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Lake Whitefish Diet and Growth after the Introduction of Mysis relicta to Flathead Lake, Montana
Author(s) -
Tohtz Joel
Publication year - 1993
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(1993)122<0629:lwdaga>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - flathead , mysidacea , coregonus clupeaformis , fishery , biology , predation , benthic zone , zooplankton , bay , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , biomanipulation , oceanography , phytoplankton , crustacean , geology , nutrient
Diet and growth were compared for lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis caught before and after the recent introduction of Mysis relicta to Flathead Lake, Montana. Most foods and seasonal feeding patterns were similar, except that lake whitefish now also eat mysids. Mysids were eaten by fish larger than 100 mm total length, and especially by fish larger than 400 mm collected in the fall. Mean length at first annulus was less in most years following the mysid introduction than before (Studentˈs t , P < 0.05). Mean lengths at other annuli were similar between the two periods. Larger lake whitefish may be less sensitive to reduced zooplankton abundance caused by mysid predation because they feed on benthic fauna. They may also benefit from the recent availability of mysids for their diet.