Vermont Project: Rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain

Vermont Project

Rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain

February 2006 - January 2014

Personnel

Participating Agencies

Lake Champlain Sea Grant

School of alewife. Source: Hagerty, Ryan, USFWS (NCTC Image Library, Public Domain)

Alewife became established in the 2000s, and are now quite abundant in most basins of Lake Champlain. Previous work on this project studied the distribution of rainbow smelt and alewife in relation to the abiotic environment, and predictive distribution models were created. We used those models, and empirical relationships between distribution and cannibalism, to simulate population and community dynamics for rainbow smelt and alewife. The model was used both to simulate possible future changes in the abiotic environment, and possible management decisions. Our distribution models and data were used to aid fish sampling design, and we compared trawl and acoustic sampling techniques in addition to developing shallow-water sampling methods. We also studied how predators have responded to alewife as new potential prey. Tissue samples were analyzed to determine carbon and nitrogen stable isotope concentrations, and thus trophic positions in the system. Adult rainbow smelt feed at a higher trophic level than adult alewives, and Atlantic salmon consume alewife in addition to rainbow smelt. The basic ecology of mysids (Mysis diluviana) in Lake Champlain was also studied, including trophic relationships, bioenergetics, growth, and abundance. This wass the first such study in this lake.

Research Publications

Research Publications	Publication Date
Simonin, P.W., D.L. Parrish, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, B. Pientka. 2012. Native rainbow smelt and nonnative alewife distribution related to temperature and light gradients in Lake Champlain. Journal of Great Lakes Research 38 (Supplement 1): 115-122.	March 2012
Simonin, P.W., D. L. Parrish, L. G. Rudstam, P. J. Sullivan, and B. Pientka. 2016. Interactions between hatch dates, growth rates, and mortality of age-0 native Rainbow Smelt and nonnative Alewife in Lake Champlain. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 145: 649-656. doi: 10.1080/00028487.2016.1143401 \| Abstract	April 2016	Timing of hatch in fish populations can be critical for first-year survival and, therefore, year-class strength and subsequent species interactions. We compared hatch timing, growth rates and subsequent mortality of age-0 Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax and Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus, two common open-water fish of northern North America. In our study site, Lake Champlain, Rainbow Smelt hatched almost a month earlier than Alewife (hatching began on 26 May for Rainbow Smelt and 20 June for Alewife). Abundance in the sampling area was highest in July for age-0 Rainbow Smelt and August for age-0 Alewife. Later-hatching individuals of both species grew faster than those hatching earlier (0.6 mm/d vs. 0.4 for Rainbow Smelt; 0.7 mm/d vs. 0.6 for Alewife). Mean mortality rate for age-0 Rainbow Smelt was 3.4%/d and for age-0 Alewife was 5.5%/d during the first 45 days of life. Alewife mortality rates did not differ with hatch timing but daily mortality rates of Rainbow Smelt were highest for earlier-hatching fish. Cannibalism is likely the primary mortality source for age-0 Rainbow Smelt in this lake. Therefore, hatching earlier may not be advantageous as the overlap of adult and age-0 Rainbow Smelt is highest earlier in the season. However, Alewife, first documented in Lake Champlain in 2003, may increase the mortality of age-0 Rainbow Smelt in the summer, which should favor selection for earlier hatching.
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, D.L. Parrish, B. Pientka, and P.J. Sullivan. 2018. Piscivore diet shifts and trophic level change after Alewife establishment in Lake Champlain. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 147: 937-947. doi: 10.1002/tafs.10080. \| Abstract	May 2018	Invasions and deliberate introductions of new prey species are likely to affect prey choice and trophic level of resident predators. Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) and Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) are common prey fish species in lakes throughout North America either as native or non-native species. The establishment of Alewife in the 2000s in a lake with a native Rainbow Smelt population (Lake Champlain) presented an opportunity to study changes in the diet and trophic level of fish already established in the system. Using stable isotope analysis, we found that Alewife became a major component of predator diets, in particular of the diets of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Walleye (Sander vitreus). Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) consumed relatively few Alewives. For Walleye (the predator with both pre- and post-Alewife isotope ratios available), the δ15N values decreased significantly from the pre-Alewife period of the late 1990s, indicating that Walleye feed at lower trophic levels when Alewife are present. Predation on Alewife was correlated with the amount of spatial overlap of predators and prey. Our results show that the introduction of Alewife has altered the predator-prey linkages in Lake Champlain; alterations that can have major effects on food web structure and trophic cascades.
Rudstam, L. G., S. L. Parker, Einhouse, D. W., L. D. Witzel, D. M. Warner, J. L. Stritzel, D. L. Parrish, P. J. Sullivan. 2003. Application of in situ target strength estimations in lakes--examples from rainbow smelt surveys in Lakes Erie and Champlain. ICES Journal of Marine Science 60: 500-507.	June 2003
Hyrcik, A.E., P.W. Simonin, L.G. Rudstam, D.L. Parrish, B. Pientka, and T.B. Michuc. 2015. Mysis zooplanktivory in Lake Champlain: a bioenergetics analysis. Journal of Great Lakes Research 41: 492-501. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2015.03.011 \| Abstract \| Publisher Website	April 2015	Mysid shrimp are important as both predators on zooplankton and as prey for a variety of fish species across most of the Laurentian Great Lakes. In Lake Champlain, where little is known about mysids, this may also be true. We evaluated the role of Mysis diluviana as a planktivore in Lake Champlain using hydroacoustics, gut content analysis, stable isotopes, cohort analysis, and bioenergetics models to estimate Mysis density, diets, growth rates, and prey consumption rates. Density of Mysis in the water column of the deeper Main Lake was lower in July-August of 2008-2011 (38, 38, 21, and 74 Mysis /m2, respectively) than historical values from the 1970s. Mysis selectively foraged for cladocerans, but also consumed cyclopoid and calanoid copepods in 2011. Stable isotope data suggest a mostly carnivorous diet, although agreement between isotope mixing models and observed diets varied. Cohort analyses revealed growth rates ranging from 2.7 mm/month in late spring to 1.3 mm/month in late summer. In contrast to the offshore areas of Lake Ontario and Lake Huron, zooplankton consumption by the Mysis population was low relative to zooplankton density and production indicating that Mysis are not currently a major zooplanktivore in Lake Champlain.
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, D.L. Parrish, B. Pientka, and P.J. Sullivan. 2018. Piscivore diet shifts and trophic level change after Alewife establishment in Lake Champlain. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 147: 937-947. doi: 10.1002/tafs.10080. \| Abstract	May 2018	Invasions and deliberate introductions of new prey species are likely to affect prey choice and trophic level of resident predators. Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) and Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) are common prey fish species in lakes throughout North America either as native or non-native species. The establishment of Alewife in the 2000s in a lake with a native Rainbow Smelt population (Lake Champlain) presented an opportunity to study changes in the diet and trophic level of fish already established in the system. Using stable isotope analysis, we found that Alewife became a major component of predator diets, in particular of the diets of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Walleye (Sander vitreus). Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) consumed relatively few Alewives. For Walleye (the predator with both pre- and post-Alewife isotope ratios available), the δ15N values decreased significantly from the pre-Alewife period of the late 1990s, indicating that Walleye feed at lower trophic levels when Alewife are present. Predation on Alewife was correlated with the amount of spatial overlap of predators and prey. Our results show that the introduction of Alewife has altered the predator-prey linkages in Lake Champlain; alterations that can have major effects on food web structure and trophic cascades.
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, D.L. Parrish, and B. Pientka. 2019. Early mortality and freshwater forage fish recruitment: nonnative alewife and native rainbow smelt interactions in Lake Champlain. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 76(5): 806-814. doi: 10.1139/cjfas-2017-0571.	July 2018
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, D.L. Parrish, B. Pientka, and P.J. Sullivan. 2018. Piscivore diet shifts and trophic level change after Alewife establishment in Lake Champlain. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 147: 937-947. doi: 10.1002/tafs.10080. \| Abstract	May 2018	Invasions and deliberate introductions of new prey species are likely to affect prey choice and trophic level of resident predators. Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) and Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) are common prey fish species in lakes throughout North America either as native or non-native species. The establishment of Alewife in the 2000s in a lake with a native Rainbow Smelt population (Lake Champlain) presented an opportunity to study changes in the diet and trophic level of fish already established in the system. Using stable isotope analysis, we found that Alewife became a major component of predator diets, in particular of the diets of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Walleye (Sander vitreus). Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) consumed relatively few Alewives. For Walleye (the predator with both pre- and post-Alewife isotope ratios available), the δ15N values decreased significantly from the pre-Alewife period of the late 1990s, indicating that Walleye feed at lower trophic levels when Alewife are present. Predation on Alewife was correlated with the amount of spatial overlap of predators and prey. Our results show that the introduction of Alewife has altered the predator-prey linkages in Lake Champlain; alterations that can have major effects on food web structure and trophic cascades.

Technical Publications

Technical Publications	Publication Date
Parrish, D.L., L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, S.L. Parker, and J.L. Stritzel. 2004. Dynamics of the rainbow smelt populations in Lake Champlain. Final Report. Lake Champlain Sea Grant.	June 2004

Presentations

Presentations	Presentation Date
Simonin, P.W., D.L. Parrish, L.G. Rudstam, B. Pientka, and P.J. Sullivan. Rainbow smelt and alewife distribution dynamics in relation to temperature and light in Lake Champlain. 52nd Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research, International Association for Great Lakes Research, Toledo, OH, 18-22 May 2009.	May 2009
Simonin, P.W., D.L. Parrish, L.G. Rudstam, B. Pientka, and P.J. Sullivan. Rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain: abundance dynamics of native and invasive planktivores. 139th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Nashville, TN, 31 August- 3 September 2009.	September 2009
Simonin, P.W., D.L. Parrish, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan and B.Pientka. Survival of early- versus late-hatched rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain. New York Chapter Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Lake George, NY, 10-12 February 2010.	February 2010
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, D.L. Parrish, and B. Pientka. Physical gradients to population dynamics: distribution, cannibalism, and mortality of rainbow smelt in Lake Champlain. 95th Ecological Society of America, Pittsburgh, PA, 1-6 August 2010.	August 2010
Parrish, D.L., P.W. Simonin, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, and B. Pientka. Pelagic species interactions in Lake Champlain, USA-Canada. Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, 28-31 March 2015, Shinagawa, Japan.	March 2015
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, D. L. Parrish, and B. Pientka. Forecasting native rainbow smelt and nonnative alewife distribution patterns, cannibalism, and long-term community dynamics. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR. 18-23 May 2014.	May 2014
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, D.L. Parrish, and B. Pientka. Physical gradients to population dynamics: distribution, cannibalism, and mortality of rainbow smelt in Lake Champlain. 95th Ecological Society of America, Pittsburgh, PA, 1-6 August 2010.	August 2010
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, D.L. Parrish, and B. Pientka. Physical gradients to population dynamics: distribution, cannibalism, and mortality of rainbow smelt in Lake Champlain. 95th Ecological Society of America, Pittsburgh, PA, 1-6 August 2010.	August 2010
Simonin, P.W., L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, D.L. Parrish, and B. Pientka. Spatial community ecology of rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain. Ecology of Fish in Lakes and Reservoirs 2014, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, 8 September 2014.	September 2014
Simonin, P.W., M. Riha, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, and D.L. Parrish. Comparing and predicting spatial community ecology of rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain vs. Lake Ontario. 58th Annual Conference of the International Association, 25-29 May 2015, Burlington, VT.	May 2015
Simonin, P.W., S. Tideman, B. Pientka, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, and D.L. Parrish. Reducing uncertainty in pelagic fish assessments: an analysis of hydroacoustic- and trawl-derived data. 141st Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Seattle, WA, 4-8 September 2011. (Poster presentation.)	September 2011
Simonin, P.W., S. Tideman, B. Pientka, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, and D.L. Parrish. Uncertainty in hydroacoustic-derived fisheries data: an analysis of simulation hydroacoustic-trawl surveys. A Joint Special Workshop of the Acoustical Society of America and the American Fisheries Society. Acoustic Challenges in Aquatic Ecosystem Assessment. 25-27 May 2011. (Poster presentation.)	May 2011
Rudstam, L., S. Parker, D. Einhouse, L. Witzell, D. Warner, J. Stritzel, D. Parrish, P. Sullivan. June 2002. Application of in situ target strength to abundance estimations in lakes-examples from rainbow smelt surveys in Lakes Erie and Champlain. ICES Symposium: Acoustics in Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology, Montpellier, France.	June 2002
Parrish, D.L., P.W. Simonin, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, and B. Pientka. Pelagic species interactions in Lake Champlain, USA-Canada. Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science, 28-31 March 2015, Shinagawa, Japan.	March 2015

Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations	Publication Date
Simonin, P. W. 2010. Distribution and abundance of native rainbow smelt and nonnative alewife in Lake Champlain. M.S. Thesis. University of Vermont, Burlington.	May 2010

Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Vermont Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Vermont Project

Rainbow smelt and alewife in Lake Champlain

February 2006 - January 2014

Personnel

Participating Agencies

Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Vermont
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources