Similar Environmental Conditions are Associated with Walleye and Yellow Perch Recruitment Success in Wisconsin Lakes

Abstract

Since the mid-2000s, recruitment of Walleye Sander vitreus in some northern Wisconsin lakes has declined, potentially because of climate-induced changes in lake environments. Yellow Perch Perca flavescens is also an ecologically and culturally important fish species in this region, but mechanisms driving Yellow Perch recruitment are unclear because of a lack of targeted sampling. Previous studies have suggested that recruitment of these two species may be regulated by similar factors, and observed declines in Walleye recruitment may be cause for concern about Yellow Perch recruitment. Our objectives were to determine if abiotic factors related to recruitment success were similar between Walleye and Yellow Perch populations in northern Wisconsin lakes and if the probability of successful Walleye recruitment was related to estimates of juvenile Yellow Perch abundance before Walleye recruitment declines were observed. We addressed these objectives using historical data from Wisconsin lakes. Random forest analysis incorporating lake-specific averages of predictor variables indicated that winter conditions (duration or severity), growing degree days, variation in spring temperatures, peak summer temperature, and Secchi depth were important predictors of recruitment success for both species. Logistic regression indicated that before Walleye recruitment declines were observed on some lakes (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006), Walleye recruitment success was related to relative abundance of juvenile Yellow Perch in mini-fyke-net sampling. Our results indicate that landscape-level patterns in recruitment success for the two species are likely similar and additional research to understand Yellow Perch recruitment trends is warranted. Better information on Yellow Perch recruitment could contribute to a better understanding of Walleye recruitment trends as declines in Yellow Perch could influence prey availability and survival of age-0 Walleye. Furthermore,

Recruitment Bottlenecks for Age‐0 Walleye in Northern Wisconsin Lakes

“…Larval Yellow Perch abundance may influence survival of age‐0 Walleye in a variety of ways (Maloney and Johnson 1957; Forney 1974, 1976), and Walleye and Yellow Perch recruitment in Wisconsin lakes appear to be influenced by similar ecological drivers (Brandt et al. 2022, this special section).…”

“…Larval Yellow Perch abundance may influence survival of age-0 Walleye in a variety of ways (Maloney and Johnson 1957;Forney 1974Forney , 1976, and Walleye and Yellow Perch recruitment in Wisconsin lakes appear to be influenced by similar ecological drivers (Brandt et al 2022, this special section). While our analyses suggest that larval Yellow Perch abundance was similar between D-NR and S-NR lakes, our sampling did not allow us to assess whether Yellow Perch recruitment bottlenecks might also be evident in D-NR lakes.…”

“…While our analyses suggest that larval Yellow Perch abundance was similar between D-NR and S-NR lakes, our sampling did not allow us to assess whether Yellow Perch recruitment bottlenecks might also be evident in D-NR lakes. Probability of Walleye recruitment success from 1997 to 2006 was related to CPE of Yellow Perch ≤150 mm TL in mini-fyke netting conducted on 186 Wisconsin lakes from 2000 to 2006 (Brandt et al 2022). Additional research is needed to determine whether Yellow Perch are also experiencing recruitment declines in D-NR lakes and whether these declines may be influencing Walleye recruitment.…”

Special Section Overview: Effects of Ecosystem Change on North American Percid Populations

“…Multiple symposium presentations (e.g., Brandt et al 2022;Lawson et al 2022;Whitinger et al 2022; all in this special section) highlighted the complexities of multifaceted ecosystem changes and their challenge to percid management, which were also apparent in the review completed by Hansen et al (2022). Several presentations chronicled trends in the Great Lakes and tributaries where multispecies introductions (both intentional and unintentional), exploitation, water quality and habitat degradation, and remediation efforts have led to a complex interaction of food web, habitat, and harvest changes and their effects on percid populations (Fielder and Baker 2019;Skolte et al 2022;Whitinger et al 2022;Zorn and Kramer 2022).…”

“…Stocking to rehabilitate and support Wisconsin Walleye fisheries has yielded mixed success (Lawson et al 2022). Additionally, the importance of Yellow Perch as prey for larval Walleye in northern Wisconsin lakes (Gostiaux et al 2022) and indications of declining Yellow Perch populations in Minnesota (Bethke and Staples 2015) have led to increased efforts to sample and characterize Yellow Perch populations in both states (Brandt et al 2022;Holbrook et al 2022) and consideration of expanding standard sampling techniques (Holbrook et al 2022). While this research has helped to reduce the number of viable hypotheses for Walleye recruitment declines, the direct mechanisms have yet to be determined.…”