Evidence of sound production by spawning lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in lakes Huron and Champlain

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
By: , and 

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Abstract

Two sounds associated with spawning lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in lakes Huron and Champlain were characterized by comparing sound recordings to behavioral data collected using acoustic telemetry and video. These sounds were named growls and snaps, and were heard on lake trout spawning reefs, but not on a non-spawning reef, and were more common at night than during the day. Growls also occurred more often during the spawning period than the pre-spawning period, while the trend for snaps was reversed. In a laboratory flume, sounds occurred when male lake trout were displaying spawning behaviors; growls when males were quivering and parallel swimming, and snaps when males moved their jaw. Combining our results with the observation of possible sound production by spawning splake (Salvelinus fontinalis × Salvelinus namaycush hybrid), provides rare evidence for spawning-related sound production by a salmonid, or any other fish in the superorder Protacanthopterygii. Further characterization of these sounds could be useful for lake trout assessment, restoration, and control.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Evidence of sound production by spawning lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in lakes Huron and Champlain
Series title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
DOI 10.1139/cjfas-2016-0511
Volume 75
Issue 3
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher NRC Research Press
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center
Description 10 p.
First page 429
Last page 438
Country United States
State Michigan
Other Geospatial Drummond Island Lake Trout Refuge, Lake Huron
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