Survival, reproduction, and recruitment of gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) at the northwestern edge of its native range

Abstract

South Dakota (SD) represents the northwestern edge of gizzard shad's (Dorosoma cepedianum) native range. However, with recent climate warming the gizzard shad is experiencing a natural range expansion northward. Little knowledge exists regarding temperatures that are required for overwinter survival, and less is known regarding population dynamics of gizzard shad in these populations. The objectives of this research were to determine the extent of reproduction, recruitment, and overwinter survival after annual introductions of adult gizzard shad in two northeastern SD glacial lakes relative to other SD systems. Prior to spawning, the gizzard shad was introduced into East Krause Lake and Middle Lynn Lake and successfully spawned during 2008 and 2009. Mean (AESE) peak larval abundances (number/100 m 3 ) were 3.87 (AE1.87) and 1.72 (AE0.89) in East Krause Lake and 0.79 (AE0.22) and 0.17 (AE0.11) in Middle Lynn Lake in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Larval abundances were lower than those observed in most other SD populations. Survival to fall age-0 was documented in both years in Middle Lynn Lake, but only during 2008 in East Krause Lake. No overwinter survival was documented. Low water temperatures and rapidly cooling water likely caused overwinter mortality of gizzard shad in these systems. Temperature at the sediment-water interface during the winter of 2009-2010 was below 2.2 C for 114 and 62 consecutive days in East Krause Lake and Middle Lynn Lake, respectively.

Variation in characteristics among gizzard shad populations: The role of impoundment size and productivity

“…Thus, episodic winterkills are potential causes for the observed differences in CPUE between the smallest impoundments and those impoundments ≥ 33 ha. Populations experiencing frequent winterkills consist of only a few year classes that exhibit rapid growth and ultimately reach a large size (VanDeHey et al., ; Ward et al., ), which is consistent with the characteristics of the populations with low CPUE in this study. Macrophyte coverage, which can influence recruitment of gizzard shad (Michaletz & Bonneau, ), was not a significant variable in the RTA model explaining variation in CPUE, possibly because extensive macrophyte coverage (>30%) only occurred in six small impoundments, five of which were smaller than 33 ha.…”

“…Gizzard shad are susceptible to winterkills (Fetzer, Brooking, Jackson & Rudstam, 2011;Michaletz, 2010;Porath, 2006;VanDeHey, Willis & Blackwell, 2012), which are more frequent in small than in large impoundments. Water temperatures cool more rapidly in small impoundments than in large impoundments, due to their smaller volume of water.…”

Non‐lethal sampling of walleye for stable isotope analysis: a comparison of three tissues

“…Natural lakes were located in the Glaciated Plains ecoregion and ranged in surface area from 70 ha (East Krause Lake) to 280 ha (Middle Lynn Lake). The glacial lakes are classified as mesotrophic to eutrophic based on July trophic state index (TSI; Carlson 1977) values (53.9–60.1; VanDeHey et al. In Press ).…”

Larval gizzard shad characteristics in Lake Oahe, South Dakota: a species at the northern edge of its range

“…(Stahl and Stein 1994). Gizzard shad are also currently being stocked in small Western South Dakota reservoirs and Eastern South Dakota glacial lakes to bolster prey resources for walleye (Ward et al 2007;VanDeHey et al 2011). In Lake Oahe, and other reservoirs in the northern Great Plains, it appears that larval gizzard shad exhibit temporal and spatial variability in abundance and growth; however, growth remains generally slow and the density is low compared to more southerly systems.…”