Suppression of invasive lake trout in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park

Abstract

Fisheries managers have implemented suppression programmes to control non‐native lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), in several lakes throughout the western United States. This study determined the feasibility of experimentally suppressing lake trout using gillnets in an isolated backcountry lake in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, for the conservation of threatened bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Suckley). The demographics of the lake trout population during suppression (2009–2013) were described, and those data were used to assess the effects of suppression scenarios on population growth rate (λ) using an age‐structured population model. Model simulations indicated that the population was growing exponentially (λ = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.16–1.28) prior to suppression. However, suppression resulted in declining λ (0.61–0.79) for lake trout, which was concomitant with stable bull trout adult abundances. Continued suppression at or above observed exploitation levels is needed to ensure continued population declines.

In‐Situ Evaluation of Benthic Suffocation Methods for Suppression of Invasive Lake Trout Embryos in Yellowstone Lake

“…, ; Fredenberg et al. ). The National Park Service and Hickey Brothers Research, LLC (since 2012) have conducted gillnetting operations in Yellowstone Lake (Bigelow et al.…”

Revealing migration and reproductive habitat of invasive fish under an active population suppression program

“…Lake trout are opportunistic life history strategists that are long-lived, large-bodied, iteroparous, and highly fecund with large eggs and independent embryos (Ruzycki, 2003;Winemiller & Rose, 1992). Stocking and a suite of adaptable life history characteristics have allowed lake trout to colonize freshwater environments outside of their native range (Fredenberg et al, 2017;Gray, Fraser, & Grant, 2014;Rosenthal, 2012). In the western United States, invasive lake trout population suppression has been performed on a number of freshwater systems (Fredenberg et al, 2017;Hansen, Horner, Liter, Peterson, & Maiolie, 2008;Martinez et al, 2009;Ng, Fredericks, & Quist, 2016), including Yellowstone Lake (Syslo et al, 2011).…”

“…Stocking and a suite of adaptable life history characteristics have allowed lake trout to colonize freshwater environments outside of their native range (Fredenberg et al, 2017;Gray, Fraser, & Grant, 2014;Rosenthal, 2012). In the western United States, invasive lake trout population suppression has been performed on a number of freshwater systems (Fredenberg et al, 2017;Hansen, Horner, Liter, Peterson, & Maiolie, 2008;Martinez et al, 2009;Ng, Fredericks, & Quist, 2016), including Yellowstone Lake (Syslo et al, 2011). Lake trout suppression is a conservation program for Yellowstone cutthroat trout, and more generally to the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems the subspecies supports (Crait & Ben-David, 2006;Reinhart et al, 2001).…”

Targeting Aggregations of Telemetered Lake Trout to Increase Gillnetting Suppression Efficacy

“…; Fredenberg et al. ; Williams ), which is a prerequisite when considering novel suppression methods, such as embryo suffocation (Thomas et al. ).…”

“…; Fredenberg et al. ). For example, the introduction of invasive Lake Trout into Lake Tahoe led to the extirpation of native Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi (Crossman ).…”