Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, Egypt
Nile perch, Lates niloticus, are top predators in the Nile River’s, Lake Nasser, where they support important commercial and recreational fisheries; yet, anecdotal evidence indicates overfishing may be causing declines in population size structure. Little is known about Nile perch population biology...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2014-01-01
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Series: | Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research |
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Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687428514000259 |
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author | J.R. Grubich J. Odenkirk |
author_facet | J.R. Grubich J. Odenkirk |
author_sort | J.R. Grubich |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Nile perch, Lates niloticus, are top predators in the Nile River’s, Lake Nasser, where they support important commercial and recreational fisheries; yet, anecdotal evidence indicates overfishing may be causing declines in population size structure. Little is known about Nile perch population biology, movements, and habitat selection. In 2010, we began a pilot study in Lake Nasser to investigate the Nile perch. One 33-kg Nile perch was successfully implanted with an ultrasonic telemetry transmitter and tracked on two occasions for 12 h each time. Following a “resting” phase, at sunset, the Nile perch crossed several km of pelagic zone to reach the far shoreline of the lake where it spent the night foraging among the aquatic vegetation. Sensor data revealed that the fish’s movements covered relatively narrow thermal and depth ranges. Interestingly, the fish’s transmitter signal was reacquired 2 months later in the exact GPS location where it was initially caught suggesting seasonally strong site fidelity. Further tracking studies are needed to better understand Nile perch life history and ecology in Lake Nasser in order to protect and conserve this valuable economic resource. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:08:44Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-cad26b364f9e4019b1da2b23df93e342 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1687-4285 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:08:44Z |
publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
publisher | Elsevier |
record_format | Article |
series | Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research |
spelling | doaj.art-cad26b364f9e4019b1da2b23df93e3422022-12-22T03:12:51ZengElsevierEgyptian Journal of Aquatic Research1687-42852014-01-01401656910.1016/j.ejar.2014.03.003Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, EgyptJ.R. Grubich0J. Odenkirk1Department of Biology, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, EgyptVirginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 1320 Belman Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, USANile perch, Lates niloticus, are top predators in the Nile River’s, Lake Nasser, where they support important commercial and recreational fisheries; yet, anecdotal evidence indicates overfishing may be causing declines in population size structure. Little is known about Nile perch population biology, movements, and habitat selection. In 2010, we began a pilot study in Lake Nasser to investigate the Nile perch. One 33-kg Nile perch was successfully implanted with an ultrasonic telemetry transmitter and tracked on two occasions for 12 h each time. Following a “resting” phase, at sunset, the Nile perch crossed several km of pelagic zone to reach the far shoreline of the lake where it spent the night foraging among the aquatic vegetation. Sensor data revealed that the fish’s movements covered relatively narrow thermal and depth ranges. Interestingly, the fish’s transmitter signal was reacquired 2 months later in the exact GPS location where it was initially caught suggesting seasonally strong site fidelity. Further tracking studies are needed to better understand Nile perch life history and ecology in Lake Nasser in order to protect and conserve this valuable economic resource.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687428514000259Commercial fishingTerritorialityAcoustic telemetryHabitat utilizationNile River |
spellingShingle | J.R. Grubich J. Odenkirk Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, Egypt Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research Commercial fishing Territoriality Acoustic telemetry Habitat utilization Nile River |
title | Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, Egypt |
title_full | Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, Egypt |
title_fullStr | Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, Egypt |
title_full_unstemmed | Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, Egypt |
title_short | Initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator, the Nile perch (Lates niloticus), in Lake Nasser, Egypt |
title_sort | initial observations of movement patterns in the apex fish predator the nile perch lates niloticus in lake nasser egypt |
topic | Commercial fishing Territoriality Acoustic telemetry Habitat utilization Nile River |
url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687428514000259 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT jrgrubich initialobservationsofmovementpatternsintheapexfishpredatorthenileperchlatesniloticusinlakenasseregypt AT jodenkirk initialobservationsofmovementpatternsintheapexfishpredatorthenileperchlatesniloticusinlakenasseregypt |