Selgeby, J., 1998. Predation by Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) on Fish Eggs in Lake Superior, US Geological Survey.

Reprinted from Journal of Great Lakes Research (1998) 24 (1998) 24(2): 304-308

 Predation by Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) on Fish Eggs in Lake Superior

Abstract
Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) were introduced to North America in the Duluth, Minnesota-Superior, Wisconsin harbor, which is the w sternmost point on the Laurentian Great Lakes. The species proliferated in the harbor and became the subject of research which has gradually revealed certain characteristics of the biology and population growth of the ruffe. In this study ruffe in Southwestern Lake Superior were found to have eaten benthic organisms and eggs of lake herring (Coregonus artedii). Overwinter predation by ruffe on eggs of lake herring and of other fall spawning Great Lakes fishes might pose a substantial new source of overwinter mortality.

Entire Paper
Contact: James Selgeby, US Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Route 1 Box 24, Iron River, WI 54847
Keywords: Ruffe, Ecological_interactions, Environmental_impacts
Product Type: Research, Impact
User Type: General