Geology topics

Jacqueline F. Savino

Publications and source records attributed to Jacqueline F. Savino.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

USGS1991

Feeding rate of slimy sculpin and burbot on young lake charr in laboratory reefs

Predation and contaminants are two possible factors in the poor recruitment of young lake charr Salvelinus namaycush in the Great Lakes. We measured the feeding rate of slimy sculpins Cottus cognatus and burbot Lota lota on young lake charr (uncontaminated young from eggs of a hatchery brood stock and contaminated young from eggs of Lake Michigan lake charr) in laboratory test chambers with a cobble substrate. The median daily consumption rate of sculpins for all tests was 2 lake charr eggs (N = 22 tests; 95% confidence interval, O-13) and 2 lake charr free embryos (N = 31 tests; 95% confidence interval, O-10). Feeding rate did not differ between hatchery and contaminated prey. Slimy sculpins continued to feed on lake charr when another prey organism, the deepwater amphipod Pontoporeia hoyi , was present. Feeding by burbot on free embryos (4-36 d -l ) increased as the mobility of young increased, but burbot consumed about 10% of their body weight weekly in free-swimming young (140-380 d -l ). Predation on lake charr eggs by sculpins could beconsiderable over the 100 to 140 d incubation period, and burbot could eat large numbers of free-swimming lake charr as the young fish left the reef. Predation pressure on young lake charr may inhibit rehabilitation ofself-sustaining populations of lake charr on some reefs unless a critical egg density has been reached.

Environmental Biology of Fishes↗

USGS1991

Crayfish ( Orconectes virilis ) feeding on young lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ): effect of rock size

In laboratory studies, we quantified predation rates of crayfish ( Orconectes virilis ) on the eggs and sac fry of lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) and a surrogate species, rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mvkiss ), dispersed among different sized substrates (bare bottom, gravel, cobble, large rocks). Predation was most severe when no rocks were present. Feeding rate then decreased as the substrate changed from large rocks to cobble to gravel. Crayfish predation rate did not change with prey type—rainbow trout and lake trout eggs or sac fry. Crayfish foraging in large tanks containing cobble averaged about two eggs or sac fry per day. In most instances, crayfish would have little impact on lake trout egg survival. Only in lake trout spawning grounds with relatively low egg densities, large crayfish populations, and cobble or large rock substrate, would crayfish be expected to have some impact on lake trout egg survival.

Journal of Freshwater Ecology↗

USGS1989

Behavior of fish predators and their prey: Habitat choice between open water and dense vegetation

Behavior of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides , and northern pike, Esox lucius , foraging on fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas , or bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus , was quantified in pools with 50% cover (half the pool had artificial stems at a density of 1000 stems m −2 ). Both predators spent most of their time in the vegetation. Largemouth bass searched for bluegills and ambushed minnows, whereas the relatively immobile northern pike ambushed all prey. Minnows were closer to predators and were captured more frequently than bluegills. Even when minnows dispersed, they moved continually and eventually wandered within striking distance of a predator. Bluegills dispersed in the cover with predators. Bass captured the few bluegills that strayed into the open and pike captured those that approached too closely in the cover. The ability of predators to capture prey while residing in habitats containing patches of dense cover may explain their residence in areas often considered to be poor ones for foraging.

Environmental Biology of Fishes↗

USGS1989

Sublethal effects of phenanthrene, nicotine, and pinane on Daphnia pulex

Chronic studies of Daphnia Pulex exposed to different concentrations of phenanthrene, nicotine, and pinane produced consistent sublethal effects among replicates and concentrations. The LOEC's for growth and fecundity with each chemical tested were 3 to 30% of the 48-hr EC50's. Growth decreased as concentration increased for each chemical tested, and fecundity approached zero at 2 to 5 times the LOEC for each chemical. In this study chemicals representing PAHs, heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, and cyclic alkanes, produced detectable sublethal effects in daphnids at less than 0.1 ppm in water. These chronic studies, in conjuction with the more extensive acute toxicity testing (Passino and Smith 1987; Perry and Smith 1988; Smith et al. 1988), provided a relatively quick but thorough toxicological assessment of a large array of chemicals and demonstrated the relative importance of different classes of compounds in changing growth and survival trends in given populations of native organisms. Classic toxicity tests continue to provide a reliable backdrop of results with which the effects of new chemicals or mixtures can be compared.

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1989

Behavioural interaction between fish predators and their prey: effects of plant density

Prey-specific anti-predatory behaviour under different degrees of structural complexity determines foraging success of predators. The behaviour of piscivorous fish (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides and northern pike, Esox lucius ) and their prey (bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus , and fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas ) were quantified in 60-min experiments in laboratory pools (2 multiplied by 4 m in diameter, 0 multiplied by 5 m deep) with artificial vegetation at densities of 0, 50, 250, and 1000 stems/m 2 . Largemouth bass switched predatory tactics from searching to ambushing as plant density increased whereas northern pike always used ambushing. At high plant density, both predators captured minnows, but not bluegills. Bluegills modified their behaviour more than minnows in response to predators, thereby avoiding predation at high plant densities. Structural complexity alone did not always provide refuge for prey; prey must use the structure to avoid predators. Predators may seek vegetated areas if appropriate, vulnerable prey are present.

Animal Behaviour↗

USGS1988

Acute toxicity of Daphnia pulex to six classes of chemical compounds potentially hazardous to Great Lakes aquatic biota

Of the six classes of chemicals potentially hazardous to Great Lakes aquatic biota, derivatives of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were the most acutely toxic (48-h EC 50) to Daphnia pulex . The other classes, listed in order of decreasing toxicity were alkyl halides, nitrogen-containing compounds, cyclic alkanes, heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, silicon-containing compounds. O f the 41 compounds representing the six chemical classes, 6 were extremely toxic (> 0.01 - 0.1 mg/L), 11 highly toxic (> 01. - 1.0 mg/L), 20 moderately toxic (> 1.0 - 10.0 mg/L), and 4 slightly toxic (>10 - 100 mg/L). The reference compound, p, p'DDT, was super toxic (< 0.01 mg/L). Based on toxicity and relative abundance (hazard ranking) of the 21 compounds that were detected in tissue of Great Lakes fishes, the classes of compounds that present the greatest threat to Great Lakes aquatic biota are PAH derivatives, alkyl halides, and cyclic aklanes.

Journal of Great Lakes Research↗