Interactions between White Perch (Morone amerićana) and Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) in Lake Erie as Determined from Feeding and Growth

Abstract

Since the mid-1970's, white perch Morone americana have expanded rapidly, resulting in possible major interactions with the native yellow perch Perca flavescens. We compared the food consumption rates, diet overlap, and growth of white perch and yellow perch from field data collected during 1983–85 and 1987. Food consumption rates were as much as 27% greater in white perch than in yellow perch, and were higher for both species in the central basin than in the western basin. Seasonal diet composition was most alike in summer and less so in spring and fall, when yellow perch ate more benthos or fish than did white perch. Of 48 Schoener index comparisons of diet overlap during a 3-yr period, 52% were significant (> 0.6). Although yellow perch grew faster in the central basin, reflecting the greater consumption rates, white perch did not show the similar large interbasin growth differences.