Burbot Activity in Relation to Light Penetration on Lake Bemidji, MN

Authors

Hunter Weidenborner
Josh Janecek

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Burbot Lota lota is the only freshwater member of the family Gadidae and has a circumpolar distribution in cold-water regions. Information related to Burbot biology is limited in comparison to most fishes. Snow pack depth and ice conditions influence light penetration and therefore primary production levels. Primary production can have cascading effects on higher trophic levels. Therefore, the objective of this study was to observe if light levels penetrating through cleared and covered ice has an effect on Burbot activity in Lake Bemidji, MN. Angling for Burbot occurred for a minimum of 30 four hour sample periods at both cleared and snow covered ice and fish caught per hour was then used as a measure of Burbot activity. There was no significant difference in catch per unit effort (fish/hr) between cleared and covered ice (W = 241.5, P = 0.24). Photosynthetic photon flux fluence rate (μmol/m²/s) between cleared and covered ice was found to have a significant difference (W = 0, P = 0.029). Burbot activity was not related to light penetration through cleared and snow covered ice. Thus a longer study duration is suggested to observe cascading effects from light penetration on Burbot activity.

Publication Date

2018

Comments

Faculty sponsor: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program

Recommended Citation

Weidenborner, Hunter and Janecek, Josh, "Burbot Activity in Relation to Light Penetration on Lake Bemidji, MN" (2018). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 27.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/27