{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) influence on walleye (Sander vitreus) recruitment decline: mtDNA evidence supporting the predation hypothesis.
{Author}: Lepak JM;Hansen AG;Cristan ET;Williams DA;Pate WM;
{Journal}: J Fish Biol
{Volume}: 103
{Issue}: 6
{Year}: 2023 Dec 8
{Factor}: 2.504
{DOI}: 10.1111/jfb.15523
{Abstract}: Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) have been introduced widely but are associated with declines in walleye (Sander vitreus) recruitment. A primary hypothesis for these declines is that O. mordax consume larval S. vitreus. We confirmed overlapping spatial-temporal distributions of larval S. vitreus and O. mordax in our study system and used mtDNA analyses to determine if O. mordax stomach contents contained S. vitreus. Approximately 20% of O. mordax composite stomach samples were considered positive for S. vitreus consumption. These findings support the predation hypothesis and have S. vitreus management/stocking implications.