A survey of the spawning of perch (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius), and roach (Rutilus rutilus), using artificial spawning substrates in lakes

Abstract

The development of spawning in perch, pike and roach in Lake Geneva has been studied by means of artificial spawning substrates, laid at different depths, from 1984 to 1993. In Lake Geneva, perch spawned in May. A rise of surface water temperature up to 14 °C stimulated spawning activity while bad weather (surface temperature at 10 °C) induced a spread of the spawning period over more than one month. The spawning period was delayed in years when the mean width of perch egg-ribbons was the largest; this corresponded to the biggest females. At the beginning of the spawning period (early in May), perch preferentially chose a depth of 4 m to spawn. In contrast, at the end of the spawning period, maximum spawning intensity was observed at a depth of 12 m. This phenomenon was more pronounced when water temperature rose above 14 °C in the top 4 m while it remained below 12 °C at a depth of 12 m. Pike spawned at the end of April and at the beginning of May in Lake Geneva. They preferred spruce branches among the different spawning substrates that we tested in Lake Vouglans. When the water temperature increased at the surface of Lake Geneva, pike preferred to lay their eggs on substrates set at 3 m depth where the temperature was cooler than in the surface layer (10.5 °C vs 14 °C). Roach spawned during the last two weeks of May or during the first two weeks of June in Lake Geneva, depending on water temperature. Spawning had generally been spread over a week, but a sudden decrease of water temperature could slow spawning intensity. Roach were able to lay their eggs on natural or synthetic substrates, located 0.5 m below the surface near the shore as well as, at a distance of several hundred metres from the shore. The survival of eggs was always above 90% for perch and roach and generally above 70% for pike.