Evaluating the Condition of Age-0 Burbot in Relation to Diet

Authors

Cian Verbridge

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Burbot are becoming more and more popular for angling and aquaculture. However, populations have been declining across the world. Very little information is available about their early life and their interactions in the ecosystem due to challenges in sampling. Condition estimates and diet metrics were used to better understand the status of burbot in Lake Bemidji. Using backpack electrofishing, 45 young of the year burbot were collected. The lengths ranged from 86 to 146 mm and the wet weights ranged from 4.29 to 24.36 g. The stomach contents were removed and stored in ethanol for later analysis. The burbot were then dried in an oven at 60 ℃ and weighed to calculate percent dry weight. R was used to construct an NMDS plot and to calculate both percent dry weight and prey-specific abundance. Amphipods and yellow perch Perca flavescens were the most frequently consumed prey. Prey type was not significantly correlated to condition (P = 0.61). Juvenile burbot had an average percent dry weight of 18.1% (SD = 0.87) which appears to be consistent with observations of condition from other systems.

Publication Date

2025

Comments

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

Recommended Citation

Verbridge, Cian, "Evaluating the Condition of Age-0 Burbot in Relation to Diet" (2025). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 83.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/83