International Journal of Limnology

Volume 60 (2024)


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Special issue - Biology and Management of Coregonid Fishes - 2023

Open Access

Differences in sulfate sensitivity of early development between brackish and freshwater coregonines 24

Fertilization and early development of coregonines were affected by sulfate in toxicity tests. The sulfate tolerance of brackish water forms of vendace and whitefish was higher than freshwater forms. The lethal concentrations of sulfate toxicity determined in this study provide valuable information for the construction of species sensitivity distributions, and further formulation the water quality guidelines for both brackish and freshwater environments.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024023
Open Access

The effect of water level changes on the density of newly hatched European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus (L.)) larvae in unregulated and regulated lakes 23

There was no association between water level variables and the density of newly hatched whitefish larvae or egg survival. Neither was the average larval density in the regulated lakes generally lower than that in the non-regulated lake. Thus, moderate water level regulation does not drive whitefish population dynamics directly by negatively affecting the life stage from spawning to hatching.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024019
Open Access

Response of European whitefish embryos to thermal conditions diverges between peri-alpine populations 19

Perialpine lakes face climate warming, impacting coregonine fish populations. The exposition of European whitefish embryos from perialpine populations to actual/cold and future/warm temperatures in the lab reveals strong impact on survival and incubation duration and contrasted ability of populations to cope with warming waters.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024017
Open Access

Winter is not coming: evaluating impacts of changing winter conditions on coregonine reproductive phenology 17

Our paper developed and evaluated temperature-dependent embryo development modelsfor a group of cold, stenothermic fishes (Salmonidae Coregoninae) to assess the potential impacts of climate-induced changes in water temperature on cisco (Coregonus artedi) from two populations in Lake Superior (Apostle Islands [USA] and Thunder Bay [Canada]) and one in Lake Ontario (USA), vendace (C. albula) in Lake Southern Konnevesi (Finland), and European whitefish (C. lavaretus) in lakes Southern Konnevesi, Constance (Germany), Geneva (France), and Annecy (France). Water temperatures for each study group were simulated and changes in reproductive phenology across historic (1900-2006) and three future climatic-warming scenarios (2007-2099) were investigated. Models predicted that increases in water temperatures are likely to cause delayed spawning, shorter embryo incubation durations, and earlier larval hatching. Relative changes increased as warming scenarios increased in severity and were higher for littoral as compared to pelagic populations. Our simulations demonstrated that slower cooling in the autumn and (or) more rapid warming in spring can translate into substantial changes in the reproductive phenology of coregonines among our study groups. We expect that the changes in reproductive phenology predicted by our models, in the absence of thermal or behavioral adaptation, will have negative implications for population sustainability.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024014
Open Access

Long-term decline of whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) population in the boreal lake Pyhäjärvi, southwest Finland, relative to simultaneous abiotic and biotic changes 16

The long-term decline of the whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) population in the boreal lake Pyhäjärvi, southwest Finland is described. Whitefish decline was associated with decreases in fecundity, winter survival of embryos, and larval density. The spawning stock was kept small by intensive fishery.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024009
Open Access

Impact of fishing activities on the population dynamics of European whitefish in four peri-alpine lakes 15

Our study introduces the first Bayesian Delay-Difference model adapted to whitefish fisheries in peri-alpine lakes. By analyzing various data, the model accurately estimates annual biomass, recruitment, stage structure of landings, and fishing mortality. These insights are invaluable for comprehending the historical trends and impacts of fishing activities on these stocks.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024015
Open Access

Rehabilitation of whitefish fisheries in lakes Geneva and Bourget during the eutrophication period: assessing socio-economic impacts through large collaborative research 13

From the beginning of the 1980s, professional fishermen and recreational anglers, together with state services and researchers from INRA, developed an applied research program focusing on the improvement and optimisation of salmonid stocking in the Lakes Geneva and Bourget. The aim of thispaperis to retrospectively retrace the key stages of this program and its main impacts on society.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024012
Open Access

Factors influencing larval coregonine spatial distribution in Lake Geneva (Europe) and Lake Superior (North America) during a single season near known spawning sites 12

We exploredpotential drivers of larval coregoninedistributions in Lake Geneva, France and Lake Superior, USA. Depth and wind were important drivers in both lakes, date was important in Lake Geneva, and available preydensity was not important. Understanding the importance of these factors can help elucidate mechanisms regulating larval survival.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024013
Open Access

Vendace populations on the life table: between-lake variation and the association between early life and mature survival and growth 11

Time series of 22 vendace (Coregonus albula) populations were applied to estimate the population-specific average length-at-age and survival in early life and mature life stages. These vital rates differed widely between populations and temporally within a population. Theearly life survivalis set by the factors external to the vendace population. It is expected to decrease due to climate change, increasing the risk of local extinctions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024011
Open Access

Genetic origins of a resurging lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, population in the Detroit River, Laurentian Great Lakes 10

The Detroit River once supported a substantial lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) fishery until the early 1900s. As a result of almost 50 years of efforts to improve water and habitat quality, lake whitefish have begun to spawn in the river and viable eggs were collected. Genetic analysis of larval fish hatched from eggs collected in the field between 2005 and 2018 found thatover 80% of the hatched larvae had parents originating from Lake Erie. The estimated number of lake whitefish parents at Fighting Island decreased in the most recent collections possibly due to loss of habitat on spawning reefs due to sedimentation or a change in sample design. Our results provide additional evidence that restored spawning habitat in the Detroit River is again being used by lake whitefish and continued reproduction at these sites may improve the Great Lakes portfolio of ecological and genetic diversity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024010
Open Access

Spawning behaviour of lake whitefish in Lake Huron revealed by fine-scale acoustic telemetry and Indigenous ecological knowledge 8

In our study of the spawning behaviour of lake whitefish, we observed fish using a variety of habitat types during the spawning season, including a rocky spawning shoal, sandy substrates, and steeper slopes. Both sexes moved shallower at night and deeper during the day, with males moving more at night and females more during the day. This study could help inform stewardship efforts aimed at lake whitefish spawning habitat restoration and protection.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024007
Open Access

How diverse is the toolbox? A review of management actions to conserve or restore coregonines 5

Our paper reviews the restoration and conservation strategies applied towards coregonines (e.g., whitefishes, ciscoes) across Europe, Asia, and North America. The highlighted strategies included 1) stocking of hatchery-reared fish, 2) controlling invasive species, 3) translocating fish, 4) restoring habitat, and 5) eliminating harvest or creating protected areas.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024002

Special Issue - Advances in freshwater ecology in Sub-Saharan Africa

Open Access

Impact of a set of environmental variables on the leaf litter breakdown rate in natural streams of the equatorial forest in Cameroon 21

In this study, we tried to highlight the controlling factors of litter breakdown in African streams using 13 sites in the natural rainforest of South Cameroon. The goals of this study were to highlight the biological and physico-chemical determinants of leaf litter breakdown in streams and to compare those factors to other factors found in temperate and other tropical streams.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024018
Open Access

Responses of the macroinvertebrate community to urban wastewater pollution in the upper Ouémé Basin in Benin 7

This study focuses on the effects of urban wastewater on macroinvertebrate communities in the upper Ouémé basin in Benin. We found similar responses in African invertebrates to those observed in other parts of the world. However, we unexpectedly observed a stronger impact during the wet season than during the dry season. Furthermore, community resilience did not depend primarily on the distance downstream of the wastewater input, but rather on a combination of several factors.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024006

Antioxidant defense of Ephemera danica larvae (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae) − seasonal and longitudinal impact of the trout farm 25

Changes in GPx activity emerged as the most sensitive biomarker to the trout farm's effluents, showing higher sensitivity compared to macrozoobenthos indices (SI, BMWP, and MBMWPPO). The data collected during this study provides a more detailed analysis and improved insight into the conditions of natural habitats and the organisms living there.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024024
Open Access

Artificial floating littoral zones: a promising nursery to support Pike (Esox lucius) in reservoirs 22

This study assessed the effectiveness of a 3D floating structure (FLOLIZ) mimicking a littoral zone to support northern pike population in a French hydropower reservoir. Visual surveys carried out over 2019-2023 highlighted an annual recurrence of juvenile pike in FLOLIZ and a higher abundance than in the littoral control stations. The results highlighted the potential of FLOLIZ to provide refuge and nursery habitats for juvenile pike in reservoirs.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024022

New invader colonises the Danube: Quistadrilus multisetosus (Smith, 1900) (Clitellata: Naididae) population settled in the Slovakian stretch of the Danube floodplain 20

The established population of Quistadrilusmultisetosus (Smith, 1900) inhabits a sidearm of the Danube River in Slovakia. This discovery marks a new species for the Slovak fauna and is the first documented record of this species in the Danube River and its floodplain system.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024020

Assessment of hydrographic parameters and trophic status of selected freshwater ecosystems of southwest India 18

The present study evaluated the seasonal variations in hydrographic parameters and trophic status of two selected freshwater ecosystems of southwest India, highlighting their eutrophic to hypereutrophic state. Understanding the trophic status of freshwater ecosystems provides valuable insights into the necessity of mitigation and management practices to safeguard the aquatic ecosystem from deterioration caused by nutrient loading leading to harmful algal blooms.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024021

Seasonal changes in cell size of the dominant diatom species in Lake Biwa 6

We reported the effect of various environmental factors on the cell size change of the dominant diatoms, Aulacoseira ambigua, Aulacoseira granulata, and Fragilaria crotonensis, in Lake Biwa, to know diatoms' seasonal succession and sexual reproduction both of which we have only limited information.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024005

Cladocera (Crustacea; Branchiopoda) from the Brazilian Cerrado – the richness and species composition for Goiás state 3

Goiás state, situated in the Cerrado biome harbors several water bodies (streams, rivers, wetlands, ponds, reservoirs) belonging to the Paraná, São Francisco, and Tocantins-Araguaia hydrographic regions. However, there are several gaps in the knowledge about the diversity and geographic distribution of aquatic invertebrates in the state, including microcrustaceans of the Superorder Cladocera. In our study, we analyzed data from the literature sources and collected samples in new localities between macrophytes and sediments. The findings suggest the occurrence of 92 species in Goiás state and the presence of five new reports: Scapholeberisfreyi, Grimaldina freyi, Parvalona parva, Chydorusbrevilabris, and Picripleuroxus quasidenticulatus. Alona elisae is endemic for region studied. Such results indicate the megadiversity of cladocerans in Cerrado biome, large than the other countries from the Neotropical zone. Despite the increase in sampling effort for the geographic region studied, many parts of Goiás state are still unsampled. This suggests the still unknown diversity potential for the region.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024003
Open Access

Length–weight relationships of the French pikes Esox spp. (Teleostei, Esocidae) 2

Two pike species occur in France: the ubiquitous northern pike Esox lucius and the endemic Aquitanian pike Esox aquitanicus living in small tributaries and coastal catchments in South-West of France. For this last species, there are few knowledges. So, tools and data are needed for its management and stock assessment such as length–weight relationships (LWRs). This study provides the first LWR for E. aquitanicus and compares it with data of French E. lucius. Data for both pike species were collected from 1981 to 2022 during the monitoring of the Departmental Angling Federations and the French Agency of Biodiversity (OFB). Data from 3,657 Aquitanian pikes and 5,413 northern pikes were then provided with average sizes and weights respectively 10.7 cm for 20.2 g and 30.2 cm for 339.8 g. Our study highlights that Aquitanian pike is smaller than northern pike, certainly due to the surface area of habitat and the warmer temperature. The a and b parameters are significatively smaller for the Aquitanian pike than those of E. lucius. This should be explained by the poor environments where it lives (sandy substrates, few aquatic vegetation, low biomass) conferring a lower primary productivity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2024001

Assessment of the age and growth of three fin fish species from a tropical estuary (Cochin, west coast of India) 1

This work provides the first information about the stock status of three fin fishes (Caranxheberi, Etroplussuratensis, and Oreochromis mossambicus) from this estuary. According to prior research, this estuary has seen a species reduction over time. It is vital to first learn about the stock status of the studied species because it is one of the most fished finfish species in this estuary. This study's findings will help formulate sustainable resource management.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2023012