Status of rainbow smelt in U.S. waters of Lake Ontario, 2011

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Abstract

Rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax are the second most abundant pelagic prey fish in Lake Ontario. The abundance and weight indices for Lake Ontario age-1 and older rainbow smelt declined in 2011 and represented a 64% and 54% decrease respectively from 2010 levels. Length frequency-based age analysis indicated that age-1 rainbow smelt constituted 44% of the estimated population however age 1 abundance was 72% lower than age 1 abundance in 2010 and was 50% lower than the 10 year average age 1 abundance. Proportionally, large rainbow smelt (≥150 mm), were more common in 2011, making up approximately 7% of the population, substantially higher than the 10 year average of 2%. Based on the most recent time series data, rainbow smelt abundance peaks appear to follow a 4-5 year cycle.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Unnumbered Series
Title Status of rainbow smelt in U.S. waters of Lake Ontario, 2011
DOI 10.3133/70047608
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center
Description 3 p.
Larger Work Type Report
Larger Work Subtype USGS Unnumbered Series
Larger Work Title Status of important prey fishes in the U.S. Waters of Lake Ontario, 2011
First page 9
Last page 11
Country United States
State New York
Other Geospatial Lake Ontario
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