Evaluation of thiamine deficiency in lake whitefish as a potential cause of their recruitment failure

Grant: # 2043

Grant Amount: $403,982.00

Board Decision Year: 2024

The Research Foundation for SUNY at Brockport - Scholarship, Research & Sponsored Programs (Brockport)

Scholarship, Research & Sponsored Programs

Merkl, Laura ([email protected]) (585) 395-2444

2024 Ecosystem Health and Sustainable Fish Populations: Ecological and Biological Research to Inform Management - Ecological and biological fisheries research to inform management

Project Summary

This project seeks to evaluate whether thiamine deficiency could affect lake whitefishrecruitment in the Great Lakes region. The specific objectives are to (1) determine thiamineconcentrations in lake whitefish eggs, (2) determine the lethal thiamine concentration thatinduces 50% mortality of lake whitefish embryos, (3) evaluate lake whitefish diet using stomachcontent, stable isotope and fatty acid analyses, (4) relate egg thiamine concentration to lakewhitefish diet, (5) assess lake whitefish prey nutritional quality.