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

Session: 08a. - Restoration of Native Fishes

Matthew Paufve, Cornell University, mp863@cornell.edu
Suresh Sethi, Cornell University, suresh.sethi@cornell.edu
Brian Lantry, U.S.G.S., Lake Ontario Bio Station, bflantry@usgs.gov
Jory L. Jonas, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, jonasj@michigan.gov
Daniel Yule, U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center, dyule@usgs.gov
Eric Berglund, 6Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, eric.berglund@ontario.ca
Michael Connerton, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, michael.connerton@dec.ny.gov
Dimitry Gorsky, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, dimitry_gorsky@fws.gov
Brian Weidel, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, bweidel@gmail.com
Stacy Furgal, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, sfurgal@usgs.gov
Curtis Karboski, US Fish and Wildlife Service, curtis_karboski@fws.gov
Lars Rudstam, Cornell University Bio Field Station, Dept. of Natural Resources, rudstam@cornell.edu
Jason Smith, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, jsmith@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov
Kevin Donner, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, KDonner@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov
Patrick O'Neill, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, oneillp@michigan.gov
Marc Chalupnicki, Tunison Lab. of Aquatic Sciences, U.S. Geological Survey, mchalupnicki@usgs.gov
Jay Palumbo, U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, jpalumbo@usgs.gov
Anthony Chiodo, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Anthony.Chiodo@ontario.ca
Matthew Herbert, The Nature Conservancy, mherbert@tnc.org
Chris Castiglione, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, chris_castiglione@fws.gov
Zy Biesinger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, zy_biesinger@fws.gov

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