A simulation of food-web interactions leading to rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax dominance in Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin

Authored by B M Roth, T R Hrabik, C T Solomon, N Mercado-Silva, J F Kitchell

Date Published: 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02764.x

Sponsors: United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

A process-based simulation model was used to examine the nature and intensity of food-web interactions that allow Osmerus mordax to dominate invaded lakes. The model simulates food-web interactions among linked populations of O. mordax, Coregonus artedi and Sander vitreus. Simulations indicated that O. mordax dominate where: (1) adult O. mordax prey on young-of-the-year (YOY) C. artedi, (2) YOY O. mordax negatively affect YOY S. vitreus through competition and (3) adult S. vitreus experience moderate fishing mortality. Osmerus mordax dominated simulations across a broad range of variable values that regulated competition and predation, and displayed threshold responses to increasing angler harvest. Consequently, angler harvest should be carefully managed in lakes susceptible to O. mordax invasions because the alternative could lead to fishery collapse.

Tags

Individual-based model Population-dynamics Stizostedion-vitreum-vitreum Yellow perch Perch perca-flavescens Great-lakes Herring coregonus-artedii Walleye sander-vitreus Fresh-water fishes Invasion resistance