Geology topics

Jessica A. Goretzke

Publications and source records attributed to Jessica A. Goretzke.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2024

Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2023

Lake Ontario lake trout ( Salvelinus namaycush ) rehabilitation has been annually assessed with fishery independent surveys since 1983, to evaluate program benchmarks and compare observations with management objectives. These surveys provide information on the abundance, strain composition, and condition of the adult lake trout stock, as well as information on levels of natural recruitment, sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) wounding rates, and abundance indices of other coldwater fish species (burbot Lota lota , cisco C oregonus artedi , and lake whitefish C. clupeaformis ). In 2023, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of total lake trout in gillnets was notably lower (12.1 fish/net) compared to recent survey years 2018–2022 (average = 17.3 ± 1.0 SD fish/net). CPUE of mature females fell below target levels. Wildproduced mature lake trout remain rare in the adult population (1.0% of adult catch). Strain composition of stocked fish indicated approximately half (51%) of all coded wire tagged lake trout captured in 2023 were from the Superior Klondike strain. Sea lamprey wounding rates decreased in 2023 and were near the target level (2.09 A1 wounds per 100 lake trout). Lake trout condition (predicted weight at length) remains high. Overall, the 2023 survey results suggest that lake trout indicators continue to meet some of the management objectives, however, recruitment of wild-produced offspring to the adult stock continues to be limited, and abundance of stocked fish may be decreasing relative to recent years in response to reduced stocking levels.

Lake Ontario↗

USGS2023

Bottom trawl assessment of Lake Ontario's benthic preyfish community, 2022

Since 1978, surveys of Lake Ontario preyfish communities have provided information on the status and trends of the benthic preyfish community related to Fish Community Objectives that includes understanding preyfish population dynamics and community diversity. Beginning in 2015, the benthic preyfish survey expanded from US-only to incorporate Canadian sites, increasing the survey’s spatial coverage to a lake-wide scale. Additionally, sampling in eastern US embayments (Black River, Chaumont, Guffin, and Henderson Bays), that were historically sampled during a September bottom trawl survey to index Yellow Perch ( Perca flavescens ; 1978–2007), resumed in 2015. The current survey provides abundance indices for sculpins, Round Goby ( Neogobius melanostomus ) and Bloater ( Coregonus hoyi ) with survey techniques, gear and timing comparable to Lake Michigan. This alignment provides a necessary biological reference point for measuring the success of Lake Ontario Bloater reintroduction. In 2022, the collaborative benthic preyfish survey completed 171 bottom trawl tows across main lake and embayment sites at depths from 6 to 222 m. In total, the 2022 survey sampled 141,552 fish from 34 species. Round Goby was the most numerically abundant species comprising 36% of the total catch, followed by Alewife ( Alosa pseudoharengus ) and Deepwater Sculpin ( Myoxocephalus thompsonii ), at 20% and 16%, respectively. Alewife accounted for most (623 kg) of the fish biomass sampled during the 2022 survey (total=2,197 kg), followed by Deepwater Sculpin (547 kg), and Round Goby (262 kg). Slimy Sculpin ( Cottus cognatus ) lake-wide biomass density (0.03 kg/ha) remained low relative to historical observations from US waters during the 1980-1990s and was similar to the average from the previous three survey years (2019-2021 average 0.04 ± 0.02 kg/ha). Lake-wide Deepwater Sculpin biomass density reached a new high (4.4 kg/ha) in 2022. Embayment catches continue to have unique species assemblages compared to main lake habitat. Historically common native benthic preyfish species like Trout-perch ( Percopsis omiscomaycus ), Spottail Shiner ( Notropis hudsonius ), and darters ( Etheostoma spp.), that are now rare at main lake trawl sites, still occur in some embayment trawl sites.

Lake Ontario↗

USGS2023

Lake Ontario August gillnet survey and Lake Trout assessment, 2022

Lake Ontario Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) rehabilitation has been annually assessed with fishery independent surveys since 1983, in an effort to evaluate program benchmarks and compare observations with management objectives. These surveys provide information on the abundance, strain composition, and condition of the adult Lake Trout stock, as well as information on levels of natural recruitment, Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) wounding rates, and abundance indices of other coldwater fish species (Burbot Lota lota, Cisco Coregonus artedi, and Lake Whitefish C. clupeaformis). In 2022, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of total Lake Trout in gillnets remained high (18.9 fish/lift; highest since 1998) compared to lows observed during 2005–2009 (average = 7.5 fish/lift). The CPUE of immature Lake Trout in the 2022 survey was the highest since 1994. Wild-produced mature Lake Trout remain rare in the adult population (2.4% of adult catch). Strain composition of stocked fish indicated more than half (56%) of all coded-wire tagged Lake Trout captured in 2022 were from the Superior Klondike strain. Sea Lamprey wounding rates were above target levels in 2022 (3.15 A1 wounds per 100 Lake Trout) and were nearly double the 2021 rate. Lake Trout condition (predicted weight at length) was the highest since data collection began in 1983. Overall, the 2022 survey results indicate that adult Lake Trout are abundant and of high condition but composed mostly of hatchery-origin strains, suggesting recruitment of wild-produced offspring to the adult stock continues to be limited.

Lake Ontario↗