Age-0 Yellow Perch Research Articles

Increased mercury concentrations in walleye and yellow perch in lakes invaded by zebra mussels

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are invasive species that alter ecosystems and food webs with the potential to affect aquatic mercury cycling and bioaccumulation in fishes, although the effect of zebra mussels on fish tissue mercury has not been tested in inland lakes. We assessed differences in fish tissue mercury concentrations and food webs in Minnesota lakes with and without zebra mussels while controlling for other lake and watershed characteristics. Mercury concentrations in adult walleye (Sander vitreus) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were 72 % and 157 % higher, respectively, in lakes containing zebra mussels compared to uninvaded lakes. Mercury in young of year (age-0) fish was also elevated, with mercury concentrations 97 % and 82 % higher in age-0 walleye and yellow perch, respectively, in zebra mussel lakes. Walleye mercury concentrations exceeded 0.22 ppm — a threshold triggering more restrictive human consumption advisories for sensitive populations — at a 23 % smaller size, and average-sized walleye (420 mm) exceeded this threshold at a rate of 77 % in invaded lakes, compared to 35 % in uninvaded lakes. Walleye and yellow perch relied more on littoral resources in lakes with zebra mussels but did not feed at meaningfully higher trophic levels. Increased fish tissue mercury in lakes invaded by zebra mussels have consequential implications for fisheries and human health.

Parasites of Age-0 Walleye,Sander vitreusand Yellow Perch,Perca flavescens(Percidae) from Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, Michigan, U.S.A.

One-hundred age-0 walleye Sander vitreus and 100 age-0 yellow perch Perca flavescens collected in September 2015 from Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, Michigan, U.S.A., were examined for parasites. Five parasite species (Allacanthochasmus sp., Ichthyocotylurus sp., Bothriocephalus cuspidatus, Camallanus oxycephalus, Ergasilus luciopercarum) infected walleye. Ergasilus luciopercarum had the highest prevalence (97%), mean intensity (9.0), and mean abundance (8.7). Ichthyocotylurus sp. and B. cuspidatus each had a prevalence of 73%. Twelve parasite species (Myxobolus neurophilus, Allacanthochasmus sp., Diplostomum sp., Ichthyocotylurus sp., Neascus sp., Crepidostomum sp., B. cuspidatus, Proteocephalus sp., Dichelyne cotylophora, Eustrongylides tubifex, Philometra cylindracea, Ergasilus luciopercarum) occurred in yellow perch. Ichthyocotylurus sp. had the highest prevalence (72%), mean intensity (7.9), and mean abundance (5.7). Proteocephalus sp. had the next highest prevalence (40%). Walleye and yellow perch are new host records for metacercariae of Allacanthochasmus. Saginaw Bay is a new locality record for M. neurophilus in yellow perch and for C. oxycephalus in walleye. This study is the first survey of the parasites of age-0 walleye and age-0 yellow perch in the Great Lakes.

Evaluating potential competitive bottlenecks between invasive common carp and native bluegill and yellow perch

AbstractProcesses influencing fish recruitment are often highly complex and inherently difficult to understand. Invasive species may complicate recruitment through habitat and food web modifications resulting in competitive bottlenecks. Common carp Cyprinus carpio have been distributed worldwide, and their introductions have resulted in destructive effects on aquatic ecosystems and food web dynamics. Common carp are highly fecund, and high densities of age‐0 carp may occur in some years that may reduce invertebrate prey resources and adversely affect native age‐0 fishes. We used enclosures and field observations to examine potential effects of age‐0 common carp on growth and survival of age‐0 yellow perch Perca flavescens and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus. Yellow perch and bluegill were stocked into enclosures with and without common carp (31 fish/m3) using a substitution experimental design, and fish growth and survival and invertebrate prey resources were assessed. Common carp reduced growth of yellow perch but not bluegill and did not affect survival of either species in mesocosms. Next, we used patterns of common carp, bluegill, and yellow perch abundance and total length across 38 lake‐years to evaluate potential interspecific interactions in natural systems. Age‐0 common carp abundance was not negatively related to size or abundance of bluegill or yellow perch. However, adult common carp and age‐0 yellow perch abundance were inversely related, suggesting a potential competitive bottleneck. Thus, age‐0 common carp may suppress growth of yellow perch when prey is limited, but adult common carp may have larger effects than early life stages on native juvenile fishes.

Exploring potential effects of cormorant predation on the fish community in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Abstract Stakeholders and fishery managers expressed concern that double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus predation may be a factor in the recent poor survival of yellow perch Perca flavescens in Saginaw Bay. We quantified cormorant diets from two nesting colonies in Saginaw Bay during April–September in 2013 and 2014, with special emphasis on impacts to yellow perch. Cormorants (n = 691) were collected when returning to colonies after foraging. Stomachs were removed and preserved in the field. Diet items were identified, enumerated, and measured (n = 23.373). Cormorant diets from Saginaw Bay indicate a heavy reliance on round goby and Notropis species as prey during the breeding season, consistent with other areas of the Great Lakes where round goby and cormorants coincide. Respectively, the three most common prey species observed by number (%) and biomass (%) pooled across years and sites were round goby Neogobius melanostomus (56.6%, 42.1%), emerald shiner Notropis antherinoides (25.2%, 12.5%), and yellow perch (8.0%, 14.1%). Diet composition was more variable at Spoils Island than at Little Charity Island. Overall cormorant consumption (estimated using cormorant consumption demand rates) of yellow perch was compared to walleye consumption. Cormorant consumption of age-1 yellow perch was 13–17% as much as mean walleye consumption of yellow perch in 2013 and 8–11% in 2014. The cumulative effects of walleye and spring cormorant predation likely represent a recruitment bottleneck for yellow perch in Saginaw Bay. Future studies determining age-specific abundance of yellow perch would facilitate better determination of cormorant predation significance.

Consequences of Hatch Phenology on Stages of Fish Recruitment.

Little is known about how hatch phenology (e.g., the start, peak, and duration of hatching) could influence subsequent recruitment of freshwater fishes into a population. We used two commonly sympatric fish species that exhibit different hatching phenologies to examine recruitment across multiple life stages. Nine yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) annual cohorts were sampled from 2004 through 2013 across larval, age-0, age-1, and age-2 life stages in a Nebraska (U.S.A.) Sandhill lake. Yellow perch hatched earlier in the season and displayed a more truncated hatch duration compared to bluegill. The timing of hatch influenced recruitment dynamics for both species but important hatching metrics were not similar between species across life stages. A longer hatch duration resulted in greater larval yellow perch abundance but greater age-1 bluegill abundance. In contrast, bluegill larval and age-0 abundances were greater during years when hatching duration was shorter and commenced earlier, whereas age-0 yellow perch abundance was greater when hatching occurred earlier. As a result of hatch phenology, yellow perch recruitment variability was minimized sooner (age-0 life stage) than bluegill (age-1 life stage). Collectively, hatch phenology influenced recruitment dynamics across multiple life stages but was unique for each species. Understanding the complexities of when progeny enter an environment and how this influences eventual recruitment into a population will be critical in the face of ongoing climate change.

Year-class variation drives interactions between warm-water predators and yellow perch

Walleye (Sander vitreus), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) are common top predators across many north temperate lakes, but no previous analyses have assessed factors driving their combined impact on mortality of a shared prey, yellow perch (Perca flavescens). We estimated consumption dynamics of walleye, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass during 3 years that differed in age-0 yellow perch year-class strength and evaluated the relative contribution of each predator to age-0 yellow perch mortality, in Oneida Lake, New York, USA. Habitat-specific diet composition and population densities were integrated with temperature and growth rates to parameterize a bioenergetics model and estimate annual consumption of major diet items. Walleye were the dominant predator in both offshore and inshore habitats, while smallmouth bass and largemouth bass were also important inshore predators. Consumption of age-0 yellow perch by all three predators was positively correlated to age-0 yellow perch year-class strength, but our ability to account for age-0 yellow perch mortality decreased during years when year-class strength was strong. Within each year, predation by the three species accounted for all observed age-0 yellow perch mortality in late summer and fall, but not in the early summer, suggesting other predators in the lake likely predate on the youngest, most vulnerable yellow perch. These results are important for understanding how diverse predator communities can alter the spatial and temporal availability of prey refuges and influence mortality of a shared prey.

Benefits of Turbid River Plume Habitat for Lake Erie Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) Recruitment Determined by Juvenile to Larval Genotype Assignment.

Nutrient-rich, turbid river plumes that are common to large lakes and coastal marine ecosystems have been hypothesized to benefit survival of fish during early life stages by increasing food availability and (or) reducing vulnerability to visual predators. However, evidence that river plumes truly benefit the recruitment process remains meager for both freshwater and marine fishes. Here, we use genotype assignment between juvenile and larval yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from western Lake Erie to estimate and compare recruitment to the age-0 juvenile stage for larvae residing inside the highly turbid, south-shore Maumee River plume versus those occupying the less turbid, more northerly Detroit River plume. Bayesian genotype assignment of a mixed assemblage of juvenile (age-0) yellow perch to putative larval source populations established that recruitment of larvae was higher from the turbid Maumee River plume than for the less turbid Detroit River plume during 2006 and 2007, but not in 2008. Our findings add to the growing evidence that turbid river plumes can indeed enhance survival of fish larvae to recruited life stages, and also demonstrate how novel population genetic analyses of early life stages can contribute to determining critical early life stage processes in the fish recruitment process.

Changes in age-0 yellow perch habitat and prey selection across a round goby invasion front

Abstract Round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) are reported to have negative impacts on benthic invertebrate prey and are now highly abundant throughout most of the Laurentian Great Lakes. This study used the initial spread of round gobies north and south from the Milwaukee Harbor as a natural experiment to assess the competitive interactions between age-0 yellow perch and round gobies in western Lake Michigan. Habitat selection and diet of age-0 yellow perch in relation to round goby abundance were analyzed using fish captured in micro-mesh gillnets in 2006 and 2007 at six study locations from Sheboygan to Wind Point, Wisconsin. An age-0 yellow perch shift in habitat preference from rock to sand was associated with relatively high round goby abundance at rock sites. An increase in round goby catch per unit effort was also correlated with a decrease in benthic prey (chironomid larvae + amphipods) abundance at rock sites and occurrence of these prey items in age-0 yellow perch stomach contents. Our results suggest that age-0 yellow perch may have undergone local niche shifts as a consequence of competition with round gobies. Further study may help elucidate the causal mechanism behind our observations and determine what effect round gobies are having on the yellow perch population of western Lake Michigan, as a whole.

Patterns of age-0 yellow perch growth, diets, and mortality in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Identifying mechanisms influencing early-life survival may elucidate recruitment variability of fish populations. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens), are economically and ecologically important in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, but have recently experienced low recruitment despite strong production of age-0 fish. Recent year classes have been characterized by slow first-year growth, as indexed by fall size of age-0 yellow perch; however, seasonal growth patterns and accompanying diet and survivorship patterns have not been documented for age-0 yellow perch in Saginaw Bay. To this end, we collected age-0 yellow perch weekly (larvae) and monthly (juveniles) throughout the first year of life during 2009 and 2010 to track changes in growth and diet composition. We also evaluated predation and over-winter energy-loss as potential mechanisms of size-selective mortality. Yellow perch growth, energy accumulation and size-specific condition decreased during late summer and fall. During larval and juvenile stages, predominant components of yellow perch diets transitioned from copepods to Daphnia and other zooplankton; however, we observed only weak ontogenetic shifts toward benthic prey. Smaller yellow perch a) were preferentially preyed upon by walleye (the bay's main piscivore) and b) displayed lower mass-specific energy content, potentially increasing overwinter starvation risk, suggesting that slow growth increases mortality risk. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that recruitment dynamics are influenced by an interplay of size-selective mortality and diet-induced reductions in growth.

Modeling turbidity type and intensity effects on the growth and starvation mortality of age-0 yellow perch

We sought to quantify the possible population-level influence of sediment plumes and algal blooms on yellow perch (Perca flavescens), a visual predator found in systems with dynamic water clarity. We used an individual-based model (IBM), which allowed us to include variance in water clarity and the distribution of individual sizes. Our IBM was built with laboratory data showing that larval yellow perch feeding rates increased slightly as sediment turbidity level increased, but that both larval and juvenile yellow perch feeding rates decreased as phytoplankton level increased. Our IBM explained a majority of the variance in yellow perch length in data from the western and central basins of Lake Erie and Oneida Lake, with R2values ranging from 0.611 to 0.742. Starvation mortality was size dependent, as the greatest daily mortality rates in each simulation occurred within days of each other. Our model showed that turbidity-dependent consumption rates and temperature are key components in determining growth and starvation mortality of age-0 yellow perch, linking fish production to land-based processes that influence water clarity. These results suggest the timing and persistence of sediment plumes and algal blooms can drastically alter the growth potential and starvation mortality of a yellow perch cohort.

The Influence of Symmetrical Feed:Fast Regimes on Oxytetracycline Uptake and Otolith Score in Yellow Perch

Periods of growth from symmetric feed:fast regimes (i.e., days fed followed by the same number of days fasted) may increase the uptake of oxytetracycline (C22H24N2O9 .HCL[OTC]) compounds in fishes; however, little empirical data exists. Therefore, we experimentally determined if such feeding regimes influenced the concentration of OTC incorporated in muscle and skeletal (e.g., otoliths) tissues. Individually-reared female and batch-reared (male and female), age-1 yellow perch Perca flavescens were subjected to one of four experimental feeding regimes: control (i.e., fed daily), D2 (i.e., 2d feed, 2d deprivation), D6, or D12 symmetrical feed:fast regimes. Following several feeding cycles on these feeding regimes, fish were submersed in a 600mg/L buffered OTC solution; otoliths and muscle tissue were excised and processed to determine OTC uptake via mark quality and concentrations. Ranked otolith scores (mark quality) were significantly lower for the D2 feeding regime than control, D6, and D12 scores for both individual and batch trials suggesting that frequent food deprivation restricts osteogenesis, while daily or extended feeding periods contribute to osteogenesis. In batch-reared fish, total OTC and 4-epioxytetracycline peak concentrations in muscle tissue did not significantly differ among treatments but were significantly greater for smaller individuals within treatments suggesting that the OTC uptake and elimination response is mechanistically related to higher gill ventilation volume and gastric ingestion rate of small fish providing increased chemical assimilation and decreased clearing time following OTC immersions. Increased otolith mark quality derived from such feeding protocols may be of particular interest to fisheries managers conducting stock contribution assessments of yellow perch, but this induction strategy may apply to other species as well as therapies for hatchery stocks.

Energy content of young yellow perch and walleye in Saginaw Bay

We evaluated seasonal energy content of age-0 yellow perch Perca flavescens and walleye Sander vitreus in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron in 2009 and 2010. We also determined the energy content of age-1 fish from the 2009 and 2010 cohorts the following spring (i.e., for fish that had survived one winter) to evaluate overwinter energy losses. As expected, larger fish within each species had disproportionately higher energy content (i.e., slope relating length and energy >3.0) than smaller conspecifics. By contrast to expectations, allometric slopes were >3.0 in nearly all months, not just the fall, and were higher for age-0 yellow perch than for walleye, even though increased allocation to growth would have seemingly been beneficial to even the largest yellow perch during summer. Seasonal energy allocation patterns differed between years. In 2009, length specific energy content increased from late summer to fall for both species. However, for the 2010 cohorts of fish, length specific energy content decreased between late summer and fall for yellow perch and did not change for walleye. There were 13–17% overwinter declines in length specific energy content between the fall (October or November) and the spring (May) with no major differences between cohorts within a species or between species for a given year. Because young yellow perch and walleye are similar physiologically but differ in size (i.e., yellow perch are smaller), it is possible that overwinter energy losses are more important for yellow perch than for walleye.

Effects of water clarity on the length and abundance of age-0 yellow perch in the Western Basin of Lake Erie

Water clarity is an important environmental variable that may affect fish populations by altering the visual environment. Effects can change feeding ability, as well as alter predation risk. The western basin of Lake Erie provides a valuable model system for studying the effects of transparency because the two main tributaries, the Maumee and Detroit rivers, differ substantially in clarity. We used Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to quantify the relationship between transparency and the observed abundance and length of age-0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in August, based on surveys from 1986 to 2006. Secchi data from June to August were included in the models that best explained the variation in yellow perch abundance and length. August values for bottom oxygen and bottom temperature also increased model fit for abundance, whereas only bottom temperature improved model fit for length. Our models indicate that transparency was positively related to the August length while abundance of age-0 yellow perch was inversely related to transparency. Highest abundance was observed in areas with the lowest transparency, with peak abundances observed in areas with less than 1m of Secchi depth. This is in contrast to August length, which increased as transparency increased, to an asymptote at around 3m of Secchi depth. The split nature of water clarity conditions in the western basin of Lake Erie has resulted in areas with higher growth potential, versus areas with higher apparent survival.

Comparison of four types of sampling gears for estimating age-0 yellow perch density

To aid biologists in obtaining reliable and efficient estimates of age-0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) abundance, we compared operational effort and catch characteristics (i.e., density, length frequencies, and precision) of four gear types (beach seines, benthic sleds, drop nets, and push trawls) in littoral habitats in two South Dakota glacial lakes. Gear types were selected on the basis that the volume of water sampled could be determined and, thus, density (number/m3) of age-0 yellow perch could be computed for each. Age-0 yellow perch were collected on three occasions with each gear in both lakes in August 2011. Differences in gear operational effort (i.e., the time required for set-up, deployment, and fish sorting) and age-0 yellow perch density and length frequencies were compared among sampling gears. Mean operational effort ranged from 9 to 65 min, mean density from 0.07 to 4.1 age-0 yellow perch/m3, coefficients of variation of mean age-0 perch density from 33 to 134, and number of samples required to estimate a 25% change in mean age-0 perch abundance from 22 to 305. Beach seines and drop nets may selectively sample larger age-0 yellow perch than benthic sleds and push trawls. We recommend use of beach seines or benthic sleds for sampling age-0 yellow perch in littoral habitats of glacial lakes. However, all sampling gears tested in this study have associated costs and benefits and one may be more suitable than another under different circumstances.

Changes in zooplankton community structure associated with the disappearance of invasive alewife in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

We evaluated the response of the zooplankton community Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron to the disappearance of the planktivore alewife Alosa pseudoharengus using data collected in 1991–1996 (pre alewife decline) and 2009–2010 (post alewife decline). Bosmina longirostris, Diaptomidae, Cyclops, and Daphnia galeata contributed greatly to the separation of the two time periods with Diaptomidae and D. galeata increasing and Cyclops and B. longirostris decreasing, although B. longirostris remained the dominant species. Peak densities of zooplankton occurred in early summer (June) in the 1990s and in early fall (October) in 2009–2010. For the analysis of environmental variables on a bay-wide, annual basis, abundance of alewife, age-0 yellow perch Perca flavescens and Bythotrephes captured much of the variation in annual zooplankton community structure. Abundances of Bythotrephes and age-0 yellow perch were both higher in 2009–2010 than in 1991–1996. Some changes such as increasing proportions of calanoid copepods reflect a more oligotrophic community and are potentially indicative of resource-driven changes rather than direct or indirect impacts of the alewife disappearance.

Mensurative approach to examine potential interactions between age-0 yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations are often sympatric in the Great Plains region of the U.S.A. and portions of Canada; however, very little attention has been given to potential interactions between these species for available resources, especially during the early life stages. Relationships between age-0 bluegill and yellow perch growth and relative abundance were explored across multiple lakes and years within the Nebraska Sandhill region, USA. In addition, four habitat patch types (open water, Phragmites spp., Typha spp., Scirpus spp.) were sampled for age-0 bluegill and yellow perch, and food habits were examined for each species during August, September, and October of 2009 in one of these lakes. Age-0 yellow perch growth was negatively related to age-0 bluegill relative abundance across a spatiotemporal scale. Age-0 bluegill and yellow perch exhibited similar habitat use (moderate–high overlap), but generally consumed different important and dominant prey taxa (bluegill consumed both macroinvertebrates—56 % and zooplankton—44 %, while yellow perch consumed more zooplankton—66 %), which resulted in low overall diet overlap between species. Previous research indicates that age-0 yellow perch diet ontogeny often results in feeding predominately on macroinvertebrates and positively selecting them (and avoiding zooplankton prey) at sizes observed in our study. Therefore, yellow perch growth rates may be compromised by the presence of bluegill because of the need to consume less energetically profitable prey items such as zooplankton.

Correlation of Parasites with Growth of Yellow Perch

The possible influence of parasites on the short-term and long-term growth and condition of yellow perch Perca flavescens was examined by investigating correlations between parasite abundance and specific growth variables. The following parasites were enumerated in age-1 yellow perch collected from Lake St. Pierre in June 2008: Apophallus brevis, Diplostomum spp., Ichthyocotylurus spp., Tylodelphys scheuringi, Phyllodistomum superbum, and Raphidascaris acus. Short-term growth was estimated using RNA/DNA ratios and long-term growth via the total length and condition as measured by the Fulton index. No correlation was found between parasite abundance and short-term growth, but a negative influence of combined infections of T. scheuringi and P. superbum on long-term growth was detected. In addition, the abundance of Ichthyocotylurus spp. was positively correlated with the condition of the yellow perch. Together these results suggest that limited or subtle pathogenic effects in juvenile fish are not discernable in recent growth but only in long-term growth indices. Furthermore, in future studies examination of parasite effects on fish growth should account for multiple infections.

Match–Mismatch Regulation for Bluegill and Yellow Perch Larvae and Their Prey in Sandhill Lakes

AbstractFood availability may regulate fish recruitment, both directly and indirectly. The availability of zooplankton, especially to newly hatched larvae, is thought to be crucial to their early growth and survival. We examined stomach contents of larval bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and yellow perch Perca flavescens in Pelican Lake and Cameron Lake, Nebraska, in 2004 and 2005. We also determined zooplankton availability and calculated prey selection using Chesson's α. In addition, we investigated potential match–mismatch regulation of recruitment from 2004 to 2008. Bluegill positively selected copepod nauplii and Bosmina spp., and yellow perch often selected copepods. Abundant zooplankton populations were available for consumption. Matches of both larval bluegill and yellow perch abundance to zooplankton abundance were detected in all years; exact matches were common. Mismatches in predator and prey production were not observed. Predation by age-0 yellow perch on age-0 bluegill was not observed, even though yellow perch hatched 2 mo prior to bluegill. Given that zooplankton were abundant and well-timed to larval fish relative abundance over the time span of this study, the match–mismatch hypothesis alone may not fully account for observed recruitment variability in these populations. Environmental conditions may also affect recruitment and warrant further investigation.

Comparisons of Catch and Precision of Pop Nets, Push Nets, and Seines for Sampling Larval and Juvenile Yellow Perch

Abstract Abundance estimates of larval and juvenile fish require unbiased and precise sampling techniques. Even if an appropriate sampling technique is chosen, fish abundance estimates can be inaccurate if there is no assessment of the gear precision. Our first objective was to compare catch characteristics of pop nets, push nets, and seines for sampling occurrence, abundance, and size of age-0 yellow perch Perca flavescens in shallow habitats with different vegetation densities. The second objective was to estimate the precision (coefficient of variation (CV)) with which each sampling gear measured larval and juvenile yellow perch abundance. Larval fish were collected in May 2003 via pop nets and push nets, and juveniles were collected in July 2003 via pop nets and seines. Significant differences in yellow perch occurrence and abundance were observed between sampling gears and sampling periods. May occurrence and abundance of larval yellow perch were higher for push nets than for pop nets in open-water h...

Biophysical Model of Larval Yellow Perch Advection and Settlement in Lake Michigan

Potential for large-scale physical transport processes to affect recruitment of Lake Michigan yellow perch ( Perca flavescens) was studied by examining the variation in larval distribution, growth rate, and settlement during June–August 1998–2003 using a 3D particle transport model linked with an individual-based bioenergetics growth model. In all years, virtual larvae were released nearshore in southwestern Lake Michigan, a known and important spawning region for yellow perch. For any given year, the same circulation pattern and water temperature either promoted or reduced yellow perch settlement depending on the consumption rates and settlement size chosen in the growth model. Increased consumption increased the number of settled larvae and expanded the total area where larvae settled, whereas increased settlement size reduced the number of settled larvae and reduced the overall settlement area. Interannual variability in circulation patterns and water temperature also resulted in contrasting larval settlement rates, settlement locations, and size of settlement areas between years. Model predictions were most consistent with field observations of age-0 yellow perch from Illinois and Michigan waters when settlement was assumed to occur at 50 mm. Moreover, our model suggests that larvae originating from southwestern Lake Michigan can recruit anywhere within the southern basin and even in the northern basin. Future model improvement will require information on the relative contribution of various sectors to the larval pool, their distribution with reference to the hydrodynamic landscape, the feeding and growth of yellow perch during their pelagic phase, and the size at transition to demersal stage.