Studying the Genetics and Population Size of Muskellunge in Little Shoepack and Shoepack Lakes
Maki R and Valentine-Darby P. 2024. Studying the Genetics and Population Size of Muskellunge in Little Shoepack and Shoepack Lakes. National Park Service
There are 30 named lakes in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. Of the 30 lakes, only two have native muskellunge populations. Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), also known as muskies, are large, predatory fish native to some Minnesota lakes. Because Little Shoepack and Shoepack lakes are small, and their muskie populations are predicted to be small, resource managers are concerned about the persistence of these native fish in the lakes. Therefore, researchers at Voyageurs partnered with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to study the genetics of muskellunge in both lakes and the muskie population size (using mark-recapture) in Little Shoepack Lake. Researchers found the highest density of muskies in the state in Little Shoepack Lake. Genetic analyses indicated that muskies in the two lakes were similar to one another, but also distinct from one another. Muskies from Little Shoepack Lake had the lowest genetic diversity of nine other muskie populations studied in Minnesota. The study’s findings will aid in park planning, management, and stewardship decisions. This project was funded by the Natural Resource Condition Assessment Program.
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Maki, Ryan; Valentine-Darby, Patricia
- Date of Issue
- 2024-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- VOYA
- Keywords
- genetic diversity, Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), muskie, Natural Resource Condition Assessment, NRCA