Whitefish Losing Diporeia As Food Source
Rick Larson
Posted 12/31/2003 9:59 AM (#10953)
Subject: Whitefish Losing Diporeia As Food Source



Diporeia, a small 1/2" fat-ladened shrimp-like creature, and lives on the bottom of Lake Michigan, is being mysteriously wiped out in major portions of the lake. This is forcing whitefish to scrounge around, and may be the reason why Chris caught this skinny fish (pictured in the link below) while jigging for Walleye.

Bioligists are working to understand the situation and hopefully find some way (tall order) to stop the decline. This could lead to some hard-to-swallow changes on this great fishing water.



Edited by Rick Larson 12/31/2003 11:49 AM



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BeFishin
Posted 12/31/2003 10:33 AM (#10957 - in reply to #10953)
Subject: RE: Whitefish Losing Diporeia As Food Source


Member

Posts: 580

Location: Green Bay, WI
The Diporeia disappearance has to be related to the appearance of the exotics. Zebra's filtering too much water, the spiny water flea, gobies, etc. There is no doubt that all North American waters will continue to change in ways no one will be able to predict.
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Rick Larson
Posted 12/31/2003 11:12 AM (#10960 - in reply to #10953)
Subject: RE: Whitefish Losing Diporeia As Food Source



Researchers have documented that diporeia found in areas inhabited by zebra mussels do not show signs of starvation. This is new knowledge recently released.

The only thing the researchers do know - is that they don't.

Edited by Rick Larson 12/31/2003 11:44 AM
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sworrall
Posted 1/1/2004 9:17 AM (#10974 - in reply to #10960)
Subject: RE: Whitefish Losing Diporeia As Food Source




Location: Rhinelander
One thing they can be sure of is the waters of the Great Lakes will continue to change as weather, exotics, use, and about a million other variables interact. I remember very clearly when Erie was considered dead, or at least near dead, and Michigan had a poor to almost not fishable salmon and trout fishery. An awful lot of work went into the restoration of the Lakes so far, here's hoping the funding holds and the exotics don't screw it all up!
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Rick Larson
Posted 1/1/2004 11:58 AM (#10975 - in reply to #10953)
Subject: RE: Whitefish Losing Diporeia As Food Source



Yes! There has been good progress when considering the recent past. Rather than prepare for the worst, we (I) should hope for the best.
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