| 1. |
- Ahlbeck, Ida, et al.
(author)
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Evaluating fish diet analysis methods by individual-based modelling
- 2012
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 69:7, s. 1184-1201
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Knowledge of diet compositions is important in ecological research. There are many methods available and numerous aspects of diet composition. Here we used modelling to evaluate how well different diet analysis methods describe the true diet of fish, expressed in mass percentages. The methods studied were both basic methods (frequency of occurrence, dominance, numeric, mass, points) and composite indices (Index of Relative Importance, Comparative Feeding Index). Analyses were based on both averaged stomach content of individual fish and on pooled content from several fish. Prey preference, prey size, and evacuation rate influenced the performance of the diet analysis methods. The basic methods performed better than composite indices. Mass and points methods produced diet compositions most similar to the true diet and were also most robust, indicating that these methods should be used to describe energetic-nutritional sources of fish.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Bartolino, Valerio, 1979, et al.
(author)
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Historical spatiotemporal dynamics of eastern North Sea cod
- 2012
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - : Canadian Science Publishing. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 69:5, s. 833-841
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent analyses of historical data of fish abundance and distribution have shown the importance of a long temporal perspective in the evaluation of the current status of fish populations, but pose numerous difficulties such as fragmentation and inhomogeneities in the amount of available information in space and time. Using mixed-effects models in a multiscale analysis, we identified an appropriate spatiotemporal scale of investigation of a high-quality, spatially explicit historical data set, and we reconstructed the long-term spatial dynamics of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the Kattegat– Skagerrak along the 20th century. We identified a northern and southern main aggregation of adult cod in the study area, corresponding to the Skagerrak portion of the North Sea and the Kattegat cod stocks, respectively. The stocks showed specificities in their spatial dynamics, but common extensive loss of coastal aggregations during the last decades when only 13% (Kattegat) and 35% (Skagerrak) of the estimated early century cod biomass was left. Our reconstruction showed that the collapse of the cod stocks in the area followed the peak in landings in the 1960s–1970s, suggesting that the postwar development of the industrial fisheries played a major role in the decrease of local abundances and disappearance of local adult cod aggregations.
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| 5. |
- Berggren, Terese, et al.
(author)
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Warmer water increases early body growth of northern pike (Esox lucius), but mortality has larger impact on decreasing body sizes
- 2021
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - : Canadian Science Publishing. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 79, s. 771-781
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large fish species often display truncated size distributions related to harvest. In addition, temperature, food availability and density dependence affect body growth and together with natural mortality influence population size structure. Here we study changes in body growth, size distributions and mortality in both harvested and nonharvested populations of northern pike (Esox Lucius) over 50 years along the Baltic Sea coast and in Lake Malaren, Sweden. For coastal pike, body growth has increased coincidentally with increasing water temperatures, yet in the last two decades there has been a decrease of larger individuals. In Lake Malaren, in contrast, size distributions and body growth were stationary despite similar increases in water temperature. A dominance of slow-growing individuals in older age classes was evident in all studied populations, also in the no-take zone, suggesting other factors than fishing contribute to the mortality pattern. We propose that increasing temperatures have favoured body growth in coastal areas, but this has been counteracted by increased mortality, causing pike sizes to decline. To regain larger coastal pike, managers need to consider multiple measures that reduce mortality.
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| 6. |
- Bohman, Patrik, et al.
(author)
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Predicting harvest of non-native signal crayfish in lakes —a role for changing climate?
- 2016
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - : Canadian Science Publishing. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 73:5, s. 785-792
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) was introduced to Sweden in 1960, and it has a high commercial and recreational value, but it may also have negative effects on native ecosystems. To better predict how climate warming will affect population dynamics of this cool-water crayfish, we explored the role of temperature and density dependence as explanatory factors of the subsequent years’ catch rates of commercially sized signal crayfish in four Swedish lakes. We found air temperatures to be good proxies for water temperatures in all lakes, except during winter. We could only obtain water temperature data for Lake Vättern, and winter temperature data were therefore only included in the analysis of catch-per-unit-effort patterns in this lake. Our results indicate that increasing mean air temperatures will potentially affect the population dynamics of coolwater freshwater crayfish species such as the signal crayfish. Based on data from four lakes, it seems that the population dynamics of signal crayfish are lake-specific and could be affected by either recruitment during the juvenile stage, the survival and growth of adults, or both. Increased fluctuations in water temperature during winter may potentially influence adult survival. To better predict the effects of global warming on the dynamics of cool-water crayfish populations, we suggest that future studies should investigate recruitment in crayfish along temperature gradients and the influence of variations in water temperature on winter mortality.
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| 7. |
- Carlström, Julia, et al.
(author)
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Spatial and temporal impact of pingers on porpoises
- 2009
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 66:1, s. 72-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Bycatches are considered the most serious threat to harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and other small cetaceans worldwide. Pingers are used to reduce bycatch levels, but may also deter porpoises from critical habitats. We investigated the spatial and temporal responses of porpoises to simulated bottom-set nets equipped with periodically operating Dukane NetMark 1000 pingers. Echolocation rates were monitored by porpoise click train detectors (PODs) placed at and around the nets, and a shore-based observation team recorded surfacing positions and movements. Pinger sound significantly reduced the median echolocation encounter rate by 50%–100% at PODs placed up to 500 m and reduced the sighting rate up to 375 m from the simulated net. The average distance of approach increased by 300 m. When pingers were silent after being active for 24 h 50 min, the return time of porpoises was 6 h, in comparison with 2.5 h after pingers had been silent. During the study period of approximately 50 days, habituation was detectable at two of nine PODs. The results indicate that pingers affect porpoises at greater distances than previously observed. This confirms that pingers are an effective bycatch mitigation measure, but alternative solutions should be applied in ecologically important habitats and migration routes. An example is given from the Baltic region. Bycatches are considered the most serious threat to harbour porpoises and other small cetaceans worldwide. Pingers are used to reduce bycatch levels, but may also deter porpoises from critical habitats. We investigated the spatial and temporal responses of porpoises to simulated bottom set nets equipped with periodically operating Dukane NetMark 1000 pingers. Echolocation rates were monitored by porpoise click train detectors (PODs) placed at and around the nets, and a shore-based observation team recorded surfacing positions and movements. Pinger sound significantly reduced the median echolocation encounter rate by 50-100% at PODs placed up to 500m, and the sighting rate up to 375m from the simulated net. The average distance of approach increased by 300m. When pingers were silent after being active for 24h 50min, the return time of porpoises was 6h, in comparison to 2.5h after pingers had been silent. During the study period of approximately 50 days, habituation was detectable at two of nine PODs. The results indicate that pingers affect porpoises at greater distances than previously observed. This confirms that pingers are an effective bycatch mitigation measure, but alternative solutions should be applied in ecologically important habitats and migration routes. An example is given from the Baltic region.
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| 8. |
- Dekker, Willem, et al.
(author)
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Assessment of the fishing impact on the silver eel stock in the Baltic using survival analysis
- 2013
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - : Canadian Science Publishing. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 70:12, s. 1673-1684
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Restoration of the depleted stock of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla (L.)) requires anthropogenic impacts to bequantified, reduced, and controlled. In this article, we assess the impact of the silver eel fishery on the Baltic Coast in Sweden, applying survival analysis to 60 years of mark–recapture experiments, involving 8000 recaptures out of 18 000 releases. Thehazard of being recaptured (overall 46%) varies along the coast and declined substantially over the decades. But, most notably,the hazard for the individual diminishes strongly after the first kilometres en route. This individualized hazard disqualifies themore traditional mark–recapture methodology, which assumes random recaptures. We advocate the general use of survivalanalysis for conventional mark–recapture data. The result of our analysis indicates that the impact of the fishery just prior the2009 fishing restrictions was in the order of 10%—in itself well within sustainability limits, though only but one of the factors contributing to the mortality in the Baltic Sea.
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| 9. |
- Ek, A S, et al.
(author)
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A paleolimnological assessment of the effects of post-1970 reductions of sulfur deposition in Sweden
- 2001
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 58:8, s. 1692-1700
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Analysis of diatoms in sediment cores from 10 acidic (pH < 6) lakes in southern Sweden shows that eight of the lakes have acidified after 1950, while two lakes have not significantly acidified. However, since the 1970s, sulfur deposition has decreased by 50%, and lake water chemistry monitored since 1983 shows an initial reversal of acidification. However, the diatom data do not indicate that a general recovery in pH has occurred yet. The diatoms show that a small recovery has occurred in only one lake (pH increase from 4.7 to 4.9). The 10 lakes vary in total organic carbon content from 2 to 17 mg.L-1. According to the diatoms, the lakes with high total organic carbon (>9 mg.L-1) have not acidified as much as the lakes with lower total organic carbon (<7 mg.L-1). We ascribe this difference in response to acid deposition to the buffering capacity of organic acids. Knowledge of the role of organic acids when combined with anthropogenic acid deposition is important in predicting responses to decreasing acid deposition and the time scales required for recovery. Paleolimnological methods are shown here to provide valuable information for these purposes as well as to provide a long-term perspective on lake acidity changes needed for the evaluation of recovery.
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| 10. |
- Eklöv, Peter
(author)
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Effects of habitat complexity and preyabundance on the spatial and temporaldistributions of perch (Perca fluviatilis)and pike (Esox lucius)
- 1997
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In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. - : Canadian Science Publishing. - 0706-652X .- 1205-7533. ; 54:7, s. 1520-1531
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Structurally complex environments strongly affect the behaviours and foraging efficiencies of predators and prey. I studied temporal variation in the habitat distribution of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius) in relation to habitatcomplexity and prey abundance in a lake. The study involved quantitative estimates of different habitat types, estimates omacroinvertebrate prey availability, and distribution and movement patterns of the fish. The numbers of 80–110 mm perch in the littoral zone decreased rapidly in spring, which was a result of either perch moving to the pelagic zone or predation mortality. Predation mortality is the most plausible explanation because piscivorous perch and pike >160 mm aggregated close to these high abundances of 80–110 mm perch, and 80–110 mm perch used only vegetated habitats as a possible protection against predators. Both the biomass and diversity of macroinvertebrates increased with vegetation density, whereas perch abundance was highest in an intermediate vegetation density. Pike size was inversely related to vegetation density as a result of potential cannibalism from the largest pike individuals, which preferred the tree structure habitat. Perch group size decreased with increasing vegetation density, and perch <80 mm always occurred in group sizes larger than three individuals and never occurred in the same groups as perch >160 mm. In contrast, perch >160 mm occurred at decreasing numbers with increasing group size and mainly stayed solitary or in pairs. Perch >160 mm showed no tendencies for homing behaviour and moved actively around the whole lake, whereas pike showed a strong homing behaviour. My study suggests that the structural complexity in the littoral zone can both qualitatively and quantitatively change the interaction between piscivorous predators and their prey. La variation temporelle touchant la distribution de la perche commune (Perca fluviatilis) et du grand brochet (Esox lucius) dans l'habitat d'un lac a suggéré que la complexité structurale de la zone littorale puisse modifier, qualitativement et quantitativement, les interactions entre les prédateurs piscivores et leurs proies. Le nombre de perches de 80-110 mm dans la zone littorale a diminué rapidement au printemps. La mortalité par prédation est une explication plus plausible de ce phénomène que la migration des perches vers la zone pélagique parce que les percidés et les brochets piscivores de taille 160 mm se rassemblaient près de ces zones de forte abondance de petites perches (80-110 mm), qui n'utilisent que les habitats couverts de végétation comme protection possible contre les prédateurs. La biomasse et la diversité de macroinvertébrés ont augmenté avec la densité de la végétation, tandis que l'abondance des perches était la plus élevée lorsque la densité de la végétation était intermédiaire. La taille du grand brochet était inversement proportionnelle à la densité de la végétation en raison de la possibilité de cannibalisme par les brochets de plus grande taille qui préféraient un habitat comportant des arbres. La taille des perches, en groupe, diminuait avec l'augmentation de la densité de la végétation et les percidés de taille < 80 mm se présentaient toujours en groupe de plus de trois individus et jamais dans les mêmes groupes que les percidés > 160 mm. Ces derniers vivaient principalement en solitaires ou en paires, ne présentaient aucune tendance en ce qui a trait au comportement de retour, et se déplaçaient activement autour du lac entier; le grand brochet présentait un comportement de retour très prononcé. [Traduit par la Rédaction]
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