Development of a Population Viability Model to Optimize Sea Lamprey Control Strategies in Lake Champlain
Objectives of this research were to:
- Develop a stage-based population viability model for sea lamprey;
- Conduct microelemental analyses of lamprey statoliths to identify streams with major contributions to the parasitic population in Lake Champlain, as inputs to the model; and
- Examine optimal combinations of control methods for individual streams in the Champlain basin using the stage-based population model.
Simulations indicate that control of the larval stage is essential to suppressing the parasitic-phase population, and although with supplemental effort to reduce the vital rates at the spawning and early life stages, the parasitic-phase population can be further suppressed. Sensitivity simulations indicate that the life history model is highly sensitive to the method in which parasitic-phase sea lamprey select tributaries for spawning, egg deposition rate, and the abundance of parasitic-phase sea lamprey from unknown, uncontrolled sources.