Alewives taken from the Wisconsin shoreline will also be analyzed. But biologists doubt they will find many perch larvae in the stomachs because there are so few in the lake. The analysis does not remove all blame from alewives for a dramatic decline in the lake's perch population. But it does indicate alewives are not entirely at fault for most perch larvae failing to survive their first few months of life in the lake's southern basin. Researchers attending yellow perch discussions at the 59th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference agreed that several concurrent problems are preventing perch from rebounding to greater numbers.
Researchers believe concentrations of microscopic zooplankton have declined in the lake.
The zebra mussel is to blame for this part of the problem, Binkowski and others said. Zebra mussels eat algae and other plants that used to feed zooplankton. There are fewer zooplankton to feed perch. Western New York may see a new Warmwater Fish Hatchery mudpuppy, is important in the environment and has a role in the food chain. M ichigan DNR is reminding anglers that any mudpuppies caught while ice fishing must be released back into the water.