Yellow Perch & Climate Change

How will a changing climate affect Lake Erie yellow perch?

OHSU-TS-067-2013

2012 Lake Erie Yellow Perch Fishery (Ohio)

Sport Fishing• 1,727,353 pounds

harvested– Most came from western

basin of Lake Erie

• 1,506,961 angler hours– Most came from western

basin of Lake Erie

Commercial Trap Net• 11,754,737 pounds

harvested– Most came from central basin

of Lake Erie, between Huron and Fairport Harbor

• 8,993 trap net lifts– Most came from central basin

of Lake Erie, between Huron and Fairport Harbor

Climate Change: Two Predicted Impacts

• Warming temperatures– Shorter winters– Fewer days below

freezing– Record high temps– Drought– Warmer water

temperatures

• Increased Extreme Precipitation Events– Flooding– Increased agricultural

runoff• Carries both nutrients and

sediments into the lake

– More harmful algal blooms

Warming Temperatures

• Research has shown that very warm winters are often followed by failed year classes of both walleye and yellow perch the next spring– Good year classes tend to

follow long, cold winters– Not clear yet how temp

and spawning are related, but may be related to egg quality

Increased Extreme Precipitation Events

• Shorter, heavier periods of precipitation could lead to an increase in agricultural runoff– When combined with warmer temperatures, this

makes for ideal conditions for harmful algal blooms

– These blooms could have both positive and negative impacts on young fish• Provide shelter from predators• Interfere with foraging and impair lines of sight on prey

Impacts of the Dead Zone• When algae die, they sink to the bottom of the lake and

decompose, using up oxygen and creating hypoxic areas, or “dead zones”– This displaces fish from bottom habitat where cool water and

preferred prey are located– The resulting reduced food availability and slower growth could in

turn affect egg development that’s already impacted by warmer winters

Economic Impacts

• Lake Erie recreational and commercial fishing are multi-million dollar industries

• Failed year classes of yellow perch reduce the number of adult fish available to the fishery– Lower recommended catch/harvest levels– Potential for fewer fishing licenses sold– Reduced tourism income for charter captains and

other businesses that rely on anglers

Acknowledgements

• Dr. Stuart Ludsin, OSU-EEOB• Troy Farmer and Ruth Briland (OSU PhD

students)• Ohio State University Aquatic Ecology Lab

(ael.osu.edu)