Growth and Diet of Larval White Sucker (Catostomus commersonii) in the St Clair Detroit River System

Session: Poster session

Allison Abram, Central Michigan University, [email protected]
Edward Roseman, USGS-Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]
Robin DeBruyne, Univ. of Toledo / USGS Great Lakes Sci. Ctr, [email protected]
Scott McNaught, Central Michigan University, [email protected]

Abstract

Larval white sucker from the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS) were examined to determine if growth and diet differed among years (2010-2014) and sections of the system. Total length was measured and presence or absence of a yolk noted. Larvae were dissected and gut contents inspected under 200x magnification to determine the quantity and types of prey consumed. Prey lengths were converted to dry biomass. There was no clear trend in age or length among years and sections. Common food items included veliger larvae, cladocerans, copepods, invertebrate eggs, nauplii, and rotifers. There were differences among years in both percentage of fish feeding and total biomass of food items eaten. Diets in 2010 and 2011 differed from those in 2012 and 2014. Percent feeding also varied based on month and a PCA showed differences in the types of prey eaten among sections. These results suggest that a number of factors, including temperature, habitat, and available food, influence the growth and diet of larval white sucker in the SCDRS.

1. Keyword
fish diets

2. Keyword
St. Clair River

3. Keyword
Detroit River

4. Additional Keyword
white sucker