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The Effect of Lamprey Attacks upon Lake Trout in Seneca Lake, New York
Author(s) -
Royce William F.
Publication year - 1950
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1949)79[71:teolau]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - lamprey , trout , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , population , petromyzon , zoology , ecology , medicine , environmental health
During an investigation of the spawning habits of the lake trout in Seneca Lake, New York, in October, 1941, it was obvious that an abundant population of sea lampreys was attacking the lake trout. It seemed probable that the attacked fish would be affected by loss of weight. Length‐weight data and counts of all lamprey scars were obtained on a group of 65 ripe male lake trout and similar data with counts of only unhealed lamprey sores on another group of 66 ripe males. It was discovered that these lake trout suffered up to 10 successful lamprey attacks on one individual and possessed up to 4 unhealed sores while showing no indication that they were thinner as a result. The data showed that the larger lake trout suffered more attacks and were more vulnerable to attack. In addition, the data suggest that the lake trout in the samples acquired about two lamprey marks per year commencing at the age of 5 years and that they were somewhat more vulnerable to attack when spawning.