Ontogenetic habitat shift in burbot (Lota lota L.); the profundal migration

Description

Burbot (Lota lota L.), the only truly freshwater species of the Gadidae in the northern hemisphere, inhabits several habitats during its ontogeny. In lake populations, burbot larvae are typically pelagic while the juveniles stay predominantly in the littoral zone, In contrast, adult burbot are often described as cold stenothermal, profundal dwellers and prefer hypolimnetic habitats year-round, including for spawning. In this project, we test, if the profundal migration in juvenile burbot is related to a lower final temperature preference of adult burbot compared to the juvenile littoral dwellers, to a too high and therefore probably lethal water temperatures in the littoral zone during summer or due to missing interstitial shelter devices in the littoral zone for the large adult burbot.

Participants
  • Fischer, Philipp - Project head
Institutions
  • FB Biologie
Funding sources
Name Project no. Description Period
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft617/98c
Further information
Period: 01.07.2001 – 30.06.2004