Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Research article2014Peer reviewed

Has climate variability driven the trends and dynamics in recruitment of pelagic fish species in Swedish Lakes Vanern and Vattern in recent decades?

Sandström, Alfred; Ragnarsson Stabo, Henrik; Axenrot, Thomas; Bergstrand, Eva

Abstract

We analyse trends and dynamics in time-series of recruitment in Smelt and Vendace in the Swedish large Lakes Vanern and Vattern, with particular emphasis on the importance of climate variability. Climate-related predictor variables in our analyses were air temperature, water temperature, ice coverage and duration of ice winters. The variation between years with successful recruitment and years with low recruitment was considerable in both species and especially for Vendace. Ultra-oligotrophic Lake Vattern was characterized by strong pulses in Vendace recruitment, occurring mainly in four year intervals. Smelt recruitment was positively related to recruitment pulses of Vendace. In meso-oligotrophic Lake Vanern, Vendace pursuit was more successful in years with long ice winters that lasted until the middle of March or longer. Smelt recruitment in Lake Vanern was positively correlated to the air temperature in April. There was no obvious synchrony in recruitment patterns between the two lakes. Recruitment of Smelt in Lake Vanern's two main basins was, however, positively correlated. The results indicated that climate factors may influence the recruitment of important pelagic species, but that the effects may differ between lakes, even though the systems are adjacent and situated at the same latitude.

Keywords

large lakes; recruitment; Vendace; Smelt

Published in

Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management
2014, Volume: 17, number: 4, pages: 349-356