Observations of the behaviors of avian predators at Clifton Court Forebay 2013- 2018

These data were compiled to evaluate the potential impact various environmental conditions may have on native fish populaitons through predation. Introduced warm-water sport fishes present a high predation risk for juvenile native fishes, but observations of juvenile native fish surviving and recruiting in some rare cases led us to question what environmental conditions might be responsible for these trends. These data were compiled to allow for a relative comparison of predation effectiveness between a suite of warm-water predators under a variety of environmental conditions. Mean numbers of prey fish surviving in replicated overnight laboratory predation trials were quantified.

The dataset contains sequencing read counts of fish prey eDNA metabarcoding (using primers targeting the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene) that were extracted from fecal and cloacal swab samples collected from common loons (Gavia immer) captured on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, Crow Wing County, Minnesota during 2015-2106. Sample type (cloacal or fecal); loon identification, age, and sex; capture date and location; and prey detections for each sample are provided.

The dataset contains sequencing read counts of fish prey eDNA metabarcoding (using primers targeting the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene) that were extracted from fecal and cloacal swab samples collected from common loons (Gavia immer) captured on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, Crow Wing County, Minnesota during 2015-2106. Sample type (cloacal or fecal); loon identification, age, and sex; capture date and location; and prey detections for each sample are provided.

This tabular data set contains information about the diets of angler-caught Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Walleye (Sander vitreus), Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho Salmon (O. kisutch), Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Steelhead (O. mykiss), Pink Salmon (O. gorbuscha), and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) captured between April and October of 2017 and 2018 from U.S. waters of Lake Huron. Diet items were identified to lowest taxa, enumerated, measured, and prey biomass determined.

This tabular data set contains information about the diets of angler-caught Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush), Walleye (Sander vitreus), Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Coho Salmon (O. kisutch), Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Steelhead (O. mykiss), Pink Salmon (O. gorbuscha), and Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) captured between April and October of 2017 and 2018 from U.S. waters of Lake Huron. Diet items were identified to lowest taxa, enumerated, measured, and prey biomass determined.

Assessing the distribution and abundance of both predator and prey (forage) fish species is a cornerstone of ecosystem-based fishery management, and supports decision making that considers food-web interactions. In support of binational Great Lakes fishery management the objectives of this survey were to: provide estimates of densities of key forage and predator species in the western basin of Lake Erie, to assess seasonal and spatial distributions of fishes in tandem with water quality information, and to assess year class strength. A systematic grid sampling approach with 41 stations was sampled via bottom trawl during June (Spring) and September (Autumn), starting in 2013. This data release adds 2019 data to the set for a total of seven years observation using the same gear and sampling design.

Assessing the distribution and abundance of both predator and prey (forage) fish species is a cornerstone of ecosystem-based fishery management, and supports decision making that considers food-web interactions. In support of binational Great Lakes fishery management the objectives of this survey were to: provide estimates of densities of key forage and predator species in the western basin of Lake Erie, to assess seasonal and spatial distributions of fishes in tandem with water quality information, and to assess year class strength. A systematic grid sampling approach with 41 stations was sampled via bottom trawl during June (Spring) and September (Autumn), starting in 2013. This data release adds 2019 data to the set for a total of seven years observation using the same gear and sampling design.

Since 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey - Great Lakes Science Center's Lake Erie Biological Station (LEBS) has participated in a collaborative, multiagency effort to assess pelagic prey fish populations in the western (WB), central (CB), and eastern (EB) basins of Lake Erie through a combination of hydroacoustic and midwater trawl sampling. Assessing lake-wide distribution and abundance of pelagic prey species over time facilitates evaluation of large-scale drivers of fish production while also considering food-web dynamics at a smaller sub-basin scale. Information from this survey will support decision making within an ecosystem-based fishery management framework. In support of binational Great Lakes fishery management, the objectives of this survey are to provide density estimates of key pelagic prey species across Lake Erie, to assess spatial distributions of fishes, and annual fluctuations in abundance. A stratified-random sampling approach including 24 strata was carried out during July (Summer), starting in 2022. This data release adds 2023 data to the set for a total of 2 years using the standardized survey design and data processing workflow.

Since 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey - Great Lakes Science Center's Lake Erie Biological Station (LEBS) has participated in a collaborative, multiagency effort to assess pelagic prey fish populations in the western (WB), central (CB), and eastern (EB) basins of Lake Erie through a combination of hydroacoustic and midwater trawl sampling. Assessing lake-wide distribution and abundance of pelagic prey species over time facilitates evaluation of large-scale drivers of fish production while also considering food-web dynamics at a smaller sub-basin scale. Information from this survey will support decision making within an ecosystem-based fishery management framework. In support of binational Great Lakes fishery management, the objectives of this survey are to provide density estimates of key pelagic prey species across Lake Erie, to assess spatial distributions of fishes, and annual fluctuations in abundance. A stratified-random sampling approach including 24 strata was carried out during July (Summer), starting in 2022. This data release adds 2023 data to the set for a total of 2 years using the standardized survey design and data processing workflow.