Size Of Age-0 Sander vitreus Pre and Post Dreissena polymorpha Infestation on Brainerd and Bemidji Area Lakes

Authors

Quady Bernu

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Walleye Sander vitreus is the Minnesota state fish and a vital predator fish in lake ecology. Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha were first found in Minnesota inland lakes in the 1980’s. These mussels have had huge impacts on water clarity as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton population levels which affect how age-0 fish feed, especially a low light feeding predator fish like walleye. A study took place on age-0 walleye size and it supported the conclusion that age-0 walleye were negatively impacted by zebra mussels in Minnesota’s large lakes. The goals of this study were to determine how the size of age-0 walleye are impacted by changing water clarity in two Minnesota lake regions (northwest and central). Fall electrofishing data was collected on age-0 walleye, zebra mussel invasion dates and water clarity measurements were collected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The factors of lake (P = 0.00008), year (P = 0.00273), and zebra mussel status (P = 0.00069) all had statistically significant relationships with age-0 walleye size. The effect of average June Secchi (P = 0.13310) did not have a statistically significant difference on age-0 size. Age-0 walleye size increased post-invasion (11 mm) as well as water clarity depths (1.16 m). Water clarity measurements varied from lake to lake, but all lakes consistently increased in the first five years post invasion.

Publication Date

2025

Comments

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

Recommended Citation

Bernu, Quady, "Size Of Age-0 Sander vitreus Pre and Post Dreissena polymorpha Infestation on Brainerd and Bemidji Area Lakes" (2025). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 72.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/72