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SPATIAL PATTERNS IN ASSEMBLAGE STRUCTURES OF PELAGIC FORAGE FISH AND ZOOPLANKTON IN WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR
Citation:
Johnson, T. B., M. Hoff, A S. Trebitz, C. Bronte, T D. Corry, J. Kitchell, S J. Lozano, D. M. Mason, J. V. Scharold, AND D. Schreiner. SPATIAL PATTERNS IN ASSEMBLAGE STRUCTURES OF PELAGIC FORAGE FISH AND ZOOPLANKTON IN WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH 30(Supplement 1):395-406, (2004).
Description:
This manuscript reports on the spatial distribution of zooplankton and forage fish in western Lake Superior. Fish and zooplankton assemblages are shown to differ substantially in abundance and size structure both between the open lake and nearshore regions and between two different types of nearshore regions (gently sloping and structure simple vs. steep and structurally complex). Lake herring and rainbow smelt are currently the most abundant forage fish species (fish that are food for game fishes). Experimental designs for lake monitoring studies should take such spatial patterns into consideration. Interagency collaborations are an effective way of conducting expensive and logistically complex ship-based research - in this case EPA collected/analyzed water quality and zooplankton data and provided a platform for hydroacoustic equipment. USGS collected fish data (trawl-based), and various agencies and universities collaborated in planning and providing manpower and expertise.