Growth-temperature relation for young-of-the-year ruffe
Journal of Great Lakes Research
- By:
- Thomas A. Edsall, James H. Selgeby, Timothy J. DeSorcie, and John R. P. French III
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Abstract
The ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) was accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes basin from Eurasia and has established a breeding population in the St. Louis River, a major tributary to western Lake Superior. We captured young-of-the-year ruffe in the St. Louis River; acclimated groups of 90-91 fish to test temperatures of 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C; and fed them ad libitum for 42 days at those temperatures. Ruffe grew at all five temperatures, but the optimum temperature for growth was about 21°C. Because the optimum temperature for growth of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), sauger (Stizoste-dion canadense), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is about 22°C, ruffe will probably attempt to share their thermal habitat. A recent survey of the St. Louis River revealed that yellow perch and small forage fish declined sharply as ruffe abundance increased. A similar decline in yellow perch abundance in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie would seriously affect the fisheries in these lakes.
Additional publication details
- Publication type:
- Article
- Publication Subtype:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Growth-temperature relation for young-of-the-year ruffe
- Series title:
- Journal of Great Lakes Research
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S0380-1330(93)71247-2
- Volume:
- 19
- Issue:
- 3
- Year Published:
- 1993
- Language:
- English
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Contributing office(s):
- Great Lakes Science Center
- Description:
- 4 p.
- First page:
- 630
- Last page:
- 633
- Online Only (Y/N):
- N
- Additional Online Files (Y/N):
- N