Lake Whitefish and Lake Herring Population Structure and Niche in Ten South-Central Ontario Lakes |
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Authors: | Leon M Carl Fiona McGuiness |
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Institution: | (1) Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research, Aquatic Research and Development Section, Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, P.O. Box 4840, Peterborough, ON, Canada;(2) Present address: U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, 1451 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA |
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Abstract: | Synopsis This study compares simple fish communities of ten oligotrophic lakes in south-central Ontario. Species densities and population
size structure vary significantly among these lake communities depending on fish species present beyond the littoral zone.
Lake whitefish are fewer and larger in the presence of lake herring than in their absence. Diet analysis indicates that lake
whitefish shift from feeding on both plankton and benthic prey when lake herring are absent to a primarily benthic feeding
niche in the presence of lake herring. When benthic round whitefish are present, lake whitefish size and density decline and
they move lower in the lake compared to round whitefish. Burbot are also fewer and larger in lakes with lake herring than
in lakes without herring. Burbot, in turn, appear to influence the population structure of benthic coregonine species. Lower
densities of benthic lake whitefish and round whitefish are found in lakes containing large benthic burbot than in lakes with
either small burbot or where burbot are absent. Predation on the pelagic larvae of burbot and lake whitefish by planktivorous
lake herring alters the size and age structure of these populations. As life history theory predicts, those species with poor
larval survival appear to adopt a bet-hedging life history strategy of long-lived individuals as a reproductive reserve. |
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Keywords: | catch per unit effort diet size at age bet-hedging |
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