Characterizing the Spawning and Incubation Habitat of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) in the Great Lakes

Session: 08a. - Restoration of Native Fishes

Matthew Paufve, Cornell University, [email protected]
Suresh Sethi, Cornell University, [email protected]
Brian Lantry, U.S.G.S., Lake Ontario Bio Station, [email protected]
Jory L. Jonas, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Daniel Yule, U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]
Eric Berglund, 6Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, [email protected]
Michael Connerton, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, [email protected]
Dimitry Gorsky, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, [email protected]
Brian Weidel, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]
Stacy Furgal, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]
Curtis Karboski, US Fish and Wildlife Service, [email protected]
Lars Rudstam, Cornell University Bio Field Station, Dept. of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Jason Smith, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, [email protected]
Kevin Donner, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, [email protected]
Patrick O'Neill, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Marc Chalupnicki, Tunison Lab. of Aquatic Sciences, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]
Jay Palumbo, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, [email protected]
Anthony Chiodo, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, [email protected]
Matthew Herbert, The Nature Conservancy, [email protected]
Chris Castiglione, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, [email protected]
Zy Biesinger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, [email protected]

Abstract

Cisco (Coregonus artedi) are a native, mid-trophic coregonine that were historically abundant in the Great Lakes, serving as important prey for piscivores and supporting large commercial fisheries. In response to fishing pressure and interactions with nonnative species, among other threats, populations declined precipitously through the mid-1900s. This led to local extirpations and low abundances that persist today. Recent efforts to improve system resiliency in Lake Ontario through native fish rehabilitation have targeted remnant Cisco populations. To support these efforts, information on spawning ecology is needed to assess available habitat and to prioritize areas targeted for restoration. We studied known spawning sites to identify habitat variables associated with egg presence and viability at a high-energy reef complex in Lake Michigan, a relatively low energy area in Lake Superior, and historically important spawning areas in Lake Ontario. We utilized a diaphragm pump and egg mats to collect eggs from the lake bottom and assess the association between spawning evidence and habitat variables. In this talk, we present results from study sites in Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Ontario, and a controlled experiment testing the efficiency of benthic pump egg sampling.

1. Keyword
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)

2. Keyword
fish management

3. Keyword
habitats