Density‐dependent and environmental influences on juvenile walleye Sander vitreus (Mitchill) survivorship in northern Wisconsin lakes

Walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill), natural recruitment has declined in northern Wisconsin lakes over time. Age‐0 and age‐1 walleye relative abundance (catch per unit effort; CPE) data from northern Wisconsin (1986–2019) were used to test for abiotic (i.e. lake characteristics and temperature variab...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fisheries management and ecology 2022-12, Vol.29 (6), p.897-910
Main Authors: Zebro, Logan R., Mrnak, Joseph T., Shaw, Stephanie L., Chipps, Steven R., Sass, Greg G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
abiotic factors
Age
Carnivorous animals
Catch per unit effort
Climate change
Density
depensation
Environmental factors
Freshwater fishes
Juveniles
lake characteristics
Lakes
Marine fishes
Mortality
Ontogeny
Recruitment
Recruitment (fisheries)
Relative abundance
Sander vitreus
Spawning
Survival
temperature
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill), natural recruitment has declined in northern Wisconsin lakes over time. Age‐0 and age‐1 walleye relative abundance (catch per unit effort; CPE) data from northern Wisconsin (1986–2019) were used to test for abiotic (i.e. lake characteristics and temperature variables) and biotic (age‐0 and age‐1 CPE) factors influencing age‐0 to age‐1 walleye mortality. Age‐0 to age‐1 walleye mortality was elevated at high age‐0 CPE and variable at low age‐0 CPE, which indicated strong density‐dependence. Environmental factors such as spawning and ontogenetic phenology (climate change and ice‐off dates), trophic mismatches, and metabolic and consumptive demand influenced age‐0 to age‐1 walleye mortality less strongly. Elevated age‐0 to age‐1 walleye mortality at low age‐0 CPE supports previous findings of depensatory recruitment dynamics in northern Wisconsin walleye populations. Additional research is needed to address elevated juvenile walleye mortality at low adult stock sizes and/or with declining natural recruitment to inform management decisions.
ISSN:0969-997X
1365-2400
DOI:10.1111/fme.12591