The influence of water levels on population characteristics of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), and walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill), was evaluated across a range of glacial lakes in north-eastern South Dakota, USA. Results showed that natural variation in water levels had an important influence on frequently measured fish population characteristics. Yellow perch abundance was significantly (P < 0.10) greater during elevated water levels. Yellow perch size structure, as indexed by the proportional size distribution of quality- and preferred-length fish (PSD and PSD-P), was significantly greater during low-water years, as was walleye PSD. Mean relative weight of walleye increased significantly during high-water periods. The dynamic and unpredictable nature of water-level fluctuations in glacial lakes ultimately adds complexity to management of these systems. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
CITATION STYLE
Dembkowski, D. J., Chipps, S. R., & Blackwell, B. G. (2014). Response of walleye and yellow perch to water-level fluctuations in glacial lakes. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 21(2), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12047
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