Cisco population characteristics in Wisconsin lakes in relation to lake‐ and landscape‐level factors.

This article focuses on assessing population characteristics of Cisco (Coregonus artedi) in 48 inland lakes in Wisconsin to understand how environmental factors influence their relative abundance and growth. Using vertical gill-net sampling and otolith-based age estimation from 2011 to 2015, the study found substantial variation in Cisco abundance, growth, and age structure across lakes. Random forest models identified physical, climatic, catchment, and limnological variables—particularly measures of oxythermal habitat quality and availability, lake depth, and trophic status—as important predictors of Cisco abundance and growth, with suitable cold, well-oxygenated habitat being critical for population persistence. The findings suggest that maintaining high-quality oxythermal conditions and managing watershed nutrient inputs are key for conserving Cisco populations amid environmental and anthropogenic stressors, providing valuable insights for ongoing conservation and management efforts in Wisconsin and similar regions.