Timo J. Marjomäki

An Empirical Evaluation of the Utility of Convex Hull and Standard Ellipse Areas for Assessing Population Niche Widths from Stable Isotope Data

Stable isotope analyses are increasingly employed to characterise population niche widths. The convex hull area (TA) in a δ13C–δ15N biplot has been used as a measure of isotopic niche width, but concerns exist over its dependence on sample size and associated difficulties in among-population comparisons. Recently a more robust method was proposed for estimating and comparing isotopic niche widths using standard ellipse areas (SEA), but this approach has yet to be tested with empirical stable isotope data. The two methods measure different kind of isotopic niche areas, but both are now widely used to characterise isotopic niche widths of populations. We used simulated data and an extensive empirical dataset from two fish populations to test the influence of sample size on the observed isotopic niche widths (TA and SEA). We resampled the original datasets to generate 5000 new samples for different numbers of observations from 5 to 80 to examine the statistical distributions of niche area estimates for increasing sample size. Our results illustrate how increasing sample size increased the observed TA; even sample sizes much higher than n = 30 did not improve the precision for the TA method. SEA was less sensitive to sample size, but the natural variation in our empirical fish δ13C and δ15N data still resulted in considerable uncertainty around the mean estimates of niche width, reducing the precision particularly with sample sizes n<30. These results confirm that the TA method is less appropriate for estimating population isotopic niche areas using small samples, especially when considerable population level isotope variation is expected. The results also indicate a need for caution when using SEA as a measure of trophic niche widths for consumers, particularly with low sample sizes and when the distribution and range for population isotope values are not known.

Upstream migration activity of cyprinids and percids in a channel, monitored by a horizontal split-beam echosounder

Abstract A 200 kHz digital echosounder (HTI) with two split-beam transducers was aimed horizontally to monitor the upstream migration activity of fish, from 24 April to 28 June, in Aijalansalmi channel (mean width 35 m, length 700 m, and maximum depth 5 m) from large mesotrophic Lake Paijanne to small eutrophic Lake Jyvasjarvi. This study was part of a larger project which aims to analyse the movement of commercially unimportant fish species and reduce the abundance of these fish in L. Jyvasjarvi. Catch samples were collected with a trap net located immediately upstream from the acoustic beams. The most common species in the catch were roach ( Rutilus rutilus ), perch ( Perca fluviatilis ), bream ( Abramis brama ), ruffe ( Gymnocephalus cernuus ), and white bream ( Abramis bjoerkna ). The upstream migration of fish was correlated with water temperature ( r = 0.40) with time lag of 1 d. In spring, L. Jyvasjarvi warmed faster than L. Paijanne, causing spawning migration from L. Paijanne to L. Jyvasjarvi. Clear diurnal rhythm in activity was observed. The migration rate through the channel peaked around dawn and dusk. Catch per unit effort of the trap net suggested that the peak of the spawning migration of different species was separate. Upstream migration was induced by the temperature difference between two lakes, and the activity of the migration was regulated by temperature changes and light rhythm.

Feeding of Burbot, Lota lota, at Different Temperatures

Daily food intake of adult burbot, Lota lota, fed on vendace, Coregonus albula, were estimated experimentally at four different water temperatures (2.4, 5.1, 10.8 and 23.4°C). Mean daily food intake (MDI; g d−1) and relative daily food intake (RDI; g g−1 d−1) increased with temperature from 2.4 to 10.8°C and decreased at 23.4°C. Temperatures of maximum daily food intake values were 13.6°C for MDI and 14.4°C for RDI. No correlation between food intake values and burbot weight was observed. RDI values were used to estimate annual food consumption of burbot population. Annual food consumption estimates were 9.7 kg ha−1 and 24.3 kg ha−1 when burbot biomass was 2.0 or 5.0 kg ha−1, respectively.

Spawning run of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) in the River Tornionjoki monitored by horizontal split-beam echosounding

Fixed location split-beam horizontal echosounding was used to assess the size and timing of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) spawning run in the River Tornionjoki. Four transducers, two on each river bank, were mounted across the river at the study site 4 km upstream from the river mouth. Net weirs were used on both shores to direct the passage of fish through the acoustic beams. Hydroacoustic monitoring covered 40-50% of the river cross-sectional area. Also test fishing and yearly catch statistics of salmon were used as an indication of the size of the spawning run in the river. Altogether, 7 700, 5 300 and 4 300 salmon-sized targets (target strength, TS ≥ -29 dB) moving upstream were detected in 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively. The fish migration began in all the years by early June and peaked during the second half of the month; the migration period of large salmon lasted until mid-July. The observations made by the echosounding and catch statistics were similar in this respect. In 1998 and 1999, however, more targets of TS ≥ -29 dB were detected during late summer than could be expected by the river catches of salmon. It may be that the large targets in late summer were, in fact, whitefish whose run occurred during the same time. Hydroacoustic estimation of the total salmon run at the study site was found difficult. The numbers of salmon-sized targets detected were almost the same as the numbers of salmon caught each year by fishermen. Therefore, only an index of the run timing and the size of the stock can be produced from the data. It was clear that a considerable amount of fish escaped the acoustic monitoring by using areas uncovered by the beam, such as gaps in the bottom and the surface layers of the water column near the shores. Moreover, it was found that species recognition based on TS only is not adequate in multispecies environments. Assessment of spawning runs remains, however, a key issue in the management of Baltic salmon, and with further development, the hydroacoustic monitoring may be the most viable means of doing it.

Under ice density and mobility of fish in winter-seining area of two Finnish lakes as revealed by echo-survey

The density and movements of fish under ice were studied with single-beam mobile surveys and fixed location split-beam surveys, as well as exploratory fishing in winter-seining areas of two shallow Finnish lakes during winter 1999. Fish schooled near the bottom during the day but the schools dispersed and fish ascended at night. Single and split-beam target strength distributions corresponded fairly closely with the length distribution of seine catch samples. Estimated fish densities were greater at night than in daylight. The swimming speed of smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) was 0.18 m·s -1 in daylight and 0.36 m·s -1 at night. The corresponding figures for vendace (Coregonus albula) were 0.11-0.17 and 0.05-0.08 m·s -1 . Nights immediately before and after fishing were the best periods to estimate the effect of seining on fish density. The hydroacoustic fish density estimates at night corresponded closely with seine catches. We conclude that it is possible to estimate the effects of winter-seining by mobile under-ice echo-surveys and catch samples.

Mortality of pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca), brown trout (Salmo trutta) and landlocked salmon (Salmo salar m. sebago) caught as by-catch in pelagic trawling in a Finnish lake

Altogether 146 pike-perch, 49 brown trout and 19 landlocked salmon were caught in 23 exploratory trawl-hauls in lake Pyhaselka, Finland. Brown trout and salmon were caught only in surface trawling, whereas pike-perch were taken also in mid-water trawling. Most of the fish were smaller than the minimal legal size of 40 cm. To estimate their post-trawling mortality, 129 fish were kept in net cages for 1 week. Less than 15% of the pike-perch and brown trout caught by surface trawl died during 1 week caging, whereas every caged salmon died. Mid-water trawling was far more lethal to pike-perch than surface trawling. We conclude that pike-perch and brown trout can recover from surface trawling. Salmon usually dies after releasing from the trawl, however, our results on salmon has to be considered preliminary due to the low number of replicates. The damage of trawling to the stocks of these predators seems minor.

The success of crayfish stocking in a dredged river with and without artificial shelter increase

Abstract The success of crayfish ( Astacus astacus L.) stocking in a heavily dredged river in Finland was compared between sections with and without artificial shelter. The materials used for creating shelter were a) broken rock and, b) ceramic drain pipes and perforated bricks. Group-marked crayfish (mean carapace length 42.6 mm) were released into the sections and test trappings conducted one year later. The highest crayfish densities were found in the broken rock sections. The reasons for the observed crayfish densities are discussed. No significant differences in growth between groups were detected. Migrations in the range of 2.5 km in one year were recorded.

A Bioenergetics Model for Zander: Construction, Validation, and Evaluation of Uncertainty Caused by Multiple Input Parameters

Abstract A bioenergetics model for zander Sander lucioperca was constructed using data from respirometer and feeding experiments to estimate temperature and mass-specific functions of metabolic and food consumption (C) rates. Other parameters were taken from the literature. The model, together with a previously published model for walleyes S. vitreus (Kitchell et al. 1977) and its modification for zander (Salonen et al. 1996), was validated with independent feeding experiments in the laboratory and was field evaluated in two lakes by using mercury (Hg) as a marker. Both validation procedures gave high modeling efficiency, indicating that the model was able to predict zander C under field conditions. The effect of uncertainty in 29 input parameters on Hg concentration and C was estimated using the Latin hybercube sampling technique (a modified Monte Carlo approach that uses a form of stratified sampling). The simulation results showed that our model was rather insensitive to given uncertainties in input pa...

Two-year cyclicity in recruitment of a fish population is driven by an inter-stage effect

A 25-year time series for a vendace (Coregonus albula (L.)) population was analysed with mathematical models to reveal the factors that regulate its recruitment. The fitted recruitment model was an age-structured model incorporating the compensatory effects of the spawning population and the abundance of the previous year class. Wind forcing index was also added as an example of an external source of recruitment variability. The auto-correlation analysis revealed a tendency for 2-year generation cyclicity in recruitment. The compensatory effects of both spawning biomass and previous year class abundance on recruitment had to be incorporated into the model to remove cyclicity from residuals. Wind forcing during the larval and early juvenile periods negatively affected recruitment. Re-estimating the parameters of the Cushing recruitment function and the effect of previous year-class from simulated data revealed that the time series structure and measurement errors induce strong biases in parameters exaggerating the density independent population growth rate parameter and the amount of compensation. The negative effect of previous year class was also exaggerated but less severely. Simulations with the artificially perturbed deterministic model skeleton revealed a tendency for cyclicity in recruitment. The model typically generated dampening oscillations, but the dynamics appeared as limit cycles when assuming high mortality, a low level of compensation by spawning biomass and a considerable negative effect of the previous year-class. No single ultimate mechanism for inter-stage effects causing cyclicity can be presently designated despite the rather extensive studies on vendace population dynamics. Several of the suggested mechanisms may be operating in concert.

Predation by signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus on fish eggs and its consequences for coregonid recruitment

The character and magnitude of predation by the invasive, ectothermic Pacifastacus leniusculus, a crayfish widely introduced to Europe and Japan from North America, on the eggs of coregonid fishes, vendace Coregonus albula and whitefish Coregonus lavaretus were examined by experimentation, modelling and field data. The present results showed that P. leniusculus has the potential to be very efficient predator of fish eggs under winter conditions, but the predation by P. leniusculus did not significantly decrease production of coregonid larvae during the years with a high P. leniusculus population in the study lake. Hence, the mortality caused by the novel invertebrate predator appeared to compensate for other yet unexplored mortality factors instead of having an additive effect on the present salmonids.