Temperature Effects on Recruitment and Individual Growth of Two Antagonistic Fish Species, Perch Perca fluviatilis and Roach Rutilus rutilus, from a Climate Change Perspective

Perch (Perca fluviatilis) in four boreal lakes and sympatric roach (Rutilis rutilis) in two of these lakes were studied by means of gill net sampling, and age and growth were analyzed to explore whether summer temperature affects recruitment and individual growth of the two species differently. Water temperature logging in the lakes showed a highly significant correlation with air temperature. Year-class strength of the perch was significantly positively affected by the summer air temperature, whereas the temperature effect was non-significant for the roach. There was a significant negative effect of year-class strength of one-year-old perch on roach year-class strength in one lake. ln one of the allopatric perch populations, the year-class strength correlation with temperature failed after biomass removal, probably because fishing affected the age structure. July-August air temperature had a significantly positive effect on individual growth rates of two- to five-year-old perch, whereas the effect on roach growth was less clear. The inclination of perch to predate its competitor, roach, as well as conspecifics, as well as accelerated individual growth, were shown to occur more frequently in years with abundant 1+ perch, i.e., the summer after the rise of a strong year-class. Climate warming may potentially favor perch recruitment and growth.

Automated summary

Perch and roach in boreal lakes were studied to examine the effect of summer temperature on recruitment and growth. Perch had a positive correlation with summer air temperature, while roach did not show a significant temperature effect. Fishing and age structure also influenced the relationship between temperature and perch year-class strength. Higher air temperature had a positive impact on perch growth rates, but its effect on roach growth was uncertain. These findings suggest that climate warming may benefit perch recruitment and growth.