Assessment of burbot Lota lota (L. 1758) population sustainability in central European reservoirs

0494982 - BC 2019 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Blabolil, Petr - Duras, J. - Jůza, Tomáš - Kočvara, Luboš - Matěna, Josef - Muška, Milan - Říha, Milan - Vejřík, Lukáš - Holubová, Michaela - Peterka, Jiří
Assessment of burbot Lota lota (L. 1758) population sustainability in central European reservoirs.
Journal of Fish Biology. Roč. 92, č. 5 (2018), s. 1545-1559. ISSN 0022-1112. E-ISSN 1095-8649
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA15-01625S; GA MŠMT(CZ) 7F14316; GA MŠMT(CZ) LD15021; GA MŠMT(CZ) LM2015075
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : spatial-distribution * kootenai river * lake constance * fish * habitat
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 2.038, year: 2018

A novel sampling scheme, using a combination of electrofishing, visual exploration by scuba divers, two types of fyke nets and longlines, was tested in four reservoirs (including their inlets and outlets) to monitor a population of burbot Lota lota. This was supplemented by fry trawling and vertical hydro-acoustics, to detect L. lota larvae in two deep reservoirs that have had a long-term stocking programme. The majority of the L. lota detected were juveniles, captured by electrofishing in the littoral zones of the reservoirs and in running waters. Older individuals were rarely captured with longlines or fyke nets in deeper zones or structured habitats within the reservoirs. A combination of multiple sampling methods provided an assessment of the whole population. Population establishment could not be demonstrated as the age structure of the sampled fish corresponded with that of the stocked fish. Low post-stocking survival, migratory behaviour, interactions with other species and warmer water temperatures are considered the potential drivers for unsuccessful establishment of L. lota populations in these reservoirs.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0288089