Response of Mysis relicta population dynamics and productivity to spatial and seasonal gradients in Lake Ontario

Abstract

Spatial and temporal patterns of production, density, reproductive status, and size composition of Mysis relicta in Lake Ontario were analyzed in relation to predation and physical conditions. Two whole-lake (May, November) surveys and one partial (August) survey were conducted in 1990. Spatial patterns were related to lake depth. Abundance increased with depth of sampling stations, particularly between 20 and 100 m. At station depths >100 m, the percentage of females carrying eggs and mean female size were constant, but the number of eggs per female increased with station depth. During the winter, the density–depth relationship weakened, apparently through the action of storms and currents, but strengthened again during the summer. Mysids >9 mm in length tended to move to deeper water during the summer. The distributions of predatory fish (alewife, smelt, and sculpin) suggest that depth-related patterns in the mysid population may be due to differences in predation rates with depth and season as well as to horizontal movement. Whole-lake production was estimated to be between 412.91 and 506.82 × 108 g dry weight: most production occurred between 100 and 200 m depth. Growth rate was similar in all regions of the lake.