Introduction of White Perch (Morone Americana) Into Otsego Lake

Introduction of white perch (Morone americana) into Otsego Lake

Sean M. Cavaliere1, John R. Foster2, Joseph C. Lydon3 and Mark D. Cornwell2 Fisheries & Wildlife Department, State University of New York at Cobleskill, NY 12043

Abstract: In the spring of 2008, white perch (Morone Americana) were captured for the first time in Otsego Lake in trap nets set in the mouths of Shadow Brook and Hayden Creek. Follow-up boat electrofishing and gill netting in 2008, and trap netting and electrofishing in 2009 did not result in the capture of any more white perch in Otsego Lake. If white perch become established in Otsego Lake and the Upper Susquehanna Watershed there is the potential for significant negative impacts on the ecology and native fish populations.

INTRODUCTION

White perch (Morone Americana, Figure 1) is an estuarine species common along the east coast of North America (Schaeffer 1986). While white perch are most abundant in brackish and marine waters, they are adept at colonizing freshwater (Hergenrader 1980). For example, it took just 30 years for white perch to successfully colonized a significant portion of the Great Lakes system after first being discovered in Lake Ontario in 1951 (Boileau 1985). Success has been attributed to: suitability of habitat within the range, ability to spawn over a variety of substrates and high egg production (Boileau 1985). White perch are fierce foragers who have been observed to feed on the eggs of a variety of game species (Schaeffer & Margraf 1986; Harris 2006). White perch are also prolific spawners.

Figure 1. Image of a white perch.

In the spring of 2008, white perch were caught for the first time in Otsego Lake. This was the first record of white perch in the Susquehanna watershed north of the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. If white perch became established in Otsego Lake, the head waters of the Susquehanna watershed, then vast areas of New York and Pennsylvania would be open to colonization by this species.

The goal of this study was to follow-up the sampling of 2008 to monitor the white perch population in Otsego Lake. 1 Fisheries & Aquaculture Student, Fisheries & Wildlife Dept., SUNY Cobleskill, NY. 2 BFS Visiting Researcher/Fisheries & Wildlife Dept., SUNY Cobleskill, NY. 3 Robert C. MacWatters Intern in Aquatic Sciences 2007/Fisheries & Wildlife Dept. 2007, SUNY Cobleskill, NY.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Otsego Lake (42.40ºN, 74.55º W), located in Otsego County, New York, is a relatively young glacially-formed, oligotrophic lake, with a surface area of 1,711 ha, maximum depth of 50.5 m and an elevation of 364.2 m (Harman et al. 1997).

The mouths of Otsego Lake’s four primary tributaries, Shadow Brook, Hayden, Cripple, and Leatherstocking Creeks were sampled with trap nets in the spring of 2008 (Lydon et. al 2008) and 2009 (Peck et. al. 2009). Sunken Island, a rocky shoal at the north end of the lake, was also used as a trap net site 2008. From 9-25 April 2008, six foot Oneida trap nets were set on Sunken Island and in the mouths of Shadow Brook, and Hayden, Cripple, and Leatherstocking Creeks (Figure 1). In April 2009, fish were again captured in six foot Oneida trap nets set at the mouths of Cripple Creek, Hayden Creek, Shadow Brook, and Leatherstocking Creek. In Cripple Creek, Hayden Creek, and Shadow Brook, trap nets were set on 2 April 2009, and in Leatherstocking Creek on 7 April 2009. All of the nets were removed on 2 May 2009. Fish were removed from the nets daily, measured, and returned to the opposite side of the net from which they were captured.

Figure 1. Trap net (black dots) and gill net locations (Stars) in Otsego Lake, NY. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Two white perch were captured in Otsego Lake in 2008. On 19 April, a 290 mm white perch was caught in a trap net in the mouth of Hayden Creek, and on 20 April, a 256mm white perch was captured in the mouth of Shadow Brook approximately 2.5 miles away (Figure 1). No white perch were captured in 2009 sampling.

The possible negative impacts of the establishment of a white perch population in Otsego Lake have been well documented (Harris 2006; Hurley & Christie 1977; Rash et al. 2007; Schaeffer & Margraf 1986). White perch commonly overpopulate areas of suitable habitat (Hurley & Christie 1977). They are omnivores and may prey upon, as well as compete with, juvenile sport fish resulting in declines in native fisheries (Harris 2006). When other prey is available, such as alewives, they are seldom used themselves as prey (Larkin 1979).

White perch is a highly successful invader of freshwater systems (Harris 2006), and have been shown to spread rapidly across watersheds through flowing waters (Hergenrader & Bliss 1971) as well as lakes (Boileau 1985; Johnson & Evans 1990). This is not only due to their ability to disperse but also due to their ability to reproduce. White perch may spawn multiple times in a year under optimal conditions and can spawn over a variety of substrates, in water that is clear or turbid, fast or slow. Therefore steps must be taken to prevent the spread of this species. Any new white perch found in Otsego Lake or the Upper Susquehanna watershed should be reported and destroyed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SUNY Cobleskill fisheries students volunteered many hours trap netting and electrofishing. Equipment for this study was supplied by SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station, and Cornell Biological Field Station. Advice on the field work was provided by Matt Albright and Dr. Willard Harman from SUNY Oneonta BFS and Tom Brooking of the Cornell Biological Field Station. The white perch image was originally prepared by Ellen Edmonson and Hugh Chrisp as part of the 1927-1940 New York Biological Survey. Permission for its use was granted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

LITERATURE CITED

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