Buffalo Harbor Research Articles

Large- and small-scale movement and distribution of acoustically tagged lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in eastern Lake Erie

BackgroundDefining the spatial distribution, home range, and movement patterns of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) is important to managers and decision-makers given the large migration potential and potamodromous behavior exhibited by the species. A remnant population of lake sturgeon remains in the far eastern basin of Lake Erie and although recent efforts have estimated the population size, described the age distribution, and identified a primary spawning site no study to date has examined the spatial distribution or movements of individuals within this population. Between 2014 and 2018, we acoustically tagged 59 adult lake sturgeon, captured in the Buffalo Harbor area, and monitored their large-scale movements throughout Lake Erie with the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry System and small-scale movements with a Vemco Positioning System in the Buffalo Harbor area. After dividing Lake Erie into seven sections, we ran a multi-state mark–recapture model to examine the movement rates into and out of the eastern most section of the lake. Within a heavily utilized lake section, in the Buffalo Harbor area, we identified home ranges with our Vemco Positioning System for each season and year using averaged Brownian bridge movement models.ResultsAlthough some sturgeon demonstrated large-scale movements, traversing the entirety of Lake Erie, the majority of individuals spent their time in the eastern basin of the lake. Home ranges appeared to vary among seasons, but were consistent across years with lake sturgeon selecting the northeastern, rocky, and shallow area of our array during pre-spawning and spawning seasons and leaving our array, or selecting a trough running along the northwestern portion of our array comprising sand and bedrock, in the summer and fall seasons.ConclusionsDocumenting these large-scale movements aligns with previous findings that lake sturgeon on either end of the lake are genetically similar and demonstrates lake sturgeon in the eastern basin exhibit strong philopatry. Our small-scale movement models provide managers with spatial reference points, in the form of utilization distributions, indicating heavily used areas by lake sturgeon within seasons. Future studies should examine what parameters are driving site selection in these areas.

Discovery of an Undocumented Lake Sturgeon Spawning Site in the Headwaters of the Niagara River

Abstract Information about spawning fish is important to stock-assessment data needs (i.e., recruitment and fecundity) and management (i.e., habitat connectivity and protection). In Lake Erie, information about Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens early-life history is available for the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair system in the western basin, but fisheries biologists know comparatively little about Lake Sturgeon in the eastern basin. Although researchers have summarized historical spawning areas, no known natural Lake Sturgeon spawning site is described in Lake Erie proper. Researchers documented a remnant population of reproductively mature Lake Sturgeon near the headwaters of the Niagara River in eastern Lake Erie in 2011. Researchers hypothesized that a spawning site was likely in the immediate vicinity of the Niagara River headwaters near Buffalo Harbor, New York; however, its exact location was unknown. We attempted to locate spawning sites near the confluence of the Niagara River using egg traps at three potential spawning sites. We identified Lake Sturgeon eggs at one of these sites using morphological and genetic techniques. Lake Sturgeon eggs collected on one sampling trip began to emerge when placed in preservative, confirming that eggs deposited at this site are fertilized and viable, and that the area supports viable embryos. This discovery fills data gaps in the early-life history for this population, which has domestic and international management implications with respect to proposed recovery targets, stock assessment models, habitat remediation efforts, and status determinations of a protected species in a geographic region designated as an Area of Concern by the International Joint Commission.

Dry-weight energy density of prey fishes from nearshore waters of the upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor, New York

Energy density of prey fishes can affect the survival, growth, and fitness of piscivorous fishes, and these vital rates may change – for better or worse – after fish communities are altered by the establishment of new species. Invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) are highly abundant in the upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor and serve as alternative food for piscivores. However, there is a paucity of information on the energy density of native and invasive prey fishes in these waters. To better understand the energy density of available prey fishes in nearshore areas of the upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor, we compared the energy densities of: (1) native fishes and invasive fishes, (2) age-0 and yearling-and-older conspecific fishes, and (3) upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor conspecific fishes. Fishes were collected from New York waters of the upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor during early August through mid-September 2013. We combusted fishes in a bomb calorimeter to determine dry-weight energy densities (J/g) for two invasive and eight native species. Energy densities were dependent on an interaction between fish species and age group, and did not differ between the upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor. Yearling-and-older spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) had a significantly higher energy density than all other species examined and was the only species with a significant difference in energy density between age classes. Rudd had an energy density similar to most native fishes; and, although not significantly lower, round goby energy density was lower than most native fishes. Our energy density estimates can be used to better understand mechanisms affecting growth and condition of piscivorous fishes in the upper Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor.

Abundance, biomass, and macrophyte consumption by rudd in Buffalo Harbor and the Niagara River, and potential herbivory by grass carp

Abstract The invasive rudd and grass carp consume aquatic macrophytes, thereby altering important habitat, creating novel trophic pathways, and adversely affecting indigenous species. We estimated the abundance and biomass of rudd and their consumption of macrophytes in Buffalo Harbor (northeastern Lake Erie) and the upper Niagara River during 2012–2013. We also estimated consumption of macrophytes by hypothetical populations of grass carp equal in biomass to rudd populations. Using mark-recapture methods, we estimated that 2571 (95% CI: 2362–2821) rudd were present in Buffalo Harbor and 142,957 (95% CI: 135,127–151,751) were present in the upper Niagara River. Biomass of rudd was estimated at 1.89 mt (95% CI: 1.73–2.07) in Buffalo Harbor and 100.21 mt (95% CI: 94.72–106.38) in the upper Niagara River. Using observed water temperatures and published consumption rates, we estimated that (1) rudd could have consumed 98 mt of macrophytes in Buffalo Harbor and 5210 mt in the upper Niagara River, and (2) hypothetical populations of grass carp equal in biomass to rudd could consume 96 mt of macrophytes in Buffalo Harbor and 4941 mt in the upper Niagara River. Rudd abundance and biomass are substantial in these two waters, and consumption of aquatic macrophytes by rudd may threaten existing aquatic habitat and restoration projects. Annual standardized surveys of fish and macrophyte assemblages would provide data necessary to monitor rudd populations, detect invasion and reproduction by grass carp, and assess habitat changes resulting from herbivory by these two invasive fishes.

Habitat factors influencing fish assemblages at muskellunge nursery sites

Nearshore sites of the Great Lakes and their connecting channels provide critical nursery habitat for muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) and the fishes they prey upon. However, limited understanding of habitat–fish assemblage relations hinders informed management and restoration of these communities. To help fill this information gap, we (1) described fish assemblages at 25 sites in Buffalo Harbor (Lake Erie), the upper Niagara River, and the St. Lawrence River, (2) compared assemblages among sites and waters, and (3) determined if assemblage structure was related to habitat variation. The structure of fish assemblages at muskellunge nursery sites was influenced by suitability of habitats for particular reproductive strategies and providing refugia from predation. Sites that had flowing water, coarse substrates, high macrophyte column density, and little or no macroalgae supported greater fish densities and more species-rich assemblages that were dominated by small-bodied, fusiform cyprinids. These complex habitats provided refugia from predation and were suitable for open substratum spawners. Shallow sites with negligible stream flow, fine substrates, low macrophyte column density, and greater macroalgae coverage contained small-bodied, fusiform fishes; deeper sites with similar habitat were dominated by larger-bodied, laterally-compressed centrarchids and yellow perch (Perca flavescens), whose reproductive strategies and anti-predator adaptations allow them to persist in such habitats. Small-bodied, fusiform fishes such as banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus), cyprinids, and darters are important prey for young-of-the-year muskellunge, whereas laterally-compressed centrarchids and yellow perch are typically avoided. Managing for habitats that support abundant fusiform fishes should provide better nursery conditions and promote stronger year-class formation for muskellunge.

Trends in muskellunge population and fishery characteristics in Buffalo Harbor (Lake Erie) and the Niagara River

We review the history of muskellunge management and describe population and fishery responses to management actions. Stocking of muskellunge in the Niagara River occurred sporadically from 1941 to 1974 when angler harvest was common. Since the late 1970s, managers have enacted increasingly restrictive minimum length limits and anglers adopted a catch-and-release ethic. Despite these efforts, angler catches declined sharply after 1991 in Buffalo Harbor and 1984 in the upper Niagara River; catch rates rebounded after 2006 in the Niagara River, but remain near all-time lows in Buffalo Harbor. In addition, mean catch rates of young-of-the-year (YOY) in fall electrofishing surveys declined from 3.3/h in 1992–1993 to 1.7/h in 2006–2009 in Buffalo Harbor and 11.0/h in 1992–1994 to 5.4/h in 2006–2009 in the Niagara River. Several ecosystem changes occurred that likely contributed to reductions in muskellunge populations, but comprehensive monitoring programs were not in place to quantify these effects. Recent seining surveys show YOY muskellunge production during 2007–2011 was highly variable among index sites (within years) and years, but catch per unit effort was 5.3 times higher at Niagara River sites than Buffalo Harbor sites; catch per unit effort of all fishes was 9.5 times higher in the upper Niagara River than Buffalo Harbor. Both areas are in need of habitat restoration, but habitats in Buffalo Harbor appear especially poor for nearshore fishes. Uncertainty about which factors led to declines in angler catches of muskellunge and YOY production demonstrates the need for a comprehensive monitoring program and formal muskellunge management plan.

Feeding patterns and population structure of an invasive cyprinid, the rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), in Buffalo Harbor (Lake Erie) and the upper Niagara River

Feeding patterns and population structure of the non-native rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus) were examined to understand their ecology in Buffalo Harbor and the Niagara River. We hypothesized that (1) the diet of rudds would be omnivorous, but contain greater proportions of macrophytes in summer months, (2) feeding intensity would increase with water temperature, and (3) condition and growth would be similar to other populations. We collected rudds with a variety of gears in 2009 to test these hypotheses, and used data from 2007 to 2010 seining surveys to determine if the relative abundance of young-of-the-year rudd differed among sites with different flow conditions. Rudds were mostly herbivorous; they consumed aquatic macrophytes in summer and supplemented their diet with algae and fish in spring and fall. Feeding intensity was positively correlated with water temperature, but significantly reduced during spawning. Rudd condition and growth were greater than estimates from other populations, suggesting increases in abundance and range expansion are possible. Furthermore, reproduction was successful at lotic sites but very poor at sites without measureable flow, contrary to the paradigm of optimal rudd habitat. Research is needed to understand how herbivory by abundant rudd populations affects native aquatic communities.

First Report of Abundant Rudd Populations in North America

Abstract The rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus was first introduced into U.S. waters about a century ago, and the species’ popularity as a baitfish in the 1980s has facilitated its spread to at least 21 states and the province of Ontario. Several established populations have been identified, but low abundances have led to little research and management attention. Rudds comprised 48.7% of the 14,130 fish captured in spring trap-netting surveys of Buffalo Harbor (northeastern Lake Erie) and the upper Niagara River during 2007–2008. Rudd was the most abundant species sampled, being captured at 11 of 12 locations and comprising 23.6% of the total catch in Buffalo Harbor and 70.3% of the catch in the upper Niagara River. Documented presences and absences in historical reports indicate that rudd became established in these waters between 1986 and 1991. Research is needed to understand the effects of rudds on native aquatic resources, especially nearshore macrophyte assemblages and the fish they support. Received...

The Politics of Place

This article examines the history of landspeculation andinfrastructure develop ment in western New York during the early 19th century. The theoretical framework is basedon the social construction of place as describedby Logan andMolotch, particularly their theories about growth coalitions, the use values andexchange values of place, andthe distribution of power in favor of corporate elite. The Hol landLandCompany andits relationships with the resident population, landown ers, merchants, and government are examined. The study highlights three themes about the politics of place. The first relates to the formation of corporate elite and their power to direct infrastructure development. The second concerns the power of corporate elite to exploit exchange value andthe attempts of local residents to protect use value. The thirdrelates to the intersection of exchange value anduse value, and collaborations between the beneficiaries of each. The development of roads, the Erie Canal, andthe Buffalo Harbor receive particular attention.

Climatic-change implications from long-term (1823-1994) ice records for the Laurentian Great Lakes

Long-term ice records (1823-1994) from six sites in different parts of the Laurentian Great Lakes region were used to show the type and general timing of climatic changes throughout the region. The general timing of both freeze-up and ice loss varies and is driven by local air temperatures, adjacent water bodies and mixing, and site morphometry. Grand Traverse Bay and Buffalo Harbor represent deeper-water environments affected by mixing of off-shore waters; Chequamegon Bay, Menominee, Lake Mendota, and Toronto Harbor represent relatively shallow-water, protected environments. Freeze-up dates gradually became later and ice-loss dates gradually earlier from the start of records to the 1890s in both environments, marking the end of the “Little lce Age”. After this, freeze-up dates remained relatively constant, suggesting little change in early-winter air temperatures during the 20th century. Ice-loss dates at Grand Traverse Bay and Baffalo Harbor but not at the other sites became earlier during the 1940s and 1970s and became later during the 1960s. The global warming of the 1980s was marked by a trend toward earlier ice-loss dates in both environments.

Climatic-change implications from long-term (1823-1994) ice records for the Laurentian Great Lakes

Long-term ice records (1823-1994) from six sites in different parts of the Laurentian Great Lakes region were used to show the type and general timing of climatic changes throughout the region. The general timing of both freeze-up and ice loss varies and is driven by local air temperatures, adjacent water bodies and mixing, and site morphometry. Grand Traverse Bay and Buffalo Harbor represent deeper-water environments affected by mixing of off-shore waters; Chequamegon Bay, Menominee, Lake Mendota, and Toronto Harbor represent relatively shallow-water, protected environments. Freeze-up dates gradually became later and ice-loss dates gradually earlier from the start of records to the 1890s in both environments, marking the end of the “Little lce Age”. After this, freeze-up dates remained relatively constant, suggesting little change in early-winter air temperatures during the 20th century. Ice-loss dates at Grand Traverse Bay and Baffalo Harbor but not at the other sites became earlier during the 1940s and 1970s and became later during the 1960s. The global warming of the 1980s was marked by a trend toward earlier ice-loss dates in both environments.

Annual Extreme Lake Elevations by Total Probability Theorem

Annual extreme water levels on the Great Lakes, whether maximums or minimums, have a high serial dependence. Therefore, traditional frequency analysis techniques are not applicable and more sophisticated statistical techniques are required to account for the dependence in the annual extremes. Decomposition of the annual extremes into two parts, one containing the highly dependent part and the other containing the random part, is one method of dealing with the dependence in the lake elevations. These parts are then combined by application of the total probability theorem. Seasonality of the occurrence of both parts was found to be very important. Therefore, the complete analysis was done for the 6-month fall-winter period and the 6-month spring-summer period. The two curves were then combined by the union of probabilities. Application of this method to the Buffalo Harbor and Cleveland gages resulted in computed “1 % of Years Exceeded” elevations of 176.76 meters (579.91 feet) and 175.17 meters (574.71 feet) (IGLD 1955), respectively.

"Thayer's" Gull in the Niagara Frontier Region

DURING autumn and winter thousands of gulls are often present on the Niagara River. Most are Herring (Larus argentatus), Ring-billed (L. delawarensis), and Bonaparte's Gulls (L. philadelphia), and they can be observed particularly well at such favored concentration points as Niagara Falls and the lower river in the Lewiston-Queenston vicinity. As the Niagara is usually ice-free in winter, varying numbers of gulls are able to subsist even during the coldest periods. During past years local birders have noted on the river adult-plumaged gulls with characteristics similar to those described for Thayer's Gull, a form presently treated as a subspecies (L. argentatus thayeri) of the Herring Gull (A.O.U., 1957) and recently considered a species (L. thayeri) by Smith (1966) based on his studies in northern Canada. During December 1954 and January 1955 first one and later three of these birds were observed about Niagara Falls and described by Coggeshall (1955) in a paper discussing the taxon and reviewing its history. Prior to 1967 two or three attempts to secure an adult specimen failed, partly because of the difficulty in approaching and retrieving the birds in the Falls area. A specimen in first-winter plumage H. D. Mitchell collected on a Buffalo Harbor dump 4 February 1945 ( 8 ?, BSNS no. 2857) was subsequently sent to L. Griscom, who identified it possibly as L. glaucoides kumlieni (Beardslee and Mitchell, 1965: 244). On 24 December 1957 at the dump on Squaw Island, Buffalo, along the edge of the Niagara River, I secured a gull (sex indeterminable, BSNS no. 4107) that is almost identical in size and coloration to the 1945 first-winter bird. A comparison of these two immature gulls with material in the Royal Ontario Museum and the National Museum of Canada has shown that they agree well with specimens of Thayer's Gull from northern Canada and the Pacific coast. The culmens of the two immatures from Buffalo measure 42 and 41 mm respectively. Two first-year female specimens of L. a. thayeri in the Royal Ontario Museum, taken in September in Bellot Strait, Northwest Territories, Canada, have culmens measuring 37.1 and 41.3 mm. Although three of these culmens measure less than the smallest such measurement (42 mm) that I can find published for female Thayer's Gull, as W. E. Godfrey (pers. comm.) pointed out, first-year gulls often have smaller bills than adults. Also some shrinkage may have occurred in these specimens. In addition, the great majority of published culmen measurements for female Thayer's Gulls are those by Smith