This data contains coordinate locations for suspected historical spawning locations of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) across the Lake Erie basin, including the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair River. Data points were summarized using ArcGIS 10.5. Data came from published and unpublished sources cited in the Atlas of the Spawning and Nursery Areas of Great Lakes Fishes (Goodyear et al. 1982) and other sources as described. Data points included were specific locations described as having the presence of eggs or spawning fish. Pseudo-absence data used for comparison purposes are also provided in this data release.

The following data release contains coordinates for suspected historical spawning locations of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) across the Lake Ontario basin, including the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River. These data were gathered from published and unpublished sources cited in the Atlas of the Spawning and Nursery Areas of Great Lakes Fishes (Goodyear et al. 1982) and other sources as described. We define "spawning locations" as areas having eggs or spawning fish present. When available the data also contain substrate and depth information. Pseudo-absence data used for comparison purposes are also provided in this data release. Data points were summarized using ArcGIS 10.5

The following data release contains coordinates for suspected historical spawning locations of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and cisco (Coregonus artedi) across the Lake Ontario basin, including the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River. These data were gathered from published and unpublished sources cited in the Atlas of the Spawning and Nursery Areas of Great Lakes Fishes (Goodyear et al. 1982) and other sources as described. We define "spawning locations" as areas having eggs or spawning fish present. When available the data also contain substrate and depth information. Pseudo-absence data used for comparison purposes are also provided in this data release. Data points were summarized using ArcGIS 10.5

The dataset presented here, a historical coregonine spawning database, or CORHIST for short, is the result of several years of coordinated research in archives, libraries, and field stations, to track down evidence of spawning locations for the Coregoninae sub-family of ciscoes and whitefishes in the Great Lakes of North America and their tributaries. Our objective was to accurately identify location information to coordinates and add all associated data and metadata to a database built specifically for these types of records (a database capable of storing historical, geospatial, and biological data). Data for a total of 11 accepted species of coregonines are included in this dataset. Spawning or nursery habitat designations were assigned based on a wide-range of evidence from original sources, including descriptions of physiology, ontogeny, and behaviors, interviews, first-hand and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, and by our own examination of museum specimens. Georeferencing was completed using evidence from original records, including navigational information such as dead reckonings, landmarks like islands, lighthouses, reefs, and river mouths, and by using depth and substrate descriptions. Occasionally, supplemental sources including various historical maps and/or published bathymetry and substrate layers were used to assist in georeferencing points. Data points were summarized and quality-checked using ArcMap 10.8 and ArcGIS Pro (datum: WGS84). Reference tables are also included with this dataset.

The dataset presented here, a historical coregonine spawning database, or CORHIST for short, is the result of several years of coordinated research in archives, libraries, and field stations, to track down evidence of spawning locations for the Coregoninae sub-family of ciscoes and whitefishes in the Great Lakes of North America and their tributaries. Our objective was to accurately identify location information to coordinates and add all associated data and metadata to a database built specifically for these types of records (a database capable of storing historical, geospatial, and biological data). Data for a total of 11 accepted species of coregonines are included in this dataset. Spawning or nursery habitat designations were assigned based on a wide-range of evidence from original sources, including descriptions of physiology, ontogeny, and behaviors, interviews, first-hand and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge, and by our own examination of museum specimens. Georeferencing was completed using evidence from original records, including navigational information such as dead reckonings, landmarks like islands, lighthouses, reefs, and river mouths, and by using depth and substrate descriptions. Occasionally, supplemental sources including various historical maps and/or published bathymetry and substrate layers were used to assist in georeferencing points. Data points were summarized and quality-checked using ArcMap 10.8 and ArcGIS Pro (datum: WGS84). Reference tables are also included with this dataset.

A long-term, multi-season, fish egg sampling program is conducted annually on the Detroit, Saint Clair, and Saint Marys rivers to identify where productive fish spawning habitat currently exists and evaluate habitat restoration projects. Egg mats were placed on the river bottom during the spring and fall at historic spawning areas, candidate fish spawning habitat restoration sites, and completed spawning habitat restoration sites throughout the rivers. Egg mats were placed in US and Canadian waters. Widespread evidence was found of lithophilic spawning by numerous native fish species, including walleye (Sander vitreus), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), suckers (Family: Catostomidae), and trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus). The data describe the number, density, date of collection, and exact collection location of fish eggs collected in the St. Clair (2010-2024), Detroit (2005-2024), and St. Marys rivers (2018-2022).

A long-term, multiseason, fish egg sampling program is conducted annually on the Detroit, Saint Clair, and Saint Marys rivers to identify where productive fish spawning habitat currently exists and evaluate habitat restoration projects. Egg mats were placed on the river bottom during the spring and fall at historic spawning areas, candidate fish spawning habitat restoration sites, and completed spawning habitat restoration sites throughout the rivers. Widespread evidence was found of lithophilic spawning by numerous native fish species, including walleye (Sander vitreus), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), suckers (Family: Catostomidae), and trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus). The data describe the number, density, date of collection, and exact collection location of fish eggs collected in the St. Clair (2010-2022), Detroit (2005-2022), and St. Marys rivers (2018-2022).

A long-term, multiseason, fish egg sampling program is conducted annually on the Detroit, Saint Clair, and Saint Marys rivers to identify where productive fish spawning habitat currently exists and evaluate habitat restoration projects. Egg mats were placed on the river bottom during the spring and fall at historic spawning areas, candidate fish spawning habitat restoration sites, and completed spawning habitat restoration sites throughout the rivers. Widespread evidence was found of lithophilic spawning by numerous native fish species, including walleye (Sander vitreus), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), suckers (Family: Catostomidae), and trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus). The data describe the number, density, date of collection, and exact collection location of fish eggs collected in the St. Clair (2010-2022), Detroit (2005-2022), and St. Marys rivers (2018-2022).

This dataset contains data collected on various vessel operations on the Great Lakes and their connecting channels, primarily the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and western Lake Erie, although other locations have been sampled and included in this dataset. This dataset contains the field variables, environmental conditions, larval catches (numbers), larval fish identifications, and associated auxiliary information with the sampling locations.

This dataset contains data collected on various vessel operations on the Great Lakes and their connecting channels, primarily the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and western Lake Erie, although other locations have been sampled and included in this dataset. This dataset contains the field variables, environmental conditions, larval catches (numbers), larval fish identifications, and associated auxiliary information with the sampling locations.