Abiotic and biotic correlates of yellow perch recruitment to age‐2 in southern Lake Michigan, 1984–2007

Abstract

Seven abiotic and biotic variables were tested to determine whether they influence the recruitment to age two of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), in waters of southern Lake Michigan, USA. Recruitment was analysed using a Ricker stock‐recruitment relationship that accounts for density dependency. Significant model variables tested individually and ranked by total variance explained included the abundance of sexually mature yellow perch, alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus (Wilson) and spottail shiner, Notropis hudsonius (Clinton). Variables found unrelated to recruitment or generally less explanatory included the abundance of round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallus), mean water temperature, variation in water temperature and water clarity. The best‐fitting multivariable model explained 69% of the recruitment variability and included abundances of sexually mature yellow perch, alewife and spottail shiner. These results suggest that yellow perch recruitment in southern Lake Michigan is regulated in part by biotic interactions with other species of the near‐shore community, including alewife and spottail shiners, in addition to the abundance of reproductively mature yellow perch.

Incorporation of feeding functional group information informs explanatory patterns of long-term population changes in fish assemblages

“…Thus, there is likely a lurking variable connecting observed trends in Yellow Perch (and general invertivores) with trends in zooplankton abundance. A potential explanation is the negative relationship between Alewife abundance and Yellow Perch recruitment (Forsythe, Doll & Lauer, 2012). Planktivorous species such as Alewife, Rainbow Smelt, and Bloater, were expected to be positively related to zooplankton given their dietary habits and indeed our observations support this.…”

Forecasting the combined effects of anticipated climate change and agricultural conservation practices on fish recruitment dynamics in Lake Erie

“…Because of the inherent difficulty in forecasting future biotic conditions, we restricted our analysis to include only abiotic predictors. However, biotic factors such as competition and predation probably also contribute to current recruitment dynamics of these species, and will probably affect future recruitment dynamics (Forsythe, Doll, & Lauer, 2012; Guisan & Thuiller, 2005; Hall & Rudstam, 1999; Hartman & Margraf, 1993). Thus, we encourage continued investigations into the drivers of recruitment for all three species, especially those that consider other factors, use alternative modelling approaches, and occur at different spatiotemporal scales (Hilborn, 2016).…”

Introduction to Bayesian Modeling and Inference for Fisheries Scientists

“…For more details about the sampling program, see Forsythe et al. (). Sites were sampled twice each month (July and August) for a total effort of 12 h in each year.…”

“…Yellow Perch were sampled at three fixed sites using nighttime bottom trawling at the 5-m depth contour in 1992 and 2002 (other years were available; however, for demonstration purposes, we only use 2 years of data). For more details about the sampling program, see Forsythe et al (2012). Sites were sampled twice each month (July and August) for a total effort of 12 h in each year.…”