Pugnose Shiner Occurrence in Relation to Physicochemical and Biological Factors in LO-SLR Bays

Session: Poster Session

James Haynes, Environmental Science & Ecology Department, [email protected]
Jeffrey Maharan, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, [email protected]
Barrett Katherine, University of Notre Dame, [email protected]

Abstract

The pugnose shiner (Notropis anogenus) is threatened in Ontario and New York. Our work provided baseline knowledge on associations of physicochemical factors (PCF), stem density of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of fish with N. anogenus in three embayments of Lake Ontario (LO) and the St. Lawrence River (SLR). Fish (electrofishing and seining) and SAV (1-m² quadrats by diving) were sampled from shore to the outer edges of SAV stands where preliminary electrofishing found the highest density of N. anogenus. PCFs were measured with a YSI Pro-Plus meter and other methods. N. anogenus CPUE was highest in Chippewa Bay (SLR), followed by Goose Bay (SLR) and Sodus Bay (LO). PCFs differed little among embayments and were not associated with N. anogenus CPUE. N. anogenus CPUE was associated with high stem density of Chara vulgaris and CPUE of blackchin shiner (N. heterodon), Eastern banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanous) and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), all of which were distributed in multivariate space with Chippewa Bay. Maintaining and protecting environmental conditions in Chippewa Bay and stocking similar water bodies with N. anogenus are proposed to maintain and enhance this species’ population status in the eastern Great Lakes region.