Spatial Patterns Emphasize the Importance of Coastal Zones as Nursery Areas for Larval Walleye in Western Lake Erie |
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| Affiliation: | 1. University of Toledo, Lake Erie Center, Department of Environmental Sciences, 6200 Bayshore Road, Oregon, OH 43618, USA;2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 4840 South State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA;1. Central Michigan University, Biology Department, Brooks Hall 142, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, USA;2. Central Michigan University, Biology Department, Brooks Hall 194, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, USA;3. University of Windsor, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada;4. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Lake Ontario Fisheries Station, 41 Hatchery Lane, R.R. #4, Picton, Ontario, Canada;5. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2045 Morse Road, Building G, Columbus, OH 43229, USA;6. The Ohio State University, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, 1314 Kinnear Rd., 232 Research Center, Columbus, OH 43212, USA;1. Great Lakes Center, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222, USA.;2. CSRA, 1359 W. Elmdale Ave. Suite 2, Chicago, IL 60660, USA.;3. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office, Chicago, IL 60604, USA. |
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| Abstract: | Lake Erie walleye Sander vitreus exhibits significant interannual variability in year-class strength. Recent research revealed the importance of larval growth and survival rates in determining walleye year-class strength in western Lake Erie, indicating that spatial and temporal overlap of larvae with good habitat conditions (e.g., abundant prey, warm waters) promoted walleye growth and survival. To assess the spatial overlap between walleye larvae and habitat parameters (water depth, temperature, water clarity, prey density) in western Lake Erie, we evaluated the spatial distribution of walleye larvae and these habitat parameters with intensive sampling at 30 to 36 sites during spring 1994–1999. We analyzed spatial relationships among pelagic walleye larvae and various habitat attributes using a geographic information system and principal components analysis. Larval walleye density was consistently highest at nearshore sites during all years and showed a high degree of spatial overlap with high ichthyoplankton density, and warm water temperatures. Larval walleye density was negatively associated with water depth and water clarity. Two principal components represented 79.6% of the total variability in site attributes. Principle components analysis supported our spatial analysis by graphically separating sites into distinct groups based on larval walleye density and habitat attributes. These analyses indicated that similar relationships between larval distribution and habitat attributes occur each year, emphasizing the importance of nearshore coastal zones as nursery areas for walleye. |
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