0000000000350818
AUTHOR
Markku Viljanen
Population size estimation of larval coregonids in large lakes: Stratified sampling design with a simple prediction model for vertical distribution
Abstract The lake-specific vertical distribution of larval coregonids was assessed annually in Finnish lakes by bongo net sampling. The effect of inter-annual and inter-lake variation in vertical distributions on population estimates of larval coregonids were analysed in 1999–2008. The vertical distribution of newly hatched vendace ( Coregonus albula (L.)) and European whitefish ( Coregonus lavaretus L. s.l.) larvae was analysed and high inter-annual and lake-specific variation in the larval vertical distribution was found. Generally, in both littoral and pelagic areas, larvae were aggregated near the water surface, mostly in the top 30 cm layer. We compared observed and predicted density e…
Diet composition and seasonal feeding patterns of a freshwater ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis)
The Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) is one of the few freshwater seal populations worldwide. The major conservation issue of this critically endangered population is bycatch mortality. We used digestive tract content and stable isotopes (d13C and d15N) to estimate the diet and seasonal feeding patterns for gaining better understanding of the seals feeding habits and potential conservation implications. The diet was similar across age groups. Altogether 15 fish species were identified and the most important were smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), ruff (Gymnocephalus cernuus), perch (Perca fluviatilis), vendace (Coregonus albula) and cyprinids. The high d15N values suggested that the seal…
Diet composition and seasonal feeding patterns of a freshwater ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis)
The Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) is one of the few freshwater seal populations worldwide. The major conservation issue of this critically endangered population is bycatch mortality. We used digestive tract content and stable isotopes (d 13 Ca ndd 15 N) to estimate the diet and seasonal feeding patterns for gaining better understanding of the seals feeding habits and potential conservation implications. The diet was similar across age groups. Altogether 15 fish species were identified and the most important were smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), ruff (Gymnocephalus cernuus), perch (Perca fluviatilis), vendace (Coregonus albula )a nd cyprinids. The high d 15 N values suggested that th…
Occurrence of Two-Year Cyclicity, “Saw-Blade Fluctuation”, in Vendace Populations in Finland
The tendency towards two-year cyclicity is considered typical of many Fennoscandian vendace populations, especially in fluctuation of recruitment, based on time series of individual lakes. We used two robust indicators to identify and quantify two-year cycles in vendace population proxy time series at different life-stages — spawning stock biomass (SB), density of newly hatched larvae (LD) and recruitment (REC) — from 22 Finnish lakes. Then we applied Fisher’s meta-analytical test to assess the adequacy of the evidence to support the hypothesis that vendace population dynam-ics include two-year cyclicity. The results supported this hypothesis for RECbut not for SB or LD. Yet, the indicators…
Echo-sounding can discriminate between fish and macroinvertebrates in fresh water
SUMMARY 1. Acoustic scattering from fish and macroinvertebrates was studied in a boreal Finnish lake at three echosounder frequencies (38, 120 and 200 kHz). Split-beam transducers with partly overlapping 7� beams were employed. Acoustic, fish and invertebrate sampling were undertaken simultaneously. Vertical gradients of temperature and oxygen concentration were measured during the exercise. 2. At all frequencies, a narrow scattering layer coincided with the thermocline. At 38 kHz, fish were detected well with practically no reverberation from invertebrates while 200 kHz detected both fish and invertebrates. 3. Minor differences in the magnitude of acoustic scattering from fish were found b…