Ecology and population status of trout-perch ( Percopsis omiscomaycus ) in western Lake Erie

Patrick Kocovsky; Andrea T. Stoneman; Richard T. Kraus

doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2013.09.004

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Ecology and population status of trout-perch ( Percopsis omiscomaycus ) in western Lake Erie

Patrick Kocovsky·Andrea T. Stoneman·Richard T. Kraus

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Abstract

Trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus is among the most abundant benthic species in Lake Erie, but comparatively little is known about its ecology. Although others have conducted extensive studies on trout-perch ecology, those efforts predated invasions of white perch Morone americana , Dreissena spp., Bythotrephes longimanus and round goby Neogobius melanostomus , suggesting the need to revisit past work. Trout-perch were sampled with bottom trawls at 56 sites during June and September 2010. We examined diets, fecundity, average annual mortality, sex ratio, and long-term population trends at sites sampled since 1961. Trout-perch abundance fluctuated periodically, with distinct shorter- (4-year) and longer-term (over period of 50 years) fluctuations. Males had higher average annual mortality than females. Both sexes were equally abundant at age 0, but females outnumbered males 4:1 by age 2. Diets of trout-perch were dominated by macroinvertebrates, particularly chironomids and Hexagenia sp. Size distributions of trout-perch eggs varied widely and exhibited multiple modes indicative of protracted batch spawning. A review of the few other studies of trout-perch revealed periodic fluctuations in sex ratio of adults, which in light of our evidence of periodicity in abundance suggests the potential for sex-ratio-mediated intrinsic population regulation. Despite the introduction of numerous invasive species in Lake Erie, trout-perch remain one of the most abundant benthic invertivores and the population is relatively stable.

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Journal of Great Lakes Research Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 41.38917324986403° to 42.28340504748079° latitude; -83.48236083984375° to -82.29034423828125° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Patrick Kocovsky, Andrea T. Stoneman, Richard T. Kraus. 2014. Ecology and population status of trout-perch ( Percopsis omiscomaycus ) in western Lake Erie. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2013.09.004

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