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Short winters threaten temperate fish populations

Author

Listed:
  • Troy M. Farmer

    (Ecology and Organismal Biology, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University
    Present address: School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA.)

  • Elizabeth A. Marschall

    (Ecology and Organismal Biology, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University)

  • Konrad Dabrowski

    (School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University)

  • Stuart A. Ludsin

    (Ecology and Organismal Biology, Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University)

Abstract

Although climate warming is expected to benefit temperate ectotherms by lengthening the summer growing season, declines in reproductive success following short, warm winters may counter such positive effects. Here we present long-term (1973–2010) field patterns for Lake Erie yellow perch, Perca flavescens, which show that failed annual recruitment events followed short, warm winters. Subsequent laboratory experimentation and field investigations revealed how reduced reproductive success following short, warm winters underlie these observed field patterns. Following short winters, females spawn at warmer temperatures and produce smaller eggs that both hatch at lower rates and produce smaller larvae than females exposed to long winters. Our research suggests that continued climate warming can lead to unanticipated, negative effects on temperate fish populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Troy M. Farmer & Elizabeth A. Marschall & Konrad Dabrowski & Stuart A. Ludsin, 2015. "Short winters threaten temperate fish populations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8724
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8724
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    Cited by:

    1. Seán Kelly & Tadhg N. Moore & Elvira Eyto & Mary Dillane & Chloé Goulon & Jean Guillard & Emilien Lasne & Phil McGinnity & Russell Poole & Ian J. Winfield & R. Iestyn Woolway & Eleanor Jennings, 2020. "Warming winters threaten peripheral Arctic charr populations of Europe," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 599-618, November.
    2. Oleksandr Malinovskyi & Lukáš Veselý & Carlos Yanes-Roca & Tomáš Policar, 2022. "The effect of water temperature, prey availability and presence of conspecifics on prey consumption of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)," Czech Journal of Animal Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 67(11), pages 465-473.
    3. R. Iestyn Woolway, 2023. "The pace of shifting seasons in lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Tomas O. Höök & Carolyn J. Foley & Paris Collingsworth & Leslie Dorworth & Brant Fisher & Jason T. Hoverman & Elizabeth LaRue & Mark Pyron & Jennifer Tank, 2020. "An assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on freshwater habitats and biota of Indiana, USA," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(4), pages 1897-1916, December.

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