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...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J.R. Grubich, J. Odenkirk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2014-01-01
Series:Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687428514000259
_version_ 1811273934850490368
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