Migration Patterns of Young-of-the-Year White Bass: Emigration from Nursery Habitat in Lake Erie

Young-of-year white bass (Morone chrysops) sampled in August 2011 surveys were significantly larger in the Central Basin of Lake Erie than in the Western Basin (mean = 110.8mm and 73.7mm respectively; P<0.0001), although temperature conditions and zooplankton abundance would suggest the opposite. We hypothesized that the observed difference in size resulted from migration of YOY fish to the Central Basin in late summer. Analyses of otolith micro-chemistry and micro-structure were employed to determine spawning origin and recreate timing of nursery emigration by white bass to the Central Basin. Because of the unique otolith chemical signature (high Sr) for fish originating from Sandusky Bay, we used the shift in Sr from Bay to open lake to quantify emigration timing of juveniles. Otolith micro-chemical analyses demonstrated that the majority (80%) of Central Basin YOY white bass originated in Sandusky Bay, located at the eastern edge of the Western Basin. Sandusky Bay is a highly productive, turbid, and shallow nursery that appears to be contributing a large percentage of the YOY white bass in Lake Erie. The hypothesized eastward migration of these fish during their first year appears to be led by the Sandusky Bay nursery population.