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Article
Muskellunge survival, interbasin movement, and emigration in a simple and a complex‐interconnected glacial lake
North American Journal of Fisheries Management
  • Jonathan R. Meerbeek, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
  • Michael J. Weber, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
6-19-2020
DOI
10.1002/nafm.10482
Abstract

Glacial lakes can display a wide range of morphometries that may affect fish movements and population dynamics. Muskellunge Esox masquinongy is a popular sportfish that is long-lived and occur at low densities, making population abundance susceptible to sources of fish loss. Yet, factors influencing Muskellunge survival, movement, and emigration in lakes of different morphometric complexities are unknown. We used capture histories of nearly 5,700 individual adult (age ≥ 3; ≥ 610 mm) Muskellunge collected from a simple (single shallow lake, bowl shaped basin with simple shoreline) and a complex (multiple basins with greater habitat diversity) lake basin over 17 years to quantify survival, interbasin movement, and emigration from these systems and evaluate if these parameters were related to population density or water level metrics. Adult Muskellunge annual survival within the interconnected lake chain varied through time and among connected lakes (range of 0.57- 0.95) whereas survival was similar among years in a simple lake basin (0.90: 95% CI: 0.85- 0.96). Muskellunge movement probabilities within an interconnected lake chain ranged from 0.02- 0.22 and increased in two systems but decreased in one system with maximum ice-out water level over crest. Similarly, annual Muskellunge emigration ranged from 0.02-0.16 from an interconnected lake chain and 0.00-0.28 from a simple lake and increased in both systems with increasing water levels following ice-out. These results demonstrate Muskellunge movement within and emigration from lakes as a function of ice-out water levels can be an important source of fish loss (either temporary or permanent) from glacial lakes. Information on movement and emigration may help managers mitigate these losses via supplemental stocking or reduced harvest quotas, whereas constructing barriers may be a necessary component of Muskellunge management in other lake systems.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article published as Meerbeek, Jonathan R., and Michael J. Weber. "Muskellunge survival, interbasin movement, and emigration in a simple and a complex‐interconnected glacial lake." North American Journal of Fisheries Management (2020). doi: 10.1002/nafm.10482. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
American Fisheries Society
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Jonathan R. Meerbeek and Michael J. Weber. "Muskellunge survival, interbasin movement, and emigration in a simple and a complex‐interconnected glacial lake" North American Journal of Fisheries Management (2020)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael_weber/40/