TY - JOUR
T1 - An Analysis of Lake Morphometric and Land-Use Characteristics that Promote Persistence of Cisco in Indiana
AU - Honsey, Andrew E.
AU - Donabauer, Steven B.
AU - Höök, Tomas O.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Fisheries Society.
PY - 2016/3/3
Y1 - 2016/3/3
N2 - Remnant populations of Cisco Coregonus artedi persist at the southern extent of their range among northern Indiana's glacial lakes, where most of their populations have become extirpated during the past century. Land-use practices have likely accelerated lake eutrophication, while climate change threatens to further degrade the habitat necessary to sustain Ciscoes in Indiana. However, because the effects of these stressors have not been ubiquitous, an understanding of the factors that have contributed to either extirpation or persistence of Cisco populations will better inform future conservation practices. We analyzed lake morphometric and land-use data to identify lakes that (1) are most likely to sustain Ciscoes, (2) are most likely to lose Ciscoes, and (3) have lost Ciscoes but are similar to current Cisco lakes and hence may be targets for restoration. We found that large, deep lakes located further north were more suitable for Ciscoes in the past, but that smaller lakes with a high ratio of lake area to catchment area have retained Cisco populations. This pattern supports the hypothesis that non-point-source nutrient loading is a driver of Cisco extirpations. Our results provide information to better manage a species of special concern in Indiana and of conservation interest in many other areas. Received August 5, 2015; accepted November 20, 2015
AB - Remnant populations of Cisco Coregonus artedi persist at the southern extent of their range among northern Indiana's glacial lakes, where most of their populations have become extirpated during the past century. Land-use practices have likely accelerated lake eutrophication, while climate change threatens to further degrade the habitat necessary to sustain Ciscoes in Indiana. However, because the effects of these stressors have not been ubiquitous, an understanding of the factors that have contributed to either extirpation or persistence of Cisco populations will better inform future conservation practices. We analyzed lake morphometric and land-use data to identify lakes that (1) are most likely to sustain Ciscoes, (2) are most likely to lose Ciscoes, and (3) have lost Ciscoes but are similar to current Cisco lakes and hence may be targets for restoration. We found that large, deep lakes located further north were more suitable for Ciscoes in the past, but that smaller lakes with a high ratio of lake area to catchment area have retained Cisco populations. This pattern supports the hypothesis that non-point-source nutrient loading is a driver of Cisco extirpations. Our results provide information to better manage a species of special concern in Indiana and of conservation interest in many other areas. Received August 5, 2015; accepted November 20, 2015
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U2 - 10.1080/00028487.2015.1125949
DO - 10.1080/00028487.2015.1125949
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84962770584
SN - 0002-8487
VL - 145
SP - 363
EP - 373
JO - Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
JF - Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
IS - 2
ER -