Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-mp689 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T23:17:58.268Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Spatial ecology of adult muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) in the urban Ottawa reach of the historic Rideau Canal, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2010

Nathan C. Gillis ,
Tobias Rapp ,
Caleb T. Hasler ,
Hedrik Wachelka  and
Steven J. Cooke
Nathan C. Gillis
Affiliation:
Carleton University, Institute of Integrated Science, Ottawa ON, K1S 5B6, Canada Carleton University, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Tobias Rapp
Affiliation:
Humboldt-University of Berlin, Inland Fisheries Management Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, Humboldt-University of Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany
Caleb T. Hasler*
Affiliation:
Carleton University, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Hedrik Wachelka
Affiliation:
Muskies Canada Inc., Ottawa Chapter, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
Steven J. Cooke
Affiliation:
Carleton University, Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
*
a Corresponding author: chasler@connect.carleton.ca
Get access

Abstract

The Rideau Canal in Canada was constructed in the 1800s to enable strategic military and commercial transport in eastern Ontario between Lake Ontario and the Ottawa River. Today, the Rideau Canal is managed by Parks Canada and remains an engineered ecosystem, particularly in the urban Ottawa reach (7 km long) where it is largely channelized and is partially drained during the winter to protect canal infrastructure (i.e., locks) and provide recreational opportunities (i.e., skating). Interestingly, the Ottawa reach of the Rideau Canal supports one of the few wild urban muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) fisheries in North America supported by natural reproduction. However, little is known about the spatial ecology, residency patterns or survival of this apex freshwater predator in urban environments or canal systems. Radio-telemetry was used to study adult (N = 10; total size range of 64 to 122 cm) muskellunge in the Ottawa reach of the Rideau Canal over a multiple year period. The seasonal movements and home range of muskellunge were greatest during spring corresponding with the period when water levels in the canal were raised and muskellunge were presumably seeking out suitable spawning habitats following ice-off. During the summer fish ranged throughout the entire 7 km urban reach of the canal and by early fall muskellunge moved to the deeper parts of the reach and became largely restricted to an embayment known as Dow’s Lake prior to the lowering of the canal where they stayed for the entire winter. The same pattern of seasonal movements persisted across several years. None of the tagged muskellunge were stranded from the fall canal drainage. One fish emigrated from the urban reach of the canal during the study period, moving upstream through a lock to an exurban reach. In addition, a single tagged fish died from a winterkill event. Environmental influences such as seasonality and water depth (associated with canal operations) are believed to be the primary mechanisms contributing to habitat selection and movement patterns of muskellunge in this reach of the Rideau Canal. Data on the spatial ecology of muskellunge in the urban reaches of the Rideau Canal will inform management of this unique population of fish to ensure that the historic and ecological values are balanced to preserve this iconic Canadian natural heritage site and its biota.

Keywords

Radio-telemetryHome RangeSeasonal BehaviourEsocidae
Type
Note
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , April 2010 , pp. 225 - 230
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, W.G., McKinley, R.S., Colavecchia, M., 1997, The use of clove oil as an anesthetic for rainbow trout and its effects on swimming performance. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 17, 301–307.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bunt, C.M., Cooke, S.J., Katopodis, C., McKinley, R.S., 1999, Movement and summer habitat of brown trout (Salmo trutta) below a pulsed discharge hydroelectric generating system. Regul. R. Res. Manage. 15, 395–403.Google Scholar
Casselman, J.M., 1978, Effects of environmental factors on growth, survival, activity, and exploitation of northern pike. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Pub. 11, 114–128.Google Scholar
Casselman, J.M., 2007, Determining minimum ultimate size, setting size limits, and developing trophy standards and indices of comparable size for maintaining quality muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) populations and sports fisheries. Environ. Biol. Fish. 79, 137–154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Casselman, J.M., Robinson, C.J., Crossman, E.J., 1999, Growth and ultimate length of muskellunge from Ontario water bodies. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 19, 271–290.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooke, S.J., Graeb, B.D.S., Suski, C.D., Ostrand, K.G., 2003, Effects of suture material on incision healing, growth and survival of juvenile largemouth bass implanted with miniature radio transmitters: case study of a novice and experienced fish surgeon. J. Fish Biol. 62, 1366–1380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crossman, E.J., 1956, Growth, mortality, and movements of a sanctuary population of maskionage. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 13: 599–612. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coad, B.W., 2001, Keys to the fishes of the National Capital Region. Trail and Landscape 35, 133–166.Google Scholar
Curry, R.A., Doherty, C.A., Jardine, T.D., Currie, S.L., 2007, Using movements and diet analyses to assess effects of introduced muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Saint John River, New Brunswick. Environ. Biol. Fish. 79, 49–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diana, J.S., Mackay, W.C., Ehrman, M., 1977, Movements and habitat preference of northern pike (Esox lucius) in Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 106, 561–565.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dombeck M.P., 1979, Movement and behavior of the muskellunge determined by radio-telemetry. Wisconsin Depart. Nat. Res. Tech. Bull. 113.
Dombeck, M.P., Menzel, B.W., Hinz, P.N., 1984, Muskellunge spawning habitat and reproductive success. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 113, 205–216.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dombeck, M.P., 1986, Muskellunge habitat with guidelines for habitat management. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 11, 208–215.Google Scholar
Hanson, D.A., Margenau, T.L., 1992, Movement, habitat selection, behavior, and survival of stocked muskellunge. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 12, 474–483.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heney M., 2009, Environmental consequences of fall drawdown in the Hog’s Back to Hartwell’s lock reach of Rideau Canal, Ottawa. BSc Honours Thesis. Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Hooge P.N., Eichenlaub W., Solomon E., 1999, The animal movement program. Alaska Biological Science Center, US Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska.
Jepsen, N., Beck, S., Skov, C., Koed, A., 2001, Behavior of pike (Esox lucius L.) < 50 cm in a turbid reservoir and in a clearwater lake. Ecol. Freshw. Fish. 10, 26–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knight, C.M., Gozlan, R.E., Lucas, M.C., 2008, Can seasonal home range size in pike Esox lucius predict excursion distance? J. Fish Biol. 73, 1058–1064.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kobler, A., Klefoth, T., Arlinghaus, R., 2008, Site fidelity and seasonal changes in activity centre size of female pike Esox lucius in a small lake. J. Fish Biol. 73, 584–596.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kobler, A., Klefoth, T., Wolter, C., Fredrich, F., Arlinghaus, R., 2008, Contrasting pike (Esox lucius L.) movement and habitat choice between summer and winter in a small lake. Hydrobiologia 601, 17–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magnuson, J.J., Crowder, L.B., Medvick, P.A., 1979, Temperature as an ecological resources. Am. Zool. 19, 331–343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, M.L., Menzel, B.W., 1986, Movement, activity, and habitat use patterns of muskellunge in West Okoboji Lake, Iowa. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 15, 51–61.Google Scholar
Miller, M.L., Menzel, B.W., 1986, Movements, homing, and home range of muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, in West Okoboji Lake, Iowa. Environ. Biol. Fish. 16, 243–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minor, J.D., Crossman, E.J., 1978, Home range and seasonal movements of muskellunge as determined by radiotelemetry. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. 11, 146–153.Google Scholar
Murry, B.A., Farrell, J.M., 2007, Quantification of native muskellunge nursery habitat: influence of body size, fish community composition, and vegetation structure. Environ. Biol. Fish. 79, 37–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parks Canada, 2005, Rideau Canal National Historic Site of Canada Management Plan. Ottawa, Canada, http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/r/on/rideau/pdmp/page_04.aspx.
Phelps A., Renaud C.B., Chapleau F., 1999, Over one hundred years of change within the fish community of the Rideau River/Canal System, Ontario Canada. 38th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, May 5-8 (abstract).
Rogers K.B., White G.C., 2007, Analysis of movement and habitat use from telemetry data. In: Brown M.L, Guy C.S. (Eds.) Analysis and Interpretation of Freshwater Fisheries Data, Bethesda Maryland, American Fisheries Society, pp. 625–676.
Row, J.R., Blouin-Demers, G., 2006, Kernels are not accurate estimators of home-range size for herpetofauna. Copeia 4, 797–802.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rust, A.J., Diana, J.S., Margenau, T.L., Edwards, C.J., 2002, Lake characteristics influencing spawning success of muskellunge in northern Wisconsin lakes. N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 22, 834–841.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott W.B., Crossman E.J., 1973, Freshwater fishes of Canada. Bull. Fish. Res. Board Can. N° 184.
Wachelka H.M., Lascelles M., Loewen M., 2000, Scoping report on fish and terrestrial habitat and water quality along the Rideau River. 56pp. (www.restoretherideau.org/resources/library.html, downloaded 16 July 2002).
Wagner, C.P., Wahl, D.H., 2007, Evaluation of temperature-selection differences among juvenile muskellunge originating from different latitudes. Environ. Biol. Fish. 79, 85–98.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker R.P., O’Toole A., Whynot Z., Hanson K.C., Cooke S.J., Evaluation of the aquatic habitat and fish assemblage in an urban reach of the historic Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Canada: implications for management in an engineered system. Urban Ecosyst.
Weeks, J.G., Hansen, M.J. 2009, Walleye and muskellunge movement in the Manitowish chain of lakes, Vilas County, Wisconsin N. Am. J. Fish. Manage. 29, 791–804. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Worton, B.J., 1989, Kernel methods for estimating the utilization distribution in home-range studies. Ecology 70, 164–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Younk, J.A., Cook, M.F., Goeman, T.J., Spencer, P.D., 1996, Seasonal habitat use and movements of muskellunge in the Mississippi River. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Investigational Report 449, 1–20.Google Scholar
Zorn, S.A., Margenau, T.L., Diana, J.S., Edwards, C.J., 1998, The influence of spawning habitat on natural reproduction of muskellunge in Wisconsin. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 127, 995–1005.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar