Habitat use by age-0 yellow perch in two South Dakota glacial lakes |
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| Authors: | S J Fisher C R Pyle D W Willis |
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| Institution: | Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract– We determined the habitat use of age-0 yellow perch ( Perca flavescens ) in two South Dakota (USA) lakes. Larval perch abundance was based on trawl catches and related to environmental variables on two late spring dates. Juvenile perch abundance was based on late July shoreline seine and bottom trawl catches. Day and night juvenile abundance relations to environmental variables were examined. Larval abundance appeared to be related to biological environmental variables, and no significant (P≥0.05) correlations with physical habitat variables were found. Juvenile yellow perch abundance was related to physical variables, particularly substrate, water temperature and water depth. The only biological variable that could be related to juvenile abundance was chironomid abundance. Finally, juvenile perch abundance was positively associated with abundance of other juvenile fishes and minnows, but these associations varied by lake, time of day and habitat type. Understanding age 0 perch habitat use will allow fishery biologists to better assess sampling designs and recruitment processes. |
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| Keywords: | yellow perch habitat use sampling |
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