Predation on fish eggs by white perch, Morone americana, in western Lake Erie

The white perch, Morone americana , is an east coast estuarine species that invaded Lake Erie in the 1950's, but did not increase in abundance until the mid 1970's. Its distribution and feeding during spawning was studied in the Sandusky River, Ohio in 1981-1983. White perch were present in the area from early Apr through May, but abundance was highest on bedrock riffles about 45 km upstream from Lake Erie. Spawning activity peaked in the last week of Apr when temperatures approached 18 degree C. White perch collected in early Apr had eaten walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum , eggs. As spawning activity of white perch increased, feeding activity declined, and most fish collected during late Apr contained no food. Egg predation increased again in May, but the eggs eaten then were those of white bass, Morone chrysops , white perch, and possibly other species. There is no evidence that egg predation by white perch has affected walleye or white bass recruitment, but it could become a problem if white perch continue to increase in abundance.