Quantifying the Spatial Structure of Invasive Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake to Improve Suppression Efficacy

Abstract

AbstractInvasive Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush have altered the once‐pristine Yellowstone Lake ecosystem through top‐down effects by consuming Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri. To conserve Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and restore the ecosystem, a Lake Trout gillnetting program was implemented to suppress the invasive population. We evaluated the spatial structure of Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake with the intent of increasing suppression efficiency. Specifically, we addressed questions related to adult Lake Trout aggregation and movement during summer and autumn (spawning) periods and how Lake Trout used locations in the context of suppression efforts. We tracked 373 Lake Trout (>500 mm TL) during the summer and autumn of 2016 and 2017. Based on kernel density estimates, Lake Trout were highly aggregated at 9 locations during summer and 22 locations during the spawning period. Using a novel metric, individual days (product of mean individuals per survey and mean length of stay), five summer locations and five spawning locations had at least 30 individual days. These locations are suggested as priority areas for targeting Lake Trout suppression. Lake Trout were less aggregated and moved less during the summer, making them less vulnerable to a passive gear in the summer than during the autumn spawning period. Lake Trout exhibited low spawning site fidelity compared to populations elsewhere, possibly due to decades of intensive gill netting at spawning locations. Given the aggregation and movement patterns observed in Yellowstone Lake, continuing to target adult Lake Trout during the spawning period is the most cost‐effective approach to Lake Trout suppression.