Outmigration and Thermal Ecology of Adult Walleye from the Tittabawassee River

Bowden, William

W-A-10 Outmigration and Thermal Ecology of Adult Walleye from the Tittabawassee River

Wednesday, August 22, 2012: 10:30 AM

Ballroom A (RiverCentre)

William Bowden , Biology, Carleton University, London , ON, Canada

Steven J. Cooke , Biology, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

John M. Dettmers , Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Ann Arbor, MI

Karen J. Murchie , Biology, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Chris Holbrook , Hammond Bay Biological Station, U.S. Geological Survey, Millersburg, MI

Christopher S. Vandergoot , Division of Wildlife, Sandusky Fisheries Research Station, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Sandusky, OH

Todd A. Hayden , Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, State University of New York- College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY

David Fielder , Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife, Michigan State University, Quantitative Fisheries Center, East Lansing, MI

Walleye is an important commercial and recreational fish in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. Walleye spawning in the Tittabawassee River, tributary to Saginaw Bay, represent the largest spawning stock of walleye in Lake Huron. Understanding walleye movement and thermal ecology will help better define the scope and timing of movement of segments of this stock. This study will determine the association of sex, size and age on walleye movement and thermal habitat after they spawn. The Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observing System is being used to track 200 walleye from the Tittabawassee River. Walleye were tagged between March 28 and April 4 2011 through coelomic implantation of acoustic transmitters equipped with temperature loggers. Specific objectives are to determine the timing of outmigration from both the river and Saginaw Bay relative to fish sex, age and size. In addition, data from temperature loggers recovered from tagged fish will enable us to evaluate the thermal experience of fish relative to sex. This presentation will provide information about the first year of outmigration telemetry data as well as an overview of findings related to thermal biology of walleye.