Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Jeff Tyson, Ohio Division of Wildlife
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Physical Environment/Fish Community West to east gradient in depth, temperature, and productivity West to east gradient in fish community Warm and cool water species dominant in west basin Cool and cold water species dominant in east basin West to east gradient in diversity West Basin East Basin
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community, 2010 Fish Community Goals West/Central Basin secure a balanced, predominately cool-water fish community with walleye as a key predator East Basin secure a predominantly cold-water fish community with lake trout and burbot as key predators
Yellow Perch Abundance Percid Abundance Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Predator Trends (West) Percid abundance similar to 80 s Noticeable 2003 hatch for all percids 6.E+08 5.E+08 4.E+08 3.E+08 2.E+08 Adult Walleye Total Yellow Perch East Basin Walleye West-Central Walleye Abundance dominated by yellow perch 1.E+08 0.E+00 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Eastern basin walleye population remains relatively small Shift in yellow perch productivity 5.E+08 4.E+08 3.E+08 2.E+08 1.E+08 East Basin East-Central Basin West-Central Basin West Basin Yellow Perch 0.E+00 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Abundance Index Abundance Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Predator Trends (West) Walleye abundance has declined 8.E+07 6.E+07 East Basin Walleye West-Central Walleye Highly variable recruitment 4.E+07 Large 2003 year-class Moderate to poor hatches since Changes in distribution 200 150 100 50 Growth stable 0 2.E+07 Adult Walleye 0.E+00 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Walleye Hatch Strength 88 92 96 00 04 08 Year
Abundance Index Thousands Abundance (millions) Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Predator Trends (West) Yellow perch abundance has decreased, but remains relatively high Adult Perch East Basin Central Basin West Basin Year-class strength highly variable, but more stable than walleye Large 1996 and 2003 yearclasses Increased growth (due to increased benthos) 80 85 90 95 00 05 10 Year 3 2 1 Perch Hatch Strength 0 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 Year
Walleye Harvest (lbs) Walleye abundance Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Management (Percids) Walleye and yellow perch Management Plans Rehab Crisis Maint. High Quality Harvest strategy Rehabilitation mode (when populations in crisis or rehab modes) 2.0E+07 1.5E+07 8.E+07 6.E+07 1.0E+07 4.E+07 5.0E+06 2.E+07 Ohio and Ontario walleye harvest Lakewide Walleye abundance 0.0E+00 0.E+00 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Predator Trends (East) Adult lake trout abundance up since 1985 No natural reproduction High growth rates Exploring additional strains Explore habitat/stocking locations
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Predator Trends (East) Burbot Decreasing basinwide coincides with round goby expansion More abundant on north side of basin Whitefish Relatively high abundance (2003 hatch) Declining condition (primarily males) Herring 07
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Predator Trends (East) Lake Herring Present in low abundance Exploring rehabilitation options Lake Herring Management Plan in development
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Prey Trends Gradient in prey fish community west to east Higher diversity west Lower diversity east Clupeids, shiners dominate in west West Basin East Basin Rainbow smelt dominate in east Gobies incorporated into diets
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Prey Trends West Fewer clupeids Increasing shiner abundance West Basin Forage East Unstable smelt Goby expansion Higher diversity than in past
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Research Needs Hydrodynamic models Linking tributaries to open lake Linkages between fish life stages Changes in land use Climate change Surface Temperature
A Biophysical Model of Lake Erie Walleye Recruitment Strong (nearshore) 1999 1996 Weak (offshore) 1998 1995 Zhao et al. (2009)
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Research Needs Hydrodynamic models Water Quality/Trophic Interactions Increasing SRP, bluegreen algae, exotics Changing trophic pathways (round goby) Changes in fish distribution Exotics
Status of the Lake Erie Fish Community 2010 Research Needs Hydrodynamic models Water Quality/Trophic Interactions Habitat Alterations How to minimize negative impacts Potential enhancements
Acknowledgements Lake Erie Committee Walleye, Yellow Perch, Forage, and Coldwater Task Groups Great Lakes Fishery Commission Staff of ODNR, MDNR, OMNR, PFBC, and NYS DEC