Functional Assessment of Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands: Insights from Seasonal Fish Diets

Session: Poster session

Afton Welninski, USGS, awelninski@usgs.gov
Sara Diller, US Geological Survey, sfriedline@usgs.gov
Adrian Gonzalez, University of Michigan, adgon@umich.edu
Shaun Goulet, Michigan State University, goulets@umich.edu
Eliza Lugten, University of Michigan, elizalu@umich.edu
Kaylee Picard, University of Michigan, krpicard@umich.edu
Christopher Terry, University of Michigan, chhalter@umich.edu
Kurt Kowalski, U.S. Geological Survey, kkowalski@usgs.gov
Jeffrey Schaeffer, USGS Great Lakes Science Center, jschaeffer@usgs.gov

Abstract

Great Lakes coastal wetlands are important fish nurseries and many fishes spend at least a portion of their life history in that habitat. But, coastal wetlands vary widely in quality due to anthropogenic stressors. Therefore, we examined fish communities among wetlands of different quality through the lens of fish diets to determine how prey resources vary among wetlands of different qualities. We used data collected during Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 and compared seasonal prey consumption. We hypothesize better wetland conditions will have more quality prey for juvenile fish, in turn ensuring a higher likelihood of good growth and survival. Our preliminary results suggest that wetland quality does not affect fish diet, but seasonal differences were observed.  Zooplankton comprised 70% of identifiable prey in juvenile fish stomachs in the fall; however, in the spring macroinvertebrate were 75% of identified prey. This suggests that seasonal prey availability or choice affects fish diet, rather than wetland quality but concurrent studies of prey availability may alter this conclusion. This study will add to our understanding of how stressors influence coastal habitats and thus influence the ecosystem services provided there. 

1. Keyword
wetlands

2. Keyword
fish diets

3. Keyword
ecosystems