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Influence of submerged aquatic vegetation on size class distribution of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) in the littoral zone of Lake Geneva (Switzerland)

Aquatic Sciences volume 58, pages 1–14 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

The abundance of different size classes of perch and roach in the littoral zone of Lake Geneva was compared between submerged aquatic vegetation and unvegetated zones. Samples were taken with gillnets during four periods between June and October 1993. During the vegetation period (June to September), perch ≤9 cm and roach ≤10 cm were more abundant in vegetation whereas roach > 20 cm were more abundant in open water. Perch larger than 18 cm and medium roach were equally distributed in both habitats whatever the period, whereas medium perch distribution fluctuated according to the period. In October, after the decline of the vegetation, no more differences in fish distribution were observed except for small roach, which were always more abundant in the “vegetated sites”.

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  1. Laboratoire d'Ecologie et de Biologie aquatique, Université de Genève, 18 ch. des Clochettes, CH-1206, Geneva, Switzerland

    Olivier Rossier, Emmanuel Castella & Jean-Bernard Lachavanne

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  1. Olivier Rossier
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  2. Emmanuel Castella
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  3. Jean-Bernard Lachavanne
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Rossier, O., Castella, E. & Lachavanne, JB. Influence of submerged aquatic vegetation on size class distribution of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) in the littoral zone of Lake Geneva (Switzerland). Aquatic Science 58, 1–14 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877636

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