Evaluation of half-logs as habitat improvement structures for smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieui) and Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris). M. S. thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 61 pp.
|
Progress 01/01/89 to 12/30/89
Outputs
Factors influencing the theoretical optimal age at first reproduction for yellowperch were explored for three different diet ontogenies including: zooplankton only; zooplanton and benthos; zooplankton, benthos, and fish. Under each of these cases, optimal age at first reproduction varied with survival effects of reproduction. Adult survival rate has little effect when yellow perch fed only on zooplankton but when fish and benthos were available, the optimal age at maturity increased with increasing adult survival. Growth rates were affected by both age at maturity and diet ontogeny, with diet ontogeny having a much greater effect. Maximal adult size was affected by reproductive strategy in each case, with larger terminal sizes obtained when maturity was delayed. Increases in size with delayed maturity were greatest when zooplankton, benthos and fish were available as prey items.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- FREEBERG, M.H., TAYLOR, W.W. and BROWN, R.W. 1989. The effect of egg and larval survival on the year class strenghth of Lake Whitefish in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. in-press.
- HAYES, D.B. and TAYLOR, W.W. 1989. Reproductive strategy in yellow perch (Perca flavescens): effects of diet ontogeny, mortality, and survival costs. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. in-press.
- PROUT, M.W. 1989. Population dynamics and stock differentiation of Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) in Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan. M.S. Thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 90 pp.
|
Progress 01/01/88 to 12/30/88
Outputs
Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) spawner and fry abundance, length and weight, and spawning habitat were studied in tributaries of Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. Lake Superior pink salmon stocks have declined substantially since peaking at high population levels in 1979. Lake Huron stocks are steady to slightly increasing after a dramatic increase in 1983 and 1985. Lake Michigan stocks continue to increase at a rapid rate. Spawners from Lake Michigan (males: 482 mm, 1045 g; females 449 mm, 840 g) were significantly larger than those from Lakes Huron (males: 418 mm, 574 g; females 389 mm, 450 g) or Superior (males: 410 mm, 567 g; females 388 mm, 466 g). There was no significant size difference between Lakes Huron or Superior fish. Great Lakes fish are smaller than their Pacific Ocean counterparts. Spawning habitat utilized by pink salmon was composed of gravel to cobble substrate in 0.50 to 1.50 feet of water with velocities from 0.50 to 1.5 feet per
second. There was no significant difference in the size of outmigrating fry from Lake Huron (31.94 mm, 0.138 g), Lake Michigan (32.64 mm, 0.132 g), and Lake Superior (31.96 mm, 0.117 g). Fry abundance was variable between years and dependent upon spawner abundance and environmental factors. Low estimates of survival to outmigration (0.12 %-1.15%) indicate that the stream phase is critical in determining pink salmon recruitment in Great lakes ecosystems.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- SMALE, M.A. 1988. A comparative analysis of lake whitefish population dynamics in north-eastern Lake Michigan. M.S. Thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 264.pp.
- KOCIK, J.F. 1988. Population parameters and abundance of pink salmon in the upper Great Lakes, M.S. Thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 94 pp.
- ZIEGLER, R.L. 1988. Stream resource utilization of sympatric and allopatric juvenile Brown (Salmo trutta) and Steelhead Trout (Salmo gairdneri). M.S. Thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 63 pp.
- HAYES, D.B. 1988. Distribution, diet and growth of two coexisting populations of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and White Sucker (Catostomus comimersoni). M.S. Thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 126 pp.
- LOFTUS, A.J., TAYLOR, W.W. and KELLER, M. 1988. An evaluation of Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) hooking mortality in the upper Great Lakes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 45(8):1473-1479.
|
|