@article{222e1fb1197b47cbb73ad4a4f927cb82,
title = "Spatial variability of lake trout diets in Lakes Huron and Michigan revealed by stomach content and fatty acid profiles",
abstract = "Despite long-term efforts to restore lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations in the Great Lakes, they continue to experience insufficient recruitment and rely on hatchery programs to sustain stocks. As lake trout reproductive success has been linked to diets, spatial heterogeneity in diet compositions is of interest. To assess spatial components of adult lake trout diets, we analyzed stomach contents and fatty acid profiles of dorsal muscle collected throughout Lake Michigan and along Lake Huron{\textquoteright}s Michigan shoreline. Lake trout from Lake Huron were generally larger in both length and mass than those from Lake Michigan. However, lake trout from Lake Michigan varied more in size based on depth of capture with smaller fish being caught more in deeper set nets. Fatty acids and stomach contents indicated that alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) were consumed more in western Lake Michigan in contrast with round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) along the eastern shoreline. Conversely, in Lake Huron, lake trout primarily consumed rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax). These results indicate that diet compositions of lake trout populations are relatively plastic and offer new insights into within-basin heterogeneity of Great Lakes food webs.",
author = "Austin Happel and Jonas, {Jory L.} and McKenna, {Paul R.} and Jacques Rinchard and He, {Ji Xiang} and Czesny, {Sergiusz J.}",
note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank S. Dale Hanson of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Robillard of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Erik Olsen of Natural Resources Department of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Brian Breidert of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Patrick McKee of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the biologists, technicians, and staff of the various state and federal agencies that worked long hours to collect samples for this project. We also thank Charles Madenjian of the US Geological Service for aiding in sample collection and offering comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Renee Reilly, Michigan State University, and Kevin Pangle, Central Michigan University, assisted with statistical analysis and review.Wethank Josh Lafountain for his help with executing laboratory work necessary for fatty acid analyses. This project was funded by Wisconsin and Illinois-Indiana National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant. Funding Information: We would like to thank S. Dale Hanson of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Robillard of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Erik Olsen of Natural Resources Department of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Brian Breidert of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Patrick McKee of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the biologists, technicians, and staff of the various state and federal agencies that worked long hours to collect samples for this project. We also thank Charles Madenjian of the US Geological Service for aiding in sample collection and offering comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. Renee Reilly, Michigan State University, and Kevin Pangle, Central Michigan University, assisted with statistical analysis and review. We thank Josh Lafountain for his help with executing laboratory work necessary for fatty acid analyses. This project was funded by Wisconsin and Illinois–Indiana National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, Canadian Science Publishing. All rights reserved.",
year = "2018",
doi = "10.1139/cjfas-2016-0202",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "75",
pages = "95--106",
journal = "Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences",
issn = "0706-652X",
publisher = "National Research Council of Canada",
number = "1",
}