The use of artificial spawning substrates as media to support the reproduction of Eurasian perch in Lake Piediluco

Abstract

Lake Piediluco is a naturally regulated lake used for hydroelectric purposes. Management of the lake and the eutrophic conditions of its waters have had a negative impact on fish populations, particularly that of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). In order to increase the natural reproduction of this species, an experimental program was undertaken from 1997 to 2003 to facilitate reproduction by providing artificial spawning substrates. In Lake Piediluco perch spawn from March to May. Egg ribbons ranged in length from 30 to 180 cm and contained from 12,740 to 205,466 eggs. The fraction of degenerated eggs ranged from 0.20% to 63.30% (average 10.20%). The results demonstrate the effectiveness of artificial substrates as suitable substrates for the reproduction of perch.

Location and timing of the deposition of egg strands by perch (Perca fluviatilisL.): the roles of lake hydrology, spawning substrate and female size

“…Due to the continuous filling of the lake the rest of the dead common reed, worm weed and trees and branches are now mostly situated in very deep water in inappropriate temperature conditions, at least at the beginning of the perch spawning period. As the presence of live submerged vegetation is less predictable in time, moreover, it is not much suitable spawning substrate for perch (Čech et al, 2009, 2010), the installation of an artificial spawning substrate Dubois et al, 1996;Nash et al, 1999;Pedicillo et al, 2008;Probst et al, 2009), preferentially in depth layers of 3-8 m, would, in the near future, be an important means of both sustaining the stock of perch, the main predatory fish in the lake, and for overall management of the lake's ichthyofauna. The results from the above mentioned attempt (artificial spawning substrate installation) on the population of perch in Chabařovice Lake would be of crucial importance for other large water bodies forming in the region of North-West Bohemia, such as the opencast mine lake Most-Ležáky (area 311 ha; filling started in 2008), Medard-Libík (area 486 ha; filling started in 2010) or Jiří-Družba (area 1322 ha; filling will start in 2036).…”

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

“…Moreover, the results have shown that live vegetation is not much suitable spawning substrate for perch. For that reason, installation of an artificial spawning substrate (Gillet & Dubois, 1995;Dubois et al, 1996;Nash et al, 1999;Pedicillo et al, 2008;Probst et al, 2009) would, in the near future, be an important means of both sustaining the stock of perch, the main predatory fish in the lake, and for overall management of the lake's ichthyofauna. by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (projects No.…”

“…Zhakov, 1964;Frank, 1967;Pivnička, 1979;Viljanen & Holopainen, 1982;Treasurer, 1983;Craig, 1987;Lang, 1987;Urho, 1996;Pedicillo et al, 2008). Although the preference for submerged vegetation sensus lato as a spawning substrate seems to be obvious in perch, most studies do not provide any evaluation of this preference (Frank, 1967;Holčík, 1969;Craig, 1987;Gillet & Dubois, 1995;Urho, 1996).…”

The use of artificial spawning substrates in order to understand the factors influencing the spawning site selection, depth of egg strands deposition and hatching time of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.)

“…to either control their population ("biomanipulation purposes"; Jones 1982), to more easily study its spawning biology (Zeh et al 1989;Huff et al 2004;Gillet, and Dubois 2007;Probst et al 2009) or to support the reproduction success of this species (Nash et al 1999;Pedicillo et al 2008). In Chabařovice Lake, the A.S.S.…”