Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Differentiation of deep-water lake charr Salvelinus namaycush in North American lakes

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Deep-water morphs of lake charr, Salvelinus namaycush, are found, with one exception, in four of the largest lakes in the world: lakes Superior and Mistassini (QC) and Great Bear and Slave lakes. This paper advances a hypothesis for resource polymorphisms involving two types of deep-water morph, one of which is characteristic of the humper and the other of the siscowet charrs of Lake Superior. My hypothesis states that, first, the humper, or a humper-like morph, diverged postglacially in sympatry from the ancestral common (shallow-water) lake charr and became a feeding specialist on Mysis relicta. Second, in at least two of the four lakes the siscowet, or a siscowet-like charr, diverged as a feeding specialist on postglacially derived forms of deep-water ciscoes. In Lake Superior a successional process may have resulted in dominance of the siscowet at the expense of the humper charr. I concur with a previous inference that the one occurrence of a deep-water charr in a small lake (the above exception) represents emigration from Lake Superior. I further infer that this event involved an early humper charr, which implies that this morphotype had differentiated in Lake Superior in less than 1,900 year. I suggest that innate differences in plasticity, breeding behavior and assortive mating, and philopatry account for why Arctic charr isolate readily in small lakes whereas lake charr do not. My hypothesis assumes divergence of deep-water morphs occurred postglacially, an idea consistent with genetic and biogeographical evidence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aleksevev SS, Buldygerov MY, Samusenok P, Pichugin MY (2002) Distribution of Arctic charr Salvelinus namaycush (Salmonidae) in Transbaikalia. Environ Biol Fishes 64:97–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alfonso NR (2004) Evidence for two morphotypes of lake charr, Salvelinus namaycush, from Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. Environ Biol Fishes 71:21–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey RM, Smith GR (1981) Origin and geography of the fish fauna of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 38:1539–1561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balon EK (1980) Early ontogeny of the lake charr, Salvelinus (Cristivomer) namaycush. In: Balon EK (ed) Charrs: salmonid fishes of the genus Salvelinus. Dr. W. Junk, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Beeton AM (1984) The world’s great lakes. J Great Lakes Res 10:106–113

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behnke RJ (1972) The systematics of salmonid fishes of recently glaciated lakes. Fish Res Bd Can 29:639–671

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackie CT, Weese DJ, Noakes DL (2003) Evidence of resource polymorphism in the lake charr (Salvelinus namaycush) population of Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. Ecoscience 10:509–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard MA (1981) Late quaternary geology, Temiscamie area, central Quebec. Dissertation, McGill University

  • Bronte CR, Selgeby JH, Saylor JH, Miller GS, Foster NR (1995) Hatching, dispersal, and bathymetric distribution of age-0 wild lake trout at the Gull Island Shoal complex, Lake Superior. J Great Lakes Res 21(Supple 1):233–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronte CR, Ebener MP, Schreiner DR, DeVault DS, Petzold MM, Jensen DA, Richards C, Lozano SJ (2003) Fish community change in Lake Superior, 1970–2000. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 60:1552–1574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown EH Jr, Eck GW, Foster NR, Horrall RM, Coberly CE (1981) Historical evidence for discrete stocks of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Michigan. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 38:1747–1758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham Curtis MK (1993) Intralacustrine speciation of Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Superior: an investigation of genetic and morphological variation and evolution of lake trout in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Dissertation, University of Michigan

  • Burnham-Curtis MK, Smith GR (1994) Osteological evidence of genetic divergence of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Superior. Copeia 1994:843–850

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carl L, Bernier M-F, Christie W, Deacon L, Hulsman P, Loftus D, Maraldo D, Marshall T, Ryan P (1990) Fish community and environmental effects on lake trout. Lake trout synthesis, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Conner DJ, Bronte CR, Selgeby JH, Collins H (1993) Food of salmonine predators in Lake Superior, 1981–87. Great Lakes Fish Comm Tech Rep 59, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Dadswell MJ (1974) Distribution, ecology, and postglacial dispersal of certain crustaceans and fishes in eastern North America. Publ Zool 11, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa

  • Eschmeyer PH, Phillips AM Jr (1965) Fat content of the flesh of siscowets and lake trout from Lake Superior. Trans Am Fish Soc 94:62–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eshenroder RL, Burnham-Curtis MK (1999) Species sucession and sustainability of the Great Lakes fish community. In: Taylor WM, Ferreri CP (eds) Great Lakes fishery policy and management: a binational perspective. Michigan State University Press

  • Eshenroder RE, Crossman EJ, Meffe GK, Olver CH, Pister EP (1995) Lake trout rehabilitation in the Great Lakes: an evolutionary, ecological, and ethical perspective. J Great Lakes Res 21(Supple 1):518–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Eshenroder RL, Sideleva VG, Todd TN (1999) Functional convergence among pelagic sculpins of Lake Baikal and deepwater ciscoes of the Great Lakes. J Great Lakes Res 25:847–855

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans MS (2000) The large lake ecosystems of northern Canada. Aquat Ecosyst Health Manage 3:65–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrand WR, Drexler CW (1985) Late Wisconsinan and Holocene history of the Lake Superior basin. In: Karrow PF, Calkin PE (eds) Quaternary evolution of the Great Lakes. Geol Assoc Canada, Spec Pap 30

  • Ferguson MM, Noakes DL, Romani D (1983) Restricted behavioral plasticity of juvenile lake charr, Salvelinus namaycush. Environ Biol Fishes 8:151–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullerton DS, Bush CA, Pennell JN (2003) Map of surficial deposits and materials in the eastern and central United States (East of 102° west longitude). Geol Invest Ser 1-2789, U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C

  • Gíslason D, Ferguson MM, Skúlason S, Snorrason SS (1999) Rapid and coupled phenotypic and genetic divergence in Icelandic Arctic charr (Salvelinus namaycush). Can J Fish Aquat Sci 56:2229–2234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goode GB (1884) Natural history of useful aquatic animals. In: The fisheries and fishery industries of the United States. U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, Washington, D.C., Section 1, pp 484–497

  • Goodier JL (1981) Native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in the Canadian waters of Lake Superior prior to 1955. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 38:1724–1737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guinand B, Scribner KT, Page KS, Burnham-Curtis MK (2002) Genetic variation over space and time: analyses of extinct and remnant lake trout populations in the Upper Great Lakes. Proc R Soc Lond B 270:425–433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey CJ, Kitchell JF (2000) A stable isotope evaluation of the structure and spatial heterogeneity of a Lake Superior food web. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 57:1395–1403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson BA, Anderson DM (2002) Phenotypic differences in buoyancy and energetics of lean and siscowet lake charr in Lake Superior. Environ Biol Fishes 64:203–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hough JL (1963) The prehistoric Great Lakes of North America. Am Sci 51:84–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Hrabik TR, Jensen OP, Martell SJ, Walters CJ, Kitchell JF (2006) Diel vertical migration in the Lake Superior pelagic community. I. Changes in vertical migration of coregonids in response to varying predation risk. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 63:2286–2295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs CL (1929) The fishes. In: The book of Huron Mountain. Huron Mountain Club

  • Hubbs CL, Lagler KF (1967) Fishes of the Great Lakes region. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor

    Google Scholar 

  • Ihssen PE, Casselman JM, Martin GW (1988) Biochemical genetic differentiation of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) stocks of the Great Lakes Region. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 45:1018–1029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen OP, Hrabik TR, Martell SJ, Walters CJ, Kitchell JF (2006) Diel vertical migration in the Lake Superior pelagic community. II. Modeling trade-offs at an intermediate trophic level. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 63:2296–2307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson K (2001) Parallel speciation: a key to sympatric divergence. Trends Ecol Evol 16:148–153

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson L (1994) Pattern and process in ecological systems: a step in the development of a general ecological theory. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 51:226–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan NY, Qadri SU (1970) Morphological differences in Lake Superior lake char. J Fish Res Bd Can 27:161–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Koelz W (1929) Coregonid fishes of the Great Lakes. Bull US Bur Fish 43(2):297–643

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause AE, Eshenroder RL, Begnoche LJ (2002) Buoyancy differences among two deepwater ciscoes from the Great Lakes and their putative ancestor. Arch Hydrobiol Spec Issues Advanc Limnol 57:233–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Krueger CC, Ihssen PE (1995) Review of genetics of lake trout in the Great Lakes: history, molecular genetics, physiology, strain comparisons, and restoration management. J Great Lakes Res 21(Supple 1):348–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen CE (1994) Beach ridges as monitors of isostatic uplift in the upper Great Lakes. J Great Lakes Res 20:108–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson G, Schaetzl R (2001) Origin and evolution of the Great Lakes. J Great Lakes Res 27:518–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsey CC (1964) Problems in zoogeography of the lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush. J Fish Res Bd Can 21:977–994

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin NV, Olver CH (1980) The lake charr, Salvelinus namaycush. In: Balon EK (ed) Charrs: salmonid fishes of the genus Salvelinus. Dr. W. Junk, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore SA, Bronte CR (2001) Delineation of sympatric morphotypes of lake trout in Lake Superior. Trans Am Fish Soc 130:1233–1240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Page KS, Scribner KT, Burnham-Curtis M (2004) Genetic diversity of wild and hatchery lake trout populations: relevance for management and restoration in the Great Lakes. Trans Am Fish Soc 133:674–691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peck JW (1975) Brief life history accounts of five commercial salmonid fishes in Lake Superior. Fish Res Rep 1821, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Power G (2002) Charrs, glaciations, and seasonal ice. Environ Biol Fishes 64:17–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahrer JF (1965) Age, growth, maturity, and fecundity of “humper” lake trout, Isle Royale, Lake Superior. Trans Am Fish Soc 94:75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richmond GM, Fullerton DS (1986) Summation of Quaternary glaciations in the United States of America. In: Šibrava V, Bowen DQ, Richmond GM (eds) Quaternary glaciations in the Northern Hemisphere. Quat Sci Rev 5:183–201

  • Robinson BW, Parsons KJ (2002) Changing times, spaces, and faces: tests and implications of adaptive morphological plasticity in the fishes of northern postglacial lakes. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 59:1819–1833

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson BW, Wilson DS (1994) Character release and displacement in fishes: a neglected literature. Am Nat 144:596–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott WB, Crossman EJ (1998) Freshwater fishes of Canada. Gault House Publications Ltd, Oakville, Ontario

    Google Scholar 

  • Skúlason S, Smith TB (1995) Resource polymorphisms in vertebrates. Trends Ecol Evol 10:366–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skúlason S, Snorranson SS, Noakes DL, Ferguson MM (1996) Genetic basis of life history variations among sympatric morphs of Arctic char, Salvelinus alpinus. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 53:1807–1813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith DG (1994) Glacial Lake McConnell: paleogeography, age, duration, and associated river deltas, MacKenzie River Basin, western Canada. Quat Sci Rev 13:829–843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith GR, Todd TN (1984) Evoluton of species flocks of fishes in north temperate lakes. In: Echelle AA, Kornfield I (eds) Evolution of fish species flocks. University of Maine at Orono Press

  • Smith GR, Todd TN (1992) Morphological cladistic study of coregonines fishes. Pol Arch Hydrobiol 39:479–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor EB (1999) Species pairs of north temperate freshwater fishes; evolution, taxonomy, and conservation. Rev Fish Biol Fish 9:299–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd TN (2003) The COSEWIC status report on the shortjaw cisco Coregonus zenithicus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Todd TN, Smith GR (1992) A review of differentiation in Great Lakes ciscoes. Pol Arch Hydrobiol 39:261–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Turgeon J, Estoup A, Bernatchez L (1999) Species flock in the North American Great Lakes: molecular ecology of Lake Nipigon ciscoes (Teleostei: Coregonidae: Coregonus). Evolution 53:1857–1871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson CC, Hebert DN (1996) Phylogeographic origins of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in eastern North America. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 53:2764–2775

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson CC, Hebert DN (1998) Phylogeography and postglacial dispersal of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in North America. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 55:1010–1024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman MS, Krueger CC, Eshenroder RE (2006) Phenotypic diversity of lake trout in Great Slave Lake: differences in morphology, buoyancy, and habitat depth. Trans Am Fish Soc 135:1056–1067

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman MS, Krueger CC, Eshenroder RE (2007) Morphological and ecological differences between shallow- and deep-water lake trout in Lake Mistassini, Quebec. J Great Lakes Res 33:156–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I thank Jill Finster for making geographical figures, Mara Zimmerman for making the charr figures and providing a critical review, Charles Krueger for providing another review, and two anonymous reviewers. I would not have been able to formulate this paper without access to the data, analysis, and thinking of C. Krueger and M. Zimmerman.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Great Lakes Fishery Commission, 2100 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA

    Randy L. Eshenroder

Authors
  1. Randy L. Eshenroder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Randy L. Eshenroder.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eshenroder, R.L. Differentiation of deep-water lake charr Salvelinus namaycush in North American lakes. Environ Biol Fish 83, 77–90 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9265-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9265-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation