Evidence of the St. Clair-Detroit River System as a dispersal corridor and nursery habitat for transient larval burbot

Analytical methods that incorporate genetic data are increasingly used in monitoring and assessment programs for important rate functions of fish populations (e.g., recruitment). Because gear types vary in efficiencies and effective sampling areas, results from genetic-based assessments likely differ depending on the sampling gear used to collect genotyped individuals; consequently, management decisions may also be affected by sampling gear. In this study, genetic pedigree analysis conducted on egg and larval Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens collected from the St. Clair-Detroit River system using three gear types was used to estimate and evaluate gear-specific differences in the number of spawning adults that produced the eggs and larvae sampled (N s ), the effective number of breeding adults (N b ), and individual reproductive success. Combined across locations and sampling years, pooled estimates were 330 (N s ; point estimate) and 317 (N b ; 95% CI = 271-372). Mean reproductive success was 4.35 with a variance of 5.33 individuals/spawner. Mean ± SE estimated numbers of unique parents per genotyped egg or larva (i.e., adult detection rate) from 2015 samples were 1.140 ± 0.003 for vertically stratified conical nets, 0.836 ± 0.002 for D-frame nets, and 0.870 ± 0.002 for egg mats. Using samples from 2016, adult detection rates were 0.823 ± 0.001 for D-frame nets and 0.708 ± 0.001 for egg mat collections. Coancestry values were negatively correlated with adult detection rate. Although genetic pedigree analyses can improve the understanding of recruitment in fish populations, this study demonstrates that estimates from genetic analyses can vary with the targeted life stage (a biologically informative

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“…; McCullough et al. ). Vertically stratified conical nets were deployed at sunset and retrieved at sunrise.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Egg and Larval Collection Methods Affect Spawning Adult Numbers Inferred by Pedigree Analysis

Hunter

Roseman

Sard

et al. 2020

N American J Fish Manag

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“…In the St. Clair River, larval L. lota were caught throughout, with high numbers caught near Lake St. Clair, Algonac, Michigan, and Port Huron, Michigan, near Lake Huron. Captured larval L. lota were processed and preserved in the field in 95% ethanol (McCullough et al ., 2015).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Lake Erie, adult L. lota fisheries yields declined between 82% and 93% between the 1999–2003 and 2004–2008 survey periods (Markham & Knight, 2017). Larval L. lota have also been documented in a few surveys, consisting of catches informing on spatial and temporal patterns (Jude et al ., 2013; Mansfield et al ., 1983; McCullough et al ., 2015; Oyadomari & Auer, 2004). Ritz et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As proposed by Kamler (1992) and Pepin (1991), larval fish development is mainly driven by temperature, although water chemistry parameters, paternal characteristics, and abiotic influences all appear to play some role in developmental timing. As a result, catches of larval L. lota in the Great Lakes vary spatially and temporally, with multiple developmental stages and sizes frequently caught together (Jude et al ., 2013; Mansfield et al ., 1983; McCullough et al ., 2015). The authors of this study propose that life‐history variability present in adult spawners contributes to variability in larval L. lota .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variability in early development and growth of Great Lakes burbot: developmental patterns in cultured and wild‐caught larval burbot

Ritz

Leonard

2022

Journal of Fish Biology

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Throughout the Great Lakes, burbot Lota lota are a native, high‐trophic level predator that plays a substantial ecological role. L. lota spawning occurs during wintertime and early spring with length‐at‐hatch of 3 mm. Wild‐caught larval L. lota were obtained from three different locations: Lake Superior Keweenaw Peninsula, Ontonagon, Michigan (LSKP), Lake Michigan Midlake Reef (LMMR) and the St. Clair‐Detroit River System (SCDR). Adult spawning L. lota were captured from the Sturgeon River, Pelkie, Michigan (LSSR) and were artificially fertilized; eggs were retained and reared in a laboratory setting. Throughout the first 10 weeks of development, cultured larval L .lota were randomly selected and photographed to measure morphological features. These features were contrasted between cultured larvae and wild‐caught larvae to understand developmental variability in L. lota. From patterns discerned in both cultured and wild‐caught larval L. lota we demonstrated the importance of asynchronous hatching, source location, and variability in larval L. lota development. Comparisons of wild‐caught larval L. lota showed morphological differences, as well as variability in stage and size based on sampling month. These results established that larval L. lota development in the Great Lakes is highly flexible and both species‐specific and environmental processes create the observed variability. The impact of this variability on L. lota populations must be explored to further understand this native Great Lakes species.

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“…Brackwehr et al (2016) theorized that the timing of hatch should coincide with ice melt and higher water levels in lowland rivers to provide Burbot larvae access to nursery grounds in floodplain lakes and backwaters. Monitoring of pelagic larvae after ice-off in spring likely has major advantages over egg sampling in substrates during winter; concomitantly, there are more publications about field techniques for Burbot larvae sampling in lakes and rivers (Saunders et al 2014;McCullough et al 2015;Koporikov and Bogdanov 2019;Toivonen et al 2020).…”

Section: Temperature Effects On Embryo Development Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Temperature Fluctuation on Burbot Embryos: Implications of Hydropower and Climate Change

et al. 2021

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Populations of Burbot Lota lota across the Holarctic ecozone are facing imperilment from environmental warming, particularly in ecosystems impacted by hydropower and climate change. We conducted a series of laboratory experiments to evaluate the tolerance of Burbot embryos to various thermal regimes. Both cyclical and constant warming between 4.0°C and 5.5°C during the initial 25 degree-days of embryo development led to significant deformity and mortality of protolarvae, with faster rates of temperature increase (i.e., 0.4°C/d) causing greater harm than gradual rates of warming. Random family effects interacted with incubation temperature of embryos to account for significant variability in deformity and survival of protolarvae. These findings have management implications for identifying and/ or augmenting the thermal fitness of populations in modified ecosystems, particularly in Burbot populations where aquaculture production supports abundance. A model of hatching time based on degree-days of embryo development was also developed to improve predictions of natural emergence, peak larvae abundance, and optimal timing for larvae stocking. It is recommended that hydropower operations avoid thermopeaking during winter spawning of Burbot, especially if reservoir discharges exceed 4°C. Maintaining water temperatures below 3°C for at least the first 2 weeks of embryogenesis is critical for Burbot reproduction and underscores the importance of ice-covered spawning habitats. Global climate trends are expected to exacerbate warming in rivers, and many challenges lie ahead for conservation efforts seeking to mitigate the risks of Burbot extirpation.

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Evidence of the St. Clair-Detroit River System as a dispersal corridor and nursery habitat for transient larval burbot

Cited by 12 publications

References 43 publications

Egg and Larval Collection Methods Affect Spawning Adult Numbers Inferred by Pedigree Analysis

Egg and Larval Collection Methods Affect Spawning Adult Numbers Inferred by Pedigree Analysis

Variability in early development and growth of Great Lakes burbot: developmental patterns in cultured and wild‐caught larval burbot

Effects of Temperature Fluctuation on Burbot Embryos: Implications of Hydropower and Climate Change

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