Author:
Evans David O.,Loftus David H.
Abstract
Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax, have colonized numerous inland lakes in eastern North America, primarily as a result of introductions by humans. Smelt often establish large populations in these lakes and influence indigenous fishes both directly (predation) and indirectly (competition). Smelt have a eurythermal life history, which results in spatial segregation of their larvae, juvenile, and adults, and are omnivorous feeders, eating a range of food types from zooplankton to fish. As a result, smelt interact strongly with a wide spectrum of prey and predator species. Effects on other species are mediated via food web interactions resulting in recruitment and growth changes in some species and redirection of energy flow and storage. Species most often affected are cold-water and cool-water species whose niches are most similar to juvenile and adult smelt. Increased growth rates of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and recruitment failure of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) are the best documented responses to invasion by smelt. Many other species are probably also affected, although the effects vary greatly between lakes. Variation in the smelt metabolic niche (as expressed by relative growth efficiency) is due to variations in prey size and availability and is reflected in differences in smelt body size between lakes. Smelt body size, in turn, is related to the variable effects that they have on other species.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
Aquatic Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
115 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献