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HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF LARVAL FISH IN A LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL WETLAND
Citation:
Tanner, D K. AND J. C. Brazner. HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF LARVAL FISH IN A LAKE SUPERIOR COASTAL WETLAND. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH. International Association for Great Lakes Research, Ann Arbor, MI, 30(3):349-359.
Impact/Purpose:
To determine the distribution of larval fish in coastal wetlands with regard to location and vegetation characteristics
Description:
Habitat associations of larval fishes in Great Lakes coastal wetlands (GLCW) are not well documented. To determine the distribution of larval fish in coastal wetlands with regard to location and vegetation characteristics, we used a larval tow-sled to sample four macrohabitat types across a range of vegetation densities in Allouez Bay wetland near Lake Superior's western end. We captured 4802 larval fish representing 16 species between May and August 1996. Allouez Bay is typical of other GLCW in species number and composition. The three most abundant species were spottail shiner, yellow perch, and white sucker. Nearly all of the cyprinids and centrarchids were caught at the sand-spit habitat primarily in dense vegetation, while the majority of white suckers and trout-perch were caught in the river in sparse or moderate vegetation. Our study provides evidence for species-specific macrohabitat and microhabitat associations of larval fish in coastal wetlands. We suggest these associations are largely determined by adult spawning requirements and life-history strategies.