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Are Muskellunge Affecting Fish Communities in Waters Where They Have Been Introduced? A Re‐examination of Minnesota’s Stocked Muskellunge Waters
Author(s) -
Knapp Michael L.,
Mero Steven W.,
Staples David F.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1002/nafm.10562
Subject(s) - esox , pike , stocking , fishery , perch , catostomus , coregonus , predation , catch per unit effort , coregonus lavaretus , minnow , biology , geography , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology
Abstract Muskellunge Esox masquinongy are large piscivores stocked into numerous lakes in North America, but the potential effects of these stockings remains poorly understood. To investigate potential fish community changes associated with Muskellunge stocking, we contrasted catch per unit effort (CPUE) for seven fish species commonly found in Minnesota, along with mean weight for two predator species, before and after Muskellunge introduction in 36 lakes with that of paired reference lakes. Because of the known importance of Cisco Coregonus artedi as prey for Muskellunge, we also examined these data by separating the lakes into those with and without Cisco. Across all 36 lakes, we observed several significant differences between stocked and reference lakes. Yellow Perch Perca flavescent CPUE in gill nets were significantly higher after Muskellunge were introduced, as was mean weight for Northern Pike Esox lucius . Gill‐net CPUE for Northern Pike and White Sucker Catostomus commersonii were both lower following Muskellunge introduction. When subsets of lakes with and without Cisco were considered, results for the 21 lakes without Cisco were similar to the results of the entire set of lakes. In the 15 lakes with Cisco, the only significant result was lower Northern Pike CPUE after Muskellunge stocking. Our results are evidence that the introduction and management of Muskellunge in these lakes has not adversely affected game fish populations.