Distribution and abundance of young fish in the St. Clair River and associated waters, Ontario

Abstract

Fish larvae were sampled in 1986 in the St. Clair River, and adjacent waters. Species richness (9 taxa as larvae; 4 others as juveniles) and abundance was lowest in the river, where many larvae (e.g., burbot, rainbow smelt, and yellow perch) were in transit from Lake Huron. The most abundant, and localized, species was gizzard shad, which reached a peak mean density of 4600 larvae 100 m-3 in an agricultural canal. Adjacent waters contribute greatly to the fish communities of the river and adjoining Lakes Huron and Erie, especially in terms of the number and quantity of forage species.