Event Title
Is Phytoplankton Sufficient to Support Silver and Bighead Carps in Muskegon Lake?
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Natural Resource Management
Mentor Information
Carl Ruetz
Department
Annis Water Resource Institute (AWRI)
Location
Kirkhof Center 2201
Start Date
11-4-2012 9:00 AM
Keywords
Environment, Life Science
Abstract
We used a previously-developed bioenergetics model to assess whether food resources were sufficient to support growth of silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) or bighead carps (H. nobilis) in Muskegon Lake, Michigan. In our simulations, we used several combinations of planktonic chlorophyll a, composition of phytoplankton samples, temperature, and distance traveled (0, 1, and 2 km/day) by individuals to predict fish growth over the 120-day simulation period (May-September) for each year. The chlorophyll a concentrations and water temperatures were based on field observations in May, July, and September (2003-2009) in Muskegon Lake. Preliminary results show that a positive change in body mass was only predicted for silver carp in 2008 when not swimming. Although phytoplankton alone does not appear sufficient to sustain the growth of silver and bighead carps, we suspect that with additional food sources, such as zooplankton, silver and bighead carps could exhibit positive growth.
Is Phytoplankton Sufficient to Support Silver and Bighead Carps in Muskegon Lake?
Kirkhof Center 2201
We used a previously-developed bioenergetics model to assess whether food resources were sufficient to support growth of silver (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) or bighead carps (H. nobilis) in Muskegon Lake, Michigan. In our simulations, we used several combinations of planktonic chlorophyll a, composition of phytoplankton samples, temperature, and distance traveled (0, 1, and 2 km/day) by individuals to predict fish growth over the 120-day simulation period (May-September) for each year. The chlorophyll a concentrations and water temperatures were based on field observations in May, July, and September (2003-2009) in Muskegon Lake. Preliminary results show that a positive change in body mass was only predicted for silver carp in 2008 when not swimming. Although phytoplankton alone does not appear sufficient to sustain the growth of silver and bighead carps, we suspect that with additional food sources, such as zooplankton, silver and bighead carps could exhibit positive growth.