Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 9

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Limiting Factors and Threats

Temperature likely limits the distribution of spotted gar in Canada; however, its Canadian distribution may expand under climate warming scenarios (Mandrak 1989). Quiet, vegetated, shallow habitats, vital to all stages of the spotted gar life history, are rapidly disappearing, or are being degraded from siltation, dredging, filling and harbour improvements in their distribution (Carman 2002, Environment Canada 2003). Historic large-scale, and recent small-scale, vegetation removals conducted in Rondeau Harbour have negatively impacted spotted gar habitat (Dobbyn, pers. comm.). Increased turbidity, as documented at Point Pelee, may limit the ability of the spotted gar to sight feed.