Distribution of egg strands of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) with respect to depth and spawning substrate

Abstract

The distribution of egg strands of perch Perca fluviatilis was studied in relation to water depth and spawning substrate during late April and early May 2007 in Chabařovice Lake, Czech Republic, using SCUBA divers and parallel transects. The depth distribution of egg strands differed significantly between the two sampling dates, being much deeper in early May compared to late April. Perch used at least seven different spawning substrates of which the most important were curly pondweed Potamogeton crispus, worm weed Artemisia sp. and common reed Phragmites communis. However, while living submerged vegetation, although more abundant, was generally avoided, dead submerged vegetation was strongly preferred. It appears that dead vegetation is an ideal spawning substrate for perch since placement of the egg strands over those hard, complex threedimensional structures ensures that the eggs remain well oxygenated 24 hours a day. Factors with significant influence on the distribution of egg strands were as follows (in order of decreasing influence): depth of deposition, type of spawning substrate, date of spawning and temperature at the depth of deposition.

Deep spawning of perch (Perca fluviatilis, L.) in the newly created Chabařovice Lake, Czech Republic

“…The shift of spawning activity from shallower towards deeper layers was most probably induced by the increase of temperature in the upper layers of the water column ([13°C down to 5 m in midMay; Fig. 2) corresponding to the results of Gillet & Dubois (1995) and Č ech et al (2009. During the first sampling survey of Chabařovice Lake 76.1% of the egg strands were found at depths greater than 3 m (the peak of perch spawning activity was in the 2-4 m depth layer at 11.8°C; no egg strands were found The vertical bars show the Secchi disc depths deeper than 12 m), and during the second sampling survey this increased to 100% (the peak of perch spawning activity was in the 6-8 and 10-12 m depth layers at 9.3 and 7.6°C, respectively; 31 egg strands were found deeper than 12 m).…”

Habitat use and preference of adult perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in a deep reservoir: variations with seasons, water levels and individuals

“…Considering the advantages of the littoral zone for fish fauna (Schiemer et al, 1995;Schmieder, 2004;Lewin et al, 2014) and the importance of the habitats impacted by WLF for perch (Imbrock et al, 1996;Zamora & Moreno-Amich, 2002;Pekcan-Hekim et al, 2005;Cech et al, 2009;Muska et al, 2013), we expected some changes in the habitat preferences at different WL. As shown on some terrestrial species, variations in habitat availability can lead to changes in habitat preferences (Godvik et al, 2009;Hansen et al, 2009;Pellerin et al, 2010).…”

“…In stratified reservoirs, fish are usually distributed in the surface waters due to the attraction of warmer temperatures in spring and to avoid deoxygenated hypolimnion in summer (Kubecka & Wittingerova, 1998). What is more, the preference for shallow depths by adult perch could be related to the numerous juveniles of different fish species that live in this sheltered area and that provide food (Degiorgi & Grandmottet, 1993;Stoll et al, 2008) and, in spring, also to the search for spawning support (Cech et al, 2009). Emerging trees and tree stumps, which are rigid, structurally complex and strongly used and preferred in spring, correlate to the type of spawning substrate sought by perch (Gillet & Dubois, 1995;Cech et al, 2009;Snickars et al, 2010).…”

“…What is more, the preference for shallow depths by adult perch could be related to the numerous juveniles of different fish species that live in this sheltered area and that provide food (Degiorgi & Grandmottet, 1993;Stoll et al, 2008) and, in spring, also to the search for spawning support (Cech et al, 2009). Emerging trees and tree stumps, which are rigid, structurally complex and strongly used and preferred in spring, correlate to the type of spawning substrate sought by perch (Gillet & Dubois, 1995;Cech et al, 2009;Snickars et al, 2010). This preference for complex habitats observed throughout the year for the substrate type and to a lesser extent in summer for emerging trees and tree stumps can probably be related to feeding given that they can shelter macro-invertebrates and fish (Czarnecka et al, 2014).…”

Thirty-Year-Old Paradigm about Unpalatable Perch Egg Strands Disclaimed by the Freshwater Top-Predator, the European Catfish (Silurus glanis)

“…The authors pointed out that these represent only a small fraction of aquatic invertebrates and predation pressure exerted on perch is irrelevant. The paradigm of perch egg strands as unpalatable biological matter has since been widely accepted by researchers all over the world [3–9]. …”