Nearshore Fish Community Analysis On Northwestern Lake Champlain

Plattsburgh State University of New York Volume 6 (2013) Nearshore Fish Community Analysis On Northwestern Lake Champlain Alejandro Reyes, Caleb Smith, George Maynard, Eric Snavely, and Danielle Garneau (Faculty) Center for Earth and Environmental Science, SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 ABSTRACT Community surveys are necessary sources of information needed to properly manage fisheries. These surveys detail important historical data concerning past fish assemblages and the previous status of recreational game fish. Historically, Lake Champlain has received little attention with regard to fish community assemblage research. We undertook a beach, seine net survey at four locations along the northwestern shores of Lake Champlain. We surveyed several unique nearshore habitat types and recorded abiotic factors, fishes, and plant communities. Our results revealed 17 different taxa with four being non-native to the basin. Lakeview Park had the highest species richness and abundance, which we believe results from the presence of vegetation at the sampling site. The scope of our survey was limited (i.e., small species or young of the year game fish), thus we recommend future comprehensive surveys that include a variety of fish sampling methods. Key words: community, seine, substrate, vegetation INTRODUCTION Community assemblage structure is an important part of fisheries management. Using community composition data, fisheries managers can assess ecosystem health (Karr et al. 1986). Fish serve as bioindicators and can provide warnings of water degradation or serve as a metric for describing effects of remediation projects (Moore et al. 2000). Community composition can reflect presence and effects of invasive species. In addition, community assessment can assess health of forage species, which helps managers manipulate fisheries to produce trophy animals or large volumes of commercially desirable fish (Kohler and Hubert 1999). Most knowledge concerning the Lake Champlain fish assemblage focuses on the Vermont side. (Halnon 1963; Facey & Labar 1989; Facey 1991). Moore’s (1929) report supplemented the New York Conservation Department’s biological survey, which established baseline biotic data from all New York drainages (e.g., Allegheny, Mohawk, Genesee, Champlain, Lower Hudson, Oswego, Ontario and Erie). An annotated description for each fish species, with geographic distribution notes, was included for all drainages (Moore 1929). The next survey resulted in publication of Inland Fishes of New York (Smith 1986). Smith (1986) revisited Moore’s (1929) sites and compared assemblages from these two eras. Currently, this book is widely used for fish taxonomy and distribution in New York. Since 1985, there has been no comprehensive survey performed on fish communities in New York; however, there have been reviews (Carlson and Daniels 2004; Marsden and Langdon 2012). Historically, limited fish community monitoring has been conducted on Lake Champlain. Currently, most monitoring is done by Vermont Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Because New York DEC manages commercial fisheries on Lakes Ontario and Erie in the north and Long Island Sound in the south, recreational fisheries of Lake Champlain have competed for attention. Because of this lack of attention, key questions cannot be addressed that could have enhanced our current understanding about 62 Near shore Fish Community Analysis Plattsburgh State University of New York Volume 5 (2013) the lake and overall community ecology concepts. For example, Mihuc et al. (2012) used long-term monitoring data from 1992 to 2012 to examine patterns in zooplankton abundance in Lake Champlain. They were able to identify changes in abundance that coincided with invasive species introductions. Without that monitoring data, these patterns could not have been examined. Additionally, black bass (Micropterus spp.) research on Lake Champlain would have benefited from community analysis assessment from Cumberland Bay. There is a question of how introduction of trophy-sized black bass in Cumberland Bay influences the local fish community (Maynard et al. unpublished data). A long-term fish community dataset could have helped address this question. Several methods are used to monitor fish communities. Electrofishing is an effective capture method for all fish species and size classes; however, it requires investments in gear, training, and personnel. Gill-, trap-, or trawl-netting is used to assess fish communities in large lakes and impoundments. However, all methods require a boat and a large investment of time and personnel training. Seine-netting, by contrast, is a relatively low-investment sampling method that can be accomplished with less training. Seine net samples must be taken nearshore (i.e., shallow water); thus, fishes that are caught typically are small juvenile game fish, or minnow communities (Murphy and Willis 1996, Kohler and Hubert 1999). The goal of our study was to survey nearshore fish communities in Northwestern Lake Champlain (Clinton County, NY) using seine-net sampling. Our objectives are to 1) sample sites across the northwest portion of Lake Champlain and 2) document species richness and overall abundance. METHODS Study area: Lake Champlain lies in the northeastern United States, covering an area approximately 201 km long and 23 km wide at its broadest point (Fig. 1a). It borders New York and Vermont along with parts of Quebec Provence, Canada. The lake has an average depth of 19.3 m with max depth of approximately 120.0 m. Lake Champlain drains north via Richelieu River which drains into the St. Lawrence River. We selected four sites to capture a potential difference in habitats with the goal of adequately assessing species richness. Our four sites included Valcour conference center, Lakeview Park, Monty’s Bay, and the Great Chazy boat launch (Fig 1a). Valcour conference center is located in a cove across from Valcour, 11.1 km south of Plattsburgh, NY. Lakeview Park is located 1.7 km of the Plattsburgh marina. Monty’s Bay is located left of the Monty’s Bay marina 17.7 km north of Plattsburgh, NY. The final site, Chazy, located at the mouth of the Great Chazy River 34.0 km from Plattsburgh. Field Sampling: We sampled fish using beach seine nets (Net length= 7.35 m, width= 1.25 m, Bar: 0.6 mm, Stretch: 1 mm) and conducted 2 drag seine efforts per site. Valcour and Lakeview sites were sampled twice; on September 20th and October 15th respectively. Monty’s Bay and Chazy were only sampled once on September 25th and October 4th respectively due to time constraints. To begin sampling, one person walked perpendicular from the shore about 4.5 m into the lake followed by a second person. The first person then walked parallel to the shore which stretched the seine net out. In unison, both people walked 63 Near shore Fish Community Analysis Plattsburgh State University of New York Volume 5 (2013) toward the shore until (...truncated)