| Remarks |
Found in shallow vegetated areas of lakes, ponds, and pools of sluggish streams; sometimes in open water over sand (Ref. 5723). Marine populations found near shore and move into freshwater to spawn (Ref. 5723). There appears to be seasonal movements inshore to shallow water in the spring for spawning, and, in the fall, offshore to deep water, or even to the less saline parts of the sea, by the young and adults that survive spawning (Ref. 27547). Nerito-pelagic (Ref. 58426). Feeds on small invertebrates; also on aquatic insects and their eggs and larvae (Ref. 1998). During breeding season, the eggs and larvae are consumed as food (Ref. 1998). It is preyed upon by fish-eating birds, kingfishers and mergansers; fishes such as walleye, brook trout, lake trout, yellow perch and burbot. Parasites of the species include 3 protozoans, 3 myxosporidians, 3 monogeneans, 8 trematodes, 5 cestodes, 6 acanthocephalans, 2 molluscs, 1 branchiuran and 2 copepods (Ref. 5951). |