Chronology, distribution, and sizes of larval fish sampled by light traps in macrophytic Chemung Lake

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Abstract
Light traps were used to assess larval abundance and chronology of appearance in Chemung Lake in 1982. Eleven of 21 resident species were captured, totalling 7234 individuals. The most abundant were yellow perch (2809), Iowa darter (2571), pumpkinseed sunfish (1288), bluntnose minnow (200), and carp (123). Iowa darter and pumpkinseed were taken only as prolarvae (yolk-sac larvae) and postlarvae, but yellow perch, from 5 to 33 mm total length, were attracted. Common carp and bluntnose minnow entered traps almost exclusively as prolarvae (6–13 mm and 6–12 mm total length, respectively). Perch had the shortest emergence period, May 6–12 (15–17 °C), followed by darters. May 9–31 (15–21 °C). Pumpkinseed and carp emerged over a 6-week period from June 3 to July 23 (16–25 °C). Perch prolarvae preferred shallow, high-density macrophyte areas; their postlarvae preferred deep, low-density macrophyte zones. All stages of larval darter selected shallow, macrophyte-dense regions, as did the young of pumpkinseed.

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