An annotated list of the fishes of the western basin of lake erie with emphasis on the bass islands and adjacent tributaries

Abstract

Fish assemblage structure has changed dramatically in the Western Basin of Lake Erie since Trautman's revision of the Fishes of Ohio. Fish surveys near the Bass Islands and adjacent mainland tributaries documented fsh faunal distributional patterns during the last three decades. Collections (n = 1942 sites) from 1980-2015 indicate 120 extant fsh species and 19 extirpated species from the Bass Islands and nearby tributaries to the Western Basin. Extirpation of Polyodon spatula, Alosa sapidissima, Moxostoma lacerum, and Sander glacum occurred; however, Acipenser sapidissima and members of genus Oncorhynchus were introduced but unable to naturalize. Recent collection of rare species included A. fulvescens in Schoolhouse Bay near Middle Bass Island in May 2012; Umbra limi populations on Middle Bass Island and Kelley's Island; and Lepisosteus oculatus populations along the southeastern shoreline of North Bass Island are stable in Lake Erie despite cultural eutrophication. The current Western Basin fsh assemblage includes 101 native, 12 nonindigenous, and seven alien fsh species. Fourteen native species have been extirpated from the Western Basin of Lake Erie, while six nonindigenous species have not naturalized and have been extirpated. Introduced nonindigenous and alien species are responsible for increased species richness including Neogobius melanostomus, Proterorhinus semilunaris, Salmo trutta, Carassius auratus, Cyprinus carpio, Ctenopharyngodon idella and three records for Hypophthalmichthys nobilis since 1995. Hypophthalmichthys molitrix has never been collected but eDNA testing has indicated its presence. Neither H. nobilis or H. molitrix are considered established in Lake Erie, while Ctenopharyngodon idella may be reproducing within the basin. Brief comments on distribution, relative abundance, and status are provided for each species.