More than a decade of Coregonid production in Chaumont Bay, Lake Ontario

Session: 08a. - Restoration of Native Fishes

James McKenna, Tunison Lab. of Aquatic Sciences, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]
James Johnson, USGS, [email protected]
Marc Chalupnicki, Tunison Lab. of Aquatic Sciences, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]

Abstract

Coregonids are native forage fish of Lake Ontario that once supported commercial fisheries. However, these species have been extirpated or declined severely. Chaumont Bay (US) and the Bay of Quinte (Canada) in eastern Lake Ontario are the last remaining significant spawning areas for the two extant species, Cisco (Coregonus artedi) and Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). Overhavest and exotic species are likely causes for these declines, but climate conditions also appear to affect the productivity of these species. We censused coregonid larval abundance in Chaumont Bay in late April for >10 years and compared those abundances with measures of winter air temperature and ice cover. Results indicate a clear, but variable relationship between winter weather conditions and coregonid productivity. Species’ identification is being genetically confirmed and will allow us to determine if larvae of these species occupy distinct habitats. Recovery of these native prey fish would benefit the Lake Ontario food web and efforts to rehabilitate Bloater and selected historic Cisco populations are under way. However, global climate changes may threaten recovery of these species.

1. Keyword
fish populations

2. Keyword
Lake Ontario

3. Keyword
environmental effects

4. Additional Keyword
Native Fish