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Photo by Unknown Photographer
Photo Courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Bear Lake Whitefish
Prosopium abyssicola
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G1
State (S-rank): S1
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Species range
This species is endemic to Bear Lake; the Utah portion of the lake is in Rich County.
Habitat
This species inhabits deep water in Bear Lake. McConnell et al. (1957) reported that this species was not recorded in their creel census (of fishermen) and "[a]ll individuals taken in gill nets were from water usually exceeding 75 feet in depth." They also noted that ". . . spawning occurs in water 50 to 100 feet deep . . .." Investigations of stomach contents ". . . suggest a complete dependence [of this species] on the soft mud bottom in deep water as a source of food."
Sigler and Miller (1963) commented: "It should be emphasized that all three of these fish [Bear Lake species of Prosopium] have been taken in almost all depths, although the likelihood of taking . . . the Bear Lake whitefish in very shallow water is less. . . . The Bear Lake whitefish is the deep water form . . .."
Simpson and Wallace (1982) stated: "The vertical distribution of the Bear Lake whitefish is generally confined to the 60-foot level and below where the water temperature is uniformly 39o F."
Sigler and Miller (1963) commented: "It should be emphasized that all three of these fish [Bear Lake species of Prosopium] have been taken in almost all depths, although the likelihood of taking . . . the Bear Lake whitefish in very shallow water is less. . . . The Bear Lake whitefish is the deep water form . . .."
Simpson and Wallace (1982) stated: "The vertical distribution of the Bear Lake whitefish is generally confined to the 60-foot level and below where the water temperature is uniformly 39o F."
Food habits
The Bear Lake Whitefish feeds primarilly on a variety of small aquatic invertebrates like ostracods and copepods, fish eggs, and some insects.
Threats or limiting factors
Recreational use and development may affect water quality in Bear Lake. There is also sport fishing for this species. Predation by introduced fishes on immature stages of this species may also be a threat.
