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Biology and status of the shortnose cisco Coregonus reighardi Koelz in the Laurentian Great Lakes

January 1, 1995

The shortnose cisco, Coregonus reighardi, a member of the endemic species assemblage of Coregoninae in the Laurentian Great Lakes, was commercially important until overfishing and competition pressures from induced planktivores extirpated the species in Lakes Michigan and Ontario. Spawning shortnose ciscoes have been collected from Lake Huron and Georgian Bay of Lake Huron since 1956, however, no individuals have been collected from these habitats since 1985. Shortnose ciscoes were not collected during surveys of the cisco fishery of Georgian Bay during the summer of 1992 and spring of 1993. The lack of captures in the last eight years coupled with captures of only lone individuals in the last 16 years suggests the species may be extinct in all of the Laurentian system. The life history traits examined for Lake Huron shortnose ciscoes were similar to the conditions recorded for Lake Michigan and Ontario shortnose ciscoes, although Lake Huron fish were smaller.

Publication Year 1995
Title Biology and status of the shortnose cisco Coregonus reighardi Koelz in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Authors Shane A. Webb, Thomas N. Todd
Publication Type Book Chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Index ID 70006551
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Great Lakes Science Center