Effect of young-of-the-year walleye (Percidae: Stizostedion vitreum) on plankton dynamics and water quality in ponds

Abstract

To understand the impact of young-of-the-year (YOY) fish on food web dynamics and water quality, we stocked larval walleye (9 mm TL) (Stizostedion vitreum) in six experimental ponds using two fish densities (10 and 50 fish m−3) with three replicates. At high fish density, the average abundances of cladocerans and copepods and the Secchi depth were lower whereas abundances of rotifers and algae, gross primary productivity (GPP), pH and total phosphorus concentration were higher than at low fish density. Fish impact on bacterial abundance, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, however, was not significant. The within treatment measurements of all variables except GPP were significantly different over time. Our results indicate that YOY walleye predation at high density can affect plankton community by reducing large zooplankton biomass and water clarity, and increasing phytoplankton abundance. The impact of YOY piscivorous fish on plankton should be considered when biomanipulation is applied for improvement of water quality.