Habitat Use and Fine-Scale Residence Patterns of Two Forage Fish Species in a Large Temperate River

Session: 11. - Acoustic Telemetry Applications in the Great Lakes

Amy Weinz, University of Windsor - Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research , [email protected]
Natalie Klinard, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research - University of Windsor, [email protected]
Aaron Fisk, University of Windsor, [email protected]
Scott Colborne, Michigan State University, [email protected]

Abstract

Forage fishes facilitate energy transfer towards higher trophic levels, influencing the structure and function of ecosystems through spatial and temporal changes in their distribution. Knowledge of the movement and habitat use of forage fishes can be used to identify critical habitat and understand ecological patterns that will aid management and conservation efforts. However, the spatiotemporal patterns of forage fishes are poorly studied, particularly in the Laurentian Great Lakes. To address this, we used passive acoustic telemetry to track the movements of two abundant Great Lakes forage fish, yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus), in the Detroit River. In an area of 0.39 km², an array of 26 acoustic receivers was used to monitor the movements of yellow perch (n=10) and pumpkinseed sunfish (n=10) from May 2016 – February 2017. Residence Index (RI) estimates and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) indicated that both species remained resident in the focal array for an extended period of time and were primarily found in the shallower, densely vegetated river margins instead of the shipping channel. The novel information regarding the habitat use of forage fishes across seasons in urbanized river systems will help improve conservation of aquatic communities.

1. Keyword
Detroit River

2. Keyword
habitats

3. Keyword
fish tagging

4. Additional Keyword
forage fishes