GLATOS

Benthopelagic Ichthyofauna Spatiotemporal Observation Network

Project Title

Understanding post-stocking survival and space-use of lake trout and cisco in eastern Lake Erie

Project Code

BISON

Project Duration

April 2025 - July 2027

Project Description

This project is a collaborative effort among our office, the Lower Great Lakes FWCO (Lake Erie), the Green Bay FWCO (Lake Michigan), and the Alpena FWCO (Lake Huron), and New York State Department of Conservation - Lake Erie Research Fisheries Unit to evaluate post-stocking survival and dispersal of stocked yearling lake trout in a multi-year study. We will all be implementing similar arrays and using predation tags. For the first year of the study in Lake Erie we will be deploying receivers in the vicinity of Dunkirk, NY, where lake trout have been historically stocked.

Objectives

Evaluate post-stocking survival of hatchery-reared juvenile lake trout and cisco in Lake Erie at stocking sites with differing depths.
Determine rates and directions of dispersal of hatchery-reared juvenile lake trout and cisco in Lake Erie at stocking sites with differing depths.
Assist in the development of a juvenile trawl survey by identifying sites where juvenile lake trout aggregate.

Management Benefits

Improve certainty of survival estimates of post-stocked juvenile lake trout and cisco in eastern Lake Erie to more accurately model population dynamics.
Elucidate lake trout seasonal movement patterns and space-use.
Determine predation rates of post-stocked juvenile lake trout and cisco in Lake Erie.
Evaluate current stocking practices.

Investigators

Kyle Morton (United States Fish and Wildlife Service - Lower Great Lakes FWCO) - kyle_morton@fws.gov
Collin Farrell (United States Fish And Wildlife Service - Lower Great Lakes FWCO)
Jo Johnson (United States Fish And Wildlife Service)
Dimitry Gorsky (United States Fish And Wildlife Service)
Pascal Wilkins (New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation - Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit)
Jason Robinson (New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation)
Jarrod Ludwig (New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation - Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit)

Participating Organizations

United States Fish and Wildlife Service - Lower Great Lakes FWCO
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit

Funding

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)