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AUTHORS: Patricia Nease, Tomas Hook - Purdue University
ABSTRACT: Midwestern glacial lakes support a diversity of economically and ecologically important fish species, such as Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. Many of these species rely on littoral areas as important nursery habitats. However, the littoral areas of many lakes are highly fragmented through anthropogenic activities such as, dredging, removal of aquatic macrophytes for recreation, shoreline armoring and land development. All of these processes can alter local littoral habitat conditions. During August of 2017, we collected young of the year Largemouth Bass from various nearshore habitat types in six glacial lakes in Indiana. A previous study demonstrated that juvenile Largemouth Bass densities, size structure and diets respond to habitat conditions at both the whole lake level and local littoral area. However, it is unclear if these differences among local littoral areas reflect short-term, transient patterns or if groups of young Largemouth Bass differentially utilize these habitats. Through diet analysis and stable isotope analysis, we will contrast short-term versus longer-term differences in diets among littoral sites. Study findings may inform littoral habitat management in lakes in Indiana and throughout the Midwest.
