Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2016

By: , and 

Links

Abstract

In 2016, the Lake Superior fish community was sampled with daytime bottom trawls at 76 nearshore and 35 offshore stations. Spring and summer water temperatures in 2016 were warmer than average and considerably warmer than observed in 2014 and 2015. In the nearshore zone, a total of 17,449 individuals from 20 species or morphotypes were collected. Nearshore lakewide mean biomass was 2.2 kg/ha, which was near the lowest biomass on record for this survey since it began in 1978. In the offshore zone, a total 8,487 individuals from 16 species or morphotypes were collected lakewide. Offshore lakewide mean biomass was 4.5 kg/ha, which was the lowest biomass recorded since the offshore survey began in 2011. The density of age-1 Cisco was 5.0 fish/ha, which was 35% of that measured in 2015. Larval Coregonus were collected in surface trawls at 144 locations lakewide from May to July. The average nearshore lakewide larval Coregonus density estimate was 1,630 fish/ha, which was similar to that estimated in 2015.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Other Government Series
Title Status and trends in the Lake Superior fish community, 2016
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center
Description 12 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Unnumbered Series
Larger Work Title Compiled reports to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission of the annual bottom trawl and acoustics surveys for 2016
First page 13
Last page 24
Country Canada, United States
Other Geospatial Lake Superior
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details