Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Erie (Fertilized Egg)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
215 Temperature Example - 275 109
Details
Low air and water temperatures were correlated with high fertility of eggs
taken from Lake Erie. When water temperatures rose from 5.5°C to 8°C in
midspawning season, egg fertility dropped significantly.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
(Fertilized Egg)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
214 Temperature Characteristic 276 109
Details
In nature, whitefish hatch from March to April with an incubation period of
120140 days at 0.5°1.7°C.
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216 Temperature Example 317 109
Details
In the laboratory, no eggs survived at 0°C or 12°C. At other temperatures
incubation periods were: 141 days at 0.5°C, 121 days at 2°C, 80 days at 4°C,
59 days at 6°C, 40 days at 8°C, and 30 days at 10°C. The incidence of
hatching mortality and hatching abnormalities increased sharply at tempera-
tures >6°C.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Huron (Juvenile)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
802 Georgian Bay Temperature Characteristic 17°C 423 8
Details
YOY whitefish are associated with the 17°C isotherm in midsummer in South
Bay, Lake Huron.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
807 South Bay Movement Example 425 8
Depth Example
Details
During July and August, YOY whitefish in South Bay may be found in the
upper levels of the metalimnion. With the approach of autumn, the young
fish apparently descend into the hypolimnion.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
(Juvenile)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
222 Pred/Prey Characteristic 276 109
Details
At ~6 weeks and 25 mm the mouth becomes inferior and fingerlings start
feeding on bottom organisms.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
226 Depth Characteristic 276 109
Movement Characteristic
Details
In mid-June, or 33 mm long, lake whitefish move from the surface in ~1 m
water to the bottom in 315 m-deep water.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
227 Depth Characteristic 276 109
Movement Characteristic
Details
Yearlings school in water <15 m. When ~550 g, they move with adults into
deeper water.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Huron (Larva)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
806 Movement Characteristic 8 -
Depth Characteristic <1 m
Details
Upon hatching in midApril, whitefish fry rise to the surface over the
spawning grounds, remain for a few days, and then make their way or are
carried by currents inshore, where they tend to concentrate in water
<1 m deep.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
(Larva)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
221 Pred/Prey Characteristic 370 109
371
Details
Fry begin feeding on entomostracans at 13 mm or at two weeks old.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
225 Depth Characteristic 276 109
Movement Characteristic
Details
Within two weeks after hatching, they concentrate in water <450 mm. After
four weeks, they move into water 0.91.2 m deep but remain near the surface.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Ontario (Non-spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
219 Temperature Example 407 109
406
Details
Warm November and warm winters resulted in poor year-classes in Lake
Ontario, but not for Georgian Bay.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
220 General Limit 407 109
Details
The decline in population in Lake Ontario was believed to be caused by
overfishing and decline in habitat conditions, not to lamprey effects.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
768 Competitors Example 9 112
Details
The increase of perch in the eastern outlet of Lake Ontario was attributed to
improved littoral food resources after the collapse of whitefish stocks.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
769 Competitors Example 10 112
Eutrophication Example
Phys. Assoc. Example Cladophora
Pred/Prey Example
Details
Perch increased in Lake Ontario around the dense beds of cladophora which
appeared with eutrophication at the same time as whitefish disappeared.
Improvement for perch may have been due to the creation of new habitats for
food organisms in the weed beds rather than the removal of competition.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Erie (Non-spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
202 Water Motion Example 277 109
Light Example
Temperature Example
Rainfall Example
Turbidity Example
Details
In Lake Erie, no correlation could be shown between growth rate and
population density, wind, or sunshine, but there was a tendency for inverse
correlation between summer temperature and growth (r=0.6). Low turbidity
in May, June, and October and high rainfall in July and August were related
to good whitefish growth.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
218 Water Motion Example Wind 277 109
Details
No correlations were found between-year class strength and various
meterological conditions (including wind) in Lake Erie.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
229 Movement Example 276 109
Details
In Lake Erie, they migrate ~280 km between the deep eastern waters to
western spawning grounds.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Huron (Non-spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
146 Competitors Limit 8 -
Details
Smelt may compete with lake whitefish and ciscoes for available food. As
a result, whitefish production in Lake Huron decreases and smelt production
increases.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
201 Georgian Bay General 406 109
(Many)
Details
Several populations of whitefish were recognized in Lake Superior.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
219 Temperature Example 407 109
406
Details
Warm Novembers and warm winters resulted in poor year-classes in Lake
Ontario, but not for Georgian Bay.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
804 Movement Characteristic Schooling 424 8
Depth Characteristic
Ice Characteristic Breakup
Details
Whitefish are gregarious and travel in schools. In spring and early summer
they concentrate in water <18 m deep, and in July and August they migrate
to deeper water. In Lake Huron, maximum density is in water 24-24 m deep.
In fall they return to shallower water where they probably remain until the
ice breaks up.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Michigan (Non-spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
230 Movement Example 276 109
Details
In Lake Michigan, 4% of tagged fish travelled beyond 40 km with a maximum
distance of 115 km in 12 months.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Superior (Non-spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
42 Pred/Prey Characteristic 11 -
Details
Smelt became the most important food fish in 1963 although whitefishes
(Coregonus spp.) remained seasonally important October-December.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
200 Many General 393 109
Details
Several populations of whitefish were recognized in Lake Superior.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
808 Apostle Islands Phys. Assoc. Characteristic 12 22
Depth Characteristic <55 m
Details
Lake trout and whitefish occur on inshore littoral fishing grounds in
water <55 m deep.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No. 203 Wisconsin Competitors Limit 326 109
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
(Non-spawning Adult)
Details
For lake herring in Trout Lake, Wisconsin, slow growth was attributed to
the high density of the fish population (particularly ciscoes) in the strata
inhabited by whitefish.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
217 Alberta Water Motion Example Wind 335 109
Details
Wind was a possible factor in the strength of year-classes in Alberta
lakes.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
223 Pred/Prey Characteristic 261 262 109
268 269
Details 266 270
Whitefish are primarily bottom feeders, with Pontoporeia, Hyalella, 263 267
Gammarus, sphaeriids, and other molluscs, and insect larvae (particularly 260 265
chironomids) as principal foods. 258 271
423 259
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
224 Alberta Light Example 261 109
Details
In Watertown Lakes, greatest feeding was in morning and evening.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
228 Depth Characteristic 276 109
Movement Characteristic
Ice Characteristic
Details
Adults concentrate during late spring in water <18 m deep. In
midsummer they are found mostly in water 1860 m with some stragglers in
water >105 m deep. In early fall they move inshore to spawn and return to
deeper water by the time ice breaks.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
765 Competitors Example 63 112
Details
For food, perch may compete with any or all other predatory fishes present
in the same water. These fish include brook trout, ciscoes, lake whitefish,
basses (Morone spp. and Micropterus spp.), crappies, and bluegill.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
792 Great Lakes Temperature Requirement 19 -
Oxygen Requirement
Phys. Assoc. Requirement
Siltation Requirement
Details
Lake whitefish (similar to lake trout, longjaw ciscoe, and lake herring) are
cold stenotherms at the southern edge of their zoogeographical ranges. Lake
whitefish require cold, adequately oxygenated bottom waters for a summer
habitat, and relatively siltfree river or lake-spawning areas for successful
reproduction. Yearclass success is the result of favorable environmental
conditions rather than spawning-stock size.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
798 Ontario Turbidity Characteristic 1.22.6 ppm 73 -
Alkalinity Characteristic 2260 ppm
Dissolved Characteristic 4783 ppm
Solids
Details
In ten lakes considered good walleye, lake whitefish, and northern pike lakes,
turbidity was 1.2-2.6 ppm (JTU), total alkalinity was 22-60 ppm, and total
dissolved solids were 47-83 ppm.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
803 Great Lakes Phys. Assoc. Characteristic 423 8
Pred/Prey Characteristic
Details
Differences in bottom characteristics indirectly influence distribution of
the various coregonid species. All species except lake herring (a plankton
feeder) are confined to a bottom strata of water <1.5 m deep. In this
stratum, food consists mainly of various species of Crustacea and Mollusca.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Ontario (Spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
206 Bay of Quinte Temperature Example 4.5°10.0°C 370 109
Details
Spawning occurs at temperatures of 4.5°10°C.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Huron (Spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
805 Phys. Assoc. Characteristic 424 8
Depth Characteristic 218 m
Details
Whitefish in Lake Huron spawn on sand, gravel, stone, or honeycomb rock in
water 218 m deep during November and the first half of December.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
Lake Superior (Spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
211 Phys. Assoc. Example 218 109
Details
Lake whitefish spawn over gravel at 223 m in Lake Superior.
Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis)
(Spawning Adult)
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
204 Temperature Example 0.5°1.7°C 218 109
347
Details
Spawning occurs at temperatures of 0.5°1.7°C.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
205 Saskatchewan Temperature Example 5.5°C 266 109
Details
Spawning occurs at 5.5°C.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
207 Temperature Example 0.5°4.5°C 295 109
Details
Spawning occurs at temperatures of 0.5°4.5°C.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
208 New York Temperature Example 4.5°C 417 109
Details
Spawning occurs at 4.5°C.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
209 Montana Phys. Assoc. Example 259 109
Details
- In Montana, lake whitefish spawn over humus, rock, gravel, or hard bottom in
water 130 m deep.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
210 Saskatchewan Phys. Assoc. Example 266 109
Details
Lake whitefish spawn over rocky bottom in water <3 m deep in Lake La Ronge.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
212 Phys. Assoc. Example 295 109
Details
Lake whitefish spawn over gravel or sandy shoals at 23 m.
Ref. No. Locality (Stock) Factor(s) Influence(s) Data Primary Ref. No. Review No.
213 Lake Winnipeg Area of Water Example - 258 109
Details
In Lake Winnipeg, one population spawns in the lake and another enters the
rivers for spawning. Whitefish also spawn in other rivers.