Browsing by Subject "yellow perch"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Data and R code for analysis of mercury concentration and food web differences in walleye and yellow perch from Minnesota lakes with and without invasive zebra mussels, 2019 - 2021
    (2023-02-24) Blinick, Naomi S; Ahrenstorff, Tyler D; Bethke, Bethany J; Fleishman, Abram B; Link, Denver; Nelson, Jenna KR; Rantala, Heidi M; Rude, Claire L; Hansen, Gretchen JA; nsblinick@gmail.com; Blinick, Naomi S; University of Minnesota Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, Conservation Biology; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
    This dataset contains δ13C and δ15N stable isotope data for 3,765 biological samples (fish, littoral macroinvertebrates, and zooplankton) collected from 21 lakes between 2019 and 2021, collaboratively by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In addition, 403 samples have corresponding mercury data, based on laboratory analyses conducted by USGS (Tate et al. 2022).
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    Data and R code for analysis of walleye and yellow perch age-0 length in Minnesota's Large Lakes
    (2019-12-10) Hansen, Gretchen J A; Bethke, Bethany J; Ahrenstorff, Tyler D; Dumke, Josh; Hirsch, Jodie; Kovalenko, Katya E; LeDuc, Jaime F; Maki, Ryan P; Rantala, Heidi M; ghansen@umn.edu; Hansen, Gretchen; Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center
    Invasive species represent a threat to aquatic ecosystems globally; however, impacts can be heterogenous across systems. Documented impacts of invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and spiny water fleas (Bythotrephes cedarstroemi; hereafter Bythotrephes) on native fishes are variable and context dependent across locations and time periods. Here, we use a hierarchical Bayesian analysis of a 35-year dataset on two fish species from 9 lakes to demonstrate that early life growth of ecologically important fishes are influenced by these aquatic invasive species. Walleye (Sander vitreus) grew more slowly throughout their first year of life, and were on average 12 or 14% smaller at the end of their first summer following invasion by Bythotrephes or zebra mussels, respectively. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) growth was less affected by invasion. Yellow perch on average grew more slowly in their first year of life following invasion by zebra mussels, although this effect was not statistically distinguishable from zero. Early life growth of both walleye and yellow perch was less tightly coupled to degree days in invaded systems, as demonstrated by increased variance surrounding the degree day-length relationship. Smaller first-year size is related to walleye survival and recruitment to later life stages and has important implications for lake food webs and fisheries management. Future research quantifying effects of zebra mussels and Bythotrephes on other population-level processes and across a wider gradient of lake types is needed to understand the mechanisms driving observed changes in walleye growth.
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    Predicting the Impacts of Heterosporis sutherlandae on the Yield of a Yellow Perch Population: An Integrated Modeling Approach
    (2018-01) Tomamichel, Megan
    Heterosporosis a disease caused by a microsporidian parasite, Heterosporis sutherlandae, and can result in lesions in the host muscle tissue. I developed a stochastic, cohort-based integrated disease model to predict the impacts of this parasite on a yellow perch (Perca flavescens) population. I addressed if heterosporosis can cause large losses of yield and which factors are most important to yield. I conducted field and laboratory work to parameterize my model. I found that heterosporosis was rare in all field sites and sampling seasons (6% average prevalence). Transmission by feeding infected tissue ranged between 23% and 31%, while only 2% of minnows exposed by near direct contact became infected. My model indicates that heterosporosis may become extinct in Leech Lake in 25 years, is unlikely to cause significant losses of yield, and that yield is more sensitive to bioenergetic parameters (183% change in yield) than to disease (<1% change in yield).
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    Zebra mussel invasion associated with higher reliance on littoral energy sources and higher mercury levels in walleye and yellow perch
    (2022-02) Blinick, Naomi
    Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), an aquatic invasive species, shift lake food resources from the pelagic to the littoral zone, while simultaneously altering physical habitat by increasing water clarity. Using stable isotope analysis, we find that walleye (Sander vitreus), a specialist piscivore with strict habitat requirements, and yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a generalist in both diet and habitat, respond similarly to food web and habitat differences in zebra mussel invaded lakes, with significant increases in littoral reliance from ~50% to ~75% for both species. We also report a correlated increase in mercury concentrations in fish tissue, which were 66% higher for adult walleye and 90% higher for adult yellow perch in lakes containing zebra mussels. Considering the importance of these fish for consumption, it is critical that we understand how changes to nutrient cycling and lake food webs ultimately increase toxin concentration in fish consumed by humans.