Diet of Invasive White Perch in Sooner Lake, Oklahoma

Abstract

White Perch Morone americana are native to the Atlantic Coast of North America. Outside of their native range, White Perch quickly dominate fish communities, and they can compete with native fish species. White Perch were discovered in Sooner Lake, Oklahoma in 2006. However, little has been done to understand the potential impacts of White Perch in Sooner Lake. Therefore, from April 2015 – June 2016 White Perch were collected monthly from Sooner Lake to analyze food habits. White Perch diets were described seasonally (spring, summer, fall, winter) and by size classes (sub-stock, stock, quality, preferred, memorable) using percent  composition by number, percent weight, and frequency of occurrence. In spring, White Perch diets were dominated by zooplankton. During summer, White Perch consumed primarily invertebrate prey, however, White Perch transitioned to a predominately fish diet in fall and winter. Sub-stock sized fish ate mostly invertebrates and zooplankton. However, as fish size increased White Perch consumed larger amounts of fish, which became the predominate prey at quality and preferred size classes. The shift in diet (seasonally and by size) from zooplankton to invertebrates and fish suggests that White Perch may compete with resident sport fishes for these resources in Sooner Lake.