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A comparison of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) populations in arctic lakes with and without piscivorous predators

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Toolik Lake

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 78))

Abstract

Arctic slimy sculpin were sampled by passive trapping in lakes containing the predators lake trout and burbot (LT lakes), and lakes lacking sculpin predators (NoLT lakes). Sculpin food abundance (chironomid biomass) from the rocky littoral zone was compared with that from the deep water sediment zone. Distribution, size, growth, age, condition and relative abundance of sculpin were examined.

Spatial distribution of sculpin was different between lake types, with more and larger sculpin found over the sediment zone in NoLT lakes. There were no seasonal patterns evident in this distribution and catch per unit effort was not significantly different between LT and N oLT lakes. Biomass of chironomids, the major food of the sculpin, was higher in the sediments than on the rocks, suggesting that sediments should be the preferred environment in the absence of piscivores. Longevity of sculpins varied between IV and VIn years and was not correlated with lake type. Sculpin size frequency distributions were shifted toward slightly larger fish in NoLT lakes. Sculpin growth curves and condition estimates did not reveal a difference between lake types, but comparison of mean ototlith inter annular distances between lake types showed a trend, significant in year 4, toward more growth in no lake trout lakes. These results suggest that the presence of piscivores is an important factor limiting arctic slimy sculpin distribution and may act in concert with food supply to impact sculpin growth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biology, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA

    Kristi L. Hanson & Anne E. Hershey

  2. Departments of Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA

    Michael E. McDonald

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  1. Kristi L. Hanson
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  2. Anne E. Hershey
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  3. Michael E. McDonald
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W. J. O’Brien

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Hanson, K.L., Hershey, A.E., McDonald, M.E. (1992). A comparison of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) populations in arctic lakes with and without piscivorous predators. In: O’Brien, W.J. (eds) Toolik Lake. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 78. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2720-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2720-2_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5206-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2720-2

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