Comparison of Lake Whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis) Growth, Condition, and Energy Density between Lakes Erie and Ontario

Abstract

Patterns in abundance, growth, and condition of lake whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis) from Lake Erie were compared with those from Lake Ontario. Discontinuous assessment data were available from 1972 to 2003 for each lake to describe abundance, growth, and condition, while a seasonally intensive field program was undertaken in 2003 to describe diet, energy density, and gonadosomatic index (GSI). Through time, abundance declined more in Lake Ontario than in Lake Erie. Length-at-age (growth) and condition both declined significantly in Lake Ontario but did not change in Lake Erie. Diet analysis revealed chironomids, dreissenid mussels and sphaeriids made up the bulk of lake whitefish diet in Lake Erie. Diet in Lake Ontario exhibited more seasonal variability with amphipods and gastropods comprising the bulk of the spring and fall diets, and dreissenid mussels dominating summer diets. Lake whitefish energy density (J/g wet mass) was significantly higher in Lake Erie than in Lake Ontario, increasing with body mass and strongly correlated with water content. Female gonadosomatic index was also significantly greater in Lake Erie than in Lake Ontario. Biological attributes of lake whitefish from Lake Erie did not change greatly from the late 1980s to 2003 while fish from Lake Ontario exhibited decreased size-at-age and condition likely due to decreased energy content of diets compared to predreissenid mussel conditions, and possibly lower availability of benthic prey compared to Lake Erie.