Factors regulating biomass and contaminant uptake by round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in western Lake Erie.

Round gobies, an invasive fish from the Ponto-Caspian region of Eastern Europe arrived in the western basin of Lake Erie in 1993. A bioenergetics model was developed for round gobies to quantify the flow of energy and contaminants from the benthos to pelagic fishes. Weight and temperature dependent coefficients for metabolism and consumption were derived. Food consumption increased with temperature up to 26°C before sharply decreasing and decreased with increasing fish weight. Oxygen consumption was inversely related to body mass and increased exponentially with temperature. Additional parameters were obtained from the literature to describe specific dynamic action, egestion and excretion. The bioenergetics model explained growth in the Great Lakes and the native range of the goby. Using this bioenergetics model, we quantified the movement of energy and contaminants within the Lake Erie ecosystem. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Biological Sciences. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2003 .L44. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 42-03, page: 0870. Advisers: L. D. Corkum; T. B. Johnson. Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2003