Nearshore Distribution of Mysids in Lake Ontario

Mysids are found in great numbers in Lake Ontario and are an important food source and competitor for many pelagic fish.  Many studies have been conducted on their distribution in deeper waters but very few refer to the near shore area that they frequent during the spring season.  Three years of weekly night acoustic data have been collected, in addition to surveys with synaptic plankton net tows (June - November 2009, April - November 2010, April - December 2011).  These surveys document where within a 2.5 km²  rectangular  area this crucial food source occurs.  Through Acoustic analysis verified with trawl data and exclusion of other targets biomass estimates can be achieved.